DA will cheaper than ECNL, Final Nail in Coffin

[Unregistered]

If you talk to national team coaches they say one of the big problems in the US is that club and parent egos keep kids from playing up to get pushed to play at higher levels. Certain clubs would rather win than put kids where they belong developmentally.

Play ups can be developmentally correct.

They can be but it's pretty rare. If anything too many parents push for their kids to play up when they really shouldn't be (parents do love to brag about their kid playing up!). If clubs cave then it not only creates political drama (all the others say "but what about my kid?") but it often doesn't go well for the player. The general guideline is the player should be in the top 3-5 of the team they are playing up to, not in the top of their age appropriate team. Not many kids fit that description. But yes clubs that do care about development need to recognize when playing up is appropriate.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy having so many play ups has nothing to do with development and everything to do with too few on-age players signing up.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy having so many play ups has nothing to do with development and everything to do with too few on-age players signing up.

Exactly. Word got around pretty fast during the 1st Thorns season that it wasn't the place to be. Not everyone got the message, but all the top players did.

[Unregistered]

They can be but it's pretty rare. If anything too many parents push for their kids to play up when they really shouldn't be (parents do love to brag about their kid playing up!). If clubs cave then it not only creates political drama (all the others say "but what about my kid?") but it often doesn't go well for the player. The general guideline is the player should be in the top 3-5 of the team they are playing up to, not in the top of their age appropriate team. Not many kids fit that description. But yes clubs that do care about development need to recognize when playing up is appropriate.

Where did you pick up this "top 3-5 of the team" very scientific statement from? In some countries, teams/academies are organized in two year age bands (11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18). If you are an 11 yo and can break into the starting "eleven", then why not play that player? Because this player is not the top 3-5??? Even here in the US, if a player can break into the starting line-up, then why not have that player play up? What's this top 3-5 business?

[Unregistered]

Where did you pick up this "top 3-5 of the team" very scientific statement from? In some countries, teams/academies are organized in two year age bands (11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18). If you are an 11 yo and can break into the starting "eleven", then why not play that player? Because this player is not the top 3-5??? Even here in the US, if a player can break into the starting line-up, then why not have that player play up? What's this top 3-5 business?

It's a way for clubs to "justify" holding back the development of good players in order to make them play on-age and help the on-age team get more wins. Simple as that. Clubs could care less about your kids individual development - it's all about winning teams. Oh, and also shutting up the whiny parents of the average players on the older team who are consumed with anger and jealousy that the play up is stealing their kids glory. Clubs don't want to tell the older kid he stinks and have his parents pull him from the club. So, money & winning is what it's all about.

[Unregistered]

Correct. ECNL plays to win, and we see how that's going.

This past week they had a combined 0 wins for 10 teams

[Unregistered]

This past week they had a combined 0 wins for 10 teams

Wait. Did each of those 10 teams play several games? As in, zero wins in 40 tries? That has to be false. I think that is statistically impossible.

[Unregistered]

From Crossfire Premier's website

"Girls ECNL, Academy & RCL Update

IMPORTANT: Clarifying Opportunities for 2016/17 Girls Soccer

With the change for all players to calendar-year teams beginning with the upcoming round of tryouts, and with the announcement from US Soccer that the Federation will begin a US Soccer Development Academy program for girls, likely in 2017/18, Crossfire Premier directors would like to clarify the situation for all players and their families.
•Crossfire Premier remains a member of the Elite Clubs National League and nothing has changed regarding Crossfire’s participation in the league or within the league’s membership. Currently, in Washington State, only Crossfire Premier and Washington Premier FC compete in the ECNL.
•There has been no information from the USSF regarding the potential upcoming Girls Development Academy program. No framework for the league has been established and no membership applications are open. Crossfire Premier, however, maintains standards consistent with the Development Academy and Federation’s expectations for elite soccer clubs, and Crossfire intends to continue to compete at the highest possible level nationally.
•Use of the word “Academy” does not mean a club participates in an Academy league. Currently, there is no US Soccer Development Academy league for girls. Until there is a viable US Soccer Development Academy league for girls, there are no members of that league.
•With the upcoming change to calendar-year teams, with player eligibility determined by birth year, there will be some coaching changes at Crossfire Premier. In fact, there will be changes across the country--as every club in the country is currently navigating through these same issues. These changes are necessitated by the switch, and are not due to coach performance. In assigning coaches to teams for 2016/17, Crossfire directors are continuing to consider what's best for the individual players and for the club as a whole.

To all our members, Crossfire Premier will be releasing information as soon as we have it on all of these issues, and we will continue to try to provide the best product, and best development pathway, possible."

[Unregistered]

From Crossfire Premier's website

"Girls ECNL, Academy & RCL Update

IMPORTANT: Clarifying Opportunities for 2016/17 Girls Soccer

With the change for all players to calendar-year teams beginning with the upcoming round of tryouts, and with the announcement from US Soccer that the Federation will begin a US Soccer Development Academy program for girls, likely in 2017/18, Crossfire Premier directors would like to clarify the situation for all players and their families.
•Crossfire Premier remains a member of the Elite Clubs National League and nothing has changed regarding Crossfire’s participation in the league or within the league’s membership. Currently, in Washington State, only Crossfire Premier and Washington Premier FC compete in the ECNL.
•There has been no information from the USSF regarding the potential upcoming Girls Development Academy program. No framework for the league has been established and no membership applications are open. Crossfire Premier, however, maintains standards consistent with the Development Academy and Federation’s expectations for elite soccer clubs, and Crossfire intends to continue to compete at the highest possible level nationally.
•Use of the word “Academy” does not mean a club participates in an Academy league. Currently, there is no US Soccer Development Academy league for girls. Until there is a viable US Soccer Development Academy league for girls, there are no members of that league.
•With the upcoming change to calendar-year teams, with player eligibility determined by birth year, there will be some coaching changes at Crossfire Premier. In fact, there will be changes across the country--as every club in the country is currently navigating through these same issues. These changes are necessitated by the switch, and are not due to coach performance. In assigning coaches to teams for 2016/17, Crossfire directors are continuing to consider what's best for the individual players and for the club as a whole.

To all our members, Crossfire Premier will be releasing information as soon as we have it on all of these issues, and we will continue to try to provide the best product, and best development pathway, possible."

In summary, we do not have enough information yet to speak on the topic of DA. Until then, please keep paying your ECNL dues.

[Unregistered]

In summary, we do not have enough information yet to speak on the topic of DA. Until then, please keep paying your ECNL dues.

In summary, don't waste your time talking about a US Soccer Development Academy League that doesn't exist, has no members, and probably will never exist.

[Unregistered]

In summary, don't waste your time talking about a US Soccer Development Academy League that doesn't exist, has no members, and probably will never exist.

Riiiiiight. Obviously you will believe what you want to believe. Duped I guess. U.S. soccer has announced a GDA. It will happen whether you are on board or not. Nobody is really going to care that you are left out. In the meantime, enjoy your time going 0 for 40 in a weekend.

[Unregistered]

Because they couldn't attract flies to tryouts.

Clearly ECNL didn't either. The results this year look more putrid than last year. Not a single win in Colorado and about a minus 30 GD for the weekend. Good work.

[Unregistered]

Wait. Did each of those 10 teams play several games? As in, zero wins in 40 tries? That has to be false. I think that is statistically impossible.

As in 0 wins for only 20 games I think. The person is just being rude.

[Unregistered]

Wait. Did each of those 10 teams play several games? As in, zero wins in 40 tries? That has to be false. I think that is statistically impossible.

I see reading is hard.

10 teams, two games each, zero wins. It's Oregon ECNL so anything is possible. So long as anything means losing. CU had a -28 GD all by themself. Tom sure has built a winning program over there.

[Unregistered]

Riiiiiight. Obviously you will believe what you want to believe. Duped I guess. U.S. soccer has announced a GDA. It will happen whether you are on board or not. Nobody is really going to care that you are left out. In the meantime, enjoy your time going 0 for 40 in a weekend.

Oh they'll build it. But it won't be as big as they're hoping for or as strong. We'll just get two mediocre leagues out this deal, neither of which will improve the training of the top half of one percent