Girls DA = $10,000/yr & NO high school sports???

[Unregistered]

Super expensive and you can't play ANY high school sports is what I heard. Is this true?

From the US Soccer Development

"PARTICIPATION FAQ's

The Academy will provide the appropriate game to rest ratio and players will not be allowed to play simultaneously in the Academy and in outside competition, e.g. scholastic soccer. The Academy will maintain a 10-month program schedule to provide players with the optimal everyday environment.

How many games are played and how long is the Academy season? How many showcases are hosted per year?

Each Academy team plays approximately 25-30 league games, with an additional 6-9 games played at Showcases. Teams that advance from the Academy Playoffs could expect to play up to an additional 3 games. The season will likely begin in September and commence with Championships in July. Clubs will break from league play for periods of rest (including inactivity due to weather), during a winter break (December/January) and/or following the end of the regular season (July).

How much are Academy clubs required to travel?

Academy clubs can expect approximately 15 away games in a given season, some of which will require overnight travel. Exact travel distances will vary between clubs depending on their geographic proximity to their conference opponents and Academy events.

What does the Academy Program Cost for players and clubs?

U.S. Soccer covers many of the costs for clubs so they can reinvest these funds into their Girls' Academy Club and players. There are no referee fees for league games, showcases or playoffs. Clubs are not charged any event or showcase fees to attend. In addition, Clubs are provided with Nike Balls for training and games and receive Powerade coolers and beverages among other corporate partner benefits.

The Academy strongly believes that no player should face a (financial) barrier to play soccer. Therefore, clubs are encourages to subsidize costs for players in financial need. In addition, U.S. Soccer offers a scholarship program, open to any full-time Academy player, to assist players with covering Academy travel cost. For more information, visit the scholarship program page.

What costs can a player or club expect?

Clubs will only pay a flat registration fee for players and coaches. Clubs are responsible for all team travel expenses to their league games and events."


These last statements regarding costs can be interpreted to mean that clubs will pay a set registration fee just as they do for USYSA -OYSA (so, yes, fee is charged to the player). Travel too will be charged to the teams/players. No different than it is for ODP, ECNL, club teams.

Those full-time scholarships offered by U.S. Soccer likely will go to national team team players. There are several in Oregon and southern Washington that likely could qualify. Sounds like the rest of players would need to apply for FA through their clubs.

Parent travel has never been included in travel in any equation for any operation, unless you belong to something that involves you as a team manager or coach and requires that your travel be covered. Our club disallows this practice but I know of a club that does cover it.

These $ being put out here on the fourm are just someone trying to stir the pot so to speak, just because he has nothing better to do.

[Unregistered]

Does the $15,000 per year include parent travel?

Parent travel is off the table fir discussion purposes. End of story!

[Unregistered]

From the US Soccer Development

"PARTICIPATION FAQ's

The Academy will provide the appropriate game to rest ratio and players will not be allowed to play simultaneously in the Academy and in outside competition, e.g. scholastic soccer. The Academy will maintain a 10-month program schedule to provide players with the optimal everyday environment.

How many games are played and how long is the Academy season? How many showcases are hosted per year?

Each Academy team plays approximately 25-30 league games, with an additional 6-9 games played at Showcases. Teams that advance from the Academy Playoffs could expect to play up to an additional 3 games. The season will likely begin in September and commence with Championships in July. Clubs will break from league play for periods of rest (including inactivity due to weather), during a winter break (December/January) and/or following the end of the regular season (July).

How much are Academy clubs required to travel?

Academy clubs can expect approximately 15 away games in a given season, some of which will require overnight travel. Exact travel distances will vary between clubs depending on their geographic proximity to their conference opponents and Academy events.

What does the Academy Program Cost for players and clubs?

U.S. Soccer covers many of the costs for clubs so they can reinvest these funds into their Girls' Academy Club and players. There are no referee fees for league games, showcases or playoffs. Clubs are not charged any event or showcase fees to attend. In addition, Clubs are provided with Nike Balls for training and games and receive Powerade coolers and beverages among other corporate partner benefits.

The Academy strongly believes that no player should face a (financial) barrier to play soccer. Therefore, clubs are encourages to subsidize costs for players in financial need. In addition, U.S. Soccer offers a scholarship program, open to any full-time Academy player, to assist players with covering Academy travel cost. For more information, visit the scholarship program page.

What costs can a player or club expect?

Clubs will only pay a flat registration fee for players and coaches. Clubs are responsible for all team travel expenses to their league games and events."


These last statements regarding costs can be interpreted to mean that clubs will pay a set registration fee just as they do for USYSA -OYSA (so, yes, fee is charged to the player). Travel too will be charged to the teams/players. No different than it is for ODP, ECNL, club teams.

Those full-time scholarships offered by U.S. Soccer likely will go to national team team players. There are several in Oregon and southern Washington that likely could qualify. Sounds like the rest of players would need to apply for FA through their clubs.

Parent travel has never been included in travel in any equation for any operation, unless you belong to something that involves you as a team manager or coach and requires that your travel be covered. Our club disallows this practice but I know of a club that does cover it.

These $ being put out here on the fourm are just someone trying to stir the pot so to speak, just because he has nothing better to do.

What is a good estimate for yearly cost?

[Unregistered]

What is a good estimate for yearly cost?

Way more than ECNL with 15 away games and showcase events. Direct quote -
"Clubs are responsible for all team travel expenses to their league games and events."

I think this is a good thing, it won't be cheap in fact more expensive than ECNL, but hey they are throwing in free Nike soccer balls and Powerade coolers

[Unregistered]

Parent travel is off the table fir discussion purposes. End of story!

You don't ha e to go to watch.

[Unregistered]

Those 276 scholarships amount to 11 per club at about $5K per scholarship. So, yes, about 4 girls per team will get their training fees paid for but still have to pay $10K+ for travel. The rest of the delusionals will pay the full $15K+. Sounds like a really good deal for a bunch of "C" level bootballers.

It is $10k or $15k per year? And why wouldn't they let you play high school soccer?

[Unregistered]

It is $10k or $15k per year? And why wouldn't they let you play high school soccer?

Does that include parent travel? I hope they get better coaching then what I have seen during my dd's time in ODP.

[Unregistered]

The reality is that there will be talent who go to DA and talent who stays in ECNL. Basically, just diluting talent more and everyone wasting a bunch of money. Now, parents can spend a great deal of money for Thorns DA AND miss out on the High School soccer experience. Let's get real. At least for a couple years, your daughter playing Thorns DA isn't going to get much college exposure at all because the team is going to not be very competitive. For a girl, we care about college exposure. ECNL has been a great way to get college exposure AND still play HS. In fact, ECNL was already struggling to complete with having to have 2 teams (and Thorns academy up to now hasn't been able to compete let's get real). They didn't get DA status because of their history we all know that is a fact. It just sucks because if your child is high school age it just means that talent is getting diluted more and although I hope that things improve down the line it will take a few years and at this point I have to concur with everyone that OR girls soccer is just going from bad to worse...

[Unregistered]

Why would anyone pay that much to get hammered? They can't win OYSA. Although the Thorns were pretty dominate in the Vegas Cup silver bracket last year.

[Unregistered]

Those 276 scholarships amount to 11 per club at about $5K per scholarship. So, yes, about 4 girls per team will get their training fees paid for but still have to pay $10K+ for travel. The rest of the delusionals will pay the full $15K+. Sounds like a really good deal for a bunch of "C" level bootballers.

Your math is way off. There will likely be at least 50 - 60, possibly as many as 75 clubs so that reduces the number to 4-5 scholarships per club, not per team. The list that is posted is just the first round. So less scholarships.

If they replicate the boys side, however, fees are mandate to be reduced at least. With 60+ teams travel to games will be a bit more but there's one less national event. On the boys side parents are discouraged from traveling with their kids. Most clubs arrange group travel; four kids to a room.

For the last time, enough with the $10K cost. You kept at it with ECNL, now you're doing it with GDA. Have you nothing better to do with your time?

[Unregistered]

Does that include parent travel? I hope they get better coaching then what I have seen during my dd's time in ODP.

Yes they actually require licensure with DA, !-B licenses. Problem is that there aren't that many coaches have it. ECNL is flush with college coaches who know what it takes to play in college and have tons of connections. Those college coaches can't do a ten month GDA commitment. That will be a key factor in ECNL staying decently strong and likely not disappearing anytime soon. It's NPL that will get crushed. Top players move up to DA, next level players fill in their spots from NPL

[Unregistered]

The reality is that there will be talent who go to DA and talent who stays in ECNL. Basically, just diluting talent more and everyone wasting a bunch of money. Now, parents can spend a great deal of money for Thorns DA AND miss out on the High School soccer experience. Let's get real. At least for a couple years, your daughter playing Thorns DA isn't going to get much college exposure at all because the team is going to not be very competitive. For a girl, we care about college exposure. ECNL has been a great way to get college exposure AND still play HS. In fact, ECNL was already struggling to complete with having to have 2 teams (and Thorns academy up to now hasn't been able to compete let's get real). They didn't get DA status because of their history we all know that is a fact. It just sucks because if your child is high school age it just means that talent is getting diluted more and although I hope that things improve down the line it will take a few years and at this point I have to concur with everyone that OR girls soccer is just going from bad to worse...

Good points.

[Unregistered]

Ten thousand dollars and no high school? No track?

College coaches recommend track for many girls. Plus they want multi sport athletes.

This DA is NOT for college bound girls. Only girls on a pro/USWNT track.

[Unregistered]

Ten thousand dollars and no high school? No track?

College coaches recommend track for many girls. Plus they want multi sport athlete
This DA is NOT for college bound girls. Only girls on a pro/USWNT track.

True. If u want to play on the national team go GDA.

If u want to go to college, play high school, enjoy multiple sports go ecnl, NPL or non ecnl.

IMO GDA should be one super team per club, that has no restrictions and is free!!!!

sort of works for boys not for girls. My kid is good enough and has zero interest in this and I agree too. GDA will be watered down as will all other leagues. They will fall short on their ultimate goal.

[Unregistered]

Da sounds like their just trying to get in to the bucket of cash that parents from this area spend year in and year out.