DA?

[Unregistered]

I see you never showed, tough guy. But, no crying either way...I tend to keep to myself there.

And, nope, done posting in this thread. I made my point, you made yours. I moved along.

-DA Cheerleader Dad

Nah, I keep looking for you under the pavilion but something tells me the signs they put up asking non-players to stay off the turf during training were meant for you.

BTW, are you done posting in this thread or did you just move your spiel down to the MA board on a boys thread? So insecure in your decision that you need to justify it under a topic that doesn't even apply to the girls side.

[Unregistered]

Results in DA do matter just as they matter in any other league. If a team finishes last in their Division, it's usually because they don't belong there. That's when they are then relegated because a) it doesn't help the kids development to get owned every game and b) other teams in the league who are much better deserve better competition. DA like any other league has expectations. You're not going to put a Premier White team in DA are you? No because the expectations are much higher than that. In short stop pretending that how good the team is doesn't matter in DA.

Wow - I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about here. Almost every thing you have said sounds good - but is complete bollox. Do you have ANY experience coaching or developing players? How about any experience with placing a kid in the correct college? I say no way. It all sounds nice a flowery, but its complete crap - crap # whatever for the day.

[Unregistered]

I just learned about this thread earlier this week – there sure is a lot of crap shoveling and mudslinging going on in this thread! Not that many will care or I can change their minds – but I’ll add my two cents:

I was at the Seacoast jamboree and my child was an AR at a couple of the games. For those who claim these kids should know the game because they are DA players – crap #1. The kids are volunteering their time for the club as a representative of the club and the game – nothing more/nothing less. If you think you really know all of the rules of the game – good luck. You don’t. Don’t expect the kids to either. Even the best referees in the top leagues of the world are not perfect.

People attack Seacoast DA – crap #2. The coaching has been excellent, the kids have been fantastic as have been most of the parents – are all experiences the same – no way. Is that always right? Nope. Is Seacoast the best Club in the country - of course not! Is it the best local option - I would have to say for us yes it is! I know plenty of Seacoast parents who think their kids are better and should be on the next team up etc etc. It’s not an easy path and sometimes it is frustrating as it is with any club. I will say that the DA competition has been very very good at our age – some of the older player’s games (specifically U18/U19) have been stunning to watch (and I don’t necessarily mean Seacoast teams!) – high quality soccer. Until you have been involved and/or watched games – you may want to bite your tongue on this one! There is a whole world out there you think you know about – most don’t.

Rules is rules. That’s not crap. BUT – leave these high school kids alone. My god are people nasty and devote way too much time checking up on this and that and calling clubs and NHIAA. Thou dost protest too much! This is not a serious crime and no own is getting hurt. Of course you’ve never broken any rules in your life - right? A little sanctimonious are we? What’s this business about players should be angry they are taking time away from kids on the team business – crap #3. That kid is not good enough in the first place and the coaches know all about the rules. Oh well – who said life was fair – deal with it. I will say it is almost creepy how people are focusing in on a couple kids. Leave the kids alone and move on with your life!!!! Your time is better spent on more productive things IMO. Maybe get some counseling for some crap that’s happened in your childhood or something.

Player development – People are talking about how good teams are and judging a program from the results of games and Gotsoccer rankings and all that – crap #4. It’s all BS – you don’t know what you are talking about! USSF PD is “player development” - doesn’t say TD or team development does it? I hate to break the news, but club sports – regardless of the sport in question – is about individual player development. I think we all know that how DA teams would fair against NPL team in NH? Having just gone successfully through all of this club stuff with my older child – club programs are about improving each individual player. Forget about this team crap!!!! Of course you want the teams to be successful - but that is NOT what you pay your money for. Any club sports is - you pays your money, put in the time and effort, hope that the coaching and level of competition improves your player, and the tournaments afford you exposure and a little luck. At the end of every year you determine - did your kid improve and was it a value? Pretty simple stuff I think. Has worked for me!

First and hopefully last post here. Fire away!

Sounds great. Now, here's the thing... Sounds like Seacoast DA is struggling (sorry that's what comes to mind for me). There has to be some cheating on the girls side (ie Seacoast can't play by the rules at this point). Also on the boys' side they are unable to field teams until the HS season is over (it appears anyway... although I'm ready to hear another explanation as to why the older teams are not scheduled for any games within the next few weeks). Honestly, I wish everyone the best, but I am not sold on Academy for anyone at this point. It was set up supposedly for a much higher level -- ie Regional / National exposure or whatever. Where are we with this? Now, it looks like we've moved to let's "hope" some of these kids play soccer in college. There's a real disconnect here. For me, it's less about bashing Seacoast, but much more about the DA system in general. I say this because I also understand even the Revs program gets bashed here all the time. So maybe you can take some comfort in that... it's not only Seacoast.

[Unregistered]

Wow - I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about here. Almost every thing you have said sounds good - but is complete bollox. Do you have ANY experience coaching or developing players? How about any experience with placing a kid in the correct college? I say no way. It all sounds nice a flowery, but its complete crap - crap # whatever for the day.

I don't have experience developing players, but maybe you can be more convincing in your argument by presenting one of your own. Since you disagree and you're the expert, tell us why it's good for players to play in leagues they can't compete in? Do you think it's good for their confidence? Have you ever played on a team that got constantly spanked? Have you ever been part of the blame game that plays out in this situation? Tell us how great the vibe was despite all the losses. Tell us how awesome it was to be a desperate coach switching from development mode to "F^ck I really need a win" mode. Next, tell us why it's good for the teams that do belong in a certain divisions, to stomp on, and play against ***** teams. Is it because it's good for teams to feel like they are better that they actually are? Or is it just because crappy competition is now a good thing for development? And is DA for elite players or not?

[Unregistered]

I don't have experience developing players, but maybe you can be more convincing in your argument by presenting one of your own. Since you disagree and you're the expert, tell us why it's good for players to play in leagues they can't compete in? Do you think it's good for their confidence? Have you ever played on a team that got constantly spanked? Have you ever been part of the blame game that plays out in this situation? Tell us how great the vibe was despite all the losses. Tell us how awesome it was to be a desperate coach switching from development mode to "F^ck I really need a win" mode. Next, tell us why it's good for the teams that do belong in a certain divisions, to stomp on, and play against ***** teams. Is it because it's good for teams to feel like they are better that they actually are? Or is it just because crappy competition is now a good thing for development? And is DA for elite players or not?

You make it sound like SUSC GDA teams are getting crushed every game. I just took a look at the scores for each team and, though it's still early, they don't look to be doing all that badly. Maybe give them a chance to grow the program a bit before accusing them of not being able to compete in the league.

[Unregistered]

You make it sound like SUSC GDA teams are getting crushed every game. I just took a look at the scores for each team and, though it's still early, they don't look to be doing all that badly. Maybe give them a chance to grow the program a bit before accusing them of not being able to compete in the league.

U15's haven't lost yet; U16/17's have been mixed but that was always going to be a struggle with mixed aged groups and some kids away for now. But, they have been competitive. U13/14's are similar. Small roster so not sure if that's been a problem, but they are also competitive so far.

I don't think they care this early about wins and losses as long as they are competitive which the results show they are.

[Unregistered]

You make it sound like SUSC GDA teams are getting crushed every game. I just took a look at the scores for each team and, though it's still early, they don't look to be doing all that badly. Maybe give them a chance to grow the program a bit before accusing them of not being able to compete in the league.

The original comment was general I was responding to a claim that results don't matter and that DA was all about player development. BS it is. DA is just like any other league and coaches will coach to win like any other league. And that means caring about results as well as playing their best players to try to win. Do the players riding the pine develop by not playing? No, and any coach that tells you this is full of crap. And whether a TEAM can compete in the league does matter as well. FWIW I don't even have a problem with this approach...but the OP is in living in pretend land.

[Unregistered]

The original comment was general I was responding to a claim that results don't matter and that DA was all about player development. BS it is. DA is just like any other league and coaches will coach to win like any other league. And that means caring about results as well as playing their best players to try to win. Do the players riding the pine develop by not playing? No, and any coach that tells you this is full of crap. And whether a TEAM can compete in the league does matter as well. FWIW I don't even have a problem with this approach...but the OP is in living in pretend land.

Of course it matters. Only playing is trying to win, even if it's just a scrimmage. Teams need to be placed in leagues where games are competitive, otherwise it's a waste of time. I've joked before my kid's team went 0-10-0 and tied every game, that would be ideal because it means every game is competitive.

But, from a DA perspective, there is no regulation/promotion. There are no GotSoccer points to chase by playing in-season tourneys. At the younger ages, they don't even keep standings. I can you that not every decision during the game has "win" attached to it.

[Unregistered]

The original comment was general I was responding to a claim that results don't matter and that DA was all about player development. BS it is. DA is just like any other league and coaches will coach to win like any other league. And that means caring about results as well as playing their best players to try to win. Do the players riding the pine develop by not playing? No, and any coach that tells you this is full of crap. And whether a TEAM can compete in the league does matter as well. FWIW I don't even have a problem with this approach...but the OP is in living in pretend land.

Actually a few great points... the poster who was trying to convince us all that “results don’t matter” and “it’s all about individual player development” needs to have his/her head examined. If that were the case, you would have even playing time for all (those bench players need to “develop” as well, right?) Traveling hours to games and getting in for 10 mins occasionally does NOT allow for much development, now does it? And don’t try to go there about it’s all about practice, the bench players develop in practice. Ok, got it. Having said that, you know that those 10 min subs are basically used as cones in practice too? I mean, come on, get real. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a DA only problem/situation, but to come on here preaching individual development and we don’t care about results and standings is just ridiculous.

[Unregistered]

You go to a restaurant and no one's inside it's for a reason. Seacoast Academy boys have been around for years. And they have gotten progressively worse leading more and more players to abandon ship. To the point where they can't even field teams at age groups where young men should be begging to play. Now they want to get out as fast as possible. There's a reason for this. Just keep your eyes, ears, and mind open.

[Unregistered]

You go to a restaurant and no one's inside it's for a reason. Seacoast Academy boys have been around for years. And they have gotten progressively worse leading more and more players to abandon ship. To the point where they can't even field teams at age groups where young men should be begging to play. Now they want to get out as fast as possible. There's a reason for this. Just keep your eyes, ears, and mind open.

So USSF rewards the club by giving them GDA. Great plan. Their girls teams were mid table in NPL last year and NPL was #3 by a mile. Of course they're struggling to fill rosters with quality players - it's not a good club, GDA in the NE isn't very good, it's costs as much as ECNL with as much travel. Oh and you have to give up HS for mediocre training.

[Unregistered]

So USSF rewards the club by giving them GDA. Great plan. Their girls teams were mid table in NPL last year and NPL was #3 by a mile. Of course they're struggling to fill rosters with quality players - it's not a good club, GDA in the NE isn't very good, it's costs as much as ECNL with as much travel. Oh and you have to give up HS for mediocre training.

I don't think you are giving the U15 girls enough credit. That is a very good team. But, since there isn't a single pyramid we'll never know and we know you'll never be convinced otherwise.

[Unregistered]

I don't think you are giving the U15 girls enough credit. That is a very good team. But, since there isn't a single pyramid we'll never know and we know you'll never be convinced otherwise.

Let me guess - your kid is on that team. Your kid's team has beaten some of the weakest teams in the league. Many are HS freshmen who had to make the calculation of doing DA vs the probability of making and getting decent PT on their HS varsity teams. Wait an see how the team does this year against better competition and who returns next year.

[Unregistered]

Let me guess - your kid is on that team. Your kid's team has beaten some of the weakest teams in the league. Many are HS freshmen who had to make the calculation of doing DA vs the probability of making and getting decent PT on their HS varsity teams. Wait an see how the team does this year against better competition and who returns next year.

No, I'm actually a parent of a younger player and not on DA.

But, I know players on that team, and my daughter's teammate played some with them last year. I know the success they had last year and haven't lost yet this year.

I won't talk about the future. I simply said that is a very good team NOW, and their history proves it. If you took the time to watch them, and research how last year went, you'd understand that.

Don't let your hatred blind rational thinking. It's dangerous.

[Unregistered]

No, I'm actually a parent of a younger player and not on DA.

But, I know players on that team, and my daughter's teammate played some with them last year. I know the success they had last year and haven't lost yet this year.

I won't talk about the future. I simply said that is a very good team NOW, and their history proves it. If you took the time to watch them, and research how last year went, you'd understand that.

Don't let your hatred blind rational thinking. It's dangerous.

Agree with you but you are also not thinking rationally. They did not have a great season last year, but had a good run at NPL Finals, which most definitely did not include the best teams out there.