Lonestar leaves DA for ECNL

[Unregistered]

I wouldn't put her in the club-hopper category though...probably would've been a lifer if Fury took GDA a little more seriously. Once they made it clear that kids could play school ball AND GDA at the same time, I think most of the truly dedicated players opted out of Fury.

yawn..stop answering your own posts. Good luck to all the players. Lot of dedicated soccer players are not playing in the GDA country club and shocker - even play school ball you arrogant snob.

[Unregistered]

They advocate for a lot of stuff like reduced cost or free, coaching certifications, 4 to 1 practices to games but they don't follow through on much do they. How them HS waivers doing? They do not play the same style or coach the same stuff, so I guess it's not working. Lisc aint beating wc at any age .... Maybe even if they played year downs.

I won't paint with broad strokes, but will say we have a scholarship player (our club has a charitable foundation which gives back to players in need), we practice 3-90 minute sessions a week and a 60 minute strength and conditioning, coaches are licensed, there are no HS waivers (but older age group does have private school waivers [not really fair to ask a kid to quit private school is it?]), and yes, the styles are similar in every game we play.

All leagues are going to have crap teams and they do get rooted out for non-performance (see Empire last year). But, the more you concentrate on LISC losing to WC shows how far from the point you are.

[Unregistered]

I won't paint with broad strokes, but will say we have a scholarship player (our club has a charitable foundation which gives back to players in need), we practice 3-90 minute sessions a week and a 60 minute strength and conditioning, coaches are licensed, there are no HS waivers (but older age group does have private school waivers [not really fair to ask a kid to quit private school is it?]), and yes, the styles are similar in every game we play.

All leagues are going to have crap teams and they do get rooted out for non-performance (see Empire last year). But, the more you concentrate on LISC losing to WC shows how far from the point you are.

Do all of the teams in your own even club do this?? .... if true, your team is the very small exception, believe me! We got sold a bill of goods. I hate to move her again after only a year, but cant stay where we are ..... its a shyte show .... but the sleeve patch is cute (and expensive).

[Unregistered]

yawn..stop answering your own posts. Good luck to all the players. Lot of dedicated soccer players are not playing in the GDA country club and shocker - even play school ball you arrogant snob.

UM, not answering my own post-just being objective about the situation, which clearly you are not. You can't possibly believe that a kid is dedicated to making the NT roster, pool, camp if they're playing school ball. USSF has clearly stated that they are opposed to it. Being dedicated to something means being willing to make sacrifices.

And PS-my kid plays ECNL, so I'm no big rah, rah GDA fan. But at the end of the day, the USSF made their position very clear. They feel school ball is a hinderance to player progression. If you are dedicated to playing on a NT, you don't spit in their face and then expect to get a call up.

[Unregistered]

UM, not answering my own post-just being objective about the situation, which clearly you are not. You can't possibly believe that a kid is dedicated to making the NT roster, pool, camp if they're playing school ball. USSF has clearly stated that they are opposed to it. Being dedicated to something means being willing to make sacrifices.

And PS-my kid plays ECNL, so I'm no big rah, rah GDA fan. But at the end of the day, the USSF made their position very clear. They feel school ball is a hinderance to player progression. If you are dedicated to playing on a NT, you don't spit in their face and then expect to get a call up.

Seriously? That is a bunch of marketing drivel. They are running their league to put ECNL out of business. And go for it...it a free county.

But when you trot out the exact same marketing crap that your competitor used for years, you take us for fools.

When you have a competitor's player move over to your league and then within a few weeks they are an NT player as if that has anything to do with your league, you take us for fools.

When you run an uber expensive status league and try to convince us that is solely about finding and developing soccer talent, you take us for fools.

We saw this same movie with ECNL before the DA started showing it. Don't be a fool. This is all strictly business.

[Unregistered]

Seriously? That is a bunch of marketing drivel. They are running their league to put ECNL out of business. And go for it...it a free county.

But when you trot out the exact same marketing crap that your competitor used for years, you take us for fools.

When you have a competitor's player move over to your league and then within a few weeks they are an NT player as if that has anything to do with your league, you take us for fools.

When you run an uber expensive status league and try to convince us that is solely about finding and developing soccer talent, you take us for fools.

We saw this same movie with ECNL before the DA started showing it. Don't be a fool. This is all strictly business.

You're missing my point. I don't disagree with you, but USSF is the one picking NT players. If you are dedicated to becoming an NT player, you're going to do everything you can to maximize your opportunity. Playing school ball and playing in a competitor's league isn't going to increase your chances of being selected by USSF for anything. That's all.

I'm not saying playing in GDA automatically makes anyone NT caliber and yes, it is clear that USSF crapped on their own supposed objective by making the league so big and handing a badge to every ECNL club and then suddenly anointing them better just because they now wore a different patch! But if you want to be one of the chosen (very) few, you have to play their game.

[Unregistered]

You're missing my point. I don't disagree with you, but USSF is the one picking NT players. If you are dedicated to becoming an NT player, you're going to do everything you can to maximize your opportunity. Playing school ball and playing in a competitor's league isn't going to increase your chances of being selected by USSF for anything. That's all.

I'm not saying playing in GDA automatically makes anyone NT caliber and yes, it is clear that USSF crapped on their own supposed objective by making the league so big and handing a badge to every ECNL club and then suddenly anointing them better just because they now wore a different patch! But if you want to be one of the chosen (very) few, you have to play their game.

You are missing the point. I don't disagree with you. They exploit a tiny handful of talented young players to play on the youth teams and help market and sell their league. ECNL used to do basically the same thing.

This is mostly about pushing and selling young talent to join their league - not finding and developing young soccer talent.

It is not illegal but call a spade a spade, especially when a product is being marketed to children.

[Unregistered]

You are missing the point. I don't disagree with you. They exploit a tiny handful of talented young players to play on the youth teams and help market and sell their league. ECNL used to do basically the same thing.

This is mostly about pushing and selling young talent to join their league - not finding and developing young soccer talent.

It is not illegal but call a spade a spade, especially when a product is being marketed to children.

I think you are over complicating it. Most kids play in the league the club decided. They ignore the marketing and just want to play.

[Unregistered]

I think you are over complicating it. Most kids play in the league the club decided. They ignore the marketing and just want to play.

Lots of kids switched clubs with advent of GDA .... not over complicating it.

[Unregistered]

Lots of kids switched clubs with advent of GDA .... not over complicating it.

Define "Lots".

Our club picked up 2 players from outside clubs who likely came over for that reason. Not specifically for GDA and the NT carrot that some think is the reason, but because they were looking beyond their current league and this was the best option. NPL in our area was trash, and ECNL wasn't an option. No complaints at all, but

[Unregistered]

Define "Lots".

Our club picked up 2 players from outside clubs who likely came over for that reason. Not specifically for GDA and the NT carrot that some think is the reason, but because they were looking beyond their current league and this was the best option. NPL in our area was trash, and ECNL wasn't an option. No complaints at all, but

(Stray enter key from old broken fingers from my GK days)

anyhoo...No complaints at all, but also would be just as happy in ECNL or another similar environment.

[Unregistered]

Lots of kids switched clubs with advent of GDA .... not over complicating it.

For sure there was the fallout that occurred with kids who were already at ECNL and mmoved to GDA or decided to stay ECNL, etc.

The real tell is with the age groups where players were likely already at their club at a pre ECNL/DS age and whether they jump. I guess that was at the earliest 05s but is really most notable for the 06 and 07s now.

[Unregistered]

For sure there was the fallout that occurred with kids who were already at ECNL and mmoved to GDA or decided to stay ECNL, etc.

The real tell is with the age groups where players were likely already at their club at a pre ECNL/DS age and whether they jump. I guess that was at the earliest 05s but is really most notable for the 06 and 07s now.

Agreed. Our club was new to it last year and there was always an understanding that at the 2004 and above it was going to be a challenge. Players are less likely to want to make a change once they are in HS; the 05's weren't in it yet for the most part so it was an easier sell to them. They are also going to avoid, if possible, the private school players and that waiver scenario for the players who hadn't been in a private school when this started.

In short, you really can't measure the successes or failures until the 2005 age group grows through a 4-year run.

[Unregistered]

Agreed. Our club was new to it last year and there was always an understanding that at the 2004 and above it was going to be a challenge. Players are less likely to want to make a change once they are in HS; the 05's weren't in it yet for the most part so it was an easier sell to them. They are also going to avoid, if possible, the private school players and that waiver scenario for the players who hadn't been in a private school when this started.

In short, you really can't measure the successes or failures until the 2005 age group grows through a 4-year run.

The problem was that kids in HS (or going into HS) didnt want to change, and while kids in grades 5-7 were quite willing to get into a national league (especially the ones not on ECNL rosters already), their was a huge question mark as to what they would do after freshman year when they would be in line to play varsity (something most girls really wanted to do .... play with their friends, in front of their town and friends, under the lights, compete for a state championship .....). Would those players stay in GDA or just use the time there to improve rather than suck on a freshman or JV team in the Fall?

[Unregistered]

The problem was that kids in HS (or going into HS) didnt want to change, and while kids in grades 5-7 were quite willing to get into a national league (especially the ones not on ECNL rosters already), their was a huge question mark as to what they would do after freshman year when they would be in line to play varsity (something most girls really wanted to do .... play with their friends, in front of their town and friends, under the lights, compete for a state championship .....). Would those players stay in GDA or just use the time there to improve rather than suck on a freshman or JV team in the Fall?

I don't have a crystal ball, but speaking only of our club and my daughter's team specifically, none were in HS when this hit us (7th or 8th graders). Most of the team moved to GDA, and those who didn't were replaced and for the most part, were upgrades (save for 1-2 players).

After year 1, when most are now freshman, all but two stayed and again, those who came in were upgrades.

Time will tell after year 2, when most will be sophomores. I can't tell what everyone will do, but I do anticipate more leaving and not sure if they will be replaced with better players.

Impression I get is the players love their club teammates as much as their school teammates and don't miss the school aspect. My daughter, specifically, is very involved in the school (goes to as many games for all the teams as she can) so she sees and understand the school spirit thing, just likes playing with her other friends more.

For now.

This could change later on; who knows.