Fully Funded Girls DA Teams coming soon?

skiberdad wrote:

KeeperCommander wrote:

skiberdad wrote:You were talking about DA.  I was talking about ECNL (which was previously the highest level of competition).  So in comparison, that is a vast difference in price to play at the top level available for girls.  Especially, when you roster 20+ kids and we know very well number 17-20+ won't see the field for any significant period of time, yet it still costs the same.  In fact, many who pay the ECNL fees don't even make the travel team.  DA doesn't cost anything for boys from top to bottom of roster.  That's what I was pointing out.  I applaud and love that DA is coming to the girls' side.  It probably doesn't apply to the one kid I have left that is of age, but I still applaud it.

But to expand the point, the cost to play on a team that plays in Plano/Arlington is the same as the cost for a team that plays in LHGCL.  How is that not gouging?  How is rostering 16-18 players to a D2 Plano club and charging the same fees as a D1 LHGCL club appropriate?  Have you watched those Plano games?  lol  I mean, it's hard to watch.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm all for kids playing appropriate level competition, and of course, I know that the level will vary.  My point is you shouldn't be charging the same $3k-4k in fees.  And further, parents shouldn't be willing to pay it.  There are clubs that do tier their fees, but those tend to be the indies.

That may not be true for every club, but it certainly is for the big ones.  

But those players that you consider 17-20+ will be rostered on a LH team too so they can get the touches and minutes.  

But they are paying ECNL prices.  They're paying for exposure to college scouts etc etc.  If the only field time they see if LHGCL, they get none of that.  They might as well play LHGCL and pay those rates.

skiberdad wrote:all true, KC.

I have a buddy who sort of went "all in" trying to get a college scholarship, decided to pay the ECNL fees.  His kid was exactly what you described.  Right on the border of being good enough to get exposure to the scouts.  He was hoping should would improve enough to get on the field at age 16 or 17.  Well, never really happened and didn't get an offer.  The sad part was that in the attempt, burned a bunch of money and was really struggling to pay the college tuition after spending over $60K in ECNL/select fees, travel costs, uniforms, etc. throughout his daughter's youth career.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but dude, I felt bad for him.  

The one thing I'll say is that the ECNL coach he was with actually was very realistic with him, so you couldn't blame a slimy coach selling him a pipe dream.  He just rolled the dice.

TP --
When my daughter went through, the fees were vastly different. That was years ago, though. If there are any ECNL parents out there, maybe they can comment on what they are paying today. Plus, don't underestimate the travel fees... Yikes. That stuff adds up!

skiberdad wrote:I have a buddy who sort of went "all in" trying to get a college scholarship, decided to pay the ECNL fees.  His kid was exactly what you described.  Right on the border of being good enough to get exposure to the scouts.  He was hoping should would improve enough to get on the field at age 16 or 17.  Well, never really happened and didn't get an offer.  The sad part was that in the attempt, burned a bunch of money and was really struggling to pay the college tuition after spending over $60K in ECNL/select fees, travel costs, uniforms, etc. throughout his daughter's youth career.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but dude, I felt bad for him.  

The one thing I'll say is that the ECNL coach he was with actually was very realistic with him, so you couldn't blame a slimy coach selling him a pipe dream.  He just rolled the dice.

skiberdad wrote:Gunn--

If the specific LHGCL D1 team qualifies for all those things, you might be right. )Though, I'm not sure the math works out that way....) But that's a big if. Most D1 teams aren't going to be a part of all that.  Certainly, not all of them go to national showcases.

skiberdad wrote:Amen to that. Even my kid that is on athletic scholarship sits most games.  She'll never make money with her feet. It will be her brain.

KeeperCommander wrote:

skiberdad wrote:Gunn--

If the specific LHGCL D1 team qualifies for all those things, you might be right. )Though, I'm not sure the math works out that way....) But that's a big if. Most D1 teams aren't going to be a part of all that.  Certainly, not all of them go to national showcases.

I had always heard that the fees were very similar but when travel was considered it amounted to much more.  These days playing PL or just being a showcase team means lots of travel.  The original fees for such are probably much lower since the majority of those teams are probably smaller clubs not the Big 5.  
I see posts everyday about how my kid is growing up so fast and they wish they could stop time.  Next post, oh we are on our way to wherever so my kid can play ball.  Well its partly our fault that we allowed the scene to dictate how early all of this started and then we bitch that our kids are growing up too fast in front of us.  7th or 8th grade i can see it.  These kids are 7 man, too early.  
Anyway I am off to find plane tickets so my DD can play soccer.

skiberdad wrote:

KeeperCommander wrote:

skiberdad wrote:Gunn--

If the specific LHGCL D1 team qualifies for all those things, you might be right. )Though, I'm not sure the math works out that way....) But that's a big if. Most D1 teams aren't going to be a part of all that.  Certainly, not all of them go to national showcases.

I had always heard that the fees were very similar but when travel was considered it amounted to much more.  These days playing PL or just being a showcase team means lots of travel.  The original fees for such are probably much lower since the majority of those teams are probably smaller clubs not the Big 5.  
I see posts everyday about how my kid is growing up so fast and they wish they could stop time.  Next post, oh we are on our way to wherever so my kid can play ball.  Well its partly our fault that we allowed the scene to dictate how early all of this started and then we bitch that our kids are growing up too fast in front of us.  7th or 8th grade i can see it.  These kids are 7 man, too early.  
Anyway I am off to find plane tickets so my DD can play soccer.

You better stop posting stuff like this.  People might mistake you for a softie.  

AtThePitch wrote:http://www.soccerwire.com/news/clubs/youth-girls/match-fit-academy-fc-declines-girls-da-invite-sticks-with-ecnl/