GDA and High School

[Unregistered]

A kid could be suspended from games or showcases is not “the end of a DA career.” And depending on the circumstances in most cases the punishment will be a slap on the wrist. I think your wet dream of kids being cut from the DA because of a couple of HS games is pretty overstated.

I agree but only because GDA and clubs are desperate to get thing off the ground and need players. It's why USSF caved on allowing a grandfather period for HS soccer and why they and the clubs are looking the other way now. The issue is it sets a very bad precedent.

[Unregistered]

It remains to be seen whether the colluders did enough homework have a solution for the 4-week overlap between the spring GDA season and the FHSAA playoffs. Maybe these geniuses thought they only had to solve the 10-game problem. Oops.

If the little Mias plan to stay with their HS teams through the playoffs, I don't see a way around the wrath of US Soccer. Nobody knows how harsh the punishment will be, but these kids may gambling away their GDA opportunity.

You don't get it, they already had prior permission from the GDA club (they were grandfathered in for the entire high school season as long as they told the club ahead of time) to play high school, but the players just started playing high school not in October but in December.

[Unregistered]

A kid could be suspended from games or showcases is not “the end of a DA career.” And depending on the circumstances in most cases the punishment will be a slap on the wrist. I think your wet dream of kids being cut from the DA because of a couple of HS games is pretty overstated.

So you're willing to bet your daughter's GDA career on your guess of what the Federation will do? Risky gamble. They've already changed their position several times. If they wake up and realize the true threat that HS soccer represents, they may pull the plug on a few traitors just to send a message.

[Unregistered]

What part of the U.S. Soccer ruling do you not understand?

It's not up to the DA coach. The Federation rules are clear. Missing some games is not the end of the world but it might be the end of her GDA career.

Understand it pretty well actually. Let me explain it to you. If the player wants to play HS she informs her coach and club. In the case as it were now, these girls can play HS ball as it is now the DA off season. Once DA starts up again, those players must either inform the club and coach they intend to finish their HS season (assuming if....and thats a big if....they make to the championship).

So let say for arguments sake the stars line, Karma really doesn't care about HS soccer or whether your daughter plays or not and one of these teams with DA girls makes it through districts. Then they would miss up to 5 games. During that time, they could not practice or play with their DA team. Thats it, no surprise, no conspiracy.

In the majority of cases, those HS teams will do no better than last year because pretty much the same girls coming back...maybe with a couple extra but it does not appear that way.

To that end, it'll probably be the same few HS vying for the championship as previous years.

As for the DA girls whose teams don't advance, they simply return to their DA team when their HS is eliminated and life goes on. Most DA teams have enough DP players to fill in a couple gaps here and there. Most DA clubs have players who play up and can fill down if necessary.

It is unlikely that anyone will lose their spot because they chose to play HS after the Winter Showcase. Now I know that is not what you want to hear and you will probably try to go back to the guidelines you are quoting but, after the WFF fiasco this was all hashed out pretty thoroughly to prevent any more mistakes or misunderstandings.

In the end, the DA girls will not likely make that big an impact on the HS championship as it mostly a couple of Jrs and Sr looking to finish out their HS careers which is why USSF is allowing it in the first place.

[Unregistered]

Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Dear Academy Parents and Players

Just a reminder that Next week will be our end of season break for the DA and there will be no official training from Nov 20-26.

Regarding High School soccer, I just wanted to update everyone on the official policy.

Yesterday morning November 15th, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy leadership in Chicago had a conference call with the directors in our conference to further clarify the ruling on High School soccer participation as it pertains to Development Academy players.

As of today, the ruling as we have stated prior is that players are not allowed to participate in both environments at the same time is in effect. Therefore players are not permitted to participate in HS soccer until our season is over and should return to the DA environment when the next (Spring) season resumes.

Our official regular season as of now ends on the conclusion of games November 18th. The beginning of the Spring season starts at the end of January. The 03 through 99 players are also required to participate in the Winter Showcase Dec 6-10.

The penalty for players that do not comply to the rules could be possible suspension from DA games/showcase participation.

^This memo was to clarify the ending of regular season was Nov 18th and not the showcase, and that GDA players could play HS starting Nov 18 but had to return for the spring season. However, there were other GDA players who got approval to play high school for the entire season until the end of the HS playoffs but the players just got the HS to say they were on the roster but not cleared to play until Nov 18 and those players plan to stay through the playoffs. So confusing right?

[Unregistered]

So you're willing to bet your daughter's GDA career on your guess of what the Federation will do? Risky gamble. They've already changed their position several times. If they wake up and realize the true threat that HS soccer represents, they may pull the plug on a few traitors just to send a message.

The only talk going on right now is whether or not to relax the HS ball rule. Your nuts must be raw barking up this tree.

[Unregistered]

You don't get it, they already had prior permission from the GDA club (they were grandfathered in for the entire high school season as long as they told the club ahead of time) to play high school, but the players just started playing high school not in October but in December.

It's you that doesn't get it. Please read the ruling from U.S. Soccer. If your GDA club said it's ok to play HS after the spring GDA season starts they overstepped their bounds. Your club doesn't have the authority to overrule U.S. Soccer.

Read the Weston thread if you want to learn what can happen when a club oversteps its authority. The club gave its members bad advice and U.S. Soccer stepped in and laid down some harsh punishments on players who incorrectly thought they were within the rules.

[Unregistered]

Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Dear Academy Parents and Players

Just a reminder that Next week will be our end of season break for the DA and there will be no official training from Nov 20-26.

Regarding High School soccer, I just wanted to update everyone on the official policy.

Yesterday morning November 15th, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy leadership in Chicago had a conference call with the directors in our conference to further clarify the ruling on High School soccer participation as it pertains to Development Academy players.

As of today, the ruling as we have stated prior is that players are not allowed to participate in both environments at the same time is in effect. Therefore players are not permitted to participate in HS soccer until our season is over and should return to the DA environment when the next (Spring) season resumes.

Our official regular season as of now ends on the conclusion of games November 18th. The beginning of the Spring season starts at the end of January. The 03 through 99 players are also required to participate in the Winter Showcase Dec 6-10.

The penalty for players that do not comply to the rules could be possible suspension from DA games/showcase participation.

^This memo was to clarify the ending of regular season was Nov 18th and not the showcase, and that GDA players could play HS starting Nov 18 but had to return for the spring season. However, there were other GDA players who got approval to play high school for the entire season until the end of the HS playoffs but the players just got the HS to say they were on the roster but not cleared to play until Nov 18 and those players plan to stay through the playoffs. So confusing right?

None of this was confusing until you added your point to it.

[Unregistered]

Understand it pretty well actually. Let me explain it to you. If the player wants to play HS she informs her coach and club. In the case as it were now, these girls can play HS ball as it is now the DA off season. Once DA starts up again, those players must either inform the club and coach they intend to finish their HS season (assuming if....and thats a big if....they make to the championship).

So let say for arguments sake the stars line, Karma really doesn't care about HS soccer or whether your daughter plays or not and one of these teams with DA girls makes it through districts. Then they would miss up to 5 games. During that time, they could not practice or play with their DA team. Thats it, no surprise, no conspiracy.

In the majority of cases, those HS teams will do no better than last year because pretty much the same girls coming back...maybe with a couple extra but it does not appear that way.

To that end, it'll probably be the same few HS vying for the championship as previous years.

As for the DA girls whose teams don't advance, they simply return to their DA team when their HS is eliminated and life goes on. Most DA teams have enough DP players to fill in a couple gaps here and there. Most DA clubs have players who play up and can fill down if necessary.

It is unlikely that anyone will lose their spot because they chose to play HS after the Winter Showcase. Now I know that is not what you want to hear and you will probably try to go back to the guidelines you are quoting but, after the WFF fiasco this was all hashed out pretty thoroughly to prevent any more mistakes or misunderstandings.

In the end, the DA girls will not likely make that big an impact on the HS championship as it mostly a couple of Jrs and Sr looking to finish out their HS careers which is why USSF is allowing it in the first place.

The whole thing is f'ing ridiculous. USSFDA is one smart cookie. They will get gobs of girls to play GDA if they girls know they can play high school and then the girls decide when they go back to GDA. GDA is no different than ECNL. It's a joke.

[Unregistered]

It's you that doesn't get it. Please read the ruling from U.S. Soccer. If your GDA club said it's ok to play HS after the spring GDA season starts they overstepped their bounds. Your club doesn't have the authority to overrule U.S. Soccer.

Read the Weston thread if you want to learn what can happen when a club oversteps its authority. The club gave its members bad advice and U.S. Soccer stepped in and laid down some harsh punishments on players who incorrectly thought they were within the rules.

Oh, please do tell us what the harsh punishments were and did any of these punishments mean that your daughter didn't sit the bench?

[Unregistered]

The catch is the GDA girl has to find a high school coach with the balls to take them when the GDA regular season is over which is when? and be ready to release them as soon as the high school gets kicked out of the playoffs.

[Unregistered]

The whole thing is f'ing ridiculous. USSFDA is one smart cookie. They will get gobs of girls to play GDA if they girls know they can play high school and then the girls decide when they go back to GDA. GDA is no different than ECNL. It's a joke.

That may be true this year and probably even next year. I still remember our eldest kids coach telling us that ECNL would not last and all the talent was in RPL and ODP. Look how that turned out.

USSF is not looking coexist with ECNL. If your kid is a Jr or Sr in ECNL, they are fine where they are unless their sole goal is to make the US team.

[Unregistered]

That may be true this year and probably even next year. I still remember our eldest kids coach telling us that ECNL would not last and all the talent was in RPL and ODP. Look how that turned out.

USSF is not looking coexist with ECNL. If your kid is a Jr or Sr in ECNL, they are fine where they are unless their sole goal is to make the US team.

Then come the scare tactics.. can't make the US team one day if you don't sign onto the GDA bandwagon that is nothing more than any other top league allowing its players to play high school soccer.

[Unregistered]

The catch is the GDA girl has to find a high school coach with the balls to take them when the GDA regular season is over which is when? and be ready to release them as soon as the high school gets kicked out of the playoffs.

You'd be harder pressed to find a HS coach who wouldn't take them. As for releasing them after HS, that makes not sense. When HS is over, its over. No release required.

[Unregistered]

GDA is looking more an more appealing. Hmm can train hard four days a week up until the showcase and then hop onto the sucky high school team for a month and then hop back to the GDA team whenever the sucky high school team gets eliminated in the playoffs. And the added bonus is she has a shot at the US team.