Girls Development Academy

Silky Johnston said:
The problem isn't new it's been like this for years. What club does your DD play for? Do they play possession ? The system is flawed it has been for years but regardless the goals for the USWNT are not the same for youth soccer. You are comparing grapes and watermelons. It all starts with the youth programs and that starts with quality coaching. How many quality coaches are coaching u10 or less? Why do the better coaches coach olders? This system isn't built on development it's built on $ . We are all apart of the same hypocrisy. Trust me my favorite Womens team to watch is Japan I am all for changing to possession.
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It is possible, but unlikely, that a team will score without possessing the ball. The point of possessing the ball is to put it in the other team's net, and prevent them from doing it to you.

That "beautiful game" mantra starts with coaches of losing GU10 teams.
 
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17SquirrelsDad said:
Simple - they have a very good product, e.g. a very good club. Some hate, some appreciate, some envy.
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Very good at the younger ages. Wouldn't say they are having all that much success these days at the ECNL level (relatively speaking) with more and more San Diego kids heading north for teams like Blues, West Coast, and Slammers. I expect DA will bring some real challenges for Surf as they will no longer be the only game in town for the top players.
 
Silky Johnston said:
The problem isn't new it's been like this for years. What club does your DD play for? Do they play possession ? The system is flawed it has been for years but regardless the goals for the USWNT are not the same for youth soccer. You are comparing grapes and watermelons. It all starts with the youth programs and that starts with quality coaching. How many quality coaches are coaching u10 or less? Why do the better coaches coach olders? This system isn't built on development it's built on $ . We are all apart of the same hypocrisy. Trust me my favorite Womens team to watch is Japan I am all for changing to possession.
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The game has really changed for my DD as we move into U14. Allmost exclusively all possession. Small passes play out of the back. Reset, re build and use the entire width of the field. A much slower pace. It's pretty to watch. Girls are learning to play more of a cerebral game (I know it sounds pretensions, but not sure how to better describe it) thought to execute against hyper aggressive teams. Btw. I love to. Watch woman's France and brasil teams as well
 
Rev234 said:
The game has really changed for my DD as we move into U14. Allmost exclusively all possession. Small passes play out of the back. Reset, re build and use the entire width of the field. A much slower pace. It's pretty to watch. Girls are learning to play more of a cerebral game (I know it sounds pretensions, but not sure how to better describe it) thought to execute against hyper aggressive teams. Btw. I love to. Watch woman's France and brasil teams as well
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meaningless said:
Very good at the younger ages. Wouldn't say they are having all that much success these days at the ECNL level (relatively speaking) with more and more San Diego kids heading north for teams like Blues, West Coast, and Slammers. I expect DA will bring some real challenges for Surf as they will no longer be the only game in town for the top players.
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What do you consider success at the ECNL level? Surf year in and year out is either the top club or the second best club. Not to mention that they had more top recruits than any other club and more national team players too. I doubt that Carlsbad will be a serious threat to Surf. Results speak for themselves and Surf has the results.
 
Over the years I have come to learn possession soccer doesn't always dominate. Barcelona doesn't always win with their possession game. As the Spanish national team has aged, they to haven't been able to repeat the same success from a few years ago. Pep taking over Bayern and implementing his style of possession soccer wasn't able to win a UEFA Champions league crown. Arsenal hasn't won an EPL crown since forever.

Teams that can play both possession and direct with an organized defense seem to have more success now. Athletico, Real, Portugal, and even a defensive counter attacking team like Leicester City have won recent championships.
 
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Legendary FC said:
What do you consider success at the ECNL level? Surf year in and year out is either the top club or the second best club. Not to mention that they had more top recruits than any other club and more national team players too. I doubt that Carlsbad will be a serious threat to Surf. Results speak for themselves and Surf has the results.
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Depends on the age group. At the current U16 age group I would not rank Surf's ECNL team as the best in the county. The last two times they played Carlsbad, they lost 2-0. The two teams are roughly equal in getting their players committed to D1 schools. There are some great players on that Surf team, but the team has had too much turmoil over the years and does not have a lock on the best players in the county. This points out the problem with closed systems/monopolies like ECNL and now GDA. Without relegation and a way for competitive teams to earn a spot, there is less incentive for clubs on the inside of the system to provide good service to the players and parents. At least now that both Surf and Carlsbad have GDA, one club will not have a monopoly in San Diego county. Carlsbad (now LA Galaxy San Diego) is one of the biggest clubs in the county and will be a threat to Surf since they now have the carrot to keep players from wandering. Make no mistake, GDA is a power grab by USYS, just as ECNL was a power grab by US Club Soccer. Unfortunately USSF is showing their usual complete lack of leadership.
 
outside! said:
Depends on the age group. At the current U16 age group I would not rank Surf's ECNL team as the best in the county. The last two times they played Carlsbad, they lost 2-0. The two teams are roughly equal in getting their players committed to D1 schools. There are some great players on that Surf team, but the team has had too much turmoil over the years and does not have a lock on the best players in the county. This points out the problem with closed systems/monopolies like ECNL and now GDA. Without relegation and a way for competitive teams to earn a spot, there is less incentive for clubs on the inside of the system to provide good service to the players and parents. At least now that both Surf and Carlsbad have GDA, one club will not have a monopoly in San Diego county. Carlsbad (now LA Galaxy San Diego) is one of the biggest clubs in the county and will be a threat to Surf since they now have the carrot to keep players from wandering. Make no mistake, GDA is a power grab by USYS, just as ECNL was a power grab by US Club Soccer. Unfortunately USSF is showing their usual complete lack of leadership.
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Power grab? Or responding to market demand?

My daughter moved out of club soccer after her U10 year, so I have no direct experience with ECNL. However, from what I have read, the biggest selling point for ECNL was enhanced exposure to college coaches and thus better chances of getting scholarships and/or admissions help. How is that working out, compared to what was happening before?
 
Girls Development Soccer Academy is a power play/$$$ grab by US Soccer. There is no need for a Girls US Soccer Academy league. None of our girls will ever set stage on WNT Senior team. The closes any of our daughters will get to there is maybe a YNT call up to an ID Camp or once a month practice with the US Soccer Federation. Even that is a very rare event and only 1 out of hundreds of those kids will ever get a cap on the Youth National stage, forget about the Senior team that will never happen. Reading posters post about how spots will open up when player X retires on the National team makes me laugh. If I had a nickel for every parent that I have heard say little Susie has a good shot on playing on the National Team one day because she made ODP, US Soccer Federation Camp, or was the star of her youth team I would have a lot of nickels. The whole National team could retire tomorrow and still none of our daughters will make it. So what is Academy for the girls side? Oh that's right it is a path for our daughters to play for $8,000 a year playing in the NWSL. If that is your daughters end game then Academy is for you. Oh then there is the argument it will be the top league, so after a year or two the college coaches will focus on that league. Sure that is a possibility but what void does that fill? Doesn't that league already exist? So what is the end game for Girls Development Soccer Academy? Bragging rights for 8 So Cal Clubs that either deserve or don't desrve the nod? Where is the development? Have you looked at the youngers in some of these selected Academy Girls Clubs? There is no development going on its all about recruiting someone else's product once they hit U14 or older. ECNL has been a good vehicle to getting kids college exposure but has made once proud clubs lazy because they don't invest in the development of youngers they just recruit at U14 and older for their ECNL squads. I mean don't we have a development league already in play "SCDSL" how has that been working out? The one thing US Soccer has going for it is the sheer number of players playing the game and the resources parents put into the development of their own kids. You all want to know why the US is #1 in the world is because of parents. The amount of money spent annually by soccer mom's and dad's is the reason we are #1. I haven't seen one good reason why we need GDA and until there is viable money making pro league for women then there is no reason. As I stated above it has nothing to do with the National Team because that is a fantasy. Don't get me wrong I am sure GDA will be a fine gaming circuit and will be the new shiny toy that many will want or hope will benefit their daughter in ways the other leagues may not have. I am not anti-GDA, ECNL, FWRL, CRL, SCDSL, SDDA, CSL, or AYSO. I don't care I am glad parents support their daughters in athletics and football is an amazing sport. I hope the women's game continues to evolve and grow in popularity and everyone looks back when their daughters are done playing and remember the good times. Just keep in mind club soccer is a business and no matter which league someone is hyping learn about it and always put your daughter first. In the foreseeable future College is the end game for Women's soccer after club is over and unless your daughter can play Nationally for another country or is willing to play pro overseas that should be your sole focus no matter how many WNT players retire.
 
 
espola said:
Power grab? Or responding to market demand?

My daughter moved out of club soccer after her U10 year, so I have no direct experience with ECNL. However, from what I have read, the biggest selling point for ECNL was enhanced exposure to college coaches and thus better chances of getting scholarships and/or admissions help. How is that working out, compared to what was happening before?
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You can't honestly think that the market is demanding a path to the women's national team. That path already exists. ECNL has worked out pretty well and I would say has streamlined the recruiting process versus before. You not having a daughter that went through the process would be unable to discern that.
 
Legendary FC said:
You can't honestly think that the market is demanding a path to the women's national team. That path already exists. ECNL has worked out pretty well and I would say has streamlined the recruiting process versus before. You not having a daughter that went through the process would be unable to discern that.
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I didn't mention national team at all. My daughter didn't stick with soccer, but many of her friends did and we followed their paths through the recruiting mill. Several of her friends (and my sons' friends as well) received significant athletic scholarships, but none through ECNL team exposure.
 
espola said:
I didn't mention national team at all. My daughter didn't stick with soccer, but many of her friends did and we followed their paths through the recruiting mill. Several of her friends (and my sons' friends as well) received significant athletic scholarships, but none through ECNL team exposure.
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I know dozens upon dozens that received significant to full athletic scholarships through participation in ECNL including my own. What is your point?
 
MessiFTW said:
Very few of the Surf girls were developed by Surf. They transferred in from somewhere else. FACT.
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Actually, that's not true. My daughter's team is U17. 10 girls played on either the A or B team (or younger) since U10 or 11. Another 6 girls have been on the team since U12/ 13. We have had a few people come from across the US and other countries to be on this team, but the bulk of the team has been with this club since they were little.
 
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