Clubs doing Both ECNL and USSDA

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Real Colorado -

http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs...heduling-snub/

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Real Colorado -

http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs...heduling-snub/

That coach is pretty mad! But he brings to mind an interesting and sad point. When you have two organizations (US Club and USYS) competing for dollars (because let's get real - that's what this is), they are not going to work collaboratively. They are going to try to destroy the other entity's product in order to shore up their own. Think of Wal-Mart moving into a town and running the local grocery and hardware stores out of business. That's the goal here, people. NOT to improve the quality of women's soccer in the U.S. (hard to improve a number one ranking!) and NOT to save families money.

I encourage you all - whether you are an ECNL family or a family who thinks the DA is the best thing ever - to consider this. The free market is good. Choices are good. If ECNL stays a viable option it will force the DA to put out a better product. The DA's formation will force ECNL to do a better job. Why are we parents doing the dirty work of the powers that be at DA and ECNL by attacking the programs? Embrace the choices - the competition for your dollars that this creates will ultimately lead to a better experience in both organizations. Notice I do not say it will lead to better soccer players. Because that is not the goal of ECNL or DA.

[Unregistered]

Sure competition is great. But this is far from a open market. US Soccer is creating huge barriers to entry. It is too much governmental intervention.

I think that the article really sums up ussoccer's sole focus on themselves. They are so arrogant and foolish and hurting the players they want so much.

[Unregistered]

Ohio ECNL club says no to USSDA:

http://www.ohioelite.com/home/919845...ampaign=buffer

We have been aware of the launching of the US Soccer Girls Development Academy for some time. After careful consideration, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy made the decision not to seek entrance into this new platform. In short we did not apply. There are many reasons for this decision but the driving force behind it was that we do not feel this is the best for our players or female players in the current landscape of soccer in this country.

1) Professional Soccer
There is no avenue to make a living in women’s soccer in the United States unless you are a star on the full women’s national team. Unlike the men’s game, there is very rarely a financial gain or a career that women can pursue. It is our view that the greater majority of girl’s players want to go to college and play college soccer. While we do feel the Girl’s DA will provide these opportunities, we also feel that this can and has been achieved without requiring players to give up ALL outside activities and train four days per week for 10 months per year.

2) High School Soccer/Sports Prohibition
Asking players that will likely never play professionally or make the US National Team to give up not only high school soccer but all other sports does not line up with our philosophy as it relates to soccer and personal development. It is our view that players should have a choice. Each path of development is complex and different. We have always given players who want it the option to train year round or to seek their own path.

3) Elite Clubs National League
The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has changed the face of youth soccer. We have been fortunate to compete in the league since its inception. It has meant everything to our players. The experience they have been provided can’t be quantified. In this platform, there is always something to play for and every game matters. The tiered competition structure keeps all players and all teams motivated throughout the year. In addition, teams are formed in every age group meaning players are not cycled out of the platform during the odd years. It is our belief that the ECNL will continue to provide a tremendous environment while also giving them a choice on their development path. This platform has not only placed players that make up 90% of the current US Youth National Teams, but it has also supplied the top college players currently playing in this country. It is our view that the ECNL will continue to provide this to players. College coaches from around the country have continued to express their support and intention to heavily recruit the ECNL events.

4) Restrictive Rules
The Girls DA will feature rules that restrict player choices. Those rules include prohibiting the participation in all outside activities including high school soccer or other high school sports, required 4 days per week of training in a 10-month schedule, and a no re-entry substitution rule. In addition, we do not believe that mandated playing styles, player development models, or other mandates and prohibitions of any kind should be the driving force behind development. Rather a freedom to see the game in different ways and encourage players and teams to express themselves we feel creates better players.

5) End Game
With the vast experience our staff has coaching youth soccer at the highest level we were forced to ask ourselves; what are we doing this for? It is important to us that our players have a strong desire to be the very best they can be. It is also important to us that our players are without mandate and free to make choices. Soccer and sports are a very important part of all of our lives. They require great commitment and sacrifice. It is also a tremendous teacher. Whatever the end game is for a player, history shows we can help you get there.

Ohio Elite Soccer Academy has and will continue to support US Soccer Federation. We will never hold a player back from chasing their dreams. We will support them in every way possible. We will continue to give every player that chooses Ohio Elite Soccer Academy the best opportunities. In the end, players should have a choice.

[Unregistered]

A tip of the hat to Coach Donaldson to call it like it is.
There is a poster on TS who is preaching the wonders of the GDA and refuses to see the truth of it all. Hopefully Coach Donaldson's words will make this zealot think a little more before drinking the entire bowl of coolaide. The GDA is US Soccer's attempt to wrestle their piece of the youth $$$ under the cloak of "development".

[Unregistered]

A tip of the hat to Coach Donaldson to call it like it is.
There is a poster on TS who is preaching the wonders of the GDA and refuses to see the truth of it all. Hopefully Coach Donaldson's words will make this zealot think a little more before drinking the entire bowl of coolaide. The GDA is US Soccer's attempt to wrestle their piece of the youth $$$ under the cloak of "development".

The guy in the article who is ticked about missing players for his final... decided to join the GDA with his Club WT

[Unregistered]

Ohio ECNL club says no to USSDA:

http://www.ohioelite.com/home/919845...ampaign=buffer

We have been aware of the launching of the US Soccer Girls Development Academy for some time. After careful consideration, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy made the decision not to seek entrance into this new platform. In short we did not apply. There are many reasons for this decision but the driving force behind it was that we do not feel this is the best for our players or female players in the current landscape of soccer in this country.

1) Professional Soccer
There is no avenue to make a living in women’s soccer in the United States unless you are a star on the full women’s national team. Unlike the men’s game, there is very rarely a financial gain or a career that women can pursue. It is our view that the greater majority of girl’s players want to go to college and play college soccer. While we do feel the Girl’s DA will provide these opportunities, we also feel that this can and has been achieved without requiring players to give up ALL outside activities and train four days per week for 10 months per year.

2) High School Soccer/Sports Prohibition
Asking players that will likely never play professionally or make the US National Team to give up not only high school soccer but all other sports does not line up with our philosophy as it relates to soccer and personal development. It is our view that players should have a choice. Each path of development is complex and different. We have always given players who want it the option to train year round or to seek their own path.

3) Elite Clubs National League
The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has changed the face of youth soccer. We have been fortunate to compete in the league since its inception. It has meant everything to our players. The experience they have been provided can’t be quantified. In this platform, there is always something to play for and every game matters. The tiered competition structure keeps all players and all teams motivated throughout the year. In addition, teams are formed in every age group meaning players are not cycled out of the platform during the odd years. It is our belief that the ECNL will continue to provide a tremendous environment while also giving them a choice on their development path. This platform has not only placed players that make up 90% of the current US Youth National Teams, but it has also supplied the top college players currently playing in this country. It is our view that the ECNL will continue to provide this to players. College coaches from around the country have continued to express their support and intention to heavily recruit the ECNL events.

4) Restrictive Rules
The Girls DA will feature rules that restrict player choices. Those rules include prohibiting the participation in all outside activities including high school soccer or other high school sports, required 4 days per week of training in a 10-month schedule, and a no re-entry substitution rule. In addition, we do not believe that mandated playing styles, player development models, or other mandates and prohibitions of any kind should be the driving force behind development. Rather a freedom to see the game in different ways and encourage players and teams to express themselves we feel creates better players.

5) End Game
With the vast experience our staff has coaching youth soccer at the highest level we were forced to ask ourselves; what are we doing this for? It is important to us that our players have a strong desire to be the very best they can be. It is also important to us that our players are without mandate and free to make choices. Soccer and sports are a very important part of all of our lives. They require great commitment and sacrifice. It is also a tremendous teacher. Whatever the end game is for a player, history shows we can help you get there.

Ohio Elite Soccer Academy has and will continue to support US Soccer Federation. We will never hold a player back from chasing their dreams. We will support them in every way possible. We will continue to give every player that chooses Ohio Elite Soccer Academy the best opportunities. In the end, players should have a choice.

This is very telling. Keep in mind Ohio Elite could have easily applied to DA, would have been accepted, could have kept their ECNL teams, and made more money for their club doing both. The fact that they refuse and list their reasons so clearly speaks volumes. They might just be the only club in the nation not looking at our girls as a cash cow.

[Unregistered]

The guy in the article who is ticked about missing players for his final... decided to join the GDA with his Club WT

You mean he decided not to quit his job when his CLUB decided to join DA. For all you know he's job hunting as we speak.

[Unregistered]

That coach is pretty mad! But he brings to mind an interesting and sad point. When you have two organizations (US Club and USYS) competing for dollars (because let's get real - that's what this is), they are not going to work collaboratively. They are going to try to destroy the other entity's product in order to shore up their own. Think of Wal-Mart moving into a town and running the local grocery and hardware stores out of business. That's the goal here, people. NOT to improve the quality of women's soccer in the U.S. (hard to improve a number one ranking!) and NOT to save families money.

I encourage you all - whether you are an ECNL family or a family who thinks the DA is the best thing ever - to consider this. The free market is good. Choices are good. If ECNL stays a viable option it will force the DA to put out a better product. The DA's formation will force ECNL to do a better job. Why are we parents doing the dirty work of the powers that be at DA and ECNL by attacking the programs? Embrace the choices - the competition for your dollars that this creates will ultimately lead to a better experience in both organizations. Notice I do not say it will lead to better soccer players. Because that is not the goal of ECNL or DA.

USYSA isn't involved. US Club Soccer sanctions the ECNL and the GDA will be run by US Soccer, aka The Federation. The Federation oversees all soccer in the States. USYSA is not involved in the GDA.

[Unregistered]

USYSA isn't involved. US Club Soccer sanctions the ECNL and the GDA will be run by US Soccer, aka The Federation. The Federation oversees all soccer in the States. USYSA is not involved in the GDA.

True. Now you have 3 national leagues: ECNL, USYS National League, and GDA. Just what we need...

[Unregistered]

A tip of the hat to Coach Donaldson to call it like it is.
There is a poster on TS who is preaching the wonders of the GDA and refuses to see the truth of it all. Hopefully Coach Donaldson's words will make this zealot think a little more before drinking the entire bowl of coolaide. The GDA is US Soccer's attempt to wrestle their piece of the youth $$$ under the cloak of "development".

The article, when read in its entirety, states that there is enough competition in Ohio so that players will have options to pick between playing either for a GDA or ECNL program, thus his support for any of his players to make HER OWN decision.

Granted Oregon is limited by the small number of players so this is the challenge of the GDA and the ECNL operating here. Our clubs would be wise to work together on this one to identify and encourage their best, what 50?, players per age group, for GDA/ECNL, with A-licensed staffers, and then return to own club duties from there. Remember when ODP was supposed to be that way? What a dream, eh?

[Unregistered]

This is very telling. Keep in mind Ohio Elite could have easily applied to DA, would have been accepted, could have kept their ECNL teams, and made more money for their club doing both. The fact that they refuse and list their reasons so clearly speaks volumes. They might just be the only club in the nation not looking at our girls as a cash cow.

Ohio Elite probably would have been accepted into the GDA but it's doubtful that they would have been able to field both GDA teams and ECNL teams. Although it's a successful club, it's sort of small and only has about 2 teams at each age. If they had collaborated with another club in the Cincinnati area it may have been doable. That would be unlikely to happen though because the Cincinnati club soccer scene is a political mess with a lot of fighting amongst the clubs. The other thing to keep in mind is that Ohio Elite's girls DOC, Doug Bracken, is the VP of the ECNL. So, of course, he'll be biased. That aside, he makes a lot of good points. I think a fair amount of politics are involved in all of this as well. I honestly don't believe that US Soccer will improve on the ECNL model. It's more a matter of them wanting to wrestle power from the ECNL. Bracken is not the most likable person so the negotiations that the ECNL had with US Soccer were probably less than cordial.

Disclaimer: I once lived in SW Ohio so I know a bit about the soccer environment there.

[Unregistered]

The article, when read in its entirety, states that there is enough competition in Ohio so that players will have options to pick between playing either for a GDA or ECNL program, thus his support for any of his players to make HER OWN decision.

Granted Oregon is limited by the small number of players so this is the challenge of the GDA and the ECNL operating here. Our clubs would be wise to work together on this one to identify and encourage their best, what 50?, players per age group, for GDA/ECNL, with A-licensed staffers, and then return to own club duties from there. Remember when ODP was supposed to be that way? What a dream, eh?

You are confusing a couple of pieces - Donaldson is a coach at Real Colorado, who had choice words to say about US Soccer decisions and whose club will do both ECNL and USSDA.

The 2nd link is to an ECNL in Ohio that has said no to USSDA, citing a number of reasons.

Many have already been discussed - women's professional soccer is not an avenue to a living wage, except for USWNT members; prohibition on HS Soccer; the positives ECNL has created; restrictive rules.

I think worth discussing is the following in the Ohio's club is this point: "In addition, we do not believe that mandated playing styles, player development models, or other mandates and prohibitions of any kind should be the driving force behind development. Rather a freedom to see the game in different ways and encourage players and teams to express themselves we feel creates better players."

Forced consolidation has not resulted in better players in the US on the global scene on the boys' side (nor has it yet resulted in improved boys' players coming out of Oregon); countries like Holland and Belgium have actually revisited "national style's of play" because it has created "rule followers" not players that can respond to differing styles on the global scene . . .

Consolidation in Oregon with a single development approach is a bad idea: we need a diversity of approaches in a competitive environment. Let the best rise to the top, in terms of development models.

[Unregistered]

A number of announced USSDA clubs are continuing in ECNL for at least 2 more years:

After initiating this review process, and in discussions with leadership of top performing clubs, the ECNL has approved the membership of the below listed clubs at this time, and each club has re-affirmed its membership in the ECNL in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. The ECNL will continue to review other clubs’ eligibility for membership.

•Crossfire Premier
•Dallas Sting
•Dallas Texans
•Eclipse Select Soccer Club
•FC Stars of Massachusetts
•Michigan Hawks
•PDA
•Real Colorado
•San Diego Surf
•Slammers FC
•So Cal Blues SC

“The Michigan Hawks are committed to participating in the ECNL moving forward. Over the last five years, the ECNL has provided all of our players and coaches a fantastic platform of competition, and an environment that has driven player development. We have improved and grown immensely as a club because of the league, and are excited to have the league as a part of our club programming for many years to come.”

-Michigan Hawks Director of Coaching, Doug Landefeld

“PDA is very proud to be part of the ECNL, and will continue to be part of the league in the future. The ECNL has had a positive impact at PDA, from staff development, player development, as well as coaching education. The influence of the ECNL can be felt at every level within our club, and we are excited to be a part of the future.”

-PDA Girls Director of Coaching, Mike O’Neill


“The ECNL has played a significant role in the growth and development of Real Colorado. We look forward to the continuing challenge to raise the standards of our club, compete with top clubs in the country and strive for excellence the ECNL environment provides and demands.”

-Real Colorado Chief Operating Officer, Jared Spires


source: http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague....&nogames=#home

[Unregistered]

A number of announced USSDA clubs are continuing in ECNL for at least 2 more years:

After initiating this review process, and in discussions with leadership of top performing clubs, the ECNL has approved the membership of the below listed clubs at this time, and each club has re-affirmed its membership in the ECNL in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. The ECNL will continue to review other clubs’ eligibility for membership.

•Crossfire Premier
•Dallas Sting
•Dallas Texans
•Eclipse Select Soccer Club
•FC Stars of Massachusetts
•Michigan Hawks
•PDA
•Real Colorado
•San Diego Surf
•Slammers FC
•So Cal Blues SC

“The Michigan Hawks are committed to participating in the ECNL moving forward. Over the last five years, the ECNL has provided all of our players and coaches a fantastic platform of competition, and an environment that has driven player development. We have improved and grown immensely as a club because of the league, and are excited to have the league as a part of our club programming for many years to come.”

-Michigan Hawks Director of Coaching, Doug Landefeld

“PDA is very proud to be part of the ECNL, and will continue to be part of the league in the future. The ECNL has had a positive impact at PDA, from staff development, player development, as well as coaching education. The influence of the ECNL can be felt at every level within our club, and we are excited to be a part of the future.”

-PDA Girls Director of Coaching, Mike O’Neill


“The ECNL has played a significant role in the growth and development of Real Colorado. We look forward to the continuing challenge to raise the standards of our club, compete with top clubs in the country and strive for excellence the ECNL environment provides and demands.”

-Real Colorado Chief Operating Officer, Jared Spires


source: http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague....&nogames=#home

Makes sense they will all have teams in the ECNL in 2016-17 as they need the competition provided by the ECNL in 16-17 as they will be forming 3 GDA teams for 2017-18 (from their u18, u17, u16, u15 & u14 club teams).

Those players not chosen for the GDA squads at these clubs need to stay on the books at those clubs as paying, developing members it's great the ECNL is allowing these non-GDA girls the chance to continue to play and develop at their appropriate skill level.

It's all working out as US Soccer had hoped! The game for Kids!