South Carolina Battery Academy suspend*operations

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Came across this on Battery suspended their DA program from http://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2016...ke-a-year-off:

"The main concerns coming out of US Soccer have been our inability to provide consistent practice and game fields and, of course, the defection of players to High School Soccer."

Honestly is it kind of mind-boggling that top level boys are choosing HS ball over DA. Have hear it happening a bit here, but I figured it was just 1 off teams or a couple of players.

For all of its weaknesses, DA seems like the best path to the MLS. Surprised boys DA clubs are losing recruiting wars.

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link above isn't working for some reason; found their press release:

http://scbatteryacademy.com/home/913785.html

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This is the beginning of the end for DA and GDA. It's been said over and over - families aren't willing to sacrifice everything else in their lives (other sports, high school soccer, time together as a family) for the one in a million shot their kid might make the pros. The entire premise of DA and GDA is like the Powerball lottery - everyone puts something in, and just a very, very few people win. With Powerball the stakes are low - a few bucks a week. But with GDA, you're talking thousands of dollars per year and girls giving up everything else in their lives to pursue a dream 99.999% of them have no prayer of achieving.

[Unregistered]

Came across this on Battery suspended their DA program from http://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2016...ke-a-year-off:

"The main concerns coming out of US Soccer have been our inability to provide consistent practice and game fields and, of course, the defection of players to High School Soccer."

Honestly is it kind of mind-boggling that top level boys are choosing HS ball over DA. Have hear it happening a bit here, but I figured it was just 1 off teams or a couple of players.

For all of its weaknesses, DA seems like the best path to the MLS. Surprised boys DA clubs are losing recruiting wars.

Actually it isn't surprising at all. Years of boys DA and what successes do they have to point to? Playing on boys DA is great if you're a starter and/or on a free to play MLS squad (which also tends to attract the better players and have better coaching). Playing on a non MLS squad, especially if you're not a starter? Often times that is not worth giving up HS for. There are other top clubs that can train players at a very high level without having to give up HS sports. Once ENPL gets rolling expect to see more of this.

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This is the beginning of the end for DA and GDA. It's been said over and over - families aren't willing to sacrifice everything else in their lives (other sports, high school soccer, time together as a family) for the one in a million shot their kid might make the pros. The entire premise of DA and GDA is like the Powerball lottery - everyone puts something in, and just a very, very few people win. With Powerball the stakes are low - a few bucks a week. But with GDA, you're talking thousands of dollars per year and girls giving up everything else in their lives to pursue a dream 99.999% of them have no prayer of achieving.

+1 --- Especially for girls.
Even if they're in the .001% to move to professional women's soccer they'd make a better financial living working for Walmart.

The GDA has a huge marketing hurdle with parents - ya know the one's that pay the bills? Sure there will be those with more cents then sense but for the vast majority that take guiding their kids through to adulthood seriously the GDA just does not add up.

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+1 --- Especially for girls.
Even if they're in the .001% to move to professional women's soccer they'd make a better financial living working for Walmart.

The GDA has a huge marketing hurdle with parents - ya know the one's that pay the bills? Sure there will be those with more cents then sense but for the vast majority that take guiding their kids through to adulthood seriously the GDA just does not add up.

If GDA is close to free, would people be more interested?

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If GDA is close to free, would people be more interested?

Absolutely. Cost is a huge factor.
Remove this barrier and more players/parents would be willing to participate.

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Absolutely. Cost is a huge factor.
Remove this barrier and more players/parents would be willing to participate.

More, but still not enough

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If GDA is close to free, would people be more interested?

What a dumb question even for TS standards. Of course more people would be interested if it was free or close to free. However, it won't be and can't be. There is no money in women's professional soccer. Professional players make barely over minimum wage. Aside from Seattle and Portland and expansion Orlando, teams struggle to fill seats. Don't believe me? Watch the You Tube stream of any NWSL game. You have to watch them on You Tube because they aren't televised...because advertisers won't spend money buying ad time so networks don't broadcast the games.

So....no money in ticket sales. No money in advertising. No money to pay players. But magically, money for GDA is going to come from somewhere? You are totally delusional.

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Super expensive
No high school
No other sports
No history of developing players
No history of working with girls successfully

Fix those five and your in business.

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Super expensive
No high school
No other sports
No history of developing players
No history of working with girls successfully

Fix those five and your in business.

what is interesting about the minuscule chance you'd play for national team. Shouldn't the focus be on college?

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It is not complicated. Kids play in the expensive leagues until they have made a college (or pro) decision. Once that is final there is no need to pay for out of state travel etc. All the top u18 teams have the same issues - just no specific requirement to travel long distances

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what is interesting about the minuscule chance you'd play for national team. Shouldn't the focus be on college?

Exactly. More are realizing that and girls parents see it very clearly

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Take away reverse discriminating title 9 and ECNL / GDA would both fold as no one cares about girls soccer other than parents. And USWNT every 4 years.

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Take away reverse discriminating title 9 and ECNL / GDA would both fold as no one cares about girls soccer other than parents. And USWNT every 4 years.

^^^ sorry guys this is true. I'm torn on title 9. It serves a purpose but it also disproportionally discriminates against male non-football players. To me, you either make it exactly fair across ALL sports including football. Or you 100% make scholarships based on true capitalism.

Disclaimer I have a boy and girl who play soccer.