ECNL vs GDA Pro's and Con's

[Unregistered]

And players granted waivers for HS will see them rescinded for year 2 so they'll be looking to go back to ECNL as well. The turmoil isn't over quite yet

The other factor that often gets overlooked are the combined ages starting at U16. So many 2003s will be looking at this for only 1 year. After next year they will be combined with 02s, so automatically around half the squad will be cut and then within the half that are offered a spot, many may not see much playing time.

It will be interesting to see how many people feel like they may have made the wrong choice -- not that there is a right one.

[Unregistered]

And players granted waivers for HS will see them rescinded for year 2 so they'll be looking to go back to ECNL as well. The turmoil isn't over quite yet

I want to join the STOP league. The soccer turmoil over please league.

[Unregistered]

The other factor that often gets overlooked are the combined ages starting at U16. So many 2003s will be looking at this for only 1 year. After next year they will be combined with 02s, so automatically around half the squad will be cut and then within the half that are offered a spot, many may not see much playing time.

It will be interesting to see how many people feel like they may have made the wrong choice -- not that there is a right one.

So now actually having to be good is bad thing? The whole age thing is a con perpetrated byt eh businessmen who realize its good for them.

the single best development move is to go to fewer teams

[Unregistered]

So now actually having to be good is bad thing? The whole age thing is a con perpetrated byt eh businessmen who realize its good for them.

the single best development move is to go to fewer teams

No, the point is that being good should be the primary criteria, but right now spaces are being filled with players who don't belong there as clubs have to fill roster spots to field teams. A better GDA would have been fewer clubs and/or combined teams as originally planned. Then it would have been more elite and the right choice for those that are good enough and want it. Next year will instead be a mess.

[Unregistered]

No, the point is that being good should be the primary criteria, but right now spaces are being filled with players who don't belong there as clubs have to fill roster spots to field teams. A better GDA would have been fewer clubs and/or combined teams as originally planned. Then it would have been more elite and the right choice for those that are good enough and want it. Next year will instead be a mess.

Fewer teams = more elite players per team but the geography of the US makes that an impossible dream. No league would survive where you had to seriously consider flying to half of your away games and that's what would happen if you had a lot less teams.

[Unregistered]

I want to join the STOP league. The soccer turmoil over please league.

Just wait - in less than three years there will be a new super-upper league that will be even better!

[Unregistered]

Fewer teams = more elite players per team but the geography of the US makes that an impossible dream. No league would survive where you had to seriously consider flying to half of your away games and that's what would happen if you had a lot less teams.

That is absolutely true. But the reality is DA is too big for what it is trying to accomplish. Too many mediocre clubs, coaching and talent - and parents get the privilege to pay for it!

[Unregistered]

Just wait - in less than three years there will be a new super-upper league that will be even better!

Best Upper Level League Super High Intense Travel

Will be for 8 year olds since they will be the only ones interested anymore.

[Unregistered]

Fewer teams = more elite players per team but the geography of the US makes that an impossible dream. No league would survive where you had to seriously consider flying to half of your away games and that's what would happen if you had a lot less teams.

Yes, but what should have happened is that the NE and Atlantic divisions should have remained combined with 1/2 of the clubs. We do not need 2 GDAs on LI, 2 in Boston, etc. Then it would have been hard to make the team and the right choice for the appropriate players. Now, all we get are watered down versions.

[Unregistered]

That is absolutely true. But the reality is DA is too big for what it is trying to accomplish. Too many mediocre clubs, coaching and talent - and parents get the privilege to pay for it!

There are really three ideas behind the DA.

1) Create one league for the top players to be in instead of the endless variations of competing "premier" leagues offered by US Club, US Youth, Super-Y, etc. This will help somewhat consolidate talent into a single league for USSF to work with and scout, making their lives easier.

2) Attempt to force teams in that one league to place more focus on training and less on games and trophy hunting (10 month, 4 day a week training, 1 game a day, DA events only).

3) Hopefully, magically, miraculously somehow convince the DA clubs to be free to play for ending the pay-to-play system that sends so much talent to the wayside. They are doing this some by including so many MLS clubs in the DA programs but to me this is a pipe-dream. Until the clubs are allowed to be financially compensated, like what happens in the rest of the world, when their youth players sign big contracts around the world, pay to play will continue.

[Unregistered]

There are really three ideas behind the DA.

1) Create one league for the top players to be in instead of the endless variations of competing "premier" leagues offered by US Club, US Youth, Super-Y, etc. This will help somewhat consolidate talent into a single league for USSF to work with and scout, making their lives easier.

2) Attempt to force teams in that one league to place more focus on training and less on games and trophy hunting (10 month, 4 day a week training, 1 game a day, DA events only).

3) Hopefully, magically, miraculously somehow convince the DA clubs to be free to play for ending the pay-to-play system that sends so much talent to the wayside. They are doing this some by including so many MLS clubs in the DA programs but to me this is a pipe-dream. Until the clubs are allowed to be financially compensated, like what happens in the rest of the world, when their youth players sign big contracts around the world, pay to play will continue.

4) USSF and the clubs know parents are willing to pay handsomely for the chance to play in the "top" league. Pay to play will continue even though USSF has no interest in 99.5% of the players or their development

Small addition

[Unregistered]

We have an opportunity to play for Fury. However, I see so much negativity around PR and his operations(especially on BOTN). What were/are the issues? We are new to this area, and trying to make a choice.

[Unregistered]

We have an opportunity to play for Fury. However, I see so much negativity around PR and his operations(especially on BOTN). What were/are the issues? We are new to this area, and trying to make a choice.

Ignore everything you read on BOTN about PR. It is all related to PR no longer advertising on BOTN, thus not making LM any money.

PR has a long history of success. The main complaint with him is that he personally is constantly shifting directions. One day he is Mr. Academy. The next day he is coach of a pro woman's team. The next day he is trying to be the NT U23 coach. But even with that distraction he managed to turn Albertson into a long term top club (though they have been struggling some lately) and will likely do so again with the Fury program.

[Unregistered]

We have an opportunity to play for Fury. However, I see so much negativity around PR and his operations(especially on BOTN). What were/are the issues? We are new to this area, and trying to make a choice.

My kid plays on an NPL team and is on the league's PDP Select Squad, she's good but a multi-sport athlete, not willing to concentrate strictly on soccer. If and when the time comes that she wants to focus only on soccer, I would bring her to Fury without hesitation.

PR gets a tough rap, mostly from disgruntled parents who thought their kids were superstars. Yes, he does have his hands in quite a few things at once and was gone a lot when he was the head coach of the Portland Thorns...the team with all the Olympians and World Cup winners. The guy has the highest success rate of college placements and NT players of anyone in the area. And from what we've seen having played his team's regularly when my kid was younger and sporadically in tournaments now, they do a good job. More importantly, we've seen a lot of the same players since U9 or so, getting better year after year. Not like some other options that go from club to club, plucking the top players.

Good luck and remember to block out the noise and focus on your kids happiness and development!

[Unregistered]

The issue with PR is that he bends the truth at every opportunity if it suites his needs. As he was recruiting for DA he told players that other players were coming but he couldn't announce it yet. In fact he was not being truthful. What he is winding up with is most players are coming from the Albertson ECNL teams.