So a lot of those clubs that you mentioned are heaviy ingrained in the ECNL on the girls' side. I don't know a lot about this new MLS league but it appears now that it is primarily focused on the boys. Is that correct? Those clubs will not bolt the ECNL for a girls MLS league if it is formed. The Internationals and Michigan Wolves (Hawks for the girls) are very heavily involved in the ECNL. You've also got Vardar, Indiana Fire, and St. Louis FC (SLSG). The list that you put up is all clubs that are in the Midwest. Are there other clubs around the country? Since you mentioned your daughter, I am assuming that you're referring to the top GDA players displacing current ECNL players? That all depends on what part of the country you're in. In the Midwest the ECNL players are not going to be displaced and on the whole are probably stronger than the current GDA players. JMHO, but the GDA was a mess in the Midwest. The ECNL is stronger in other areas of the country as well. I'm not sure how you think they'll just displace the ECNL players. Some GDA players will take the roster spots of soe of the ECNL players but you seem to believe that it's a given.
Unless MLS is financially supporting them, they'd be idiots to join. MLS *needs* them, not the other way around. The MLS academies can't possibly only play other MLS teams. We already hear about how brutal the league travel is for grown men who are being paid to do it, let alone teenagers that still have to study for school on top of everything else.
If MLS "needs" these teams they better get on it because ECNL is signing as many displaced BDA clubs as quickly as they can. Of course an MLS only league would involve brutal travel for all of them, but I don't think they have much interest in re-launching as BDA2.0 Fire might not mind having a sparing partner like Sockers near by, but no interest in most other clubs on that list. MLS league is not about offering soccer experiences to wealthy kids who are looking for a pathway to play in college. This MLS "league" is about building monetary value in the form of home grown talent, right?
MLS can do what ever they want for the girls. ECNL is the top game on a National level for girls - no one is going to touch them - that's the way it should have been. That said ECNL are going to have to figure out what they are doing during the travel ban.
ENCL Clubs are on the phone and sending emails to any and every player who has showed up for a try out and training as I type this. Seems like the ECNL is pretty aggressive.
*Clubs* who are in ECNL are happy to upgrade their rosters. *ECNL Inc* is busy signing up boys teams, but not much happening at this moment to help out former GDA clubs. Maybe that was your point.
My statement was specific to my area. There will be two ECNL teams. One is returning to ECNL after a very successful run in DA, but the coach will consider replacing a couple of girls. The other team has been mediocre, and the coach would consider up to five new players so they can be competitive with all the new competition. It's crazy how soon the strategizing starts, but there is plenty of time for things to change before a new season begins. Best case is our club director smooths things over with ECNL, and we can keep our team together. The team culture is great, both kids and parents. It is a big year for the girls because recruiting opens June 15th, and they are looking for the highest level of competition and exposure.
This new setup doesn't solve one of the fundamental issues the DA had. It's mission (according to its' own mission statement) was to develop "world class" players but it was comprised of i) MLS clubs whose goal is to develop cheap, controllable talent for their rosters and ii) non-MLS clubs where the vast majority of the kids and parents have their sights set on college.
Rumor is MLS just hired Jay Berhalter as a “consultant” to help with the development of the league to replace DA... ...ahahahahahahahahahahahah...... ...auahahahhaahhahahahahahahahaha...
So.... DPL now sprints to the lead as the favorite to challenge ECNL?.... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: April 18, 2020 From: National Leadership Group of the Development Player League Subject: DPL expands to Include Top Tier, “Girls Academy League” The DPL format that has served so many of our members well will be restructured and enhanced. With our players at the forefront of our thinking, we will implement a new tier called the “Girls Academy League”, consisting primarily of former Girls DA Clubs. Since the news breaking of the demise of the DA, we have been inundated with requests from clubs to expand the DPL from all areas of the country. By unifying DA clubs from conferences across the country we have found a way to maintain several of the defining standards of the Development Academy with flexibility in two key areas; permission for all players in the Girls Academy League to participate in High School Soccer and revising the substitution rules to encourage clubs to better utilize their player pools, especially when showcasing their players to college coaches. We feel by giving the autonomy to clubs to determine what’s best for their membership we can take what worked for us in the DA and erase the obstacles for our players to have a more enjoyable and diverse experience. During the upcoming months we are aware of the challenges we face especially when it comes to travel. Each conference will work on a calendar that falls in line with the recommendations from Health Organizations and Government, while maintaining a competitive schedule and showcase opportunities for the teams. The Girls Academy League fully intends to have crossconference matches, college showcases and a National Championship Series for the 2020/2021 Season and we will release more information on how that is structured in the near future. We strongly believe that strong leadership from some of the most talented organizations in our country will be able to maneuver these difficult times and unite, providing our players with a league and showcase platform that will exceed the level of the DA through clear communication, honest feedback and loyalty to our membership. As disappointed as we are in the decision from our Federation, we feel we have a unique opportunity to take the reins and introduce a more collaborative approach to player development. Our organization is poised to take a bold step in the development of talent in this country and we thank you for your continued support and trust of your club and their leadership.
https://www.dpleague.org/about.html If you are unfamiliar with USSSA... DPL was doing ok in SoCal and Texas, GDA's two strongest areas, and was just getting off the ground in SE. So GDA 2.0 is being proposed, even uses the same familiar font. The biggest differences will be allowing high school play and loosened substitution rules. Did USYS National League put a similar pitch out several days ago: https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/20/usys_announcement_041520.pdf?28299 Which one should win? Which one will win?
Just my opinion but states need to take more ownership over their development. Keep the MLS teams but have those teams play in their respective state leagues like they do throughout the world. Want to have a tournament with MLS only teams every 2-3 months? Go for it and even invite Liga MX or other international teams. It's not who you play that makes you better it is the training environment and we seem to forget that. If you create a 10-12 team league by state or region (for bigger states), you limit travel time and give MLS/USL teams opportunities to see kids from their region. For the "smaller" clubs, you're still in a so called elite league with the top 100 or so players from your state in each age group. If a kid stands out, the MLS/USL team has an opportunity to sign a kid away but the other ~9 teams are still getting exposure to professional clubs/scouts. Want to get crazy? Add promotion/relegation and see how those clubs charging 10k a kid rationalize the cost. The DA had the right idea in theory but never executed it. FC Dallas and LA Galaxy are producing a ton of players but what about everyone else? I can only speak for NJ as a HS/Lower level club coach, but with only 3 DA teams, some of the best players in the state were not in the academy due to travel distance or cost. If you add another 7-9 teams to different areas of the state then a kid may only have to travel 15-20 minutes instead of 90 and gives opportunities for kids to develop instead of just 3 teams carrying 25 and only playing 15-16.
Speaking only for my state, I don't know that we have 10-12 teams in an age group state wide. Needless to say, the top 3-4 teams in an age group get nothing out of playing the lower 6-8 teams. I'm guessing the bottom 1/3 of teams get nothing out of playing the top 1/3. I've said it before and I'll say it again. GREATLY expand ODP. Kids tryout (whether via 'open' try outs or invitation). Those selected continue training paying nothing outside of perhaps travel costs. Once a month(?) have training weekends for the teams spread throughout the state. Three to four times a year have "regional" events with the states playing each other. There needs to be agreement with club and HS teams that their players are excused during that time (just like professionals excuse NT players to those events). The training weekends and the regional events should be open to professional and college coaches to attend. Pay for it by increasing club dues at every level (rec and select). I bet you'd only have to charge maybe an extra $10-15/year for every kid.
This is probably the sort of framework they should be thinking about, but won't unless a new reality with travel restrictions and people spending less $ on this sort of stuff forces their hand.
I think this only happens if USYS, some how, wins the battle to be the platform where ex-DA clubs land. While USYS is definitely pitching itself more agressively, throwing out more 'club-based' ideas on Monday, I think they are still the under dog vs. some DPL / MLS run national league. If DPL wins, those kids will be discouraged from participating in ODP just as they were while plaing in the DA.
DPL was never considered a top league. It was the league made up (mostly) of GDA clubs' second teams in Southern California and Texas. It was starting to expand into the southeast this season. DPL teams will now be under GAL (in pyramid terms) rather than GDA. It's not that surprising that DPL will stick around. Consider USYS' pitch was to accommodate ex-GDA clubs by creating a level above National League to house all these clubs in their own 'national league'. If that had happened there probably would have been a lot of pressure for DPL to go away. I was kind of hoping these ex-GDA clubs would just go into USYS and bring up the level of play in the existing structure. It would have caused plenty of clubs/teams to be demoted, but National League could have gone back to its status as a legitimate #2 league worthy of college coach attention. It would also have breathed a lot of life back into ODP. Those hopes are now completely dashed as the closed GAL league is clearly happy to play from all but a few of pages from the GDA playbook. Why bother with ODP, our players are already very elite, you see the badge, right? I think they have (again) underestimated the pull of high school soccer.
What do you know about the USSSA? Why is it remotely attractive? A softball organization turned "all sports." Does not seem like something I'd want to utilize in promoting my sport of soccer. How are they sanctioned? Anyone know?
Were DPL kids allowed to play HS? GAL is saying it's an option but I don't see how that will work. The old GDA teams were training 4 x per week, if that is going to continue there is no way you can do both.
I don't know anything about USSSA other than what I find online. I just provided those links so curious people could find the information, since most of the country hasn't heard of DPL. Here's their press release ahead of last fall's launch of DPL: http://usssasoccer.com/2019/08/02/u...development-player-league-starting-this-fall/ With GAL, I don't think USSSA will provide much of anything other than registration frameworks and related infrastructure. I think all promotion and most decision making for this new league will need to be done regionally, and it is shaping up that each region may have very different competitive landscapes they will have to navigate. This seems to be both the best time, and worst time, to try and set up a new national league. Here are the current challenges: Southeast: one big well bred dog, several strays, and horrible travel for most. NE: well GDA was well behind ECNL to begin with, that doesn't change, especially as ECNL scooped up Penn Fusion last week. Midwest, maybe competitive equal to ECNL, but they have already discarded the 'HS is allowed' feature that was supposed to make this league different and more attractive than GDA. Southwest: Beach and Legends also putting teams into ECRL, what's up with that? Frontier: rumor of announcements coming Friday. Is FC Dallas in or not? If not, GAL has to damage control before league even starts. NW: one of the most competitive GDA divisions, they are rumored to be joining GAL, but what's taking so long? Lots of intrigue... what do people know?
Bet they take the Eclipse approach... "You play HS and there is no gaurantee you spot will be available when you return" Parents and plyer panic - so they stay on and forgo HS.