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Post by straightred on Mar 10, 2020 12:18:33 GMT -5
So, going back 2 years ago, CF had a decision--DA with 3 combined age group teams (as DA refused to bend and had not added a U17 team) or 6 ECNL teams (one for each age group). There was a lot of blow back, but CF decided to be in a league where its top 18 kids per age group wouldn't have to try out for a combined team and then, 7 or 8 get cut each year with no viable/good option. And, in fact, CF leveraged the deal to get 2 teams in ECNL. Now, it's TH turn to deal with the issue of choosing DA. It got lucky that DA did relent and create another age group. However, the second team/DPL issue is years from being resolved appropriately. I think the end result is that TH will continue to have good teams--but won't have as much depth because the kids on the bench won't get to play much and won't get to play high school either. (Which I predict DA will waive at some point as well--if not just for senior year.) As a result, they will lose a few kids each year to ECNL. Real Colorado announced they changed their mind regarding GDA vs ECNL. After abandoning ECNL and picking GDA for 2019-20, they will flock back to ECNL and have been granted two teams. realcolorado.net/real-colorado-is-baacckkkk/Is the die cast with TopHat and the recent developments with DPL, or do they take a page out of the Real Colorado's playbook? Not trolling, this news from Real Colorado suggests ECNL is still making deals like the one CF made a couple years ago. Curious to know if there are any whispers of TH considering a similar deal. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Mar 10, 2020 12:38:23 GMT -5
Very interesting -- and since the boys are competing against mls clubs they are fine sticking with DA for the boys ( They are in the red division for the u19 boys, with mls teams etc).
Either ecnl or DA, both look like a crap ton of travel --- guess there is nothing you can do out there in Colorado -- they must fly to every game. that has to be very expensive.
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Post by allthingsoccer on Mar 10, 2020 12:43:16 GMT -5
I think you will find MLS DA will play against MLS DA only in the future. The U18/19 are doing it now and I'm sure U15 & U17 will follow next year or so. This may be a reason why is starting a trend on the girl's side. ?? Not sure.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Mar 10, 2020 12:53:07 GMT -5
Interestingly now Colorado Rush is all by their lonesome. Also Real Colorado and Dallas Texans were successful teams in GDA (Real being top 3 at all age groups), so this is a significant loss.
Are the GDA dominos starting to fall? I think NTH will stick with it til the end.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Mar 10, 2020 12:54:37 GMT -5
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Post by atv on Mar 11, 2020 6:47:40 GMT -5
Real Colorado and Dallas Texans cannot simply be replaced by DA. Real is easily a top 10 club while Texans are top 100. Great clubs! In the end, Girls ECNL will likely end up being stronger than they were before the ECNL vs DA years. This isn’t an accident. ECNL simply has a better product and culture. The club centralized model works vs a very centralized, directed USSF DA model that feels like it was modeled after the old Eastern Bloc States.
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Post by atv on Mar 11, 2020 7:18:42 GMT -5
REAL COLORADO AND DALLAS TEXANS JOIN ECNL GIRLS FOR 2020-2021 SEASON
RICHMOND, VA (March 11, 2020) – The Elite Clubs National League Girls is excited to announce that the Dallas Texans and Real Colorado will be returning to the ECNL in 2020-2021. Both clubs will be “All-In” with the ECNL, making the league the top of their competitive pyramid.
Real Colorado is one of the most successful clubs in the history of American female soccer, and the youth home to current USWNT players Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith. The club includes more than 450 teams, competitive and recreational.
Dallas Texans are a nationally recognized power with a long history of developing both national championship teams and national team players. The club includes more than 140 teams in Dallas, with hundreds more in affiliates across Texas, in Florida, and in Canada.
“The ECNL is committed to providing an environment that supports clubs, coaches, and players in their efforts to constantly get better,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “This is a strong statement from two top clubs that we are fulfilling our mission of creating the best platform for youth soccer.”
“Real Colorado have played in both leagues,” said Real Colorado Executive Director of Coaching Lorne Donaldson. “The ECNL is a better environment for the overall development of our student athletes, on and off the field, and we are excited to be back.”
“We are excited once again to compete in ECNL,” said Dallas Texans Director of Coaching Hassan Nazari. “Dallas Texans have always addressed the need of its members. We respect the platform that ECNL has created for women’s soccer and are proud to be back.”
The Girls ECNL is the nation’s top development and competition platform for female soccer players, with conference competition in six age groups (U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18/19), unmatched collegiate exposure through the largest collegiate showcases in the country, and unique player identification and development opportunities. The league and its clubs will continue to help develop the next generation of collegiate stars and national team players, and support the success of US Soccer’s national teams at all ages.
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Post by honeybadger on Mar 11, 2020 8:32:56 GMT -5
As a parent whose kid does not play DA , but has guest played a few times on an ECNL team a couple years ago, I'm not up to speed on the differences between DA and ECNL.
So tell me if I am wrong: I gather what people are saying is that DA may have had a little too much arrogance in their model? Like assuming that if they ran it like an eastern european block team that parents would be impressed and thus fork over thousands?
It seems there is more good said about ECNL as a league than DA.
Am I off base?
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Post by atlfutboldad on Mar 11, 2020 9:12:42 GMT -5
(From the Real Colorado EDoC above)
“The ECNL is a better environment for the overall development of our student athletes, on and off the field, and we are excited to be back.”
That might be burning some bridges on your way out the door.
Maybe DA will produce better professionals, that's what they're hoping at least?
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Post by atv on Mar 11, 2020 9:17:52 GMT -5
.... so what is USSF? From my perspective, it’s an organization with a diverse group of associated members from a lot of different areas including recreational, youth, adult, pro, etc. Their stated mission is “... clear and simple: to make soccer, in all its forms: the preeminent sport in the United States.” Are they doing that? Do their members identify with their mission statement? Do the employees of US Soccer live and breathe it?
USSF’s culture is one of:
... issuing mandates and proclamations.
... competing against association members by creating and running the DA.
... creating very rigid rules and policies on style of play, training, philosophies, player development , identification pathways, etc.
... aggressively engaging in a never ending number of law suits and battles with its members.
Their NOT a private company and this type of behavior isn’t normal for how non profit associations should be run in free market countries. Hence, their approach feels like how a communist bloc country would approach sports development.
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Post by fridge on Mar 11, 2020 9:32:15 GMT -5
I had posted this on another thread:
This announcement is incredibly significant for the DA/ECNL war. In sum, this announcement cements ECNL's position and reputation as a definite equal to DA for literally the next decade. DA has blown it.
I am not saying this is the death of DA. DA has great clubs and will remain viable for the next decade too. HOWEVER, DA's mission was to essentially destroy ECNL. DA was created to take the best clubs and best players for the best competition. DA has now lost several great national clubs (Michigan Hawks, Mass/FC Stars, PDA, Texans, Real Colo, Eclipse, Concorde, etc.) and their great players after experiencing both DA/ECNL. It's amazing, bc if I had to bet a couple years ago, I figured DA with all of its resources would slowly suck away all the good clubs from ECNL. Frankly, the inverse has happened and ECNL is winning the hand to hand combat with great clubs going all-in each year. Meanwhile, DA (1) adds clubs with little regional reputations let alone national reputations and (2) continues to compromise on its "mission statement" in trying to compete with ECNL which appears to have a more compelling model for girls. Further, this truly changes the recruitment argument DA clubs would use-- that DA kids would get the clear edge when it comes to youth national team call ins. When the above 7 clubs (plus Blues and others) are in ECNL, the federation must continue to recruit and give opportunities to ECNL kids.
DA had its window to destroy ECNL 2 years ago and the leadership of ECNL out maneuvered DA. If there were any interest in a detent' between the two leagues, I don't think ECNL has an incentive anymore.
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Post by soccerlegacy on Mar 11, 2020 12:22:32 GMT -5
.... so what is USSF? From my perspective, it’s an organization with a diverse group of associated members from a lot of different areas including recreational, youth, adult, pro, etc. Their stated mission is “... clear and simple: to make soccer, in all its forms: the preeminent sport in the United States.” Are they doing that? Do their members identify with their mission statement? Do the employees of US Soccer live and breathe it? USSF’s culture is one of: ... issuing mandates and proclamations. ... competing against association members by creating and running the DA. ... creating very rigid rules and policies on style of play, training, philosophies, player development , identification pathways, etc. ... aggressively engaging in a never ending number of law suits and battles with its members. Their NOT a private company and this type of behavior isn’t normal for how non profit associations should be run in free market countries. Hence, their approach feels like how a communist bloc country would approach sports development. and they don't seem to listen to the customer base... they seem to think they are the smartest in the room and brush off input due to their elitism. Repetitious , to be sure, but... age mandate anyone?? |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Mar 11, 2020 12:38:50 GMT -5
As a parent whose kid does not play DA , but has guest played a few times on an ECNL team a couple years ago, I'm not up to speed on the differences between DA and ECNL. So tell me if I am wrong: I gather what people are saying is that DA may have had a little too much arrogance in their model? Like assuming that if they ran it like an eastern european block team that parents would be impressed and thus fork over thousands? It seems there is more good said about ECNL as a league than DA. Am I off base? Nope... |
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Post by ultimatedad on Mar 11, 2020 16:42:44 GMT -5
The biggest difference is that your kid and most others can guest play for ECNL.
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Post by 04gparent on Mar 11, 2020 17:04:18 GMT -5
As a parent whose kid does not play DA , but has guest played a few times on an ECNL team a couple years ago, I'm not up to speed on the differences between DA and ECNL. So tell me if I am wrong: I gather what people are saying is that DA may have had a little too much arrogance in their model? Like assuming that if they ran it like an eastern european block team that parents would be impressed and thus fork over thousands? It seems there is more good said about ECNL as a league than DA. Am I off base? Nope... My view is there are more parents on the forum whose kids play ECNL and thus they view it more favorably based on their kids playing there... As I have stated before, ECNL is better at marketing and branding than DA. Perception = Reality! I dont know if there are facts that say one league is better run than the other. Specifically talking about girls, the birth of both leagues has watered down both of them. Unfortunately for DA, US Soccer is an organization that is going through turmoil and thus that reflects poorly on all of their leagues. Maybe some of the negative press that is about to hit the fan with US Soccer will force change in the old guard... |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on Mar 11, 2020 17:27:33 GMT -5
My view is there are more parents on the forum whose kids play ECNL and thus they view it more favorably based on their kids playing there... As I have stated before, ECNL is better at marketing and branding than DA. Perception = Reality! I dont know if there are facts that say one league is better run than the other. Specifically talking about girls, the birth of both leagues has watered down both of them. Unfortunately for DA, US Soccer is an organization that is going through turmoil and thus that reflects poorly on all of their leagues. Maybe some of the negative press that is about to hit the fan with US Soccer will force change in the old guard... For the record, I'm not advocating one league over the other. I think they each have their Schtick that will draw the players and parents who feel they can thrive in each environment. Additionally, I'm like you - hopeful, but then again I should temper my expectations. To me the best form of negative press and a good source for a swift kick in arse was the USMNT not, lemme repeat not making the world cup in as easy a region as we are in. That should have been the catalyst for swift and decisive change. But nooooo, we hire the great, the uber successful and stupendously talented (drumroll please) - Gregg Berhalter. Need I say more... |
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Post by soccermaxx72 on Mar 11, 2020 19:19:06 GMT -5
My view is there are more parents on the forum whose kids play ECNL and thus they view it more favorably based on their kids playing there... As I have stated before, ECNL is better at marketing and branding than DA. Perception = Reality! I dont know if there are facts that say one league is better run than the other. Specifically talking about girls, the birth of both leagues has watered down both of them. Unfortunately for DA, US Soccer is an organization that is going through turmoil and thus that reflects poorly on all of their leagues. Maybe some of the negative press that is about to hit the fan with US Soccer will force change in the old guard... Currently, the main argument for ECNL over DA for that level of player is do they want to play for their high school. Some really want that experience and connection to their high school and local community. |
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Post by atv on Mar 12, 2020 9:30:45 GMT -5
One of the fundamental differences I personally have with a rigid process is the path of one player (or coach) may be very different than another. When I hear someone say this young player is amazing and is the type of player we need on the US National Team in the next 10 years. My initial thoughts, “Are you crazy?” Do you know how much can change in 10-years? Why not develop a system that can develop a larger number of players that can potentially fill the role in a number of years. Why place these artificial boundaries on players when they’re as young as 12 or 13 years old?
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Post by atlfutboldad on Mar 12, 2020 12:55:51 GMT -5
2nd team players should have access to whatever resources you give first team players. There are a lot of late bloomers. If you don't teach them how to play as individuals when they're young, they'll be so far behind as they age. That is the problem.
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Post by oraclesfriend on Mar 12, 2020 16:49:14 GMT -5
One of the fundamental differences I personally have with a rigid process is the path of one player (or coach) may be very different than another. When I hear someone say this young player is amazing and is the type of player we need on the US National Team in the next 10 years. My initial thoughts, “Are you crazy?” Do you know how much can change in 10-years? Why not develop a system that can develop a larger number of players that can potentially fill the role in a number of years. Why place these artificial boundaries on players when they’re as young as 12 or 13 years old? There are so many kids that have to fight so hard to make up ground lost as little ones. I mean really little ones. Some kids have great instincts for the game for the get go, but some need time to process and learn the flow of the game, too. Soccer is like math. Some kids just get it from the first moment on the field. Some need time to learn all of the concepts behind it and let their brains mature until it becomes crystal clear in their teens. Some are small or slow or weak as little ones and grow into stronger, faster, bigger, more athletic bodies as well. All kids need a competitive and ENCOURAGING environment to grow in. Don't forget too that some of the best little ones burn out by 16. If you never gave those slower, weaker, lacking the instincts kids a chance you will be left with nothing. |
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