Girls Soccer

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Girls want to play High School.

Says who?

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What I look at is the younger teams coming up through some of these clubs. You can not even compare the current east coast GDA teams to the current ECNL teams at the 05, 06, 07 or 08 teams. I think that our current HS teams were really disrupted by the Rah, Rah sales pitch that went on for the past few years by GDA clubs, but when the dust finally settled, the younger teams settled back with the ECNL clubs. Even now, you see GDA players going back to ECNL at the older teams. Girls want to play High School.

Enough do so that in NY metro area, some gda teams really struggle for any depth. Some gdas have to look the other way regarding HS to even try to field a team.

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For a kid that really has no interest in HS, not sure the best solution. It may be worth it to play with kids that do HS so for majority of the year,outside of the 10-12 weeks for HS, the player has a strong roster of training partners. It really depends on the options near each player.

[Unregistered]

What I look at is the younger teams coming up through some of these clubs. You can not even compare the current east coast GDA teams to the current ECNL teams at the 05, 06, 07 or 08 teams. I think that our current HS teams were really disrupted by the Rah, Rah sales pitch that went on for the past few years by GDA clubs, but when the dust finally settled, the younger teams settled back with the ECNL clubs. Even now, you see GDA players going back to ECNL at the older teams. Girls want to play High School.

Is this your first year in ECNL?

The standard cycle for the last 8 years has been that at U15 about 1/2 of the roster of PDA or Match Fit, or WC gets replaced by girls from local teams that developed elsewhere. Copa, SDFC, Stallions, etc. The results form the younger teams have always been extraordinary, yet 1/2 of the roster would get replaced with real talent. Now we are at the crossroads and you have clubs like STA, CSA, Rush-sjb and NYSC that can hold on to some of that talent. Not all, but they have a story to tell. So that on its own watered down the strength of MF and PDA at older age groups.

HS soccer is an injury wonderland. I know of a lot of ECNL kids that skip HS season, please don’t sell any crap about kids wanting to play it. Kids play on their ECNL team because they are settled in and like their team and coach. A lot hate HS soccer.

[Unregistered]

GDA took lead because US. Soccer wants to promote their branded league. You also notice how poorly the GDA filled rosters did at the various age group World Cups.



How do you even measure that? Not like DA posts it's numbers. Not to mention a good number of those teams were ECNL just a year or 2 ago. GDA is boasting about Sophia Smith but neglected to mention she was ECNL for most of her time with her club Real Colorado.




Alliance League is now an NPL league. Very weak division but NPL patch.


Ultimately look at the college of choice and where they get players from. Most "elite" D1 players go to schools not very far from home. Most of UNC players are from NC, Stanford most are from CA, Any Florida team...from Florida/GA. You REALLY want to maximize your kids chances then move to a team close to the college of choice.

Why the GDA hate? Yes, the failed WC players were all ECNL first.
Also in-state tuition for most state schools like unc, fsu, is less. And fl kids go nearly for free. Dirt cheap in state. So coaches get two for one essentially.
Not everyone on the roster sees the field either.
Lastly unc's asst coach is also coach with nc courage gda (many unc recruits from here). Gets to coach up.
My kid played gda. Got to play with and against some of the best in the country. Her choice and she does not regret it even a little.

[Unregistered]

Just because PDA went back to ECNL doesn't make it the place to be. All the leagues are flawed. Pick what works for you/your family.

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It is scary how much the GDA has weakened some ECNL clubs so fast in this area. But I have no doubt ECNL will make changes, and as long as PDA is around that’s all that matters.

Are you saying that because your kid is there or because you think they are immune from whatever league they play in?

As a developer of talent I think they are no better than anyone else. Some good coaches and some bad ones. They do tend to level up by attracting players from other clubs and the odd player that is wiling to drive by several clubs to put PDA on a resume.

As a winner of games, they are pretty good. They tend to have more depth than others, but not necessarily more top talent.

PDA are really good at what they do, but its a myth that they are "better" at what matters.

[Unregistered]

Says who?

The FC Fury kids did and all those from CSA Mon who DM exposed. Kids wanted to play so much that they were willing to break their own clubs rules and leagues rules. That’s pretty telling .........

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So true. No league without PDA could ever be viewed as elite in this area. They are the only quality club at an elite level right now. They are the one constant where all other clubs appear to be faltering in ECNL/GDA. As long as they are in ECNL that will be the elite league in this area. No other club comes even close.

It is scary how much the GDA has weakened some ECNL clubs so fast in this area. But I have no doubt ECNL will make changes, and as long as PDA is around that’s all that matters.

[Unregistered]

Absolutely spot on, even PDA Shore which is at the bottom of the PDA hierarchy would beat CSA DA on the pitch. Speaks volumes about the quality of one club versus the other. No club in the area comes close to PDA. Stick with PDA play HS ball and have fun!

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Too much drama at the PDA wanna-be clubs. It’s laughable really.

[Unregistered]

So true. No league without PDA could ever be viewed as elite in this area. They are the only quality club at an elite level right now. They are the one constant where all other clubs appear to be faltering in ECNL/GDA. As long as they are in ECNL that will be the elite league in this area. No other club comes even close.

Elite how? What do they do for individual kids that others dont? Please dont tell me about results. I dont care about them. Dont show me commit lists unless you are suggesting tht the players could not have got to said school at any other Club.

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Elite how? What do they do for individual kids that others dont? Please dont tell me about results. I dont care about them. Dont show me commit lists unless you are suggesting tht the players could not have got to said school at any other Club.

So what do you want this dude to reference? How about USYNT call ups? How you quantifying ‘for the individual kids’. My kid is at another ECNL club but PDA clearly the strongest around and to say ‘prove it’ but you are not allowed to quote results, achievements or college commits leaves what a subjective view of improvement?

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So what do you want this dude to reference? How about USYNT call ups? How you quantifying ‘for the individual kids’. My kid is at another ECNL club but PDA clearly the strongest around and to say ‘prove it’ but you are not allowed to quote results, achievements or college commits leaves what a subjective view of improvement?

best value. who does the most for the lowest price? Only affluent players can access PDA and its ilk, so what club will serve the masses?

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best value. who does the most for the lowest price? Only affluent players can access PDA and its ilk, so what club will serve the masses?

Best value? Odd comment. So basically asking how much PDA costs? Sure they have financial aid like all clubs.