Changing Landscapes - Chicagoland

So instead of memorizing the requirements, I am witnessing what is happening. Not withstanding the pronouncements, there has not been a significant change in coaching. PERIOD. In fact, given the need to staff up, at Ecl and FCU, you might argue it has been diluted and worse.

DA may eventually work when the wrinkles are ironed out. But right now its ECNL V2. No better.

In fact, from a recruiting perspective, it's far worse- with substitution limits and restrictions on ID camps. Throw in the shitty bottom 20% teams granted DA status and the further dilution of the competitive landscape in ECNL and MRL, and I would argue it's materially damaged girls youth soccer.

But, go ahead and recite the DA principals aloud if it makes you feel good. But those of us that live in the real word see it for what it is - a power grab.

 

Restrictions on ID camps? What ID camps are restricted?? There's tons of DA players at college camps all over the country!

Substitution limits have been in place on the boys side for 10 years now, has it negatively impacted players recruiting process? Seems like they're doing just fine.

Keep basing your opinion on speculation instead of facts, though.

 

I will circle back with my sources. Haven’t heard much about club changes recently aside from TCSA and FV Strikers possible working together

 

Thanks Illini... I gotta go pop some more popcorn now.

 

I have a friend that coaches at FCU. He is amazed at how unorganized it is especially with the amount of staff members that they have in the office.

 

Friends with kids in GDA Dal

hmm, since you asked....let me enlighten you.....

1) If you have an in-season conflict between a DA event/game and an ID camp, you are prohibited from going to the ID camp. So, if little Mia wants to go to the PSU Dec 11 ID camp but her team, Sockers, plays Hawks that weekend, little Mia is SOL. I am sure you can find the footnote in the DA Handbook citing that. ECNL/MRL is far more flexible in granting such passes.

2) Have you never been to a college showcase? Typically, coaches come and go for a half. Thus, if little Mia is substituted out after playing the first half, the PSU coach that comes for the second half won't see her. As opposed to more open (i.e., ECNL) substitution rules, where little Mia can play some in both halves and be seen by PSU. Talk to a college coach, that is a huge frustration. And this has very likely had a negative effect on boys' recruiting for same reason. It's simple math.

 

Its a big club, so that's possibly the case. A common gripe from GDA parents is that the program is too regimented having to travel and stay as a team for road trips, etc. Seems to be overly organized to me.

 

>>>>
1.College Camp Policy
a) Academy players will be permitted to attend winter college camps permitting
the Academy Coach has approved attendance. The following guidelines are in place for camps:
1) The camp may be no longer than three days in length 2) The player may only attend one camp per school per year: 3) The player may not attend a camp if it falls during the competitive season or is equal to or less than one week prior to the start of the competitive Academy season; 4) College summer camps that fall outside of the Academy season do not apply.
>>>>>>

That's from the 40 page USSFDA rule book for this year.

Further, USSFDA winter showcase (the only one held so far), had two time slots for all 68 clubs to play. That means 17 games all at once, followed by another 17 games.

Lots of college coaches were not amused. Add in the sub rules and the fact that USSF declared "showcase" games count towards league standings, and your showcase turns into a very efficient way for USSF talent scouts to watch 90 mins of the 1-3 girls on each field they may be interested in. Very convenient for USSF scouts. College coaches, not so much. Uncommitted girls trying to be seen, nope. Thanks for coming, make sure you buy your t-shirt on the way back to the airport.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about the boys side... but just because boys DA has been around for ten years doesn't make it good... I just hope the current version of GDA isn't around as long.

 

Excluding the top clubs, who would dismantle any National League team limb by limb, and excluding the bottom 10%-15% of DA which are barely above rec level, I'd love to see the games between DA and teams in other leagues... but guess what. DA has very strict rules against such competition ever taking place, so we will never really know for sure. Pre-DA designated teams can compete outside, maybe someone else knows how that all stacks up.

 

That merger makes total sense.

 

My recent experience with FCU is they don't answer the phone (didn't have an ext # to select), didn't respond to general vm or even emails. The FCUDA Girl's ID Sessions weren't posted to their main FCU website until maybe a week before the first event, tho it was on the FCUDA site earlier.

The ID Session itself was in a smallish indoor facility, girls were friendly during drills but elbows were out during scrimmages. Coaches didn't rotate girls to different positions during scrimmages, and players refused to play defense and allow other players to work upfront. My girl did well enough to get a call to the invite only session at larger Highland Park dome. The invite session combined 2004-2006 girls in a long scrimmage, there were no drills, bigger girls played in the middle of the field. There were 4 coaches there, some parents felt there wasn't a lot of evaluation going on. It was difficult for 06 girls going up against much bigger 04 girls and not always being able to play their natural position. The 2nd session looked to be 05 and 06 girls, a better physical mix for them.

Only a few girls (not mine apparently) were selected from the invite only session for the DA, rest will be added from FCU tryouts in May where DA coaches will attend. The process was a worthwhile experience for my girl tho, the mental and physical challenges grew her game. There's an art to ID Sessions and Elite Tryouts, and she's developing that, useful when she does the DA ID Sessions later for Eclipse and Sockers.

 

Hmm, maybe we under-estimated FCU's challenges in fielding DA teams.

A friend's daughter played on the U19GDA team this fall, and he told me that of the 23 girls rostered from the beginning of the season (including 6 DPs), for spring, all but 3 left to play HS. So, FCU had to pick up 13 or so players to field a U19GDA team this spring. I image that some are pretty good (i.e., jumping from other MRL teams not wanting to play HS), but I would think, in general, the talent will drop and the team play will be non existent.

Eclipse lost a handful for spring, and Sockers a 2 handfuls but nowhere near that FCU number.

Maybe Chicago only needs 1 DA team

 

That is why I am asking - I would love to see some of the "normal" clubs compete to see where they stand. Why wont the DA let this occur? Think they are elite and dont want to lose to lesser clubs?

 

I guess they could argue their strict adherence to international sub rules would disadvantage them and not allow for a 'fair' match. How would UNC's best team ever, using a deep bench and Anson's aggressive use of free substitutions, do against any recent WNT? That would be an interesting experiment.
I think it just has to do with USSF's fragile ego. They have declared GDA as the top league, and if they keep saying that to themselves and parents frequently enough, over time, it may become very true. There is nothing for them to gain by allowing inter-league play.
For now there are good, bad, and mostly middling teams in both DA and ECNL. Probably more than a few teams (if not clubs) playing in National League that could blend in undetected in either league.

 

my question was how would a "normal" (not GDA, DA etc) club that is putting out essentially a full team of kids with college $$ (division 1 and down) do against an "elite" team with a title (be it GDA, ECNL). My feeling is that a title does not translate to talent. many parents buy into this notion but is it true...

 

OK, Galaxys 01 (the best IL MRL team) would lose to the top USDA tams (Tophat, FC Dallas, Penn Fusion, Nationals) 6-0 or worse. Would not be competitive. So CAL Blues' top team at 02 (plays in ECNL) would roll Campton 02s (Best MLR team in IL) maybe 9-0. Some of those teams have 2-4 GNT pool players with most of the 2020s already committed.

 

Wait, Volk, are you saying that a decent MRL could do fine vs the top GDA teams?

Not sure about "splitting the player pool", but 80% of the best teams play GDA (vs ECNL or MRL). The best MRL team in 01, FCKC, would get smoked by the top GDA team by 3-4 goals. Would not even be competitive. Have you seen Concord or Tophat?

 

OK, my focus is more national at 01-03 age groups. Not IL at the younger levels. So apples to oranges.

 

Same question - What about boys side?