soccergrinder wrote:

Soccernovice wrote:The development of players are driven by strong coaches that teach technical skills and expect a style of play that leverages those skills. Players are given the freedom to play technically and learn to control the ball under pressure, distribute it, move to space, and use the whole field of play effectively. Whether a player practices more or plays more games, if they are not being trained technically with small sided games, emphasis on retaining possession of the ball, etc. and bringing that forward to a game environment it doesn't matter where you play except when you are showcasing at U17 and above. Most teams and coaches are not teaching this way so most players are not getting proper technical development. Any new leagues are not going to change this fact so why move around to different leagues. Find a good coach and stick with him. When the player turns U17, they can move if they need to to showcase for college coaches and by then will be properly developed.

Novice,

A very nice post and I agree mostly. Teaching technical skills is one of many important aspects of soccer. However there are many others and technical skills are way down the list of what college coaches truly look for. I am not saying that college coaches do not want technically gifted players, it's just not at the top of the list. Not saying that it's a good thing but it is what it is.

While the Academy League theoretically is supposed to be about Developement, it really isn't. From my experince in watching and having a player in Academy League for the last 3 years there is little development occuring directly that was any different than in Classic League and Premier League. Coaches either develop players or they don't. That is up to the personality of the individual coach. Clubs don't develop players, leagues don't develop players. Not directly. Indirectly there is some player developement simply because of the level and speed of the competition. We don't practice any more or less than we did before Academy. However, from my experience 90% of academy teams play a physical long ball game and not a technically gifted game. This is code for the top teams are those that physically beat the s* out of their opponent and try to score on a coutner attack by placing long balls in the box 90% of the game. That is the normal USSF team style of play.

The USSF stated that they would be training the Academy coaches and there would be a focus on Development. This doesn't happen. The coach you had before Academy will be the same coach you have in the Academy and he will coach exactly the same way as he did before. As an example, Texans played long ball before Academy and they can still kick the ball just as far in the Academy. Not trying to pick on the Texans, just using them as an example. The USSF league is set up the same as all other leagues. Win and you get promoted to Regionals and Nationals. Lose and your team/club could be removed from the USSF Academy League. The USSF Academy is all about winning. So in that respect it is no different than any other league. I have yet to see any more development happening in Academy than what was happening before the Academy. FC Dallas may be the exception because of their funding and the ability to access their professional coaches. It's hard to tell with them because they really don't play on an even field with the other clubs since they use some professional players on their teams and the other clubs don't. Take the pro's off of their team and their team would level with the others. An example would be their U16 team. Not trying to pick on FC Dallas either. They want to win just like everyone else. It's all about winning. So they have an advantage, why not use it.

So don't be mislead about anything, the USSF Develpment League and the new US Club Soccer Pre-Academy League is and will be about winning and not player development.

Excellent post. The primary benefits of the USSF academy league are more convenient scouting for college coaches and an increased level of competition for teams in areas of the country where there was not a strong local or regional league. Players here in North Texas have benefited, but not as much as those in other parts of the country.

The USSF academy selling points were; focus on development, extra practices, better coaching, better soccer, and more meaningful games. Most of that has proven to be BS.

The Needle, Soccergrinder, Soccernovice, and Soccerrus all aligned on the development topic. I know there is a ton of youth club/academy soccer experience as parents amoungst these posters from pre-select to older age groups.

go99 wrote:"it make suck for you"

You got me there. I mean, who could argue with that?

lol Spell check on aisle 7, but guess it wouldn't have caught that one anyway. I actually agree with you but for different reasons. Now that the reserve league is up and running I think those players should get their minutes there except at international showcase events which I think it would be important to show your wares. Get them out of the AL team so the other kids on the team can pick up the aditional minutes and possible open more spots for other kids to join.

Go 99; you are absolutely right. There are players that should not be playing academy. There are college players that come back and play at Disney. They had their chance; got their scholarship; no make the most of that and quit living in the past.

THE NEEDLE wrote:

soccergrinder wrote:

Soccernovice wrote:The development of players are driven by strong coaches that teach technical skills and expect a style of play that leverages those skills. Players are given the freedom to play technically and learn to control the ball under pressure, distribute it, move to space, and use the whole field of play effectively. Whether a player practices more or plays more games, if they are not being trained technically with small sided games, emphasis on retaining possession of the ball, etc. and bringing that forward to a game environment it doesn't matter where you play except when you are showcasing at U17 and above. Most teams and coaches are not teaching this way so most players are not getting proper technical development. Any new leagues are not going to change this fact so why move around to different leagues. Find a good coach and stick with him. When the player turns U17, they can move if they need to to showcase for college coaches and by then will be properly developed.

Novice,

A very nice post and I agree mostly. Teaching technical skills is one of many important aspects of soccer. However there are many others and technical skills are way down the list of what college coaches truly look for. I am not saying that college coaches do not want technically gifted players, it's just not at the top of the list. Not saying that it's a good thing but it is what it is.

While the Academy League theoretically is supposed to be about Developement, it really isn't. From my experince in watching and having a player in Academy League for the last 3 years there is little development occuring directly that was any different than in Classic League and Premier League. Coaches either develop players or they don't. That is up to the personality of the individual coach. Clubs don't develop players, leagues don't develop players. Not directly. Indirectly there is some player developement simply because of the level and speed of the competition. We don't practice any more or less than we did before Academy. However, from my experience 90% of academy teams play a physical long ball game and not a technically gifted game. This is code for the top teams are those that physically beat the s* out of their opponent and try to score on a coutner attack by placing long balls in the box 90% of the game. That is the normal USSF team style of play.

The USSF stated that they would be training the Academy coaches and there would be a focus on Development. This doesn't happen. The coach you had before Academy will be the same coach you have in the Academy and he will coach exactly the same way as he did before. As an example, Texans played long ball before Academy and they can still kick the ball just as far in the Academy. Not trying to pick on the Texans, just using them as an example. The USSF league is set up the same as all other leagues. Win and you get promoted to Regionals and Nationals. Lose and your team/club could be removed from the USSF Academy League. The USSF Academy is all about winning. So in that respect it is no different than any other league. I have yet to see any more development happening in Academy than what was happening before the Academy. FC Dallas may be the exception because of their funding and the ability to access their professional coaches. It's hard to tell with them because they really don't play on an even field with the other clubs since they use some professional players on their teams and the other clubs don't. Take the pro's off of their team and their team would level with the others. An example would be their U16 team. Not trying to pick on FC Dallas either. They want to win just like everyone else. It's all about winning. So they have an advantage, why not use it.

So don't be mislead about anything, the USSF Develpment League and the new US Club Soccer Pre-Academy League is and will be about winning and not player development.

Excellent post. The primary benefits of the USSF academy league are more convenient scouting for college coaches and an increased level of competition for teams in areas of the country where there was not a strong local or regional league. Players here in North Texas have benefited, but not as much as those in other parts of the country.

The USSF academy selling points were; focus on development, extra practices, better coaching, better soccer, and more meaningful games. Most of that has proven to be BS.

Based on this years Spring Showcase I would like to add an addendum to my previous post. This year the Federation merged the Spring Showcase with the Regionals. This was an awesome step towards including all teams in the Regionals event. A small but important step towards development while still rewarding those fortunate enough to have made the playoffs. This allowed college coaches to attend the Regionals and still recruit from the teams that did not make the playoffs. Without a schedule you couldn't tell which game was a Regional game and which one was a Showcase game. Coaches could walk from one to the other and see everyone they were interested in. Coaches could go to one event instead of having to choose between the two. However, in my book, they made it very difficult for the coaches. They used a playoff format for the Showcase teams which meant that every game, except for the first one, was not posted until the night before the game. So coaches could not plan out their recruiting process until the last minute. College coaches need advanced information so they can make it to as many games as possible to see the kids they are interested in. By waiting to the last possible minute to schedule games this left coaches scurrying to see all of the boys they needed to scout. But the event was a huge success, for example we were not in the playoffs but we had 70 coaches at our first game. Very nice indeed.

Just trying to sort out the new structure of the academy and pre-ac, and how this might affect the existing CL. From what I am understanding, academy league and classic league are separate and competing entities with conflicting rules that are independent of each other.

I understand that classic league does not restrict kids from playing in classic, and academy. However, a kid that is playing in an academy league team is not supposed to play on a classic league team and an academy league at the same time by academy rules.

Pre-academy kids are allowed to simultaneously play in the pre-academy games and classic league games, as well as being called up to play in academy league games? So, if you are under the banner of "pre-academy", does this waive the academy league requirement that disallows the academy players from playing simultaneously playing in classic league? And, I guess if a player decides to switch from academy to classic league from week to week can he do so? That would allow teams to evade rule restrictions, and may be how some are planning to play in multiple leagues at the same time.

And, undoubtedly, some players in both league structures are going to at some time be unhappy with their current team. I guess nothing stops a kid from quitting one league to join another midyear? Is that right? You have the potential to be raiding the oppositions players via a midyear league switch, correct?

I hope someone can clarify, but as others have explained to me, this all has the great potential of getting very messy.


.

The classic league and the academy league both have deadlines to add players and I believe I heard that the Academy League moved theirs back to Jan 1. Also if you play CL you can still play High School however if you play Academy you cannot play high school. The Academy website had that rules change recently.

NT Skeptic- where does the academy website state that Academy players can't play high school soccer ? I keep hearing this but the USSF site says something different.

If you go to the Academy website & click on overview it says there are two outside activities allowed outside academy & they are National team duty & high school with no permission needed.

Little Blue They made the announcement back in May. I cut and pasted the article for all to read. Also they already have the schedules for next year on the website which shows games weekly through the High School season.

Northwest and Texas Divisions Latest to Commit to 10-Month Development Academy Season
When teams from Texas joined the Development Academy for the 2008-09 season, a year after the program began in other parts of the country, the clubs were excited to take part in one of the biggest player development movements in history.

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May 11, 2011

© DON FERIA/© 2009 DON FERIA
IN THE IMAGE: PHOENIX, AZ--US Soccer Development Academy, Reach 11 Sports Complex, Phoenix, AZ. PHOTO BY DON FERIA
When teams from Texas joined the Development Academy for the 2008-09 season, a year after the program began in other parts of the country, the clubs were excited to take part in one of the biggest player development movements in history.

After watching the program from the outside for a year and preparing for his club’s own debut season, Texans SC Houston Director of Coaching Scott James saw the benefits of the Academy, but also the potential to expand its impact on players in the U.S. With the Texas Division entering its fourth season in the program in 2011-12, the clubs, along with all the clubs in the Northwest and SoCal, have come together to raise the bar for their player development.

The three conferences have decided to expand their seasons from the current schedule, which breaks for high school, to a full 10-month schedule.

The concept of the extended season, which allows for more training and for games to be played on single-fixture weekends, had been discussed in the past, but the decision by clubs in Southern California to move in that direction gave it new life.

“Here in Texas we have been playing from September through December, taking three and a half months away from each other and then we have to cram nine to 12 games into a two-month span,” explained James. “We didn’t have to be sold on moving to single-game weekends or having more training sessions. It was a no brainer for us to move in that direction.”

The move supports an improved player development model in which players can train together three to four times per week and play one game on the weekend nearly year-round. Having mostly single-fixture weekends instead two games in two days will allow adequate preparation and rest for the players.

Technical Advisors at U.S. Soccer have welcomed the idea of the extended Academy season for clubs in the Northwest and Texas.

“We are very excited that now two more divisions of the Development Academy have decided to move to a 10-month season,” said Director of Scouting & Technical Advisor Tony Lepore. “This will help to optimize the development of the elite players from these clubs. Our technical staff will provide them with full support as we feel it is a very positive step towards improving their overall match and training environment.”

Scott James agreed, recognizing the importance of training for player development.

“It allows us to potentially add an extra session per week, going from three times per week to four,” Scott James explained. “We may have up to 40 extra training sessions per season, which can only enhance player development and is just tremendous in my eyes.”

In the Northwest, some clubs had already experimented with a longer season, but with every club now on board, the schedule can be more defined and consistent. What has never been in question, according to Crossfire Premier Director of Coaching Bernie James, is that this model will benefit the elite players in the Development Academy program.

“It’s pretty simple really,” said Bernie James. “If you practice and play with better players, you are going to be challenged more and, in turn, you’ll get better. Losing such a big piece of our time together, three to four months really, to the high school season was difficult in keeping continuity for the players and for our team. If you’re talking about the top kids in the area, which the Academy teams are now, playing with other teams and competitions just doesn’t work as well for them from a player development standpoint.”

In the Northwest and Texas, the process of putting together the 10-month season was similar. All of the clubs agreed that moving to the year-round schedule would benefit their players, it was mostly a matter of figuring out the logistics.

“I think at some point in the near future this model will be picked up by with other areas of the country,” said Scott James. “If you’re involved in the Development Academy, you can’t really put too much of an argument against this model."

As other parts of the country explore ways to raise the player development bar even higher, almost half of the 78 current Academy teams are looking into longer seasons and other options that optimize the environment for the players.

“We’re very excited about the way that clubs in different parts of the country are coming together to raise their standard even higher,” said Lepore. “We are looking forward to working with the other clubs and divisions to decide whether a longer season, or maybe other ideas that will be brought to the table, make sense.”
Related Topics : Development Academy

Nt- All I see is a big announcement that they are going to go to a 10 month season which means less than 2 Texas league games a month over a 10 month season which isn't much.

Why couldn't the kids overlap their play & training which in practice they do now in high school.

I don't understand how the Texas league can have a different rule than the USSF who governs the Developmental Academy league. There has to be some pdf file stating the new rules. I can't find anything.

If that works for you then great! High School practice 5 days a week, Academy 3 days a week, games, for both. I'm glad my kid doesn't have to make that decision. Good Luck!

8 events a week would actually be a lighter schedule than most of these boys have now who are in middle school where they are usually one of the best athletes in the school playing multiple sports.

It would be nice if the kids could participate in their own high school events as part of their social development & sense of community.

The Texas league plays 16 games which is 1.6 games a month in a 10 month season. I see boredom for high school boys. They will need to do something else to keep themselves occupied:)

You are not counting Academy showcase tournaments, Dallas Cup, & Disney. There is also no comparison to games played by middle school age kids and 90 minute games played by 17 year olds. The DA will not let teams play 3 days in a row much less two games in a day. There are a lot of injuries.

The Texas Division will expand from 26 games to 36-38 games with HS out of the way.
& Each team will play each other 3 times instead of 2.

It is interesting to note that the Northeast teams voted against eliminating high school and their boys will still get to play high school.

soccergrinder wrote:It is interesting to note that the Northeast teams voted against eliminating high school and their boys will still get to play high school.

Actually it is more interesting that Texas voted HS out. The current HS schedule really doesn't get in the way too much given it starts in Feb and is over by end of March (regular season). In the NE I would expect HS is a good portion of the fall, which takes out much of the good soccer weather.

http://npltexas.demosphere.com/docs/schedules/NPL%20-%20Texas%20Pre-Academy%20League%20Competition%20Rules%202011-12%20(5.27.11%20Version).pdf

Pre-Academy rules have been out.

Looks like 40 minute halves and new sub rules.

schedules out soon.

Yak Attack wrote:

soccergrinder wrote:It is interesting to note that the Northeast teams voted against eliminating high school and their boys will still get to play high school.

Actually it is more interesting that Texas voted HS out. The current HS schedule really doesn't get in the way too much given it starts in Feb and is over by end of March (regular season). In the NE I would expect HS is a good portion of the fall, which takes out much of the good soccer weather.

Also interesting are the bios of many of the college players. Most don't even mention their club teams. They all write of their high school coaches, playoff advancement, and district/state individual awards.

soccerrus2 wrote:

Yak Attack wrote:

soccergrinder wrote:It is interesting to note that the Northeast teams voted against eliminating high school and their boys will still get to play high school.

Actually it is more interesting that Texas voted HS out. The current HS schedule really doesn't get in the way too much given it starts in Feb and is over by end of March (regular season). In the NE I would expect HS is a good portion of the fall, which takes out much of the good soccer weather.

Also interesting are the bios of many of the college players. Most don't even mention their club teams. They all write of their high school coaches, playoff advancement, and district/state individual awards.

The rule changes for NTX are not for the reasons you may think. Believe me, if you think the clubs want what is best for boys, you're likely to be highly disappointed very soon. This is about soccer, and what some believe to be the future of soccer in the U.S. Decisions are being made by people that really are not qualified to be making decisions for your family.

Some club soccer organizations have always been working in a gray area affecting your son's elegibility for UIL and the NCAA. Now, some of the academy groups have taken it to a whole new level. Look for changes in the near future that affect players immediately upon signing with a club. Right now, many are upset that the AL, in NTX anyway, is denying its players to play HS ball. How will you feel when you find out that the UIL and NCAA will deny them re-entry when, or if, they leave that club because of those clubs affiliation with professional teams. Basically, once you sign with certain clubs, you will be considered a "paid" player and will suddenly be inelegible for amatuer leagues. That kinda limits your prospects when your 15 years old, doesn't it?

For example, I heard a rumor the other day where FCD will be housing its academy players and putting them in HS here in NTX. Paid to play? Not quite as gray as it used to be, but then, FCD isn't looking for college players are they?

FCD academy players are elgible to play in college. In fact they can sign with the pro team and still not lose elgibility

FlatBack4 wrote:

soccerrus2 wrote:

Yak Attack wrote:

soccergrinder wrote:It is interesting to note that the Northeast teams voted against eliminating high school and their boys will still get to play high school.

Actually it is more interesting that Texas voted HS out. The current HS schedule really doesn't get in the way too much given it starts in Feb and is over by end of March (regular season). In the NE I would expect HS is a good portion of the fall, which takes out much of the good soccer weather.

Also interesting are the bios of many of the college players. Most don't even mention their club teams. They all write of their high school coaches, playoff advancement, and district/state individual awards.

The rule changes for NTX are not for the reasons you may think. Believe me, if you think the clubs want what is best for boys, you're likely to be highly disappointed very soon. This is about soccer, and what some believe to be the future of soccer in the U.S. Decisions are being made by people that really are not qualified to be making decisions for your family.

Some club soccer organizations have always been working in a gray area affecting your son's elegibility for UIL and the NCAA. Now, some of the academy groups have taken it to a whole new level. Look for changes in the near future that affect players immediately upon signing with a club. Right now, many are upset that the AL, in NTX anyway, is denying its players to play HS ball. How will you feel when you find out that the UIL and NCAA will deny them re-entry when, or if, they leave that club because of those clubs affiliation with professional teams. Basically, once you sign with certain clubs, you will be considered a "paid" player and will suddenly be inelegible for amatuer leagues. That kinda limits your prospects when your 15 years old, doesn't it?

For example, I heard a rumor the other day where FCD will be housing its academy players and putting them in HS here in NTX. Paid to play? Not quite as gray as it used to be, but then, FCD isn't looking for college players are they?

GO99 is correct. NCAA allows players to play on pro teams as long as they are not paid above actual and necessary expenses. This was a rule change due to the influx of international players into U.S. Universities.

south wrote:
I haven't ever seen that. Take a look at the write-ups for SMU or University of MD men's rosters. Look at most other college rosters. Prominent in all of their histories is their club soccer experience.

They did not get into top college soccer programs based on their high school soccer. They do mention honors the earned in high school- beacuse they mention all of the honors. But the bottom line is that the top college soccer players developed their skills in the club soccer environment.

Seriously? Look at more rosters...most mention it.

Not saying they get into Universites by high school training...follow the thread!!

No questioning that players get their development from club soccer, not high school, but they certainly get a lot more recognition and press from their high school soccer achievements.

Not all areas of the country subscribe to the over the top high dollar select soccer that has become the norm here. I have a niece in CT. who was recruited by many D1 universities out of HS not club. They put more into it at the high school level because they dont pay 15 to 20 football coaches and don't have the high dollar club coaching positions to lure the best coaches away from the schools.