Scorecard: ECNL vs GDA

[Unregistered]

As of 4/18/2018....Since this time last year, which league is on the way up and which league is on the way down?

[Unregistered]

As of 4/18/2018....Since this time last year, which league is on the way up and which league is on the way down?

Will be interesting to watch. Apparently US Club Soccer is now twisting arms, attempting to force clubs to leave GDA (and in some cases it is working).

Whether US Soccer will tolerate this apparent escalation and challenge to its authority is an interesting question. If a pack of rogue British clubs were to try an end-run around the Football Association like that, they'd find themselves banned from British soccer faster than Ronaldo.

At minimum, a directive that no registered league may prohibit member clubs from participating in any competing registered league (specific teams may, of course, be prevented from being in two competing leagues simultaneously) seems warranted. (And this ought to apply across the board, not just in order to protect GDA).

That said, GDA needs to offer a different product than ECNL. Given the economics of girls soccer are different (no money on the transfer market for professional women players, so little incentive for NWSL teams to spend money on subsidized training), perhaps a smaller league, subsidized by US Soccer (or NWSL teams who can afford it like Thorns), focusing on the top tier of players, would be a better idea.

That, and finding ways to make ECNL more accessible to girls who don't come from well-to-do families. Less travel is a big one. Some subsidy/scholarship program for it would be another. One of the chief criticisms of ECNL--that it mainly benefits NCAA soccer programs more than players--is valid; girls who want to play in college should not have to earn frequent-flyer miles to be scouted.

[Unregistered]

Will be interesting to watch. Apparently US Club Soccer is now twisting arms, attempting to force clubs to leave GDA (and in some cases it is working).

Whether US Soccer will tolerate this apparent escalation and challenge to its authority is an interesting question. If a pack of rogue British clubs were to try an end-run around the Football Association like that, they'd find themselves banned from British soccer faster than Ronaldo.

At minimum, a directive that no registered league may prohibit member clubs from participating in any competing registered league (specific teams may, of course, be prevented from being in two competing leagues simultaneously) seems warranted. (And this ought to apply across the board, not just in order to protect GDA).

That said, GDA needs to offer a different product than ECNL. Given the economics of girls soccer are different (no money on the transfer market for professional women players, so little incentive for NWSL teams to spend money on subsidized training), perhaps a smaller league, subsidized by US Soccer (or NWSL teams who can afford it like Thorns), focusing on the top tier of players, would be a better idea.

That, and finding ways to make ECNL more accessible to girls who don't come from well-to-do families. Less travel is a big one. Some subsidy/scholarship program for it would be another. One of the chief criticisms of ECNL--that it mainly benefits NCAA soccer programs more than players--is valid; girls who want to play in college should not have to earn frequent-flyer miles to be scouted.

Actually ECNL is being way more nuanced than that - they are telling clubs if you want to do dual (both GDA and ECNL), your ECNL teams have to be competitive. Some of these clubs have found that difficult to do. Not sure that violates any US Soccer rule.

Some of these clubs also seem to really prefer the ECNL platform.

[Unregistered]

Curious but why doesn't USSF just invest the millions of dollars they have in surplus and build ODP into what they want? Let clubs be in business of making money. Those that produce , stay around...those that dont, will fold up shop.

[Unregistered]

As of 4/18/2018....Since this time last year, which league is on the way up and which league is on the way down?

GDA is losing the battle of 17/18 and it isn't close:
Burlingame, PSV, Breakers, Kansas City all dropping out (some in midseason) . . . not a good first year for GDA.

More recently:
Out - PDA (multiple USWNT player alums), Hawks (multiple national championships, Stars (best girls program in Boston)
In - Oklahoma Energy, Sporting Omaha, Utah Royals

This isn't a good trade for GDA.

However, kind of assume the empire will strike back.

[Unregistered]

Actually ECNL is being way more nuanced than that - they are telling clubs if you want to do dual (both GDA and ECNL), your ECNL teams have to be competitive. Some of these clubs have found that difficult to do. Not sure that violates any US Soccer rule.

Some of these clubs also seem to really prefer the ECNL platform.

I shared a Soccer Wire article on another thread and I’ll share it here as well. https://www.soccerwire.com/news/club...n-ecnl-status/

It's worth a read. Goes into detail about what you discussed. Even the large powerhouse clubs were having difficultly finding enough players to play in two different elite platforms. Many of them are choosing ECNL. This is not about an anti GDA bias - they simply looked at both platforms and, realizing that doing both successfully is impossible, chose the one that works best for their families.

GDA was a good idea executed poorly. Seeing that our local GDA club followed virtually none of the stated objectives of GDA (free tryouts, Training 4x/week, etc) demonstrates that the clubs themselves didn’t buy in. This makes it nearly impossible for the families to buy in. Combine that with the restrictions on what girls do when they aren’t training (think on that a minute - GDA families are voluntarily surrendering their child’s autonomy and freedom of choice because .1% of the girls in their league might make the national team), and the fact that the vast majority of GDA clubs charge the same fees as ECNL and it’s a no brainer.

The 00/01 and 02/03 age groups will do ok next year. Clubs only need 10 decent players per birth year and these are older kids nearing the end of club soccer. Many are already committed to their college of choice so the tendency is to stay put. But the younger ages 04 and younger will be a complete shambles. I’m not sure how some clubs field remotely competitive teams in those age groups.

[Unregistered]

GDA is losing the battle of 17/18 and it isn't close:
Burlingame, PSV, Breakers, Kansas City all dropping out (some in midseason) . . . not a good first year for GDA.More recently: Out - PDA (multiple USWNT player alums), Hawks (multiple national championships, Stars (best girls program in Boston)
In - Oklahoma Energy, Sporting Omaha, Utah RoyalsThis isn't a good trade for GDA.
However, kind of assume the empire will strike back.

Even if the MLS (GDA) lost a few franchises to the USL (ECNL).

MLS (GDA) is still the top league and USL (ECNL) 2nd/3rd division.

[Unregistered]

Even if the MLS (GDA) lost a few franchises to the USL (ECNL).

MLS (GDA) is still the top league and USL (ECNL) 2nd/3rd division.

This year GDA lost some very good clubs to ECNL and replaced them with weaker ones. That doesn't happen to a first division.

[Unregistered]

Even if the MLS (GDA) lost a few franchises to the USL (ECNL).

MLS (GDA) is still the top league and USL (ECNL) 2nd/3rd division.

The only way this is remotely believable is if a Jedi is saying it. And sir, you are no Jedi.

[Unregistered]

Even if the MLS (GDA) lost a few franchises to the USL (ECNL).

MLS (GDA) is still the top league and USL (ECNL) 2nd/3rd division.

If what you're saying is true, then why are what are arguably the 2 most successful clubs in the country, PDA and the Michigan Hawks, leaving the GDA and going back to the ECNL? Each of those clubs individually probably have both more national championships and players in the NT pools and that have been in NT pools than all of the clubs in the Pacific NW combined. The clubs we have up here are rec clubs compared to PDA and Hawks.

[Unregistered]

If what you're saying is true, then why are what are arguably the 2 most successful clubs in the country, PDA and the Michigan Hawks, leaving the GDA and going back to the ECNL? Each of those clubs individually probably have both more national championships and players in the NT pools and that have been in NT pools than all of the clubs in the Pacific NW combined. The clubs we have up here are rec clubs compared to PDA and Hawks.

Great point it means nothing to the NW DA programs they still move forward.

If a club opts out of the DA for USYS or US Club kiddo leagues that's their choice. USYS & US Club serves the masses and will continue to do so, not really moving the needle, just personal choice. Same as it ever was.

Cal South moves the needle, if they all (boys & girls) went back to USYS or US Club leagues, then US Soccer would make the decision to have Pro clubs field DA teams.

NWSL & MLS DA aren't leaving Portland anytime soon.

[Unregistered]

Here is the truth and bottom line about the existence of the GDA:

It is self serving for the NWSL (to keep it afloat) and to also employ their cronies all over the country to watch over Ulittles. If they couldnt keep them employed, they would move into other fields in the real world.

[Unregistered]

Great point it means nothing to the NW DA programs they still move forward.

If a club opts out of the DA for USYS or US Club kiddo leagues that's their choice. USYS & US Club serves the masses and will continue to do so, not really moving the needle, just personal choice. Same as it ever was.

Cal South moves the needle, if they all (boys & girls) went back to USYS or US Club leagues, then US Soccer would make the decision to have Pro clubs field DA teams.

NWSL & MLS DA aren't leaving Portland anytime soon.

Thorns have tried to outsource their GDA; not sure if any takers, but they are trying. As between ECNL and GDA - you are right, Thorns will stick with GDA.

Not the point of the thread - nationally, GDA has had a bad week and a pretty bad 2018.

[Unregistered]

Curious but why doesn't USSF just invest the millions of dollars they have in surplus and build ODP into what they want? Let clubs be in business of making money. Those that produce , stay around...those that dont, will fold up shop.

Then they lose control, which was a big motivator for doing GDA. They didn't like the way things were going with ECNL (and, truthfully ECNL has issues, albeit solvable ones). They lose some income as well.

[Unregistered]

If what you're saying is true, then why are what are arguably the 2 most successful clubs in the country, PDA and the Michigan Hawks, leaving the GDA and going back to the ECNL? Each of those clubs individually probably have both more national championships and players in the NT pools and that have been in NT pools than all of the clubs in the Pacific NW combined. The clubs we have up here are rec clubs compared to PDA and Hawks.

MA Stars are out as well, and several other very strong clubs are rumored to be out the door as well. There aren't many (or any?) strong clubs left to fill voids - plus some of the clubs they gave the badge to initially shouldn't even be in there and really should go. The league no doubt needs to be smaller and focused on the more elite player that wants 10 month training. However our geography makes running such a league problematic.