New ECNL Clubs

Another new addition . . . a sub .500 DA club making a change. Of course, results in the DA are skewed by USYNT Training commitments and girls playing up age groups, or so I've read. It would make some sense for the DA to have allowed for some attrition, perhaps one of the reasons they cast such a wide initial net.

http://www.vdasoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1231129

Still no southwest ECNL news, nor any confirmation of the rumored single national league per club ultimatum. Based on past experience, I would hope they understand the danger in issuing "take it or leave it" orders.
 
Is ECNL still relevant with 90% of the top players playing DA. An ECNL coach told me that since DA came along that ECNL is basically at the level that EGSL was before DA. ECNL has a place for those other 10% and the good players that may not have got noticed in the past.
 
Is ECNL still relevant with 90% of the top players playing DA. An ECNL coach told me that since DA came along that ECNL is basically at the level that EGSL was before DA. ECNL has a place for those other 10% and the good players that may not have got noticed in the past.

I am not sure about your statistic, I would contend that is more of an opinion, but your question gets to the heart of what everyone (particularly those with players in the 2003 or below age groups) is trying to assess -- where things will settle.

For the 2002 and above class in Socal, ECNL is still relevant for many reasons.
 
I am not sure about your statistic, I would contend that is more of an opinion, but your question gets to the heart of what everyone (particularly those with players in the 2003 or below age groups) is trying to assess -- where things will settle.

For the 2002 and above class in Socal, ECNL is still relevant for many reasons.

Since I no longer have a kid playing club, I do not closely follow the many leagues but do talk to coaches who tell me their opinions. I got the 90% from a very good ECNL coach that will be moving to a DA team next year. I just know that the last few ECNL games that I have refereed the level of play was much lower than in the past. Even the 16-18 year olds seemed to have a lower level of play.
 
Since I no longer have a kid playing club, I do not closely follow the many leagues but do talk to coaches who tell me their opinions. I got the 90% from a very good ECNL coach that will be moving to a DA team next year. I just know that the last few ECNL games that I have refereed the level of play was much lower than in the past. Even the 16-18 year olds seemed to have a lower level of play.
Though the DA is national as far as scale, the greatest impact it had on ECNL was here in SoCal. It created a vacuum of sorts for top national clubs like Surf, Blues, Slammers and even West Coast. Other than Blues who bucked the system to keep a couple teams together and stayed ECNL in those age groups, the other "dual" ECNL / DA clubs were left (especially in the tried and true older age brackets) to rebuild. Irrespective of ones opinions on depth of the SoCal market, it takes time to rebuild. You will see those clubs balancing out starting next season in August as the vacuum (players and coaches) weakens and the historical ECNL power clubs will make a return to the top of their respective brackets with consistency in both the ECNL and DA leagues.
 
Since I no longer have a kid playing club, I do not closely follow the many leagues but do talk to coaches who tell me their opinions. I got the 90% from a very good ECNL coach that will be moving to a DA team next year. I just know that the last few ECNL games that I have refereed the level of play was much lower than in the past. Even the 16-18 year olds seemed to have a lower level of play.

Very good coaches is what the DA needs, so that is the ECNL's loss.

A few college coaches I had the opportunity to talk to recently (Ivy, PAC12, and SEC) said that talent dilution has impacted both leagues, with neither close to what the ECNL used to be (casting doubt that there is a 90% talent concentration in either place). One emphasized that it highlights the importance of the club coach and the intensity of the training environment, given the uneven league competition.

While US Soccer has spent the past 3-4 years upending things with age group changes and DA implementation, those expecting some equilibrium soon might be disappointed to hear that these college coaches anticipate significant changes to recruiting rules impacting the importance of and potential for early exposure. Convincing parents to travel long distances with their 13-15 year olds, without the hope of some college payoff, will be a tougher sell, particularly for a showcase league like ECNL.
 
Please fill us in on projected recruiting rules because I heard Soccer wholly rejected the recommendations from other sports about Junior year
 
I think if DA continues with dual band, no HS soccer and limited substitutions ECNL will continue to be a very good option for many players/parents.

Yes I agree. I think it's far too early to say that DA has overtaken ECNL. There are some great DA teams and some poor ones, like there is in ECNL. I'm certainly not saying it won't overtake and be top, but it's in its first year and there's going to be growing pains for a few years yet. The word of one coach cannot be taken as gospel and I'm v doubtful 90 percent is accurate...
 
Please fill us in on projected recruiting rules because I heard Soccer wholly rejected the recommendations from other sports about Junior year

I was not given any bullet points, so I am reluctant to lay out details less I remember incorrectly. My understanding is it is being driven by some power 5 conference coaches and AD's, and the discussion was focused on taking steps to push back the recruiting process and phase in the changes over a 2-3 year period.
 
Hopefully no later than sophomore year though or it then disadvantages the players. Sophomore years seems perfect time to know where one stands. Junior year to me is too late to start the process.
 
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