Happy or Not?
- Thread starter Soccer43
- Start date
Simisoccerfan
PREMIER
Happy, staying. Level of play far exceeds anything else I have seen. Surprised by the amount of coaches at Showcases watching us. It’s crazy. Also we have been getting a few D1 coaches at most league games. Very happy with dd’s playing time. Dd loves playing with girls as committed and focused as she is.
LadiesMan217
GOLD
Ditto.
Happy, staying & no dissapointments at all. Quality training & competition, 100% commitment from everyone, good soccer overall.
Simisoccerfan
PREMIER
01, no ecnl but we had played against several ecnl teams in the past
Soccerfan2
GOLD
Happy and staying. My kid played as a U14 DP this past year and she will play DA in the coming year. Games were good quality (same or better than playing local ECNL teams). The unexpected positive was that our US Soccer TA is OUTSTANDING - knows the kids by name, is present at games and practices, shares info about academy, gives feedback to coaches and kids and really teaches at NTC’s.
Good Post Soccer43:
I could be wrong but your opinions will vary based on the following:
Parents of Players who played ECNL in the past. (I think they will lean to ECNL being better for reasons I indicate below, maybe not)
Parents of Players who were not in an ECNL club in the past. (They will be pro DA, cause there club didn't have ECNL)
Younger 04 Parents who did not participate in ECNL. (Just do not know, because they had no experience with ECNL)
So maybe people can post their experience with their response.
Having done both in our case.
I will move past the substitution rules (Dead horse), 4 days a week practice (Cause let's be honest, most ECNL clubs had this last year (2 nights of practice, one night of fitness or futsal, most did a 4th night of private training) and of course the High School factor (not going there as this has pros and cons, another dead horse)
The things ECNL still had on DA:
1. Marketing Machine - Pro Women, pro girls, music at the events, #amazingyoungwomen. DA more sterile. But recently I hav noticed a push from DA. Long way to go.
2. Events had more team centric warm up stations - The Zone, selfie stuff, event locations were just better. Music was playing, just a more warm inviting environment.
3. Games were better organized for College Coaches - Ages were clustered near each other so coaches could catch parts of each game. DA events were spread out. North Carolina was better.
4. Merchandise selection was better at ECNL events, but not a big issue as it is all overpriced.
5. Schedule = ECNL was better. Olders in the Southwest conference went first in the Spring, due to Prom. 30 minutes on the field for warm up in DA is nice.
No Difference:
1. Competition Level - Maybe a few more bottom dwelling teams, but honestly no difference.
2. Fields - Same
3. Gatorade vs Powerade = Same
4. Refs = Same
5. Trainer = Same (last year all of our games had trainers, not the case at U14 for ECNL)
6. Easy Ups = Same
Which league is better for recruiting? They are the same. Except having two hurts things. But Coaches will find your player in either league, key is to reach out and let them know she is interested in their school.
So once you get past the substitution rules, High School (If Important to you) there really is not much the DA cannot implement going forward. US Soccer is softening, I think they see they need to on the girls side.
Just my opinion.
I could be wrong but your opinions will vary based on the following:
Parents of Players who played ECNL in the past. (I think they will lean to ECNL being better for reasons I indicate below, maybe not)
Parents of Players who were not in an ECNL club in the past. (They will be pro DA, cause there club didn't have ECNL)
Younger 04 Parents who did not participate in ECNL. (Just do not know, because they had no experience with ECNL)
So maybe people can post their experience with their response.
Having done both in our case.
I will move past the substitution rules (Dead horse), 4 days a week practice (Cause let's be honest, most ECNL clubs had this last year (2 nights of practice, one night of fitness or futsal, most did a 4th night of private training) and of course the High School factor (not going there as this has pros and cons, another dead horse)
The things ECNL still had on DA:
1. Marketing Machine - Pro Women, pro girls, music at the events, #amazingyoungwomen. DA more sterile. But recently I hav noticed a push from DA. Long way to go.
2. Events had more team centric warm up stations - The Zone, selfie stuff, event locations were just better. Music was playing, just a more warm inviting environment.
3. Games were better organized for College Coaches - Ages were clustered near each other so coaches could catch parts of each game. DA events were spread out. North Carolina was better.
4. Merchandise selection was better at ECNL events, but not a big issue as it is all overpriced.
5. Schedule = ECNL was better. Olders in the Southwest conference went first in the Spring, due to Prom. 30 minutes on the field for warm up in DA is nice.
No Difference:
1. Competition Level - Maybe a few more bottom dwelling teams, but honestly no difference.
2. Fields - Same
3. Gatorade vs Powerade = Same
4. Refs = Same
5. Trainer = Same (last year all of our games had trainers, not the case at U14 for ECNL)
6. Easy Ups = Same
Which league is better for recruiting? They are the same. Except having two hurts things. But Coaches will find your player in either league, key is to reach out and let them know she is interested in their school.
So once you get past the substitution rules, High School (If Important to you) there really is not much the DA cannot implement going forward. US Soccer is softening, I think they see they need to on the girls side.
Just my opinion.
soccer661
SILVER ELITE
Completely agree with SOCCER post above as well...
We have a HS senior-- did ECNL since she was like 8th grade and this last year our club went DA only (lost ENCL)...I was a little worried -- she/we LOVED ECNL for the reasons you mentioned & had a great experience...however I thought DA was also quite good this year, happy with it, no negatives for us at all-- same great quality as ECNL the last years (with exception of the 1-2 things SOCCER mentioned)
She played HS soccer with ECNL the 3 years but did not play this last year as a senior in DA due to the rule...initially it was a bummer BUT most of her good friends were DA as well and not playing HS either (her HS team was made up of quite a few DA girls, so it was a completely different varsity team from last year to this year)- so it kinda worked out-- she didn't miss it as much as I thought she might (I probably missed it more than she did!) And she had a little more downtime for that 1 month in Dec/Jan with DA-- was able to focus on midterms/academics and not getting that soccer burnout/injuries with the "no break" that she had between HS and ECNL.
I just wish ECNL and DA could have worked together and formed ONE league instead of these two separate ones...ah well...we have one kid heading out to college, almost done! BUT we have one more coming down the pipeline-- a GU12 this year-- just hoping more of these kinks get worked out before HER high school years.
We have a HS senior-- did ECNL since she was like 8th grade and this last year our club went DA only (lost ENCL)...I was a little worried -- she/we LOVED ECNL for the reasons you mentioned & had a great experience...however I thought DA was also quite good this year, happy with it, no negatives for us at all-- same great quality as ECNL the last years (with exception of the 1-2 things SOCCER mentioned)
She played HS soccer with ECNL the 3 years but did not play this last year as a senior in DA due to the rule...initially it was a bummer BUT most of her good friends were DA as well and not playing HS either (her HS team was made up of quite a few DA girls, so it was a completely different varsity team from last year to this year)- so it kinda worked out-- she didn't miss it as much as I thought she might (I probably missed it more than she did!) And she had a little more downtime for that 1 month in Dec/Jan with DA-- was able to focus on midterms/academics and not getting that soccer burnout/injuries with the "no break" that she had between HS and ECNL.
I just wish ECNL and DA could have worked together and formed ONE league instead of these two separate ones...ah well...we have one kid heading out to college, almost done! BUT we have one more coming down the pipeline-- a GU12 this year-- just hoping more of these kinks get worked out before HER high school years.
I think the birth years that have been impacted the most has been 01's and '02's. So many changes......
2014-15 SCDSL or CSL (U13)
2015-16 ECNL combined age 01/02 (usually same team as U13 but new league)
2016-17 ECNL single age 01 team and 02 team (new teams for both)
2017-18 DA - Split ages again 01/02 (new teams for both and new league, some players were in ECNL now not in DA as 02)
2018-19 DA split ages 00/01 and 02/03 (new teams for both)
2019-20 DA split ages 01/02 (new teams for both)
That is a new team every year for most of the girls and different league structures.
2014-15 SCDSL or CSL (U13)
2015-16 ECNL combined age 01/02 (usually same team as U13 but new league)
2016-17 ECNL single age 01 team and 02 team (new teams for both)
2017-18 DA - Split ages again 01/02 (new teams for both and new league, some players were in ECNL now not in DA as 02)
2018-19 DA split ages 00/01 and 02/03 (new teams for both)
2019-20 DA split ages 01/02 (new teams for both)
That is a new team every year for most of the girls and different league structures.
Good point, forgot that negative. 02’s should have been own age this year and 03 should next year. I really thought US Soccer would change that.
I think they should have left the olders alone in the ECNL and started the DA first with those not yet at ECNL age. The olders could have aged out in a system that was working for them. Teams could have stayed together through high school and the youngers would not have known any difference and would have loved whatever they moved into ECNL or DA
LadiesMan217
GOLD
ECNL prior.
DA likes:
- All games are video taped and available to all teams.
- Substitution rules - let's play real soccer. My kid can now play a full 90 minutes of intense soccer. I also like watching some of the best players suck wind during the games.
- Coaching credential rules (once they are in place) - took us 3 clubs to find a coach that wasn't pretending when recruiting my DD. There are so many silly coaches out there.
- As for the competition - my DD plays U16/17 so I feel we have a better team this year with leaving some of the lesser talent behind due to combined group. The team itself is more skilled and I do not think that would be the same if all players were still together. Makes training, etc. better IMO. 'Competition' wise - seems similar.
DA dislikes:
- HS soccer should be allowed. My DD is young and even though HS soccer was pretty bad (90 yo refs, uncoordinated players, etc.) she still had a blast. I have no problem with US Soccer telling her not to play if she wants to play on YNT/WNT - that would be more appropriate.
GoWest
GOLD
Agree with your post. DA gutted much of SW conference ECNL. There are still some very good players but the overall depth of quality has taken a big bit. The standings are upside down from years past. ECNL NC winner this year just won't have the same ring to it. I do believe it will rebound in the next season. My .02
LadiesMan217
GOLD
A girl that sits on the bench for 73 minutes probably doesn't belong. I watched 2 girls sit on the bench the whole season last year on our ECNL team. At least in GDA they are guaranteed play time.
They belonged enough to take them on the team. They need to Do a better job of evaluating players before they sign with the club. If you screwed up then own and develop them until the year is over. If they cant cut in then tell what they need to do to get out there. This is after all DEVELOPMENT academy.
Dos Equis
GOLD
Putting aside the unknown of how the culture of this team handled alleged underperforming players, I have to take the side of the DA clubs on this one. The DA is supposed to be identifiying and developing elite players. The are developing the best players, not every player. There is no 10-month guarantee. With four practices a week to develop and prove you belong, if a player has not proven that by the spring, they had their opportunity. The 25% start guarantee likely results in the player getting that chance in several games as well.
Does the club owe it to these kids to offer them a spot on another team? In my opinion, yes. But thinking that being part of an elite system is a right, not something you must earn every day, has been one of the biggest issues with US Soccer (and soccer in the US).