Local ECNL Applying for UDSA Girls -?

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MLS clubs have no interest in girls soccer. They are struggling as it is with the required investment in the boys DA which isn't paying off. And there is no market for girls soccer players so why invest?

Doesn't matter US Soccer is in control of this new direction for girls &each and every MLS Clubs have been offered a Girls DA program.

Think NBA/WNBA

For one moment do think anything in leadership at US soccer has clue one regarding it's method and goals? Just like the local Timbers clueless leadership, it all boils down to control, nothing more, nothing less.

This response (Girls DA) has everything to do with the US Soccer leadership seeing the ECNL as bad platform that's gone wild, they say they have no coaching or direction. The ECNL must be demolished. Those with the power usually do things because they can, not because it's for a greater good or prudent. Welcome to the world of power & politics.

For God sake even those who don't have power, like our tiny local clubs elect to form a USDA league of 7 teams of 11/12 year boys olds playing each other 4x a year and tell themselves this makes us better, we are in the DA League!!! Or the minions at neighborhood Girls clubs who elect to play in a league where they rack up thousands and thousands of dollars of travel expense to play Idaho & Utah teams and then get to travel further to play the 'have not' teams from all over the US. Doing this in their mind makes them elite.

Welcome to Youth Soccer.

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Correct. The USDA teams will be affiliated with professional clubs to attach to their infrastructure: marketing and financial backing.

Just more dilution in Oregon. I do think the Timbers will do a fine job running and it will get the really serious, elite players.

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Just more dilution in Oregon. I do think the Timbers will do a fine job running and it will get the really serious, elite players.

Girls DA is DOA.

[Unregistered]

Girls DA is DOA.

The girls DA will only take the elite players so it should not even bother your team at all. No need to worry about losing players. The ECNL teams will stay intact. Only the best if the best will make the DA.

[Unregistered]

Doesn't matter US Soccer is in control of this new direction for girls &each and every MLS Clubs have been offered a Girls DA program.

Think NBA/WNBA

For one moment do think anything in leadership at US soccer has clue one regarding it's method and goals? Just like the local Timbers clueless leadership, it all boils down to control, nothing more, nothing less.

This response (Girls DA) has everything to do with the US Soccer leadership seeing the ECNL as bad platform that's gone wild, they say they have no coaching or direction. The ECNL must be demolished. Those with the power usually do things because they can, not because it's for a greater good or prudent. Welcome to the world of power & politics.

For God sake even those who don't have power, like our tiny local clubs elect to form a USDA league of 7 teams of 11/12 year boys olds playing each other 4x a year and tell themselves this makes us better, we are in the DA League!!! Or the minions at neighborhood Girls clubs who elect to play in a league where they rack up thousands and thousands of dollars of travel expense to play Idaho & Utah teams and then get to travel further to play the 'have not' teams from all over the US. Doing this in their mind makes them elite.

Welcome to Youth Soccer.

The U12 boys academy doesn't make much sense to me.

[Unregistered]

The girls DA will only take the elite players so it should not even bother your team at all. No need to worry about losing players. The ECNL teams will stay intact. Only the best if the best will make the DA.

Anyone who is buying this train of thought doesn't understand the soccer climate of now. Kinda funny but really misleading.

[Unregistered]

The girls DA will only take the elite players so it should not even bother your team at all. No need to worry about losing players. The ECNL teams will stay intact. Only the best if the best will make the DA.

The best of the best want to play HS soccer too so they won't be in the DA. Any Thorns DA team will be no better than the Thorns Academy is today, and probably a lot worse.

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Anyone who is buying this train of thought doesn't understand the soccer climate of now. Kinda funny but really misleading.

When the USDA announces they are going to run a local league of club teams in the PDX area consisting of 04 boys teams for 2016-17, what does are local soccer climate do? Apply in droves and pray they get it. To wit they now have 7 teams/clubs in less than 2 months all doing it as the next best thing, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, just sign up nilly willy.

If an Actual USDA Program for Girls is coming to Portland Timbers/Thorns the response and turn out should be at least 10 fold of the local USDA kiddie league they just instituted.

To your point, The climate indicates it.

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When the USDA announces they are going to run a local league of club teams in the PDX area consisting of 04 boys teams for 2016-17, what does are local soccer climate do? Apply in droves and pray they get it. To wit they now have 7 teams/clubs in less than 2 months all doing it as the next best thing, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, just sign up nilly willy.

If an Actual USDA Program for Girls is coming to Portland Timbers/Thorns the response and turn out should be at least 10 fold of the local USDA kiddie league they just instituted.

To your point, The climate indicates it.

Girls DA is DOA. And ECNL is launching a boys league to compete directly with the boys DA. Should be interesting to see which clubs apply for DA as all the top ECNL clubs have committed to the ECNL for the next 5 years.

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Anyone who is buying this train of thought doesn't understand the soccer climate of now. Kinda funny but really misleading.

The climate indicates that all of the local clubs encourage their best male players to tryout for the Timbers USDA program with the full support of their local youth coaches and DOC's.

Why would this 'climate' change is the Timbers/Thorns have a Girls USDA? That doesn't make sense.

The train of thought you refer to, is not just a thought, it is a documented fact.
Our local clubs send players to the USDA without any hesitation as it's the gold standard of youth club soccer.

Makes more sense to say the currently soccer climate endorses and encourages all highly talented locals to tryout for the USDA program.

[Unregistered]

Girls DA is DOA. And ECNL is launching a boys league to compete directly with the boys DA. Should be interesting to see which clubs apply for DA as all the top ECNL clubs have committed to the ECNL for the next 5 years.

Girls DA is the highest level of youth soccer as mandated by the governing body US Soccer.
Fact is Fact.

Boys already have the DA running since 2007 with US Soccer oversight and firm place as the top tier for boys club soccer with MLS clubs being the cream of the crop.

There are many leagues to play but only the best are accepted into the USDA.

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The Vision and Philosophy of the ECNL

RICHMOND, VA (April 19, 2016) - In January 2009, a small group of club Directors of Coaching met informally in St. Louis, MO to discuss the youth soccer landscape in which they worked and where their players and teams competed. Representing clubs large and small from multiple regions of the country, with experience coaching both male and female players at many different levels, these directors had a wide diversity in background and a broad perspective on youth soccer and its challenges and opportunities. The thoughts exchanged in this and subsequent discussions ultimately culminated in the presentation of a totally new platform for player development in Las Vegas in March 2009: the Elite Clubs National League.

The process and concepts that lead to the creation of the ECNL are critical in understanding how the league has made such a rapid impact on youth soccer, why the league will continue to be on the leading edge of development, and why it is unique in youth soccer in structure and operation.

While the directors that were part of the first conversations about creating a new platform had very different backgrounds in 2009, and while the coaches participating in the league today remain widely diverse in their opinions, perspectives and methods, there are five core philosophical principles that have always been common amongst everyone that leads and participates in the league. These five principles form the foundation of the ECNL vision and philosophy:

•Club soccer is the Primary Platform for Long-Term Player Development.

•Club soccer leaders should be the Driving Force in determining the Standards and Structures of the Competitions and Platforms in which they participate.

•Club soccer leaders should be Empowered to operate their clubs in the manner they see fit, within Ethical and Professional Guidelines.

•Collaboration between soccer leaders creates the most Innovative, Efficient, and Impactful Programs within soccer.

•Empowered leaders, with Freedom to Pursue their Own Vision, will develop the best players in the country.

These principles are embedded within the governance structure of the ECNL, they influence every decision made in operation of the league, and they permeate the culture within the league and the daily interactions between the league, member clubs, and the directors, coaches, and players that the league was created to serve.

•Club soccer is the Primary Platform for Long-Term Player Development.

Club soccer is the daily training and competition environment for youth players for the majority of the calendar year, and players spend more time in club training and competition environments than in any other youth soccer environment.

As such, clubs and club soccer platforms have the greatest impact on long-term player development in America, and the improvement of these organizations, and the resources provided to and for these organizations, will have the greatest effect on long-term player development.

•Club soccer leaders should be the Driving Force in determining the Standards and Structures of the Competitions and Platforms in which they participate.

The coaches that work with youth players on a daily basis most deeply understand the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of players across the development spectrum, and have the greatest experience in implementing programs, curriculums, and methodologies within youth soccer and evaluating their impact.

The coaches that work over time with youth players in a wide variety of platforms and programs have the best understanding of the impact and value of each of these platforms, and the strengths and weaknesses of each program.

The coaches that interact on a daily basis with players, parents, and other influencers in a youth soccer player’s life have the greatest knowledge about the world in which these players live. These coaches understand the constraints and realities that face youth players and their families culturally, economically, socially, and in many other areas.

As such, the individuals with deep experience in working with youth players, and in the youth club environment, should be the leaders in determining the standards and structures of the platforms that impact these players, teams, and clubs.

•Club soccer leaders should be Empowered to operate their clubs in the manner they see fit, within Ethical and Professional Guidelines.

The United States spans thousands of miles, with an incredibly wide variety of climates, geography, and population centers. The country includes an incredible diversity of social, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. While youth soccer development has certain universal principles, the application of these principles varies greatly based on the external factors within each city and club, and on cultural differences between states, cities, clubs, coaches, and families.

As such, within ethical and professional guidelines, imposing one mandatory standard or style of leadership, operation, play, system, or curriculum will negatively impact performance, operation and development of clubs, teams, and ultimately players.

•Collaboration between soccer leaders creates the most Innovative, Efficient, and Impactful Programs within soccer.

Open sharing of ideas between experienced practitioners provides the most thought-provoking discussions in player development. Free discussion and debate of principles and methods stimulates the most growth and innovation in application. Understanding and appreciating differences in background, opinion, and practice facilitates creation of the most comprehensive solutions to challenges within the game.

As such, a culture of collaboration is required in order to spark improvement, change, and innovation within soccer platforms and from contributors – whether they be leagues, clubs, coaches, or administrators.

•Empowered leaders, with Freedom to Pursue their Own Vision, will develop the best players in the country.

Leaders with incentive to build better programs, challenged by those with different opinions and perspectives, supported by others with deep experience and background, and free to develop and create an independent vision for their organization will stimulate the most innovation, growth, and development in their organizations, their coaches, and their players.


The ECNL was founded on these core principles, and they are deeply embedded in the culture of the organization and its members. These principles are not gender specific, and they are not unique to sport. These principles are requirements for community building, necessities for progress, and a reflection of respect for the individual. These are the principles that have and will continue to permeate the ECNL, and will spark a constant, relentless drive to improve, raise standards, and be on the leading edge of innovation in the game.


This is the vision and philosophy of the ECNL.


ECNL Board of Directors

[Unregistered]

Girls DA is the highest level of youth soccer as mandated by the governing body US Soccer.
Fact is Fact.

Boys already have the DA running since 2007 with US Soccer oversight and firm place as the top tier for boys club soccer with MLS clubs being the cream of the crop.

There are many leagues to play but only the best are accepted into the USDA.

Keep dreaming. US Soccer can't make the DA the top tier. Only the quality of the players and clubs can do that. ECNL will stay the top choice for 95% of elite players. Only the loners and total social losers will opt for girls DA.

[Unregistered]

Girls DA is the highest level of youth soccer as mandated by the governing body US Soccer.
Fact is Fact.

Boys already have the DA running since 2007 with US Soccer oversight and firm place as the top tier for boys club soccer with MLS clubs being the cream of the crop.

There are many leagues to play but only the best are accepted into the USDA.

US soccer will reinforce this by using the DA as the vehicle for scouting for national team pools.

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US soccer will reinforce this by using the DA as the vehicle for scouting for national team pools.

Nobody cares about national team.