Interesting info being shared on the Connecticut TS page (yes, I am bored at work). One of their clubs had a GDA informational meeting last week. According to those who attended, GDA teams will only be allowed to issue a max of 10 waivers per team to play high school soccer. The 25% start rule is legit. No subbing and re-entering in same half.
The poster speculated that the waiver rule is in response to the competition that ECNL provides - girls can do ECNL and still play high school soccer, so GDA has to offer something similar (as opposed to the boys side where up til now there hasn't been another opportunity aside from DA). But the interesting point is the maximum of 10 waivers per team. That means that, for the current Thorns academy teams, 15 girls on each team would not be allowed to do high school soccer next year. This makes sense, because they have to have 15 to field a team for their fall season games.
The poster went on to speculate (and I tend to agree) that this is going to be a huge source of discord among the GDA teams. The clubs will likely save the waivers for the most talented players (knowing they will lose them if they don't offer waivers). The pine riders will start and get significant playing time in the fall while the superstars are off tearing it up in high school. When HS season ends, the pine riders will resume their spots at the end of the bench and the players that the GDA clubs really care about will take over their starting spots. GDA will have covered their bases with the 25% start rule by starting the pine riders during high school season, so they can get away with only starting their top 11 once those stars return from high school.
I find this very interesting given the parents I know with kids currently playing on the Thorns teams. First of all, my guess is every single parent thinks his/her DD will be one of those top 10 players granted a waiver. Second, my guess is every single parent of a pine rider will be none too pleased to see their kid shunted aside when the stars return.
The last thing this Connecticut person shared didn't really apply to us but was also interesting. This club was guaranteeing every single current player would make either GDA or their NPL team. That seems like a bold and somewhat foolish stance to take. What if a bunch of SUPER superstars come flocking to their club? It tells me that #1, they know the GDA thing isn't sitting well with their parents and they need to keep those current families happy by promising something that, in my years of experience in club soccer, is unprecedented - a guaranteed spot on a team without trying out; and #2, they know that they are not going to get that big influx of SUPER superstars...which says a lot about their confidence in their product.
Interesting reading regardless.
The poster speculated that the waiver rule is in response to the competition that ECNL provides - girls can do ECNL and still play high school soccer, so GDA has to offer something similar (as opposed to the boys side where up til now there hasn't been another opportunity aside from DA). But the interesting point is the maximum of 10 waivers per team. That means that, for the current Thorns academy teams, 15 girls on each team would not be allowed to do high school soccer next year. This makes sense, because they have to have 15 to field a team for their fall season games.
The poster went on to speculate (and I tend to agree) that this is going to be a huge source of discord among the GDA teams. The clubs will likely save the waivers for the most talented players (knowing they will lose them if they don't offer waivers). The pine riders will start and get significant playing time in the fall while the superstars are off tearing it up in high school. When HS season ends, the pine riders will resume their spots at the end of the bench and the players that the GDA clubs really care about will take over their starting spots. GDA will have covered their bases with the 25% start rule by starting the pine riders during high school season, so they can get away with only starting their top 11 once those stars return from high school.
I find this very interesting given the parents I know with kids currently playing on the Thorns teams. First of all, my guess is every single parent thinks his/her DD will be one of those top 10 players granted a waiver. Second, my guess is every single parent of a pine rider will be none too pleased to see their kid shunted aside when the stars return.
The last thing this Connecticut person shared didn't really apply to us but was also interesting. This club was guaranteeing every single current player would make either GDA or their NPL team. That seems like a bold and somewhat foolish stance to take. What if a bunch of SUPER superstars come flocking to their club? It tells me that #1, they know the GDA thing isn't sitting well with their parents and they need to keep those current families happy by promising something that, in my years of experience in club soccer, is unprecedented - a guaranteed spot on a team without trying out; and #2, they know that they are not going to get that big influx of SUPER superstars...which says a lot about their confidence in their product.
Interesting reading regardless.
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