Negdl

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In other places, the money to be made comes from finding and developing real talent. Such extensive travel is not required to do that.

Here, the money to be made comes from finding customers with enough disposable income to participate in a nice activity for their athletic kids. The extensive travel helps weed out the unqualified bank accounts and ensure the proper customer base.

True. It's also wiping out the families who just don't want to travel that much for youth soccer, even those with a fat bank account. I suppose they don't care much, though, because as long as there are plenty more willing to take our spot, they'll be fine.

It's disappointing that the middle ground seems to be lost (leagues like NPL where the travel was reasonable will suffer), but maybe things will eventually come full circle. Who knows.

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True. It's also wiping out the families who just don't want to travel that much for youth soccer, even those with a fat bank account. I suppose they don't care much, though, because as long as there are plenty more willing to take our spot, they'll be fine.

It's disappointing that the middle ground seems to be lost (leagues like NPL where the travel was reasonable will suffer), but maybe things will eventually come full circle. Who knows.

So melodramatic....

How are they "wiped out"? Are there not leagues everywhere to play? All we hear is DA is a joke, ECNL/DA unnecessary, you can get discovered everywhere, blah blah blah. Hell, people complain about NPL travel too. People just complain.

Want to play? Go play? Don't try to bring others back if they want to do something different. Do what's best for YOU and I'll do the same....

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You're special, aren't you?

Hard to grasp the point that some kids and families out there were perfectly happy playing in the NPL bracket of NEP? Yup, my kid liked her teammates and her competitive team. Planned to stick with it. Didn't feel the need to go chase patches and drive to NY so her dad could brag about her super elite team. So yes, she's going to be disappointed that her perfectly acceptable NEP team is going to be weaker next year. She plays because she loves the game, not because she cares to drive 4 hours to play a team no better than ones 30 minutes away so she can feel special like you.

You're the epitome of all that's wrong with soccer. Mocking young kids who just want to play on the team they love and have fun doing it. Sorry if it upsets you that we're not impressed by the latest collection of letters that the girls will be wearing.

So your daughter is on either the NEFC pre NPL or the SSS AP team, but very good teams that a lot of the team will move to the pre DA. Both have the depth to field a very goon NEP NPL team, so I'm not sure what the issue is. This is the age the girls and their parents start making decisions about what is right for them so the teams end up changing.

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True. It's also wiping out the families who just don't want to travel that much for youth soccer, even those with a fat bank account. I suppose they don't care much, though, because as long as there are plenty more willing to take our spot, they'll be fine.

It's disappointing that the middle ground seems to be lost (leagues like NPL where the travel was reasonable will suffer), but maybe things will eventually come full circle. Who knows.

They will only come full circle if the customers change what it is they want to buy. Money drives the bus in both systems. Our system does not allow for direct cash rewards for soccer talent so that soccer talent does not drive our system like it does elsewhere. Out system is driven by a combo of talent and resources. You need both to participate here.

In theory, the reward and motivation for the players is the same - hoping to advance and become the best they can be. But the pools of players in which this competition take place are different and the goals are different.

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So melodramatic....

How are they "wiped out"? Are there not leagues everywhere to play? All we hear is DA is a joke, ECNL/DA unnecessary, you can get discovered everywhere, blah blah blah. Hell, people complain about NPL travel too. People just complain.

Want to play? Go play? Don't try to bring others back if they want to do something different. Do what's best for YOU and I'll do the same....

DA cheerleader dad, that you, man?

We get it. No one will ever convince you your little superstar isn't the reason soccer exists. She's awesome, you're awesome. Got it

The non-delusional grown ups are trying to talk, though, so shhhhhhh. Go have your little princess teach you something about the game.

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One thing US Soccer got right was when they added boys U12 DA and brought in a bunch of local clubs to reduce travel for this age group. Oakwood was the furthest travel for most MA teams, about 2 hours for most clubs, which was doable one time each season. Frankly, they should have continued this same set-up for the U13s, as well.

It's interesting that US Soccer recognized that traveling to NY/NJ at 11 years old is too much for players, but these clubs, who are directly connected to these families and claim to be working in the best interest of the players, are making decisions to have kids traveling that far for weekly league play. Seems like general laziness to come up with something better for this age group. I wonder how the U12 coaches feel about this.

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DA cheerleader dad, that you, man?

We get it. No one will ever convince you your little superstar isn't the reason soccer exists. She's awesome, you're awesome. Got it

The non-delusional grown ups are trying to talk, though, so shhhhhhh. Go have your little princess teach you something about the game.

Completely missed the point in your effort to make it personal.

Again, there is a team, a league, for everyone. Pick the one that works best for you and enjoy the hell out of it. Not sure if obsessing over what others are doing is healthy. Just be happy with the journey you have in front of you. It's all good.

I chuckle how this is an anti-DA thing when they are doing the same thing ECNL has done. It's keeping up with the Jones'.

Just learn to love the game no matter where you are.

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Completely missed the point in your effort to make it personal.

Again, there is a team, a league, for everyone. Pick the one that works best for you and enjoy the hell out of it. Not sure if obsessing over what others are doing is healthy. Just be happy with the journey you have in front of you. It's all good.

I chuckle how this is an anti-DA thing when they are doing the same thing ECNL has done. It's keeping up with the Jones'.

Just learn to love the game no matter where you are.

Ugg. It is not good at all. Watered down mess is what it is.

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Ugg. It is not good at all. Watered down mess is what it is.

As long as you have competing entities, it will always be watered down. There isn't enough talent to support all the leagues, but not everyone is allowed to be accepted into those leagues or the logistics doesn't work. So, like all paths in life, you choose what you can with what you have and what's in front of you.

So, that's where the "it's all good" comes from. As long as the kids are learning the game, playing the game, and enjoying themselves, that should be the only concern.

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Ugg. It is not good at all. Watered down mess is what it is.

Yes. Honestly, it hurts everyone's development. Some are looking at it as if the players not willing to travel will be left behind on a weaker team, so they are complaining. But the traveling players will also end up on a team with weaker players who happen to be willing to travel. A full team of strong players is always going to develop faster than a team with half strong/half weak players.

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Seems odd no one is mentioning the fact that ECNL is expanding to younger ages next year. I’m sure this was DA’s counter move. It’s all stupid. Again, sensible parents will cap the insanity at NPL and let these ridiculously over priced and over traveled too leagues die. Oh wait, that’s right. All of these parents bitching here are the same ones who can’t say no when roster spots are opened up. Put up or shut up.

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As long as you have competing entities, it will always be watered down. There isn't enough talent to support all the leagues, but not everyone is allowed to be accepted into those leagues or the logistics doesn't work. So, like all paths in life, you choose what you can with what you have and what's in front of you.

So, that's where the "it's all good" comes from. As long as the kids are learning the game, playing the game, and enjoying themselves, that should be the only concern.

Oh heck no. The boys have it so much better then the girls. Nothing we can do about but pay attention and point it out. So pay attention we will and hope for better alternatives. TS would be even more dull then it is already is if everyone just said "all good". That is just complacent inattention.

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Yes. Honestly, it hurts everyone's development. Some are looking at it as if the players not willing to travel will be left behind on a weaker team, so they are complaining. But the traveling players will also end up on a team with weaker players who happen to be willing to travel. A full team of strong players is always going to develop faster than a team with half strong/half weak players.

Don't disagree, but also once the barn door is open and half the cattle left, the other half need to catch up and be left behind.

Today, people are complaining about the reaction, not the original action that caused this 10 years ago.

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Don't disagree, but also once the barn door is open and half the cattle left, the other half need to catch up and be left behind.

Today, people are complaining about the reaction, not the original action that caused this 10 years ago.

Catch up to what exactly? maybe the ones hanging out in the barn have it much much better.

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Catch up to what exactly? maybe the ones hanging out in the barn have it much much better.

Maybe they do, maybe they don't, but isn't that for each family to decide?