DA promotion/relegation is here

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Not sure what is the fascination with DA playing friendlies

There’s only four open weekends. Friendlies are only one option. Probably will be the least used. Look for DAP teams to go on money making international trips or tournaments

The new schedule also provides flexibility for clubs to schedule other competitions and events. There are four open weekends (Oct,. Feb., Mar./Apr., May) on the reorganized calendar in addition to the normal winter break (Dec.-Jan.), providing the opportunity to schedule friendlies, take part in outside events with similar Academy standards, play international competition and host/participate in festivals.

It's fascinating because having DA even mentioning friendlies is absurd. The whole press release is an exercise in opacity. Bottom line is they are tiering the academy and throwing some few breadcrumbs at the lower tier clubs to hopefully muffle their wailing.

[Unregistered]

Not sure what is the fascination with DA playing friendlies

There’s only four open weekends. Friendlies are only one option. Probably will be the least used. Look for DAP teams to go on money making international trips or tournaments

The new schedule also provides flexibility for clubs to schedule other competitions and events. There are four open weekends (Oct,. Feb., Mar./Apr., May) on the reorganized calendar in addition to the normal winter break (Dec.-Jan.), providing the opportunity to schedule friendlies, take part in outside events with similar Academy standards, play international competition and host/participate in festivals.

October open weekend is during highschool play so there are no other teams actually playing

[Unregistered]

October open weekend is during highschool play so there are no other teams actually playing

International trip ..

[Unregistered]

It's a shame people like you rule the youth soccer landscape. So ignorant.

You do know an Oakwood team is on the verge of winning their group in San Diego right?

For the second year in a row OW had a 2-0 record heading into their last group stage game and they managed to lose the third game and fail to make it out of the group stage of the playoffs.

OW has never made it past the group stage of the playoffs, BSC has- and in less time in the DA!

It boils down to the clubs style of play. OW is a "grinder club". The eek out results to crawl into the playoffs in their weak conference. Once they get to the playoffs their style play always bites them in the backside and they need more than just grinding.

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For the second year in a row OW had a 2-0 record heading into their last group stage game and they managed to lose the third game and fail to make it out of the group stage of the playoffs.

OW has never made it past the group stage of the playoffs, BSC has- and in less time in the DA!

It boils down to the clubs style of play. OW is a "grinder club". The eek out results to crawl into the playoffs in their weak conference. Once they get to the playoffs their style play always bites them in the backside and they need more than just grinding.

I went to a “grinder club” once, very different than what I suspected. It was a freakin sausage fest

[Unregistered]

For the second year in a row OW had a 2-0 record heading into their last group stage game and they managed to lose the third game and fail to make it out of the group stage of the playoffs.

OW has never made it past the group stage of the playoffs, BSC has- and in less time in the DA!

It boils down to the clubs style of play. OW is a "grinder club". The eek out results to crawl into the playoffs in their weak conference. Once they get to the playoffs their style play always bites them in the backside and they need more than just grinding.

BS starter strong in DA and has slid into the basement since then. Their performance this year was sad, bigly. Neither CT club offers top notch training

[Unregistered]

I went to a “grinder club” once, very different than what I suspected. It was a freakin sausage fest

has your azz recovered ?

[Unregistered]

has your azz recovered ?

You tell me, you had the best view

[Unregistered]

suprised one of the biggest thing to happen to youth soccer this summer isn't bein discussed more. however, not surprised the convo took a typical TS turn for the worse.

reviving this -- since the changes occur for U15+, does anyone think this really changes where kids want to play starting at u12? i get that everyone wants to be on RBNY or NYCFC, but honestly away from teh "no fee" is it any more compelling than it was before? the mls clubs are going to turn over their rosters no matter what and attract the best kids at some point.

[Unregistered]

suprised one of the biggest thing to happen to youth soccer this summer isn't bein discussed more. however, not surprised the convo took a typical TS turn for the worse.

reviving this -- since the changes occur for U15+, does anyone think this really changes where kids want to play starting at u12? i get that everyone wants to be on RBNY or NYCFC, but honestly away from teh "no fee" is it any more compelling than it was before? the mls clubs are going to turn over their rosters no matter what and attract the best kids at some point.

MLS clubs don't even make up 30% of the total DA clubs. The vast majority is pay to play, some of which isn't any better quality than some non DA teams. What you get varies greatly locally. And yes the MLS clubs will change their rosters more frequently because they have hundreds of boys wanting to play for them and don't have to worry about upsetting check-writing parents. It's not 100% perfect, but it's much more about the talent, not money or club politics. At pay to play clubs the dynamics are very different.

[Unregistered]

You tell me, you had the best view

No offense, but if I happen to end up in that situation, I'd much rather be pitching than catching...

[Unregistered]

MLS clubs don't even make up 30% of the total DA clubs. The vast majority is pay to play, some of which isn't any better quality than some non DA teams. What you get varies greatly locally. And yes the MLS clubs will change their rosters more frequently because they have hundreds of boys wanting to play for them and don't have to worry about upsetting check-writing parents. It's not 100% perfect, but it's much more about the talent, not money or club politics. At pay to play clubs the dynamics are very different.

so you're saying not much will likely change at the u12-14 level for non-mls clubs?

I do think it will force a reckoning for non-mls clubs to better focus on the bottom line. if a club has viable premier options (or other revenue sources) bringing in $$ and can lower DA expenses for u15+, they can compete attracting players who can't/don't want to commit to mls club. i'm thinking of nysc locally with their plan to go fee-free at older ages at some point in the near future. they can be a viable pathway to nycfc for those capable/desirous, but also competitive at older ages. and if they are a "virtuous" partner with an mls club (sending best players) i'm sure the mls club would reciprocate by scheduling matches.

[Unregistered]

Nothing has changed. It's just a press release, just noise. (Like the physical age initiative that was in the site last month, who cares, it's just noise) They can schedule games whenever they want, as long as it's not two full games in a day and that it is "meaningful competition". There's no change whatsoever. If you have been in that environment you'd get it, that's why no one cares. There's not "new divisions" no "stratification", just noise and more cash for the system. There's not going to be a mls division and a club division. Not going to happen. Just people on the outside looking in and making guesses.

[Unregistered]

so you're saying not much will likely change at the u12-14 level for non-mls clubs?

I do think it will force a reckoning for non-mls clubs to better focus on the bottom line. if a club has viable premier options (or other revenue sources) bringing in $$ and can lower DA expenses for u15+, they can compete attracting players who can't/don't want to commit to mls club. i'm thinking of nysc locally with their plan to go fee-free at older ages at some point in the near future. they can be a viable pathway to nycfc for those capable/desirous, but also competitive at older ages. and if they are a "virtuous" partner with an mls club (sending best players) i'm sure the mls club would reciprocate by scheduling matches.

Non MLS clubs are businesses first and foremost. The bottom line will drive their decision making, one way or another. They're not going to take significant profit hits to subsidize DA. Big clubs like NYSC can use profits from non DA teams to help reduce DA fees but smaller clubs (BS) will have a harder time. USSF mandates clubs make a concerted effort to reduce fees, but it's not anything they really enforce or push. Some non MLS teams charge almost the same as non DA teams (BS). Typically when it's "cheaper" it's still not "cheap" and some kids are priced out regardless. Also, non MLS clubs often don't cover travel which can add 100% to your total cost to participate. Best they will do is try and help arrange group travel to lower costs. Some like OW try to fund raise and find sponsors to help with costs.

[Unregistered]

Non MLS clubs are businesses first and foremost. The bottom line will drive their decision making, one way or another. They're not going to take significant profit hits to subsidize DA. Big clubs like NYSC can use profits from non DA teams to help reduce DA fees but smaller clubs (BS) will have a harder time. USSF mandates clubs make a concerted effort to reduce fees, but it's not anything they really enforce or push. Some non MLS teams charge almost the same as non DA teams (BS). Typically when it's "cheaper" it's still not "cheap" and some kids are priced out regardless. Also, non MLS clubs often don't cover travel which can add 100% to your total cost to participate. Best they will do is try and help arrange group travel to lower costs. Some like OW try to fund raise and find sponsors to help with costs.

USSF suggests that clubs try to reduce costs but couldn't care less if they do or not (like anything else they bother to write down).
a.) BS DA is at least as expensive as any other DA program in the state
b.) DA travel costs are 600-1000% or more of the cost to participate. OW team went to Europe and multiple flights within the US including (for some teams) two West coast trips this year.