One of the best threads/succinct arguments why US Soccer (errrr MLS) holds back soccer in this country. Please share to folks who care about the game. THREAD: US Soccer doesn’t do soccer well so it only makes sense it honors its own leadership while ignoring the error of its ways and the dysfunction in its wake. The dissonance is deafening. What follows is a look at areas that need reform, overhaul, or elimination. #ReformUSSF pic.twitter.com/LQpLpLYpb5— Daniel Workman (@danielworkman) September 21, 2019
Question on this thread -- looking for advice What if FT Academy players are getting hardly any minutes because all these new PT players are getting tons of game minutes - and they also get game minutes elsewhere during the week - and they hardly practice with academy team. guess academy still thinks thats ok ? and the FT players are stuck - and the only thing FT is their financial commitment... Is there anywhere else for those FT players to go to try to get game minutes- is that even possible or are they just stuck having made a bad decision for the year.
When you say "academy" thinks this is ok, are you talking about the USSF or your club? USSF cares about roughly 50 kids per age group nationally, they don't give a flyin' f about what PT'ers are up to. It is meant as a tool for clubs to keep dangling a carrot in front of pre-DA players, just a taste so you stick around for another year, keep the numbers up. Around here, where high school is an attractive option for most girls, it is a welcome carve-out in the otherwise self-serving GDA rule book. You've figured it out, but it sounds like it might be a little too late for this year. PT players get the best of all worlds, MRL (or whatever its called), DA games and showcases, and get to play high school come spring time. That 'loophole' was discovered in the very first year of GDA. It isn't available to everyone, but it is a good spot to be in. Club DOCs like winning and they have found it difficult to attract all the best players (within their own club) to play GDA, so I imagine it will be a viable option for years to come assuming GDA keeps their current rules. As to the other part of your question, USSF GDA rostered Full Time players are not allowed to play in any non-DA events. Read their rule book very closely as well as to how and when your player can participate in college id camps. It's ridiculous. No one follows the ID Camp rules, but you can review them here to see it is a real thing: http://www.ussoccerda.com/doclib/2019-20 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY RULES AND REGULATIONS.pdf
Its infuriating. How does your player develop when the age group has over 20 FT players in that age group and 10-15 PT players competing for 1 game a week of minutes. Many of these FT players could grow their game and confidence if they were able to play an actual full game. But over half of them barely get 30 minutes of maybe 1 game a week ? Their training to game minutes are off the charts. They are going backward development wise. Shame on the club which never even indicated there was going to be this PT/ FT "issue". - who never indicated they would have all these PT players being rostered and competing for playtime. The PT's are playing 1 academy game a week and and FT MRL or NISL games as well. Those who didn't question were just rostered as FT and now are trapped for the year. Its no wonder kids quit this sport. How disheartening for a kid who is a committed athlete and just wants to play at the highest level of their sport. What kid, regardless of how committed, wants to do nothing but train and never actually get to play a full game - and sit the bench watching the PT players who haven't even come to all the practices play the games. I'm disgusted.
Can the Team take your player FT to PT? That is what I would request - obviously with a reason why. If they refuse then just stop payment and leave. You are the customer.
I agree with Volk. Request going from FT to PT. I have also seen kids drop from the Academy but stay in the club on other teams.
Someone with any insight on FC United Pre academy 07 G, please tell me how they tied Berwyn 1-1 in the Qualifier. Berwyn has given up 20 goals in 3 other games. Has to be the biggest upset in the Qualifier thus far. Did they lose girls to Eclipse NB?
Depends on who you ask. The DA does not allow participation in unapproved competition outside their platform for FT players, no restriction on PT. IWSL to my knowledge has no rules regarding DA players participating in their platform. I know for a fact NISL does not have any rules against DA players. Its the same principle as USYS and USC players playing across platforms. They aren't regulating each others players just the ones in their platform. Honestly I think for some players it does make sense to play a local game every now and again even if they're FT. If the player isn't getting enough DA minutes or say they're returning from injury or need training in a specific position/role and they need some lower level match minutes it would be in their best interest to play a local game. I think if its done for the right reasons there shouldn't be anything wrong with it. Matches can be a developmental tool. Now if a club loads up a local roster just to win big tournaments or thrash a local rival I think that's BS. Not in the interest of the player. No disrespect to our friend Regista, but the outcomes of U13 games really aren't that important IMO. First year of 11v11 soccer. One individual strong athlete or early maturing player can decide games at even the "highest" levels of competition. Priority should be develop understanding and mastery instead of the outcome of matches. I think you'll see the DA eliminate the U13 age group next season for that reason.
I am not really sure if they lost anyone, but I do know they have a new coach. And (totally speculating here) just can’t imagine they really care that much about the qualifier.
DA and ECNL should eliminate U13, as well as U14, and U15. Now that the college recruiting rules have changed, maybe, just maybe, us parents will wise up, find good local competition, supplement it with high quality training outside of your club, let our kids play a second sport, and fret over joining a 'finishing school' club to get her college resume together at the U16 level. Unfortunately, as long as us parents are willing to pay nothing will change. FOMO is powerful.
FT academy - according to USSF rules- so this kid who was "good enough" (?) to be selected for academy but not to actually play game minutes for acadamy Can't play IWSL Can't play USYS Can't play MRL Can't play HS and if this club already has as many PT players on Academy as smfw says, they likely don't have room for another PT designation so the kid can do what - participate in gym??? ridiculous - and sad - The 5 year old playing kickball in the back yard gets more soccer minutes and travels far far less for the privilege.
And how come academy arbitrarily sets their 10 month calendar to be off in July and August. If they want the best, give them unlimited play opportunities on other platforms by structuring their schedule to allow for the academy breaks to occur during high school play periods. Let the player who has had a national team call up or is on that bubble be restricted - but let the the other 99% play other platforms as well.
DA eliminated U12 last year and supposedly discussed eliminating U13 as well but decided to keep it( I read they stated they would re-discuss eliminating U13 this year but you can’t trust everything you read) I am not sure about U14 but I think they should keep U15
High school soccer seasons are different state to state. There are different combinations of Boys/Girls fall winter spring high school soccer across the country
Supposedly u13 in BDA is next on the chopping block. Makes so much sense. Reduces costs for everyone and in Chicago market increases completion allowing for high level local games and “academy friendlies” over a weekend with several regional clubs from time to time. Best of both worlds.
In a bigger scope, the reason we should appreciate scores and standings is the this very fact. If U13 is a possible waste of resources at the very highest level, we should embrace the level that exists currently. There is good soccer being played even at this transitional level, but to say results don't matter is incorrect. Without them, we are not pushing the very talented kids to strive for something more at an age where they are distracted by everything around them. To baby them also creates the wrong mentality. I have yet to see one player effectively dominate a game at this age and tactical play is starting to show. Saying kids are only playing to be part of a DA is the wrong mentality when team building and individual development can really result in a top level player and team in the future. The current top teams in 07G are above any Pre Academy team and possibly any u13 ECNL version. The elimination of a u13 elite would develop kids faster within the local club setting (for some who are slow to develop),keep costs down, and possibly create a balance of power and let top coaches come to the forefront. Hence, we need something to bite our teeth on.
There are plenty of U13 players who can dominate a game - I’ve seen three in only a handful of games this fall. And there’d likely be more but I think most U13s who are physically mature, highly skilled and have killer instincts get played up. Unless a club is focused more on winning the qualifier than developing the player. I agree that local competition should suffice at this age, at least for Chicagoland. But it wouldn’t necessarily in Detroit or St. Louis or Cincinnati. Those are really the types of markets that drive U13 ECNL and DA. I still think it sucks but part of why I can say that is I live in a huge metro area. IMO MRL isn’t really a great alternative? There’s still a ton of travel (how would you like to be on an MRL team from Grand Rapids or somewhere in MN?) and I’m personally glad to not be driving to “home” games in Rockford. I appreciate “earn your place” on a philosophical level, but given the reality of ECNL and DA it reads as. . . tone deaf? That’s not the right phrase but you know what I mean. A little like Boise State making claims in college football.
Travel can be a bit useless especially for the non Prem 1,2 teams. Having said that, for higher levels exposure that comes with being a National level team would be quite high. Even a TC who places a large number of D1 recruits, that is invaluable and ingrained early on and they have had success. But that may be related to PN. Not all their players are home grown. I'm not sure if playing in the Midwest league has made any great strides for other programs other than to feed into the bigger clubs. But it could change. The point is the kids to have to learn how to play and how to win. If that occurs at an up and coming club with great coaching then there is potential for great things. It would be great if the platform to compete would include the DA/ECNL. I think in a few years you may see more clubs developing talent and keeping them. Or at the minimum be a finishing club.