GDA a Tough Sell for the U17 / U18s

[Unregistered]

The question: Will the US Soccer Girls Development Academy even be relevant at the U17/U18 age level for the vast majority of the players?

If the target audience for the US Soccer GDA is the elite level player that they are identifying and developing for YNTs and WNT what's in it for the 17/18 year old player that hasn't been selected for national team duty?

-If so very few of the pool are selected for YNT/WNT duty - less than 1% - why would the other 99% stick around?
-If a players goal is to play in college and they're not YNT/WNT quality why would they stick around?
-If a player is committed to a college and they're not a YNT/WNT prospect why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality and they want to play for their HS and community why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality why would a parent continue to fund their DDs GDA expense?

There's a huge potential that the U17/18 GDA could see a mass exit (especially at U18) once players realize that they are not YNT/WNT quality and they have other priorities that they value more.
The ECNL has recognized some of these issues and has "lightened" the load for the older player. Less expense as they are only required to play in one national show case and league games. Roughly a 50% reduction in cost as compared to U16 and U17 age groups.
It will be interesting to see if the older age group, 99%+, sees the value of the GDA.
We'll have to wait a few years to find out ... but looking at how things have played out historically ... the GDA is going to have slim pickings at the older ages given their restrictive requirements.

[Unregistered]

The question: Will the US Soccer Girls Development Academy even be relevant at the U17/U18 age level for the vast majority of the players?

If the target audience for the US Soccer GDA is the elite level player that they are identifying and developing for YNTs and WNT what's in it for the 17/18 year old player that hasn't been selected for national team duty?

-If so very few of the pool are selected for YNT/WNT duty - less than 1% - why would the other 99% stick around?
-If a players goal is to play in college and they're not YNT/WNT quality why would they stick around?
-If a player is committed to a college and they're not a YNT/WNT prospect why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality and they want to play for their HS and community why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality why would a parent continue to fund their DDs GDA expense?

There's a huge potential that the U17/18 GDA could see a mass exit (especially at U18) once players realize that they are not YNT/WNT quality and they have other priorities that they value more.
The ECNL has recognized some of these issues and has "lightened" the load for the older player. Less expense as they are only required to play in one national show case and league games. Roughly a 50% reduction in cost as compared to U16 and U17 age groups.
It will be interesting to see if the older age group, 99%+, sees the value of the GDA.
We'll have to wait a few years to find out ... but looking at how things have played out historically ... the GDA is going to have slim pickings at the older ages given their restrictive requirements.

We are already seeing this play out in our groundbreaking Thorns academy. The older team is playing at the level of local TA teams. Girls get to a certain age and reality sets in. They know they aren't making a national team. They know college is crucial and they know they need good grades to get into a good college. They know high school is almost over and they value their connections with their high school team and friends. In other words, they are smarter than 99.9% of soccer parents out there. That's why the 17/18 DA pool will have a very tough go.

[Unregistered]

The question: Will the US Soccer Girls Development Academy even be relevant at the U17/U18 age level for the vast majority of the players?

If the target audience for the US Soccer GDA is the elite level player that they are identifying and developing for YNTs and WNT what's in it for the 17/18 year old player that hasn't been selected for national team duty?

-If so very few of the pool are selected for YNT/WNT duty - less than 1% - why would the other 99% stick around?
-If a players goal is to play in college and they're not YNT/WNT quality why would they stick around?
-If a player is committed to a college and they're not a YNT/WNT prospect why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality and they want to play for their HS and community why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality why would a parent continue to fund their DDs GDA expense?

There's a huge potential that the U17/18 GDA could see a mass exit (especially at U18) once players realize that they are not YNT/WNT quality and they have other priorities that they value more.
The ECNL has recognized some of these issues and has "lightened" the load for the older player. Less expense as they are only required to play in one national show case and league games. Roughly a 50% reduction in cost as compared to U16 and U17 age groups.
It will be interesting to see if the older age group, 99%+, sees the value of the GDA.
We'll have to wait a few years to find out ... but looking at how things have played out historically ... the GDA is going to have slim pickings at the older ages given their restrictive requirements.

As history has shown across sports in all countries on the Planet, players want to be in the top level possible and will work hard to achieve this goal. If not they will play locally in appropriate levels that match their current ability. College coaches will always demand their future scholarship athletes expose themselves to the highest level available which in this case will be the GDA if it is offered in their recruits local market.

[Unregistered]

The question: Will the US Soccer Girls Development Academy even be relevant at the U17/U18 age level for the vast majority of the players?

If the target audience for the US Soccer GDA is the elite level player that they are identifying and developing for YNTs and WNT what's in it for the 17/18 year old player that hasn't been selected for national team duty?

-If so very few of the pool are selected for YNT/WNT duty - less than 1% - why would the other 99% stick around?
-If a players goal is to play in college and they're not YNT/WNT quality why would they stick around?
-If a player is committed to a college and they're not a YNT/WNT prospect why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality and they want to play for their HS and community why would they stick around?
-If a player is not YNT/WNT quality why would a parent continue to fund their DDs GDA expense?

There's a huge potential that the U17/18 GDA could see a mass exit (especially at U18) once players realize that they are not YNT/WNT quality and they have other priorities that they value more.
The ECNL has recognized some of these issues and has "lightened" the load for the older player. Less expense as they are only required to play in one national show case and league games. Roughly a 50% reduction in cost as compared to U16 and U17 age groups.
It will be interesting to see if the older age group, 99%+, sees the value of the GDA.
We'll have to wait a few years to find out ... but looking at how things have played out historically ... the GDA is going to have slim pickings at the older ages given their restrictive requirements.

Players always want to improve and play against the best competition especially players from the Nation's top clubs. Not much to sell here.

[Unregistered]

As history has shown across sports in all countries on the Planet, players want to be in the top level possible and will work hard to achieve this goal. If not they will play locally in appropriate levels that match their current ability. College coaches will always demand their future scholarship athletes expose themselves to the highest level available which in this case will be the GDA if it is offered in their recruits local market.

The hypocrisy of this answer. If this were true then more would have played ECNL because it has proven it is the top level of competition

[Unregistered]

The hypocrisy of this answer. If this were true then more would have played ECNL because it has proven it is the top level of competition

Huh? I thought this discussion was about the creation of a recognized top flight league for the nation's top clubs and players called the DA as mandated by our governing body: US Soccer.

Why are you talking about the US Club sanctioned ECNL league? Weird.

[Unregistered]

The hypocrisy of this answer. If this were true then more would have played ECNL because it has proven it is the top level of competition

Just like many other leagues have proven to be the top level of competition in the past 25 years. Be it the Coast League, US National League, USYS National Championship Series, 'W' League etc.. Etc..

Now US Soccer is taking the mantle at this moment in time.

Things change.

[Unregistered]

Huh? I thought this discussion was about the creation of a recognized top flight league for the nation's top clubs and players called the DA as mandated by our governing body: US Soccer.

Why are you talking about the US Club sanctioned ECNL league? Weird.

Not weird at all. For the last several years ECNL has clearly been the undisputed top league in the US. You stated that girls want to play in the top league, but clearly you are missing that girls maybe want to stay with their coach, play HS or many other reasons

[Unregistered]

Not weird at all. For the last several years ECNL has clearly been the undisputed top league in the US. You stated that girls want to play in the top league, but clearly you are missing that girls maybe want to stay with their coach, play HS or many other reasons

Your girls can do what they want. You are missing the point about the end goal of the GDA. It is not the same as the ECNL. The ECNL is a league by its own definition.

[Unregistered]

Your girls can do what they want. You are missing the point about the end goal of the GDA. It is not the same as the ECNL. The ECNL is a league by its own definition.

Exactly. If a girls end goal is college, play ecnl (or even a bigger local club). If the end goal is national team and playing professional soccer, then GDAP is the ticket.

[Unregistered]

Exactly. If a girls end goal is college, play ecnl (or even a bigger local club). If the end goal is national team and playing professional soccer, then GDAP is the ticket.

You clowns and these donkey conversations you have are so entertaining. In 3-4 years the GDA will be the top league, period. All of those players will be highly recruited to college programs and a very small percentage will see some national team duty at the youth or full senior team level. Same thing as you have with ECNL right now. The power structure is just being shifted.

[Unregistered]

You clowns and these donkey conversations you have are so entertaining. In 3-4 years the GDA will be the top league, period. All of those players will be highly recruited to college programs and a very small percentage will see some national team duty at the youth or full senior team level. Same thing as you have with ECNL right now. The power structure is just being shifted.

The irony is the current top players from Oregon are all ECNL players as evidence by those are the only girls who have been repeatedly been invited to national camps (not regional training centers). I know for a fact these girls are continuing with ECNL and not the DA

[Unregistered]

Exactly. If a girls end goal is college, play ecnl (or even a bigger local club). If the end goal is national team and playing professional soccer, then GDAP is the ticket.

LOL! Except the overwhelming number of players at the national level are coming from ECNL as well.

[Unregistered]

You clowns and these donkey conversations you have are so entertaining. In 3-4 years the GDA will be the top league, period. All of those players will be highly recruited to college programs and a very small percentage will see some national team duty at the youth or full senior team level. Same thing as you have with ECNL right now. The power structure is just being shifted.

Look at the anonymous expert clown learning us all. El oh el.

[Unregistered]

You clowns and these donkey conversations you have are so entertaining. In 3-4 years the GDA will be the top league, period. All of those players will be highly recruited to college programs and a very small percentage will see some national team duty at the youth or full senior team level. Same thing as you have with ECNL right now. The power structure is just being shifted.

The most the GDA will do is cause a shifting of some of ecnl policies. As ecnl has already established a national competition for the top girls talent across the nation and GDA will cost 25-30% more than ecnl, and ecnl clubs will use GDA for the second/third teams, GDA will not become the top program. It will be the usl of girls high school soccer. There's nothing wrong with that, I think there is a real play for that type of league. But GDA will need to figure out how to bring their costs down at least to be on par with ecnl, if not less.