2018-2019 SW ECNL Conference Discussion

What does a team have to win these days to be a "National Champion"?
Great question, I would argue there isn’t really any true “national” titles beyond U13 where there is only US Youth Soccer Nationals. But clubs claim national titles for any of ECNL, DA, US Youth Nationals. Always thought it was a joke for Carlsbad United/ LAGSD to claim a national title for their U16 and U18 teams when the best teams were in ECNL.
 
Great question, I would argue there isn’t really any true “national” titles beyond U13 where there is only US Youth Soccer Nationals. But clubs claim national titles for any of ECNL, DA, US Youth Nationals. Always thought it was a joke for Carlsbad United/ LAGSD to claim a national title for their U16 and U18 teams when the best teams were in ECNL.
Most of the best teams were in ECNL, but not all. The U16 team beat Surf's defending ECNL National Champs at Surf Cup a couple of years before that. That is the problem with closed leagues like DA/GDA and ECNL, they don't include all of the best teams due to politics and corruption.
 
What does a team have to win these days to be a "National Champion"?
I once heard a DOC refer to their boys u14 team winning "National Cup" in Cal-South as "We won a national championship." I don't know if they did anything at Far West Regionals or beyond.

Edit: Just looked it up. Appears this "National Champion" didn't attend Far West Regionals that year. The 2nd place team took their spot. Pretty sure it's because the coach bailed and moved to another state.
 
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Well they need to update it for the SW division. They list Tucson Soccer Academy. They are no longer. It is now FC Tucson which is a merger between Tucson Soccer Academy and Tanque Verde.

So that makes four merger / names changes? WC to OC Surf, Sereno to RSL-AZ, Scottsdale to Phoenix Rising, and Tucson SA to FC Tucson. Heh.
 
Boys ECNL kept LA Premier and dropped Players Vegas. Both looked like they struggled in most age groups. I wonder why one and not the other. WCFC / OC Surf stayed ECNL because they are not in San Diego?
 
Boys ECNL kept LA Premier and dropped Players Vegas. Both looked like they struggled in most age groups. I wonder why one and not the other. WCFC / OC Surf stayed ECNL because they are not in San Diego?

Did ECNL drop them or did they decide to drop ECNL. Travelling a total of 10 hours per away game for club soccer sounds fun...
 
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