GA Nationals

[Unregistered]

Don't disagree, but for clarity how did US Soccer blow their chance?

Not OP but if US Soccer had ac tually supported the GDA, sank some cash into it, created the best environment and didnt go for volume for p2p clubs, it could have become the real deal. Now, they cut and ran and i cant see any clubs trusting them and showing any willingness to go to a USSF backed enterprise.

On the otehr hand, people's memories are not good and there are always new suckers wanting to be duped.

[Unregistered]

Not OP but if US Soccer had ac tually supported the GDA, sank some cash into it, created the best environment and didnt go for volume for p2p clubs, it could have become the real deal. Now, they cut and ran and i cant see any clubs trusting them and showing any willingness to go to a USSF backed enterprise.

On the otehr hand, people's memories are not good and there are always new suckers wanting to be duped.

Fair enough.

[Unregistered]

Hi, thanks, but not correct. We got the word and booked our flights and they were really cheap. Yes, slackers paid 3-4X, but that's always the case.

As for the spot...this area has hosted tournaments through several leagues for years. In fact, two years ago ECNL and GDA were both in the same area at the same time and coaches ran between the two. The conditions of the fields were definitely mixed this year, but in the year's past that wasn't the case. Hard to ensure good field conditions when you plan an activity 6 months in advance.

As to why they are grass....that's the case for most of the "hot" areas of the country. Ever try to play on turn when it's 100? How spoiled are we now that panties get knotted up when you don't see plastic fields?

Not sure exactly what your issue is. Nothing different done this year than in year's past. Recency Whining?

Nothing different done this year than in year's past.......except lose most of your games!!

[Unregistered]

Not OP but if US Soccer had ac tually supported the GDA, sank some cash into it, created the best environment and didnt go for volume for p2p clubs, it could have become the real deal. Now, they cut and ran and i cant see any clubs trusting them and showing any willingness to go to a USSF backed enterprise.

On the otehr hand, people's memories are not good and there are always new suckers wanting to be duped.

Yes GDA prices at many clubs were nearly as high as other pay to play options plus there was no free-to-play pro club support. like in BDA/MLS. USSF only contributed 1.5M in scholarship money across all the clubs and teams. That might sound like a lot but it's almost nothing on a per team basis. Pretty sure that was only in the first year also

However, GDA falling apart wasn't just about money. Nearly a dozen top clubs bailed after just one year. That did not set a good tone for year two, and in fact more clubs kept leaving every year. Desperate for geographic coverage and lack of good options meant GDA admitted many clubs that were much weaker than the ones that left. Then clubs/families are disgusted by the competition and want to leave, making it worse.

[Unregistered]

Yes GDA prices at many clubs were nearly as high as other pay to play options plus there was no free-to-play pro club support. like in BDA/MLS. USSF only contributed 1.5M in scholarship money across all the clubs and teams. That might sound like a lot but it's almost nothing on a per team basis. Pretty sure that was only in the first year also

However, GDA falling apart wasn't just about money. Nearly a dozen top clubs bailed after just one year. That did not set a good tone for year two, and in fact more clubs kept leaving every year. Desperate for geographic coverage and lack of good options meant GDA admitted many clubs that were much weaker than the ones that left. Then clubs/families are disgusted by the competition and want to leave, making it worse.

League made zero sense. It was exactly like existing options. We needed another "national" league for kids like we needed a hole in the head. Plus they crapped on HS soccer which is the only affordable option for many many families.

It should have been different. Cheaper. Inclusive. About soccer and not money. If they had done any market research at all with their potential customers, they would have know what would happen.

[Unregistered]

League made zero sense. It was exactly like existing options. We needed another "national" league for kids like we needed a hole in the head. Plus they crapped on HS soccer which is the only affordable option for many many families.

It should have been different. Cheaper. Inclusive. About soccer and not money. If they had done any market research at all with their potential customers, they would have know what would happen.

The new version is about the same only less quality with all the top club and player departures. Why can’t US Soccer get it right??? It’s a real shame how the new version is significantly worse than before....