SoccerLocker
SILVER ELITE
In the long run or even short run, ECNL (and all of the competitors) are not good for soccer in the US. They exist simply as a way to funnel money into the hands of the top executives for those leagues. My hope is that a local, relatively inexpensive Southern California league will start up and begin holding onto quality players. It will only take a handful of players to get recruited to top schools or straight to the pros to start the end of the closed monopoly leagues like ECNL. Having said that, if my DD was nearing HS right now and wanted to play in college, I would be looking for an ECNL team for her.
Thats EXACTLY what Tudela is attempting in LA. Not an easy path, but they are making strides with incredibly strong support from the families who have bought in.