LA Galaxy launch fully funded teams

Sunil Illuminati said:
I guess if you can afford to fully fund an Academy you might consider it? The end goal is confusing. There's no tangible benefit that I can see for the LA Galaxy in hosting a girls Academy. Even if they were to add a Pro-team to the mix I would expect that girls would still leave for college when they reach that age. On the boys side, I can see the increasing appeal to turn professional at a younger age given the improving opportunities and financial model. I get that fully funded appeals to parents, but clubs run the risk of alienating their families by bumping up the costs to attract and accommodate a tiny amount of their players. I think the Academy will push a number of clubs towards economic ruin. It was a really smart move by US Soccer to get the clubs to pay for a program which in the long run will probably only really benefit them. I can't believe clubs haven't pushed back on US Soccer to commit more to the program much beyond giving the kids a "DA Patch." They can't do it without the clubs. You have to coach their way, play their way, under their parameters and oh btw pay for the privilege.
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Maybe I'm way off, but I was thinking that the biggest reason a pro club like LA Galaxy or LAFC or Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers, etc. would be interested in fully funding Academy teams is that it will increase the profile of the youth clubs which spreads their brand. When LA Galaxy started taking on or taking over existing youth clubs a few years ago, I was skeptical because many of the teams were kind of crappy. But now when you look at the club standings, there always seems to be a Galaxy team in the top flights doing pretty well and the number of teams is constantly growing. When thousands of kids grow up playing for a team with the Galaxy logo, you're farming the next generation of fans to buy merchandise and watch games. If they end up with the best Academy team because it is free for the best players, it is probably a small price to pay in the overall marketing strategy. In other words, if LAG decided it was worth it to put their name on a youth club, they probably would prefer that they can claim to be the best. If Galaxy were synonymous with mediocre youth soccer, that's not good branding. At least that's the only way it makes sense to me that a pro club would fund a girls' Academy team.
 
Pump the breaks.
I thought travel was part of a fully funded DA.
Or is just fees?
I guess in a SoCal conference it's not that big of a deal with this many teams ..
 
LadiesMan217 said:
Of course; but, saving $4K+ is still a good thing :)
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$4k in club and team fees not including travel? Damn you parents of Ulittles are getting put through the ringer. That is about what I paid including travel every year but U16/17 which was maybe a $1k-$1500 more.
 
MakeAPlay said:
$4k in club and team fees not including travel? Damn you parents of Ulittles are getting put through the ringer. That is about what I paid including travel every year but U16/17 which was maybe a $1k-$1500 more.
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I just speculated that is what some of those ECNL players are paying.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
There was mention "somewhere" of LAFC building a training site in Tustin.
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http://m.ocregister.com/articles/tustin-723760-sports-park.html

Many years for that site if at all.

Meanwhile the boys are at csla and I would think the girls will based out of LA first year but depends on the coaches also.

There will be playing and training pitches next to the new LAFC stadium when they are built out by 2018.

Galaxy in it for marketing...place players on national teams, college through their stub hub school learning environment, etc. They get a cut from the club affiliations so they want to continue to offer the carrot and stick illusions.

Full funding includes travel which can be a big expense. Like I mentioned before very few organizations can afford or offer this.

There is also da funds available for travel expenses. Players have to apply, awarded based on economic status per player with the scholarship money going back to the clubs.

Academy players are given individual tickets to the games and sit with there groups. Leftovers or discount tickets are sometimes offered to the families.
 
With that said... a question or two has presented itself. If LAFC has an alliance with Slammers FC (Newport) and trainings in Los Angeles tentatively or long term for girls does that make them a DA in the LA area? Or are they really a satellite licensed DA club? Especially if the facility in Tustin is a maybe and potential training grounds around the new stadium. I suppose what I am trying to state is how will Slammers really be an affiliate/partner and contribute players from that far a distance?
 
Mystery Train said:
Maybe I'm way off, but I was thinking that the biggest reason a pro club like LA Galaxy or LAFC or Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers, etc. would be interested in fully funding Academy teams is that it will increase the profile of the youth clubs which spreads their brand. When LA Galaxy started taking on or taking over existing youth clubs a few years ago, I was skeptical because many of the teams were kind of crappy. But now when you look at the club standings, there always seems to be a Galaxy team in the top flights doing pretty well and the number of teams is constantly growing. When thousands of kids grow up playing for a team with the Galaxy logo, you're farming the next generation of fans to buy merchandise and watch games. If they end up with the best Academy team because it is free for the best players, it is probably a small price to pay in the overall marketing strategy. In other words, if LAG decided it was worth it to put their name on a youth club, they probably would prefer that they can claim to be the best. If Galaxy were synonymous with mediocre youth soccer, that's not good branding. At least that's the only way it makes sense to me that a pro club would fund a girls' Academy team.
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The main reason for MLS clubs to fully fund youth clubs is MLS' homegrown player rule.
 
Laced said:
The main reason for MLS clubs to fully fund youth clubs is MLS' homegrown player rule.
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Doesn't really apply for the girls

http://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/9/3/9242267/homegrown-player-rule-major-league-soccer-visual-guide

"A club may sign a player to his first professional contract without subjecting him to the MLS SuperDraft if the player has been a member of a club’s youth academy for at least one year and has met the necessary training and retention requirements. Players joining MLS through this mechanism are known as Homegrown Players"

A way to hang on to, get them at special salary rates, or offer young players a place to continue on or play locally.... Galaxy II was created in part to give these players more options to develop into first team players.
 
younothat said:
Doesn't really apply for the girls

http://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/9/3/9242267/homegrown-player-rule-major-league-soccer-visual-guide

"A club may sign a player to his first professional contract without subjecting him to the MLS SuperDraft if the player has been a member of a club’s youth academy for at least one year and has met the necessary training and retention requirements. Players joining MLS through this mechanism are known as Homegrown Players"

A way to hang on to, get them a reduced rates, or offer young players a place to continue on or play locally.... Galaxy II was created in part to give these players more options to develop into first team players.
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She was referring to boys DA teams, I think, as she mentioned a few years ago when MLS clubs like LAG fully funded youth teams.
 
MakeAPlay said:
What about the showcases which if history serves as a guide will include 2-3 out of state trips not to mention nationals and or national finals. That is easily another $4k+.
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Bingo! The showcase events will be the big expense for the parents of a GDA player. When little Susie is going to Texas, Idaho, Florida, Michigan, etc. for the GDA showcase events, Susie's parent(s) will have to pay to watch her play. The local games in the Southwest Division will be no different than what those parents are doing now.
 
Laced said:
She was referring to boys DA teams, I think, as she mentioned a few years ago when MLS clubs like LAG fully funded youth teams.
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No, I was referring to why Galaxy would fund a girls DA team...sorry for the confusion. And...
images
 
It's great that galaxy are funding GDA. Will every top player migrate this club? And is the club prepared to cut the majority of existing girls?
 
eastbaysoccer said:
It's great that galaxy are funding GDA. Will every top player migrate this club? And is the club prepared to cut the majority of existing girls?
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No there is just three teams and they are combined age groups, geography and coaches play a role on who will try out.

There is no existing teams or players to cut, new teams will be forming. Tryouts will happen at some point and the process will run through august 17' before the teams are registered.
 
While there may not be "existing teams" for GDA, the players on the current top teams at these clubs will probably make up the bulk of the new GDA teams in SoCal. If there were fewer GDA clubs, you might see a lot of player migration, but with multiple GDA clubs covering the region that already have high performing teams, the majority of the high level players are already at these clubs.
 
outside! said:
While there may not be "existing teams" for GDA, the players on the current top teams at these clubs will probably make up the bulk of the new GDA teams in SoCal. If there were fewer GDA clubs, you might see a lot of player migration, but with multiple GDA clubs covering the region that already have high performing teams, the majority of the high level players are already at these clubs.
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That might happen with other clubs and we've seen almost entire rosters starting 11 on the boys side move up to a DA team but those are calender year teams and not combined.

The LA Galaxy Girls DA , on the other hand are looking for special players regardless of past affiliations. The full funding and name is/and will be attracting a large diverse group of girls from many places.

I would venture to guess they will be multiple prior clubs represented on the Galaxy Girls DA teams just like there always is for the boys. Will the majority come from one source? Recruiting and their desire to be the top team in the DA groups will create some very intense competition for many months for those roster spots.
 
I am sure there will be a high level of competition at all the GDA tryouts, not just Galaxy, you insinuate that they are a cut above the rest of the GDA teams and I'm not sure why....I agree with your argument on the Boys side, accept for the fact that there aren't many other Boys DA's in the immediate area and there is an affiliation with the MLS. On the girls side you have Beach and LAFC/Slammers within a reasonable radius and no WPSL or other semi or professional Women's teams. There is also LA premier that is a bit further away, but still.

I am interested in who will be Coaching the Galaxy GDA.
 
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