San Diego Surf SC Welcomes New Affiliate, New York Surf SC

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That's more a matter of parents shopping clubs carefully. In this very densely populated region you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a decent trainer. Don't be fooled that traveling is the recipe for success. Finding good coaching - which at the younger ages can sometimes be at the mom and pop clubs - and lots of creative play in the backyard with siblings and friends is great for development, not driving everywhere

Well not everyone has siblings. Or a backyard. Or enough of a backyard for a goal. Or a willingness to let young kids outdoors unattended.

The ECNL club we were with stayed only in NJ until U12. But some of those drives within NJ were 1-2 hours long one way for the NJ parents. Those from NY & PA had longer drives. And the club made sure we did US Club tourneys and not NJYS ones, which does not out-of-state players before U-10. Very cool of them to do that.

Pre-ECNL starts at U-13 so the travel extended to the region for tournaments. We also benefitted by being in PDA's tournament each year.

We went 11v11 a year earlier than NY. Also played up a year which the club usually does around U11 for all teams.

Clearly our experience is different from everyone else's.

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Well not everyone has siblings. Or a backyard. Or enough of a backyard for a goal. Or a willingness to let young kids outdoors unattended.

The ECNL club we were with stayed only in NJ until U12. But some of those drives within NJ were 1-2 hours long one way for the NJ parents. Those from NY & PA had longer drives. And the club made sure we did US Club tourneys and not NJYS ones, which does not out-of-state players before U-10. Very cool of them to do that.

Pre-ECNL starts at U-13 so the travel extended to the region for tournaments. We also benefitted by being in PDA's tournament each year.

We went 11v11 a year earlier than NY. Also played up a year which the club usually does around U11 for all teams.

Clearly our experience is different from everyone else's.

It works for some. But in the many years involved with all of this I've seen many (and their parents) burn out. Everyone has to assess what works for each individual child - it isn't even the same for many siblings.

Having structure practices 3-4 days/week isn't enough though - free unstructured play and hard work on one's own can be a difference maker. You don't need a goal to work on foot skills. Hundreds of millions of people do it all around the world without fields or programs. Travel around the world and you'll see nothing stops players from playing.

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It works for some. But in the many years involved with all of this I've seen many (and their parents) burn out. Everyone has to assess what works for each individual child - it isn't even the same for many siblings.

Having structure practices 3-4 days/week isn't enough though - free unstructured play and hard work on one's own can be a difference maker. You don't need a goal to work on foot skills. Hundreds of millions of people do it all around the world without fields or programs. Travel around the world and you'll see nothing stops players from playing.

Fully agree. We do fun winter indoor 4v4 in NJ. No refs. Kids police selves. No standings or trophies. Parents chip in for field time. Kid LOVES it.

The guy who organized this also runs free pickup in the summer Sat nights. Show up with your kid, kid placed with other kids, kids play.

Similar activities in LI?

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Unusual for ECNL to announce new clubs. ECNL is changing?

http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/?p=3639

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Unusual for ECNL to announce new clubs. ECNL is changing?

http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/?p=3639

Davis Legacy was also granted DA is membership. Supposedly they are turning th at down for just. ECNL. If so that's a big slap in the face.

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Maybe can't afford it? I thought the GDAs had to get sponsors.

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Who applies to be a GDA and then turn it down?

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Maybe can't afford it? I thought the GDAs had to get sponsors.

Da clubs are supposed to reduce fees as much as they can - sponsors, whatever. ECNL clubs print money.

That or they decided ECNL was a better fit with the club, or more of a sure thing :)

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Who applies to be a GDA and then turn it down?

Clubs who wer e hedging bets to see where things are going.

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Read a few digs at GDA on the MA board - one a current club lays out why they never even applied (all the same reasons that have been discussed); the other is the ECNL announcement which takes a dig at DA in the first line.

I posted the same on BTON - we'll see if it shows up :)

http://www.ohioelite.com/home/919845.html

ECNL Welcomes Davis Legacy as Member Club in 2017
August 3, 2016 -

RICHMOND, VA (August 3, 2016) – The Elite Clubs National League is excited to announce that Northern California powerhouse Davis Legacy will be joining the ECNL beginning in the 2017-2018 ECNL Season as a new member club. The ECNL will be the only national league in which the club will compete, and the focal point of its competitive efforts.

http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/?p=3639

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Great stuff. I can see clubs declining the GDA. The clubs are being pimped out. They are doing all the work - providing the personnel and engaging in a lot of findraising to pay for their expected GDA expenses (e.g. team travel to tourneys, etc) in exchange for some minimal scholarship dollars. Very few kids most likely will make a NT. Why become a GDA for one or two kids at the expense of the multitude of other kids who probably want to play in college and that's it?

I'm guessing Davis saw the requirements to be a GDA and said forget it. There's something in the requirements that we aren't seeing. Yet.

The GDAs are best off with those clubs that have a proven track record of producing multiple NT players or contributing to player pools.

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Great stuff. I can see clubs declining the GDA. The clubs are being pimped out. They are doing all the work - providing the personnel and engaging in a lot of findraising to pay for their expected GDA expenses (e.g. team travel to tourneys, etc) in exchange for some minimal scholarship dollars. Very few kids most likely will make a NT. Why become a GDA for one or two kids at the expense of the multitude of other kids who probably want to play in college and that's it?

I'm guessing Davis saw the requirements to be a GDA and said forget it. There's something in the requirements that we aren't seeing. Yet.

The GDAs are best off with those clubs that have a proven track record of producing multiple NT players or contributing to player pools.

The last line - it's for the clubs with a massive player base to help subsidize DA expenses. It won't work for smaller clubs, especially if they have boys and girls. With the uncertainty of the girls program taking off and all the costs I can absolutely see why a club would reject it, or simply never apply in the first place. I'm sure many clubs applied as a CYA (cover your azz) move.

[Unregistered]

Read a few digs at GDA on the MA board - one a current club lays out why they never even applied (all the same reasons that have been discussed); the other is the ECNL announcement which takes a dig at DA in the first line.

I posted the same on BTON - we'll see if it shows up :)

http://www.ohioelite.com/home/919845.html

ECNL Welcomes Davis Legacy as Member Club in 2017
August 3, 2016 -

RICHMOND, VA (August 3, 2016) – The Elite Clubs National League is excited to announce that Northern California powerhouse Davis Legacy will be joining the ECNL beginning in the 2017-2018 ECNL Season as a new member club. The ECNL will be the only national league in which the club will compete, and the focal point of its competitive efforts.

http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/?p=3639

Don't even bother posting there anymore. It gives people more reason to go there.

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Don't even bother posting there anymore. It gives people more reason to go there.

Not the OP but it is fun to torture Larry with this stuff. Whoever scooped him a few days ago with the EDP brackets, genius

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Like most things, follow the $$. These "girls academies" don't exist purely for the betterment of the youth soccer. They are businesses being run to make money for those involved.

GDA and ECNL are also about $$ and control -- GDA was created so US Soccer regained the path for the top league. There is a power struggle between Christian Lavers and US Soccer.

GDA only really makes sense to clubs if it attracts a large following of players younger and not making the GDA roster, but my sense is that many clubs who are both GDA and ECNL will offer both initially to allow charging for at least 2 top teams.