GDA will allow HS

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regardless - some poster said the da level teams would some how be fully funded n this scheme.

[Unregistered]

but same could be said for the da disappearing and the pre da would be left holding the bag. unless the da coaches and fields cost more then the pre da coaches and fields.

No DA, they would not keep coaches they have, who can demand higher salaries. That is why they are given titles like Associate director or technical director which gives them the umbrella to cover all players not just those on the DA. To be able to pay these coaches the salaries they can demand, that cost is shared by all DA and Pre-Da families.

[Unregistered]

parents will waste tons of their cash on their players. No way will they waste cash on another's player.

They do it already without even knowing it. Clubs skim a few $ off of every paying player to give a few other players scholarships. This wouldn't be any different.

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They do it already without even knowing it. Clubs skim a few $ off of every paying player to give a few other players scholarships. This wouldn't be any different.

a few scholarships can probably survive the grumbling. how would a fully funded academy with lots of expensive travel with ever fly?

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The main problems clubs had with the DA really was not HS soccer anyway. Most ECNL clubs would rather their players not play HS, but know since they can't in the DA, so ECNL clubs now promote it. The problems with the DA format were more related to combined age groups which was changed for next year, the sub rules still in place, and the regimented nature of the DA places on the clubs vs ECNL which is just a league where clubs can train and play how they like. There are dramatic difference to how the DA is run vs a team playing ECNL well beyond the HS soccer rule. Some kids thrive on it and many also find it suffocating.

I agree with you. I coached in the USYS leagues and then moved to ECNL and then DA. There are many aspects of these two leagues that I really like and both leagues are much better than the USYS regional and national leagues. The #1 concern I have with all these leagues was cost. So much of what parents are spending on travel before U16 is a waste. It's crazy to me that there are 4 weekends that require hotel stays just in league play, and that doesn't count national events and the women's final four event. The cost is too high. Changes are needed or kids are just going to leave the sport and you can't look for change with people running ECNL or GDA.

[Unregistered]

That won't last. Parents on the Pre-DA will not subsidize the players on the DA.

OMG they do it now! They just don't know it. How do you think clubs lower their DA fees? They make more money off of the other teams in the organization to cover the losses on DA teams. Man you people are thick.

[Unregistered]

a few scholarships can probably survive the grumbling. how would a fully funded academy with lots of expensive travel with ever fly?

no idea. there will huge demand for the funded spots and little demand for the sucker spots that are expected to pay for all those other players and their travel. it sounds like a recipe for lots of resentment and then lower levels leaving for other options.

[Unregistered]

Other boards say in the NE NYCFC is definitely out and NEFC (one of the other few good NE clubs) may be as well. They're saying GDA in the NE is definitely dead.

Most of the best clubs are not even in GDA in the NE. Lots of good clubs either didn't do GDA, or have pulled out of GDA in NE. The top NE clubs that are still in the GDA, which aren't many, are now close to moving back to ECNL because the standards are not good. Clubs playing in the Mid-America division aren't happy with the travel, with Cincinnati Development Academy being the most vocal. GDA never made sense for girls soccer.

[Unregistered]

no idea. there will huge demand for the funded spots and little demand for the sucker spots that are expected to pay for all those other players and their travel. it sounds like a recipe for lots of resentment and then lower levels leaving for other options.

Look...I’m not involved with any club, but I know how businesses work and this idea is not that far off.

If you have multiple clubs working together, with lots of players and teams in each club, A small $$ increase per player across the board could easily generate enough money to subsidize 4-6 teams. It’s about leveraging the masses and a big number of small increases.

Why would they support the increase or subsidizing other teams? Easy...either they won’t know it or it will be small enough that they won’t care. Just like a lot of tax payers pay for the entitlements of people that don’t pay into the system at all. Or perhaps they will buy into the it with the idea / promise that they will be on one of those teams one day.

The clubs that are working together can market that they are part of the program and use that as leverage to recruit and retain players....everyone loves a carrot to chase. So, I don’t really see how participating clubs will make less money and may actually be stabilized or bolstered by the partnership.

Just an outsiders perspective that clearly sees that one of the major problems with soccer across Florida is too much divison and too much fractured talent.

[Unregistered]

Most of the best clubs are not even in GDA in the NE. Lots of good clubs either didn't do GDA, or have pulled out of GDA in NE. The top NE clubs that are still in the GDA, which aren't many, are now close to moving back to ECNL because the standards are not good. Clubs playing in the Mid-America division aren't happy with the travel, with Cincinnati Development Academy being the most vocal. GDA never made sense for girls soccer.

Last year in the older groups, it was great. Shame. Once Slammers, PDA, Hawks, pulled out they took their YNT's with them. There is a clear dilution of talent where last year ECNL had the top kids leave for GDA (for instance all of the UNC freshman and FSU freshman played GDA). What a crap show girls soccer has become.

[Unregistered]

Look...I’m not involved with any club, but I know how businesses work and this idea is not that far off.

If you have multiple clubs working together, with lots of players and teams in each club, A small $$ increase per player across the board could easily generate enough money to subsidize 4-6 teams. It’s about leveraging the masses and a big number of small increases.

Why would they support the increase or subsidizing other teams? Easy...either they won’t know it or it will be small enough that they won’t care. Just like a lot of tax payers pay for the entitlements of people that don’t pay into the system at all. Or perhaps they will buy into the it with the idea / promise that they will be on one of those teams one day.

The clubs that are working together can market that they are part of the program and use that as leverage to recruit and retain players....everyone loves a carrot to chase. So, I don’t really see how participating clubs will make less money and may actually be stabilized or bolstered by the partnership.

Just an outsiders perspective that clearly sees that one of the major problems with soccer across Florida is too much divison and too much fractured talent.

Understand that many clubs are owed by a person, often from another country. These aren't community youth organizations, so the owners don't care. They aren't dipping into their profits to help a kid unless that kid can help them. Many clubs help kids by basically taking a little money away from families that can pay, and parents don't even know it is being done. This can become a problem. These leagues are for making money, especially ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Look...I’m not involved with any club, but I know how businesses work and this idea is not that far off.

If you have multiple clubs working together, with lots of players and teams in each club, A small $$ increase per player across the board could easily generate enough money to subsidize 4-6 teams. It’s about leveraging the masses and a big number of small increases.

Why would they support the increase or subsidizing other teams? Easy...either they won’t know it or it will be small enough that they won’t care. Just like a lot of tax payers pay for the entitlements of people that don’t pay into the system at all. Or perhaps they will buy into the it with the idea / promise that they will be on one of those teams one day.

The clubs that are working together can market that they are part of the program and use that as leverage to recruit and retain players....everyone loves a carrot to chase. So, I don’t really see how participating clubs will make less money and may actually be stabilized or bolstered by the partnership.

Just an outsiders perspective that clearly sees that one of the major problems with soccer across Florida is too much divison and too much fractured talent.

lol. fancy youth soccer is now an entitlement like food and healthcare? Gimme a break.

anyway suit yourself. you are underestimating the costs of funding these teams - multiple trips with plane tickets, rental cars, multiple night hotel stays.

then you have to have enough families willing to pony up for all the kids getting free rides and enough kids that are willing to get a free rides on the backs of some other poor shlub soccer families.

good luck.

[Unregistered]

Most of the best clubs are not even in GDA in the NE. Lots of good clubs either didn't do GDA, or have pulled out of GDA in NE. The top NE clubs that are still in the GDA, which aren't many, are now close to moving back to ECNL because the standards are not good. Clubs playing in the Mid-America division aren't happy with the travel, with Cincinnati Development Academy being the most vocal. GDA never made sense for girls soccer.

Check out the travel for the NW also - San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Utah. All require plane trips unless you drew a local team that week. It's absurd.

[Unregistered]

Last year in the older groups, it was great. Shame. Once Slammers, PDA, Hawks, pulled out they took their YNT's with them. There is a clear dilution of talent where last year ECNL had the top kids leave for GDA (for instance all of the UNC freshman and FSU freshman played GDA). What a crap show girls soccer has become.

and all of those UNC freshman developed 90% or more outside of GDA, at their prior clubs and their own hard work. Do you really think one year in GDA made them significantly better players? Yes it's a sh*t show but much of it was USSF's own making. All of the issues coming to light now were predicted two years ago when they started announcing who was in the league. Many knew the HS thing would be a huge issue getting top talent. One thing few saw coming was how quickly some of the country's top clubs pulled out and went back to ECNL. It's too bad NYCFC is leaving as they were one of the few MLS clubs who gave girls soccer a chance (although it wasn't free-to-play like BDA is).

[Unregistered]

and all of those UNC freshman developed 90% or more outside of GDA, at their prior clubs and their own hard work. Do you really think one year in GDA made them significantly better players? Yes it's a sh*t show but much of it was USSF's own making. All of the issues coming to light now were predicted two years ago when they started announcing who was in the league. Many knew the HS thing would be a huge issue getting top talent. One thing few saw coming was how quickly some of the country's top clubs pulled out and went back to ECNL. It's too bad NYCFC is leaving as they were one of the few MLS clubs who gave girls soccer a chance (although it wasn't free-to-play like BDA is).

NYCFC didn't do it because they cared about girls soccer. They are better off back at World Class.