Girls DA in 2017

....and just when we thought we now know what is going on with this AP, Girls DA, ECNL and stuff, here comes US Club Soccer with another wrench in the tool box..

http://usclubsoccer.org/2016/02/24/us-club-soccer-statement-on-u-s-soccer-girls-development-academy/

Can't wait for 2017 to settle this drama.

Pele98 wrote:....and just when we thought we now know what is going on with this AP, Girls DA, ECNL and stuff, here comes US Club Soccer with another wrench in the tool box..

http://usclubsoccer.org/2016/02/24/us-club-soccer-statement-on-u-s-soccer-girls-development-academy/

Can't wait for 2017 to settle this drama.

Interesting in that PLAYER DEVELOPMENT is not in there.

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER:

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer is an organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs in the United States.

[quote="Sho'Nuff"][quote="turftoe9"][quote="Sho'Nuff"][quote="newbiefornow"]Probable supply of slots on DA Teams in North Texas for a given age group ~ 40 (they're combining two AP Years). [/quote]

Not shooting down your math; just curious how you arrived at 40.  The teams have to be 50/50 older and younger.[/quote]

What do you mean the teams have to be 50/50 older and younger?[/quote]

"The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years."

I could be interpreting it wrong.  I assumed roster of 22, 11 older and 11 younger.

One of these articles mentioned "no bench-fillers"[/quote]


If boys DA rosters are any guide, it won't be half and half. Most of the DA rosters ( say the U13/U14 rosters) are made up 90% or more of the older age group. There is no requirement to split the team by age groups. One or two younger kids per team is the norm.

sprint wrote:

Sho'Nuff wrote:

turftoe9 wrote:

Sho'Nuff wrote:

newbiefornow wrote:Probable supply of slots on DA Teams in North Texas for a given age group ~ 40 (they're combining two AP Years).

Not shooting down your math; just curious how you arrived at 40.  The teams have to be 50/50 older and younger.

What do you mean the teams have to be 50/50 older and younger?

"The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years."

I could be interpreting it wrong.  I assumed roster of 22, 11 older and 11 younger.

One of these articles mentioned "no bench-fillers"

If boys DA rosters are any guide, it won't be half and half. Most of the DA rosters ( say the U13/U14 rosters) are made up 90% or more of the older age group.  There is no requirement to split the team by age groups.  One or two younger kids per team is the norm.  

From the announcement:
"From the start, the program will feature three combined age groups in the Girls’ Development Academy: U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19. Clubs will be expected to train a minimum of four times a week. The players in the Girls’ Development Academy clubs will play exclusively within the Academy program and will not play in any outside competition, such as ODP or high school. The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years. The games will be scouted by U.S. Soccer and the program will serve as a pathway to U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams.

In addition to combining the most elite players from each birth year to form the mixed age group player pool, coaches will be encouraged to play their most elite players “up” on an older age team within the club to help accelerate development."

They left some wiggle room for the interpretation of 'balanced', and 'outside competition' by mentioning HS & ODP but remaining silent on playing in other leagues such as ECNL or local leagues (LHGCL).

Pretty sure that same language has always been in there on the boys side as well. But it doesn't pan out like that in reality. I would expect over 90% of these Girls DA teams to be made up of the girls from the older age group.

My excitement is plummeting quickly.

If 90% of the team is made up of the older age, what happens the following year?
Those 9 girls out of 10 would step into the next age bracket and marry up with the 10% of the younger from the older bracket? Wouldn't think that'd make for a very competitive team in each bracket the following year.
Think that clubs will try to maintain as close a balance between years as they can to assure competitiveness the following year.

For example, when this goes into play ( fall 2017) the U13/U14 team will technically be made up of 04 and 05 birth year girls.  I would expect 90% of the roster is 04 birth year.  

Maybe the girls coaches will be different than the boys coaches but you never know.

[quote="BurnOnYou"]If 90% of the team is made up of the older age, what happens the following year?
Those 9 girls out of 10 would step into the next age bracket and marry up with the 10% of the younger from the older bracket?  Wouldn't think that'd make for a very competitive team in each bracket the following year.
Think that clubs will try to maintain as close a balance between years as they can to assure competitiveness the following year.[/quote]

On the boys side, that is were Pre-Academy comes in at U15 ( a US Club soccer league)  The older boys leave the U14DA team, mostly go to the U15 PA team for a year and then go to the U16 DA team the next year.  Not sure how the girls will do it.  

Maybe play U14 DA girls, then U15 ECNL and then back to U16 girls DA.  Lots of variables and depends on how clubs want to do it

son has never played Pre Academy. Last season his team was about half younger. The Texans were also largely younger last year. This year they are older because the kids stayed in the same age group. FCD does like to park it's players in the pre academy for a year. So the 90% isn't exactly accurate over the entire league but definitely the case for some clubs.

I don't have a dog in the fight (or in this case a kid) but I do find it interesting to learn how this will all play out.

1. Will the clubs that win the DA designation still participate in ECNL?

2. If the DA clubs decide not to participate in both DA and ECNL will a couple of clubs that are currently non-ENCL take their place?

I wonder if clubs will be inclined to try and keep the teams close to evenly balanced, because each year, the older half will move up an age. If your team is too heavily stacked to one age, then every other year they will be essentially playing up a year. I suppose you could argue that team stability would be more advantageous than size/ athletic compatibility with the competition. Will be interesting to see if teams do rotate players annually or make a team an weather the age differences every other year.

Pretty much what GO said it how it works on the boys side. My son play PA right now at U13. That group is slated to move up to the DA team at U14, with some reductions/additions through an "open" tryout. So the PA will be the holding spot for the future DA kids.

As far as ENCL goes, the designated clubs will still hold their spots in both. It only makes sense. It is still a more competitive overall market than LHGCL. Which one could argue will be even less competitive with 40+ girls leaving for PA/DA per age group.

tpitty wrote:Pretty much what GO said it how it works on the boys side. My son play PA right now at U13. That group is slated to move up to the DA team at U14, with some reductions/additions through an "open" tryout. So the PA will be the holding spot for the future DA kids.

Are you saying clubs are gaming the system in an effort to chase more wins at the expense of individual player development? Say it ain't so.

US Soccer clearly states "The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years."

SWGSB 52 wrote:

tpitty wrote:Pretty much what GO said it how it works on the boys side. My son play PA right now at U13. That group is slated to move up to the DA team at U14, with some reductions/additions through an "open" tryout. So the PA will be the holding spot for the future DA kids.

Are you saying clubs are gaming the system in an effort to chase more wins at the expense of individual player development? Say it ain't so.

US Soccer clearly states "The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years."

Didn't say that one bit. As a matter of fact, we only care about high level training. The wins/losses are secondary. You have to change the current way of thinking when you are talking about PA/DA. Training comes first. The standings are only standings. No promotion/relegation. It is ALL about player development. At least that is the case thus far in my opinion.

actually the clubs are gaming the system. It is supposed to be balanced age groups. In theory the older player is playing most of the minutes and forming the core of the team. The younger player is learning, getting experience, amd "playing up". The next season that player becomes the older player and now is the core backed by a younger group. The clubs are not supposed to "park" players in pre academy but they do

I am not sure how flexible a DA roster is (or will be), but assuming the clubs that are granted DA keep their ECNL spots as well - could the clubs use ECNL as a feeder system to the DA squad? Could the clubs move girls back and forth from DA to ECNL? If development is the goal, then the DA/ECNL clubs could have a pool of 30 girls at each age group with girls competing for the DA spots. The girls that don't get game time with DA could get it at the ECNL events.

Does anyone know if there is or was a review period after which teams must re-apply to DA on the boys side of the house? I assume US Soccer will want to have control over membership of the DA but unless there are specific criteria for removal and addition to it, once a club is in they may not always act as US Soccer intends.

Has a club been removed from DA since its inception?

Andromeda

^^^^ what he said.

The DA sends scouts throughout the year to look in on the teams. So every team gets evaluated multiple times a year so that clubs are abiding by the standards set.

CBTeamworks wrote:I don't have a dog in the fight (or in this case a kid) but I do find it interesting to learn how this will all play out.

1. Will the clubs that win the DA designation still participate in ECNL?

2. If the DA clubs decide not to participate in both DA and ECNL will a couple of clubs that are currently non-ENCL take their place?

This may answer a few questions:

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/ecnl-us-soccer-da-face-uncertain-future_aid38902?utm_source=TopDrawerSoccer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b4df81ff38-General_2_24_162_24_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8340315a79-b4df81ff38-32955537

"As expected, U.S. Soccer outlawed play “in any outside competition,” which will of course include the ECNL. But not just the ECNL. Many of the league’s best players moonlight in other competitions, notably in high school and the US Youth Soccer-run ODP. Both instances will provide rockier ground than on the boys side."

it won't be rockier. I remember the boys side and how much moaning and complaining there was about HS and of course everyone just jumped on board. One thing NTX ego's can't resist is being part of the "top" league

Son_ofa_Pitch wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:I don't have a dog in the fight (or in this case a kid) but I do find it interesting to learn how this will all play out.

1. Will the clubs that win the DA designation still participate in ECNL?

2. If the DA clubs decide not to participate in both DA and ECNL will a couple of clubs that are currently non-ENCL take their place?

This may answer a few questions:

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/ecnl-us-soccer-da-face-uncertain-future_aid38902?utm_source=TopDrawerSoccer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b4df81ff38-General_2_24_162_24_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8340315a79-b4df81ff38-32955537

"As expected, U.S. Soccer outlawed play “in any outside competition,” which will of course include the ECNL. But not just the ECNL. Many of the league’s best players moonlight in other competitions, notably in high school and the US Youth Soccer-run ODP. Both instances will provide rockier ground than on the boys side."

Good article and the comments under the article were very enlightening as well.