Girls DA

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Why do so many people bash the GDA? And please don't say because some parents bragged about it back in September, every team has THAT parent. If this is your reason, then you are a loser, you Mom was a loser, as was your Granny, and Great Grandmama.

My sense is that many are disappointed with GDA. They had a chance to make something better, and now after 1 year, it's proved it's a lot of the same and didn't address many of the shortcomings of ECNL. Plus the competition was downright weak for half of the clubs. On top of that, the local choices for many are a mixed bag. Some teams need new coaches. Many who are currently in it are questioning whether the sacrifices are worth it, especially if there are other options.

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It is not just the GDA. The entire youth soccer situation is frustrating. Just when they are getting older and gaining the ability to to try to play some higher level soccer, everything gets diluted and many strong, soccer crazy girls, are not even playing with and against one another due to too many so called elite leagues (all of which have imperfections). Nothing can be done beyond making the best of it and venting on anonymous soccer forums.

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How do they assess how a player will perform against strong talent when they are watching the player against weaker talent. Serious question.

this whole "stronger competition" thing is overrated. Personally i think recruiting in general is. Lets talk NYE u16-19 there are a handful of elite players. you could watch them yourself and figure out who they are. Coaches will invest time in these players and watch them in a vriety of settings or at least get reports on them . Missing on kids like this can hurt a program becasue you are committing $$ and years that you cannot use elsewhere.

The next group are , in my opinion, essentially selling themselves to schools on a variety of factors becasue they are interchangeable with 1000s of other kids. So it comes down to positional openings, academics, locality etc. Sure schools care, but if they dont get a plyer they will move on to the next one.

Most of the conversations on here revolve around player in the interchangeable bucket. there its as much about selling yourself and your interest in the school as it is them selling you.

in the elite bracket the schools are selling themselves to the kids. Huge difference.


So back to your point, the coach looking at an IC talent is probably going to want to see her vs decent competition because it gives them a fall back IF it goes wrong. remember, the elite kids are usually being recruited on projections. its not like they have seen them vs so called great competition in 8th grade !!

[Unregistered]

this whole "stronger competition" thing is overrated. Personally i think recruiting in general is. Lets talk NYE u16-19 there are a handful of elite players. you could watch them yourself and figure out who they are. Coaches will invest time in these players and watch them in a vriety of settings or at least get reports on them . Missing on kids like this can hurt a program becasue you are committing $$ and years that you cannot use elsewhere.

The next group are , in my opinion, essentially selling themselves to schools on a variety of factors becasue they are interchangeable with 1000s of other kids. So it comes down to positional openings, academics, locality etc. Sure schools care, but if they dont get a plyer they will move on to the next one.

Most of the conversations on here revolve around player in the interchangeable bucket. there its as much about selling yourself and your interest in the school as it is them selling you.

in the elite bracket the schools are selling themselves to the kids. Huge difference.


So back to your point, the coach looking at an IC talent is probably going to want to see her vs decent competition because it gives them a fall back IF it goes wrong. remember, the elite kids are usually being recruited on projections. its not like they have seen them vs so called great competition in 8th grade !!

And how would you know what elite is? What are your arm-chair qualifications??

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And how would you know what elite is? What are your arm-chair qualifications??

Do you need to be Red Auerbach to see that LeBron James in an elite basketball player?

[Unregistered]

My sense is that many are disappointed with GDA. They had a chance to make something better, and now after 1 year, it's proved it's a lot of the same and didn't address many of the shortcomings of ECNL. Plus the competition was downright weak for half of the clubs. On top of that, the local choices for many are a mixed bag. Some teams need new coaches. Many who are currently in it are questioning whether the sacrifices are worth it, especially if there are other options.

Of course many are disappointed, even those outside of GDA. USSF is supposed to be doing what's best for US soccer and more and more it is failing in that role. Everyone would like to see the game improve overall, even if their kid only plays local rec soccer. Many of the issues that have arisen this year were all predicted with great clarity, but USSF was stubborn and decided there could only be one way to do things. For those that chose to join, they've seen that the coaching isn't always better (but can be) and the competition more inconsistent (some fantastic, others terrible, more extreme than with ECNL), costs and travel are still very high. USSF also underestimated the draw of HS soccer, to the point that some players tried to skirt the rules just to be able to play.

GDA can survive but it will have to become much smaller to up the quality of the program, clubs and players. It's what USSF should have done in the first place as it better suits the needs of top players.

[Unregistered]

Of course many are disappointed, even those outside of GDA. USSF is supposed to be doing what's best for US soccer and more and more it is failing in that role. Everyone would like to see the game improve overall, even if their kid only plays local rec soccer. Many of the issues that have arisen this year were all predicted with great clarity, but USSF was stubborn and decided there could only be one way to do things. For those that chose to join, they've seen that the coaching isn't always better (but can be) and the competition more inconsistent (some fantastic, others terrible, more extreme than with ECNL), costs and travel are still very high. USSF also underestimated the draw of HS soccer, to the point that some players tried to skirt the rules just to be able to play.

GDA can survive but it will have to become much smaller to up the quality of the program, clubs and players. It's what USSF should have done in the first place as it better suits the needs of top players.

What is best for US soccer?

[Unregistered]

Of course many are disappointed, even those outside of GDA. USSF is supposed to be doing what's best for US soccer and more and more it is failing in that role. Everyone would like to see the game improve overall, even if their kid only plays local rec soccer. Many of the issues that have arisen this year were all predicted with great clarity, but USSF was stubborn and decided there could only be one way to do things. For those that chose to join, they've seen that the coaching isn't always better (but can be) and the competition more inconsistent (some fantastic, others terrible, more extreme than with ECNL), costs and travel are still very high. USSF also underestimated the draw of HS soccer, to the point that some players tried to skirt the rules just to be able to play.

GDA can survive but it will have to become much smaller to up the quality of the program, clubs and players. It's what USSF should have done in the first place as it better suits the needs of top players.

and what issues arose that stopped the USSF using the GDA as a vehicle for ID-ing talent ?

[Unregistered]

Of course many are disappointed, even those outside of GDA. USSF is supposed to be doing what's best for US soccer and more and more it is failing in that role. Everyone would like to see the game improve overall, even if their kid only plays local rec soccer. Many of the issues that have arisen this year were all predicted with great clarity, but USSF was stubborn and decided there could only be one way to do things. For those that chose to join, they've seen that the coaching isn't always better (but can be) and the competition more inconsistent (some fantastic, others terrible, more extreme than with ECNL), costs and travel are still very high. USSF also underestimated the draw of HS soccer, to the point that some players tried to skirt the rules just to be able to play.

GDA can survive but it will have to become much smaller to up the quality of the program, clubs and players. It's what USSF should have done in the first place as it better suits the needs of top players.

Your post makes no sense. Every league has varying standards. Every club has a culture, and under that coaches of different styles and quality. What issue were predicted and please only outline those that actually impact what you think the USSF want, not parents whining. On what basis is it more extreme than the ECNL ? and why is that a bad thing? Is general mediocrity better? Why do the USSF care is a kid wants to play HS soccer?

Bottom line is it seems that parents want to have their cake and eat it . They dont really want an agenda that focuses on soccer. They want one that allows them to do whatever they want. Thats fine, but lets call it what it is.

[Unregistered]

Your post makes no sense. Every league has varying standards. Every club has a culture, and under that coaches of different styles and quality. What issue were predicted and please only outline those that actually impact what you think the USSF want, not parents whining. On what basis is it more extreme than the ECNL ? and why is that a bad thing? Is general mediocrity better? Why do the USSF care is a kid wants to play HS soccer?

Bottom line is it seems that parents want to have their cake and eat it . They dont really want an agenda that focuses on soccer. They want one that allows them to do whatever they want. Thats fine, but lets call it what it is.

Has does a huge percentage of the time and money for this being spent on traveling far away put the focus on soccer? That was the biggest waste about the ECNL and the GDA did not address it.

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Has does a huge percentage of the time and money for this being spent on traveling far away put the focus on soccer? That was the biggest waste about the ECNL and the GDA did not address it.

Do you think parents would pay for a regional developmental league? Do you think Clubs would make $$ from that? your post is very long if your only point is, there is too much travel.

all the ECNL folks say thats what they want. national exposure.

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Do you think parents would pay for a regional developmental league? Do you think Clubs would make $$ from that? your post is very long if your only point is, there is too much travel.

all the ECNL folks say thats what they want. national exposure.

That is not what they say they want and they complain about the travel burden - a lot - as do many GDA parents. By most, the travel burden is tolerated, not desired.

[Unregistered]

That is not what they say they want and they complain about the travel burden - a lot - as do many GDA parents. By most, the travel burden is tolerated, not desired.

Very few families in either league WANT "national" exposure. Like you said it's tolerated because that's what they're stuck with. Their kids are interested in schools closer to home (75-80% of college students go to school within a half day's drive from home). Having East coast players and college coaches fly to the west coast to see each other is insane. Very few kids have the soccer skills to play for top programs out West or Big 10 or ACC. Most will be targeting mid to lower level programs closer to home. I like the idea of leagues having only one national event that is just the top teams from each region (after regional playoffs) then all other events be on a regional basis. Even better if most can drive to it. Saving a few grand a year on airfare and car rentals is a big deal to families and easier on college recruiting budgets also.

[Unregistered]

Do you think parents would pay for a regional developmental league? Do you think Clubs would make $$ from that? your post is very long if your only point is, there is too much travel.

all the ECNL folks say thats what they want. national exposure.

Not the OP, but yes, I think everyone involved in ECNL and GDA would welcome some modifications that reduced the overall travel. There are lots of ways that could be done -- move games to neutral locations so that less overnight stays are required. Sure it may require more field logistics and costs, but that could easily be offset by the real $$ parents pay in hotels, tolls, and gas.

The national showcases do not need to be that. You could easily break it up into at least East Coast, Midwest, and, West Coast. Do we need to go to San Diego to play a team from Florida? No.

Playoffs could follow a regional pyramid structure that doesn't require everyone to travel all the way across the country. Part of this is biased in that all of these national events seem to be on the West Coast. So another option would be to at least flip coasts every other year so that it evens out if you are in it for several years.

As far as USSF, they care about a pool for YNT. But once parents realize they aren't really chasing that dream (or playing Women's Pro if that even exists by then), then perhaps they can figure out what really helps them to achieve their personal goals.

[Unregistered]

Very few families in either league WANT "national" exposure. Like you said it's tolerated because that's what they're stuck with. Their kids are interested in schools closer to home (75-80% of college students go to school within a half day's drive from home). Having East coast players and college coaches fly to the west coast to see each other is insane. Very few kids have the soccer skills to play for top programs out West or Big 10 or ACC. Most will be targeting mid to lower level programs closer to home. I like the idea of leagues having only one national event that is just the top teams from each region (after regional playoffs) then all other events be on a regional basis. Even better if most can drive to it. Saving a few grand a year on airfare and car rentals is a big deal to families and easier on college recruiting budgets also.

So please explain why they play in those leagues? you do realize that the Clubs are nothing without customers. If every kid said. i want to play NPL, guess what.....I understand the demographics of where kids attend but i think there is a status component to it that parents feel compelled to pay for and travel to attain.

Why is the ECNL adding NEW showcases. I dont see a single post complaining about that. yet i read ECNL vs GDA all the time.

why are parents tolerating it? for what benefit?