Really????

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Dear ??? Soccer Club 1997-1993 Players/Parents,

We are writing this letter regarding the participation in high school soccer and United States Soccer Federation Development Academy (USSF DA) teams. As some of you are aware there has been discussions regarding the USSF DA season going from a five month to ten month season. Furthermore there have been questions regarding how this will affect a player’s ability to participate in high school soccer.

Following a conference call with all USSF DA clubs and US Soccer representatives the following has been put in place by the federation:

- The USSF DA U16 and U18 season will begin in September and end at the beginning of July, following the play offs.

- No player will be permitted to play in both high school and USSF DA play at the same time.

- Players receiving aid towards their schooling will be able to be added on a waiver at the end of the high school season (Nov 1st). There will be a limit to the amount of players being able to be added at the end of the high school season and will be at the discretion of the club. No player without a waiver can be added to a roster following Sep 1st.

A supporting letter from Claudio Reyna and the USSF DA is attached with this letter. As a USSF DA club we support the initiatives of the federation in attempting to create an environment where the top percentile of players in the area are treated as professionals and thus given a greater chance to break into US Soccer’s youth teams. The current climate is that the players play too many games.

We do recognize however that high school sports are an important part of the players social growth and therefore we are cognizant of the fact this is a cultural change for all involved. As a club we are here to help in any situation we can but the rules are stringent and will not be broken in any way by us. The fact remains that those players participating in the USSF DA program are recognized as the top percentile of players and at any time can be identified by US Soccer to graduate into their teams. In addition the USSF DA program is still the primary outlet for collegiate coaches to recruit and scout players and thus the value of being involved is twofold. We put value in our current group of players at the 1997-1993 age group and hope that all look to continue in the club moving forward.

Regards

???Soccer Club

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So, what? High school soccer is a waste of time. It's just glory days for those that won't be playing in college or futher in the soccer world. Why would you want your player to play HS when they can play against better players for their own improvement?

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this will weaken the DAP teams quite a bit.

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So, what? High school soccer is a waste of time. It's just glory days for those that won't be playing in college or further in the soccer world. Why would you want your player to play HS when they can play against better players for their own improvement?

So what?? A waste of time for the 10% that are good enough to play at DA level and beyond, but that leaves the other 90% who will cherish the years they played with the friends they grew up with. The downside is taking some talented players from a high school team and possibly not winning a state title.

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"Players receiving aid towards their schooling will be able to be added on a waiver at the end of the high school season (Nov 1st)."

Is this for ISL kids on scholarship or financial aid? What if the scholarship is for academics? I don't see this applying to public school kids. If so, why give the ISL kids a waiver? Seems very unfair to me.... only kids kids rich enough to go to private schools can get waivers.

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So what?? A waste of time for the 10% that are good enough to play at DA level and beyond, but that leaves the other 90% who will cherish the years they played with the friends they grew up with. The downside is taking some talented players from a high school team and possibly not winning a state title.

HS's have their hand in this as well. By now most kids that make their HS team play for good clubs with farely well trained coaches. Then kids are subjected to some rah rah gym teacher..
This could be only the first step. Maybe "bubble kids" or kids who aspire to play DAP (or pro almost evey kids dream ) will join clubs that mimick this move or can promise a better path than HS, until the dominos fall the other way... There will always be some sort of HS team but what will the level be? Who will care? colleges have already looked away.... wake up HS's! ..

[Unregistered]

"Players receiving aid towards their schooling will be able to be added on a waiver at the end of the high school season (Nov 1st)."

Is this for ISL kids on scholarship or financial aid? What if the scholarship is for academics? I don't see this applying to public school kids. If so, why give the ISL kids a waiver? Seems very unfair to me.... only kids kids rich enough to go to private schools can get waivers.

Its for the kids that go to private school because they are good at soccer. These are not rich kids.

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Its for the kids that go to private school because they are good at soccer. These are not rich kids.

So if you are a very good soccer player from an economically disadvantaged household who is getting financial aid/athletic scholarship from a Private HS you are OK to play HS, but if you don't fit this criteria you cannot play HS? Seems very discrimanatory against anyone who doesn't fall into this category (ie. public school or not on scholarship/aid). Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. DAP should just keep it simple--with no exceptions--play DAP or HS, but not both going forward. Much easier decision and no discrimination conflicts.

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You have to realize that the DAP is for players who intend to pursue soccer as a profession.

The path of these players is supposed to be:

National Teams
Pro Teams

And then if it doesn't work out, college.

You might not be a supporter of that concept, but to prepare international level players and professionals, this is the right move.

The DAP is not the ECNL, it's not a college showcase league. College coaches will desire players who come out of the DAP, but that's not even one of the objectives for the USSF.

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So if you are a very good soccer player from an economically disadvantaged household who is getting financial aid/athletic scholarship from a Private HS you are OK to play HS, but if you don't fit this criteria you cannot play HS? Seems very discrimanatory against anyone who doesn't fall into this category (ie. public school or not on scholarship/aid). Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. DAP should just keep it simple--with no exceptions--play DAP or HS, but not both going forward. Much easier decision and no discrimination conflicts.

The major difference is that the private schools often require that you play school sports.

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The major difference is that the private schools often require that you play school sports.

Again its being selective for those that can afford private school or choose to go to private school.... Make it all or nothing, stop catering to one croud!

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The major difference is that the private schools often require that you play school sports.

OK, but what's your point? Keep it simple. If you want to do DAP, then don't go to the Private school which requires you to play school sports. If you want to go to the private school, then don't do DAP. I'm out of luck if I attend a public HS? Also, I get a chuckle out of the post which states that DAP's intended purpose is to groom players for the National Team or to become a "professional player". Please there may be 1 or 2 boys at most in each age group in Mass who possibly has the talent to be considered for this. What about the other 44 DAP boys in each age group--they have no chance for either of these soccer possibilities.

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OK, but what's your point? Keep it simple. If you want to do DAP, then don't go to the Private school which requires you to play school sports. If you want to go to the private school, then don't do DAP. I'm out of luck if I attend a public HS? Also, I get a chuckle out of the post which states that DAP's intended purpose is to groom players for the National Team or to become a "professional player". Please there may be 1 or 2 boys at most in each age group in Mass who possibly has the talent to be considered for this. What about the other 44 DAP boys in each age group--they have no chance for either of these soccer possibilities.

What if you're a freshman?

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Dear ??? Soccer Club 1997-1993 Players/Parents,

Dear Match Fit 1997-1993 Players/Parents

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1865243

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What if you're a freshman?

I would assume if you are a freshman and age appropriate (14 or 15) thus not yet U16 then you would not be playing DAP and would likely be eligibile to play HS. However, why the caveat waiver from DAP for private HS players? Keep it simple either all in or all out, thus no exceptions. Then and only then will you find out who really is the "hard core" soccer fanatic players because they are willing to give up HS soccer to chase the dream of being a professional soccer player or national team player. Good luck to them on chasing this dream, but have a backup plan ready because 99.9% of these players won't make it to those levels. I gave up high school soccer so I could play DAP and end up playing D3 soccer--yeah that makes perfect sense.