2016 U20 WWC prep

The prep continues with the US U20 WNT traveling to La Manga, Spain for the 2016 Under-23 La Manga Tournament that runs from March 2-6. The USA will compete against U23 Sweden on March 2, U23 England on March 4, and U23 Norway on March 6.

Roster for La Manga event:


GOALKEEPERS (2): Rose Chandler (Penn State; Atlanta, Ga.), Casey Murphy (Rutgers; Bridgewater, N.J.) 


DEFENDERS (9): Alana Cook (Stanford; Far Hills, N.J.), Maddie Elliston (Penn State; Omaha, Neb.), Emily Fox (FC Virginia; Ashburn, Va.), Natalie Jacobs (Notre Dame; Coto de Caza, Calif.), Ellie Jean (Penn State; Coventry, Conn.), Tegan McGrady (Stanford; San Jose, Calif.), Taylor Otto (North Carolina; Apex, N.C.), Kaleigh Riehl (Penn State; Fairfax Station, Va.), Michelle Xiao (Stanford; Omaha, Neb.)


MIDFIELDERS (7): Savannah DeMelo (Beach FC; Bellflower, Calif.), Jordan Dibiasi (Stanford; Littleton, Colo.), Kelcie Hedge (Washington; Post Falls, Idaho), Emily Ogle (Penn State; Strongsville, Ohio), Courtney Petersen (Virginia; Canton, Mich.), Parker Roberts (Kansas; Leawood, Kan.), Mikaela Harvey (Texas A&M; Liberty Hill, Texas)


FORWARDS (4): Mimi Asom (Princeton; Fairview, Texas), Taylor Racioppi (Duke; Ocean Township, N.J.), Jessie Scarpa (North Carolina; Lakeland, Fla.), Ally Watt (Texas A&M; Colorado Springs, Colo.)

 

I am glad to see Alana Cook on that roster. An actual centerback has been the biggest problem for the past year with this U20 team, IMO.

 

U20 WWC Draw:

Group A
Papua New Guinea (host)
Brazil
Sweden
Korea DPR

Group B
Spain
Canada
Japan
Nigeria

Group C
France
USA
Ghana
New Zealand

Group D
Germany
Venezuela
Mexico
Korea Republic

 

And then this happened

In #usynt news, U.S. U20 WNT coach Michelle French has told college players they have to redshirt this fall or miss out on the World Cup.

— Travis Clark (@travismclark) April 13, 2016

 

Not really a big believer in USSoccer trying to make blanket decisions for amateur players. If players feel that the best thing for their Youth Soccer and college carers is to sit out a season or to stay with their school, I would prefer that was done on an individual basis.

 

So the tournament I understand is just shy of a month long. Do they expect to be in camp for additional time?

 

November 13th to December 3rd in Papua New Guinea. Some camp time is very likely.

 

It almost always cuts into the college season but this year because it's in the southern hemisphere it falls during league championships and the NCAA tournament

 

I think it's more about trying to meet college programs half way. Yes were going to take ur players but if we do were going to red shirt them so u still get four years out of them.

 

From what Ive seen the reaction from players has been mixed so the U20s r going to lose players

 

And then draft them into the NWSL when they graduate before that 5th season.

 

Exactly...U think French ran this policy by Pugh before announcing it?

 

Not really surprised Stanford players have reportedly decided not to take part in red shirting (It's a tradition). Will be surprised if Duke doesnt go the same way.

 

Will they just lose their year of eligibility or are they going to skip the u20s?

 

Stanford? Their players just wont be selected for U20 WC.

 

how can the fed say you must redshirt? they can't. if the player and their college coach are ok with that player only playing a handful of matches it's their decision.


this makes zero sense. the fed, players, everyone's gone nuts.

 

where have you seen these reactions?

 

This is consistent with the USSF's position on its new Development Academy program and high school soccer (can't do both). At least the USSF isn't saying they can't ever play college soccer, only not this year given the WC scheduling. The players get to make the choice of which they'd rather do -- play in the WC this year and get four years of college spread out over more than four years or proceed with intentions to complete college in four years and forego the WC this year.

 

Twitter where everything is gospel except the music

 

OK, Ill give u a few what ifs

What if u wanted to do what Alex Morgan did and both play U20 WC and graduate on time? It's pretty clear that U20 WC was the springboard to Morgan's NT career.

What if ur Mallory Pugh and u have the big NT contract hanging there? Do u want to wait an extra year?

What if ur Mallory Pugh and could play in both this and the 2018 U20 WC...r they going to ask u to red shirt twice?

What if most of these players who red shirt still decide to graduate with there class and give up their last year of eligibility? What has anyone gained by this?

 

This last question isn't a very important one. Players red shirt a lot, including women's soccer players. Typically, it's due to injury. If they'll red shirt to get an extra year due to injury, why not do it for a WC? Of course, it then is possible you might be adding several years due to recurring events. In addition, they still can graduate with their class and take their extra year of eligibility as a grad student, so there's plenty of flexibility. And, some give up their last year of eligibility (didn't Rapinoe do that?).

It's also not uncommon for players to red shirt for a WC of their own volition. It's been done many times in the past. So, it's not a big deal for a lot of players.

There does appear to be a trend, however, towards the USSF wanting top players to forego high school competition and maybe foregoing college competition is coming down the line too. My guess is that this is coming from the men's side, driven by Klinnsman, just like he's driven the change for boys and girls towards birth year age groups rather than school year age groups. The USSF probably believes that if it does it for boys, it must do it for girls too, otherwise someone would cry "Discrimination!" To me, it's odd that the less successful side, in terms if international competition, is driving the highly successful side. But that seems to be the way it's going.

My own view is that it's ok to require players to choose: WC or college this year, due to the schedule. Perhaps there's also a concern about overuse injuries. But, as a long term policy I think it's certainly debatable, and I certainly don't feel the need to defend the USSF on this.

 

but you don't have to be part of the development program to be part of the U20 team.
That's the difference and problem.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

In the last U20 camp there were NO Stanford players present.
I'm curious, what tradition were you referring too?
The only Duke player was Taylor Racioppi, and I doubt she will miss the U20 WWC.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...cup-prep-with-training-camp-in-lakewood-ranch