April Heinrichs on Under-17 World Cup, Development Academy vs. ECNL and high school o

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Unselfish desire to improve the state of soccer would be a hard claim for any of these high level high priced youth leagues to make. They all seem to be cut from the same cloth and area high end product for the talent that can afford and desires to participate.

More people see that this latest step by USSF is more a power play than anything else. Families have also have seen little has happened on the boys side in nearly ten years of existence. Maybe GDA becomes #1 over time, maybe it doesn't. But USSF and the clubs better not be expecting it to start with a bang. A sparkler might be a better analogy.

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More people see that this latest step by USSF is more a power play than anything else. Families have also have seen little has happened on the boys side in nearly ten years of existence. Maybe GDA becomes #1 over time, maybe it doesn't. But USSF and the clubs better not be expecting it to start with a bang. A sparkler might be a better analogy.

Anson Dorrance presented at a conference last week called Women in Soccer 2017. (Head Coach of the University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer program, in his 37th year of his collegiate coaching career, Dorrance’s staggering 777-58-31 record and 22 national championships represents the best NCAA record for any coach in any Division I sport nationwide).

"While all the others are at war with each other and are pointing fingers at the other platforms of player development claiming they are not following best practices — the youth, college game, pro leagues and national/technical directors — are all feeling let down by the groups feeding into them,” said Dorrance.

Dorrance asked what is the solution to our girls’ growth? Questioning the difference between the Girls’ Development Academy (DA) and the ECNL besides the substitution rule — Dorrance asked, “Is there a magic box of ideas we have never heard of?”

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Anson Dorrance presented at a conference last week called Women in Soccer 2017. (Head Coach of the University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer program, in his 37th year of his collegiate coaching career, Dorrance’s staggering 777-58-31 record and 22 national championships represents the best NCAA record for any coach in any Division I sport nationwide).

"While all the others are at war with each other and are pointing fingers at the other platforms of player development claiming they are not following best practices — the youth, college game, pro leagues and national/technical directors — are all feeling let down by the groups feeding into them,” said Dorrance.

Dorrance asked what is the solution to our girls’ growth? Questioning the difference between the Girls’ Development Academy (DA) and the ECNL besides the substitution rule — Dorrance asked, “Is there a magic box of ideas we have never heard of?”

Plenty of ideas out there - they just seem to be ignoring them all

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Plenty of ideas out there - they just seem to be ignoring them all

Meanwhile, the list of clubs rejecting their GDA offers is up to six, and counting.

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Meanwhile, the list of clubs rejecting their GDA offers is up to six, and counting.

Why doesn't the ECNL do something about the problem instead of just whining about the GDA?

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Why doesn't the ECNL do something about the problem instead of just whining about the GDA?

They're taking care of their own - if you haven't been on their website in awhile they've changed a great deal to at least appear like they're going to address some of their issues. Believe me it is a wakeup call. whether or not they succeed remains to be seen. I've been a sharp critic of ECNL in the past but the power lust by USSF I think is worse. Having a smaller, separate program for the top 1% is all well and good and necessary, but that isn't what GDA is.

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So the girls can play school and DA , awesome news

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So the girls can play school and DA , awesome news

ha! yeah right. Ask your club how that's going to work. HS will be on paper only. Clubs can't afford to be missing players for 3-4 months. Only private school kids with waivers will play HS, maybe a super stud here or there the club is desperate to keep. A more typical player will have no choice

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They're taking care of their own - if you haven't been on their website in awhile they've changed a great deal to at least appear like they're going to address some of their issues. Believe me it is a wakeup call. whether or not they succeed remains to be seen. I've been a sharp critic of ECNL in the past but the power lust by USSF I think is worse. Having a smaller, separate program for the top 1% is all well and good and necessary, but that isn't what GDA is.

When are they going to change an expensive tournament in the middle of nowhere for twelve year olds on Mothers Day?

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ha! yeah right. Ask your club how that's going to work. HS will be on paper only. Clubs can't afford to be missing players for 3-4 months. Only private school kids with waivers will play HS, maybe a super stud here or there the club is desperate to keep. A more typical player will have no choice

Nope that breeds discrimination and contempt. It must be consistent from club to club in the nation. Private school kids are not exempt from the rules.

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Nope that breeds discrimination and contempt. It must be consistent from club to club in the nation. Private school kids are not exempt from the rules.

It goes on right now with boys clubs and if you think it won't happen with girls you are a fool. Not all boys clubs do it but plenty allow it - and not even just for prep school kids but some super studs as well. As per DA rules clubs are then allowed to make their own decisions on whether or not they will allow it. The only restrictions that 1) an application ahs to be approved, 2)there are restrictions on when players can come back onto a roster and 3) when they are playing HS then no DA activity is allowed.

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It goes on right now with boys clubs and if you think it won't happen with girls you are a fool. Not all boys clubs do it but plenty allow it - and not even just for prep school kids but some super studs as well. As per DA rules clubs are then allowed to make their own decisions on whether or not they will allow it. The only restrictions that 1) an application ahs to be approved, 2)there are restrictions on when players can come back onto a roster and 3) when they are playing HS then no DA activity is allowed.

In the strictest sense. That is all correct. But as has been pointed out on here, the vast majority of boys (and the new DA girls) are scared that while they are off playing HS ball the whole DA team chemistry is moving around them. And after 3-4 months they will have a very hard time breaking back into the roster. So.... unless the kid is a "super stud" they are going to pass on HS soccer.

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In the strictest sense. That is all correct. But as has been pointed out on here, the vast majority of boys (and the new DA girls) are scared that while they are off playing HS ball the whole DA team chemistry is moving around them. And after 3-4 months they will have a very hard time breaking back into the roster. So.... unless the kid is a "super stud" they are going to pass on HS soccer.

Unless they go to private or prep school.

Super studs aren't worried and don't need to be. They'll take all the playing time from the poor suckers who cowed to DA rules because they knew it was their only chance

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They're taking care of their own - if you haven't been on their website in awhile they've changed a great deal to at least appear like they're going to address some of their issues. Believe me it is a wakeup call. whether or not they succeed remains to be seen. I've been a sharp critic of ECNL in the past but the power lust by USSF I think is worse. Having a smaller, separate program for the top 1% is all well and good and necessary, but that isn't what GDA is.

What percent of players is are the GDA and the ecnl for? Where do they state that?

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What percent of players is are the GDA and the ecnl for? Where do they state that?

The clubs with girls DA take about 69 girls total and the clubs with ECNL have about 100 girls in it. They are both good avenues for higher development and competitive play.