COVID-19 -USSF DA RIP -04B And More Acronyms

So it took a pandemic and the demise of the USSF DA program to get Gameday back on the keyboard?

FIRST OF ALL don't be like the rest of the sheep that believe the press release that it was finally COVID-19's fault that the DA is folding. The fact of the matter is that the program did not yield the crop of highly touted international prospects OR a competitive US Men's National team. Face the facts, it did neither. COVID-19 is simply a convenient scapegoat being used by the USSF. Will families have financial difficulty in paying for youth soccer in this economic climate? Of course! But to put it squarely on the post-pandemic reality is rediculous. Another shameful move by USSF.

WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY what does the future hold? Talk about an MLS invitational league is interesting and could be viable, however it would only likely be successful in the immediate MLS markets. Consider Texas as an example. What if FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo established an Elite tier competition and invite their former DA team plus 4 top area teams, creating a 10 team league. You'd be traveling to Houston for half of your games which is similar to ECNL, NPL or Frontier League. Seems feasible, but what about teams in San Antonio, Austin, or even Oklahoma? It's not so simple?

LET'S LOOK EVEN CLOSER at our local market. Will the Big 3 immediately switch their DA teams into their current Classic D1 slots? Is that fair to kids who have fought to get to D1? Will parents and their checkbooks finally defect if this happens? The DFW soccer factory has a lot more going for it in that now more than ever, teams will want to and have to travel to us in order to get highly competitive games.

WE JUST HAVE TO get started again based on the safety guidelines set by the State of Texas and Dallas County. Talking about getting started, with North Texas Soccer's decision to scrap the State Cup and no Regional or National Tournament, we're all looking at when Classic willl start up in order to finish up. We're certain that they will finish the season even if it's in June BECAUSE the Challenge Fundraiser, I mean tournament MUST go on! And we all do need that to happen to solidify and re-anchor the quality of play in north Texas. Face it, we all need eachother- the players need the League, and the League needs players.

LET'S GET TO THE NITTY GRITTY of paying for youth soccer. Think about your club dues, think about the unemployment rate about to skyrocket, think about the new economy? What is going to happen? Will clubs come up with modified price guidelines? Will some families simply not be able to afford it? Will high school soccer take an even bigger bite of our club talent?

THE BIG PICTURE is the DA doesn't really affect all that much given the track record. THE EVEN BIGGER PICTURE is the future economic landscape of club soccer which does affect us all. STAY SAFE OUT THERE! Questions and comments are mist welcome.

And now the final domino fallen, the Classic season is done, the entire year is virtually done. But, there's still time to register for the Challenge tournament which will hopefully be as early as Thanksgiving weekend if County Judge Clay Jenkins is consulted?  

The most interesting language in the Classic League announcement, "We are working out the details of the division standings... Final determination will be available by the end of the week."  This can and will get very interesting on several levels.  

How to determine "the details" could entail several things;
How to protect our BFF teams?
How to promote that team that could've won their next game?
How to cement that team into relegation?
How to protect the reigning champs?
How to promote FC Dallas at any cost?
How to favor clubs that will now roster former DA players?
How to rationalize D1, and D2 stay in place as if the season had never occurred? (round robin?)
How to keep enough teams happy so that no partial refund will be expected for the games not played? Ouch!!

Final Determination Friday will soon be here.  And remember that THERE'S NO CRYING IN SOCCER?!