NPL vs DAP

[Unregistered]

Is NPL trying to compete with DAP??

I do not see the need to have a second national youth league!!

[Unregistered]

Is NPL trying to compete with DAP??

I do not see the need to have a second national youth league!!

NPL and DAP are compatible. Pre-Academy leagues are part of NPL.

[Unregistered]

NPL and DAP are compatible. Pre-Academy leagues are part of NPL.

I did see that Pre-Academy is part of NPL, but what about U15-U18? Seems to basically be the "B League" to DAP!

[Unregistered]

I did see that Pre-Academy is part of NPL, but what about U15-U18? Seems to basically be the "B League" to DAP!

It will be interesting to see who will win the cup, I bet that if the MA teams meet up a Pre-DAP team vs. Non- DAP, I bet the non-DAP team would win.

[Unregistered]

The NPL (national premier leagues) is a collection of leagues that include

(http://www.nationalpremierleagues.co...ex_E.html#NEPL)

Florida Premier League:
Brandon FC
Central Florida Kraze/Krush
Jacksonville United
Space Coast United
Tampa Bay United

Gulf States Premier League:
Baton Rouge SC (LA)
Brilla FC (MS)
Cajun SC (LA)
Gulf Coast Texans (FL)
Hattiesburg FC (MS)
Houston Dynamo - MS Gulf Coast (MS)
LA Fire (LA)
Mandeville SC (LA)
Mobile SC (AL)
MS JFC/FIRE Premier (MS)


Midwest Developmental League:

Great Lakes Division:
Bavarian SC (WI)
Chicago Fire Academy (IL)
Chicago Magic (IL)
FC Milwaukee Nationals (WI)
FC United (IL)
Blue Valley SC (KS)
Madison 56ers (WI)
MN Thunder Academy (MN)
Rockford Raptors (IL)
St. Louis Scott Gallagher-Metro (IL)
St. Louis Scott Gallagher-Missouri (MO)
Sockers FC Chicago (IL)
Sporting KC Juniors (KS)

Erie Division:
Carmel United (IN)
Cincinnati United SC (OH)
Crew Juniors (OH)
Fort Wayne Fever (IN)
Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (MI)
Internationals SC (OH)
Michigan Jaguars FC (MI)
Michigan Wolves SC (MI)
Vardar (MI)
WAZA F.C. (MI)

Northeast Pre-Academy League:

Liberty Division:
Albertson SC (NY)
Cosmos Academy East (NY)
FC Greater Boston (MA)
FC Westchester (NY)
Met Oval (NY)
Oakwood SC (CT)
PDA (NJ)
Seacoast United (NH)
South Central Premier (NY)

Mid-Atlantic Division:
Baltimore Bays Chelsea (MD)
D.C. United (DC)
FC DELCO (PA)
Match Fit (NJ)
McLean Youth Soccer (VA)
New York Red Bulls (NY)
NJSA 04 (NJ)
PA Classics (PA)
Potomac SA (MD)


Southeast Pre-Academy League:
CASL (NC)
Charlotte SA (NC)
Clearwater Chargers (FL)
Concorde Fire (GA)
Georgia United Soccer Alliance (GA)
North Meck SC (NC)
IMG Soccer Academy (FL)
Kendall SC (FL)
Richmond Kickers (VA)
Richmond Strikers (VA)
South Carolina United (SC)
Virginia Rush (VA)
Weston FC (FL)


Texas Pre-Academy League:
Andromeda (Plano)
Classics Elite (San Antonio)
Dallas Texans (Dallas)
FC Dallas (Dallas)
Houston Dynamo (Houston)
Lonestar SC (Austin)
Solar (Dallas)
Texas Rush (Houston)
Texans SC (Houston)

The Standings can be found at:http://www.nationalpremierleagues.co...s/index_E.html
* Florida Premier League
* Gulf States Premier League
* Midwest Developmental League
* Northeast Pre-Academy League
* Southeast Pre-Academy League
* Texas Pre-Academy League


There is a New England Division listed, but no schedules or standings:

New England Premier League:
FC Stars of Mass (MA)
MPS (MA)
New England Aztec (MA)
NEFC (MA)
NHPSA (Classics) (NH)
Western Unietd (MA)

All the others listed above are Academy clubs.

As for who would win against the PreAcademy teams, I would challenge anyone to find a club in Mass stronger than that 1996 Bolts. As for the 1997 and 1998 teams, I might agree that there are other Massachusetts teams that might be as good......???? better. However, don't let their lack of success at the PreAcademy level suggest that they are not a decent team.

[dd2]

To me, the National Premier League reflects the influence of the DAP on youth soccer and the exploitation of competitive opportunities created by weaknesses in the USYS model. I think it's a positive development on the whole.

US Soccer created the DAP to provide better training and more meaningful competition for elite youth soccer. Although some will debate whether the DAP has delivered, it has been successful enough to change perception of how young soccer players should be trained. Of course, the DAP has become a magnet program as players and clubs alike try to join. My guess is that some of the clubs that apply to join the DAP are "good enough" in terms of their organization and coaching, but the DAP has understandably been reluctant to expand.

If it's true that the DAP's organization, training, and competitive structure are good for youth soccer, it comes as no surprise that clubs who can't get into the DAP will form leagues that mimic the DAP. From US Soccer's perspective, this is a good thing. The more players that are trained in a DAP environment, the better. Not every player with the potential to be a top soccer player gets into a DAP club. And with DAP going to an all-year calendar, not every top talent will choose to play DAP. The National Premier Leagues seem well-positioned to offer something similar to the DAP for those who still want to play high school soccer. The NPL offers a place where those players might develop in a DAP-influenced program.

Additionally, the NPL offers non-DAP players an alternative to USYS competition. In Massachusetts, MAPLE was plagued by uneven competition, even in its top division. Even after the DAP, strong MAPLE teams almost never lose to other teams. Region 1 Premier League supposedly offered top teams a source of better games, but the region has proven geographically unwieldy, and the scheduling has been strange with teams playing 2 games per day (crazy in my opinion) on scattered weekends. It's no surprise to me that something like the NPL and NEPL have popped up, making the claim that their structure will address the problems with USYS/MAPLE. Of course, whether this happens is open to discussion.

So from my perspective, the NPL is hardly superfluous. US Soccer probably likes it, and consumers want it. I'll be curious to see how USYS responds. USYS is under pressure on the boys side from the DAP and NPL, and on the girls side by ECNL. Can a girls' NPL be far behind? If USYS does nothing, it will wind up perceived as the third option for ambitious players, behind DAP/ECNL and NPL. Alternatively, USYS can respond and improve what it offers. That too would be a good thing.