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Girls Development Academy taking shape: First 25 clubs accepted

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    Girls Development Academy taking shape: First 25 clubs accepted

    Twenty-five clubs have been accepted so far by U.S. Soccer to compete in the Girls U.S. Soccer Development Academy, whose inaugural season kicks off in fall of 2017. U.S. Soccer has not specified how many clubs will take part in the 2017-18 season, during which teams will compete in U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups.

    The Boys DA launched in 2007 with 64 clubs and now has 74 full DA clubs and more than 100 when including clubs that field only lower age group teams. The U.S. Club Soccer-sanctioned ECNL, launched in 2009, fielded 79 clubs during this 2015-16 season.

    Of the first 25 Girls DA clubs, only six were not part of the ECNL during the 2015-16 season: Beach SC, Cincinnati, Lamorinda, the Washington Spirit, the Boston Breakers and Seattle Reign. The Breakers and the Reign, both affiliates of the pro NWSL league clubs, have joined the ECNL for the 2016-17 season. The NWSL's Sky Blue FC has partnered with New Jersey club PDA for Girls DA play. With the Spirit, Orlando Pride and Portland Thorns, six of the NWSL's teams, so far, are part of the Girls DA.

    A survey of a handful of DA-accepted ECNL clubs indicates that ECNL clubs are planning to field teams in both leagues in the 2017-18 season.

    First 25 Girls DA Clubs
    Beach SC (Torrance, Calif.)
    Boston Breakers (Watertown, Mass.)
    CASL (Raleigh, N.C.)
    Cincinnati Development Academy/Kings Hammer/CUP (Cincinnati, Ohio)
    Colorado Rush (Littleton, Colo.)

    Concorde Fire (Atlanta, Ga.)
    Crossfire (Redmond, Wash.)
    De Anza Force (Saratoga, Calif.)
    FC Dallas (Frisco, Texas)
    LAFC-Slammers (Los Angeles, Calif.)

    Lamorinda (Moraga, Calif.)
    Michigan Hawks (Livonia, Mich.)
    Mustang (Danville, Calif.)
    Orlando Pride/City SC (Orlando, Fla.)
    Penn Fusion SA (Westtown, Pa.)

    Portland Thorns (Portland, Ore.)
    Real Colorado (Highlands Ranch, Co.)
    San Diego Surf (San Diego, Calif.)
    Seattle Reign (Seattle, Wash.)
    Sky Blue FC-PDA (Bernardsville, N.J.)

    So Cal Blues (Rancho Capistrano, Calif.)
    Sockers FC (Palatine, Ill.)
    Solar Chelsea SC (Dallas, Texas)
    Washington Spirit (Boyds, Md.)
    Tophat NTH (Atlanta, Ga.)

    According to U.S. Soccer, the first 25 clubs have a total of 119 coaches with a U.S. Soccer A or B Coaching License, including 91 coaches employed on a full-time basis. And 307 players for from the 25 clubs have been called in by U.S. national teams, youth and senior. They will be providing 276 full scholarships “with a total of $1.49 million of scholarship funds being contributed,” according to U.S. Soccer’s press release.

    The applications (the 2017-18 deadline for which is July 1) for the Girls DA are evaluated by the U.S. Soccer technical staff on:

    • Leadership of the club and quality of the coaching staff.
    • Desire to embrace and promote the core values of the program.
    • U.S. Soccer license levels of coaching staff.
    • Infrastructure of the club and the resources currently being invested in development (facilities, scholarships, staff to player ratio, etc.).
    • History of player production for youth national teams, the senior women’s national team and professional leagues.
    • Market and depth of the player pool, geographic location and travel implications and proximity to other elite clubs.

    #2
    1. Has thorns academy shown they did a good job in the past two years: No.

    Its pretty telling when that is the measure of acceptance...

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
      1. Has thorns academy shown they did a good job in the past two years: No.

      Its pretty telling when that is the measure of acceptance...
      What's even more telling is the measure of rejection, understand your pain.

      Comment


        #4
        "Of the first 25 Girls DA clubs, only six were not part of the ECNL during the 2015-16 season: Beach SC, Cincinnati, Lamorinda, the Washington Spirit, the Boston Breakers and Seattle Reign."

        Somehow US Soccer thinks Thorns Academy was part of the ECNL. How could that be?

        Comment


          #5
          Will clubs who are former ECNL clubs still field teams in ECNL? For example Coloarado Rush and Crossfire had some very competetive teams. Will they now simply put their reserves in ECNL? It makes sense that they may since ECNL has become watered down,

          Comment


            #6
            This may have an impact on who is willing to move over to the Thorns. Now that they have actual teams to play who in fact are very competitive why wouldn't the better players want to move?

            Comment


              #7
              With teams like these in the academy I am guessing there will be much exposure from college coaches. That was one of the biggest arguments for ECNL even though PDX teams were in general on the weak side.

              Comment


                #8
                Wow, didn't see that one coming

                I thought the ECNL was the only place for the highest level of girls competition. Now with some of the better ECNL clubs moving to academy..... doesn't look good for PDX ECNL.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  "Of the first 25 Girls DA clubs, only six were not part of the ECNL during the 2015-16 season: Beach SC, Cincinnati, Lamorinda, the Washington Spirit, the Boston Breakers and Seattle Reign."

                  Somehow US Soccer thinks Thorns Academy was part of the ECNL. How could that be?
                  Maybe that's how the Thorns got in. Said they were ECNL.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    Maybe that's how the Thorns got in. Said they were ECNL.
                    I suspect that it had much more to do with having a professional organization behind them. This is awesome.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      I suspect that it had much more to do with having a professional organization behind them. This is awesome.
                      I wonder if the Thorns will show any loyalty to the girls that have played with them the last couple years when/if any ECNL girls come over?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        I wonder if the Thorns will show any loyalty to the girls that have played with them the last couple years when/if any ECNL girls come over?
                        None of the current girls will stay. One year and out at Thorns once they realize what a scam it is. Thorns Academy DA will be full of Timbers "C" teamers and delusionals.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          None of the current girls will stay. One year and out at Thorns once they realize what a scam it is. Thorns Academy DA will be full of Timbers "C" teamers and delusionals.
                          Hurts doesn't it?

                          OMG you have got to be kidding if you can't see the writing on the wall. The Thorns will now offer a superior and cheaper option. We are in for sure. I wish they hadn't waited so long. Its funny even Crossfire Premier went there.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Hurts doesn't it?

                            OMG you have got to be kidding if you can't see the writing on the wall. The Thorns will now offer a superior and cheaper option. We are in for sure. I wish they hadn't waited so long. Its funny even Crossfire Premier went there.
                            Cheaper? You are delusional. The whole reason ECNL become "watered-down" was to help alleviate travel costs. Smaller national league is going to be more expensive.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              Hurts doesn't it?

                              OMG you have got to be kidding if you can't see the writing on the wall. The Thorns will now offer a superior and cheaper option. We are in for sure. I wish they hadn't waited so long. Its funny even Crossfire Premier went there.
                              You mean inferior and more expensive, right? Or are truly one of the delusionals? Have fun with your roster of TA "C" teamers while you get throttled 10-0 EVERY game. You'll quickly be wishing your were back in OYSA getting beat only 5-0

                              Comment

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