Nor Cal GDA Teams - What's Next

I miss the days when the NPL teams were better than most of the ECNL teams in NorCal
 
wc_baller said:
And with good reason. Their club was already in, did some shady stuff to try to play both sides of the fence and got booted for it, burning bridges along the way. Place the blame where it's due if they don't get back in - on the leadership of that former member. Surf and Real So Cal left on good terms and were readmitted quickly, and it probably would've been the same for one of those "obvious choices" if they had exited in the same manner.
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Hopefully the new top structure has done enough social distancing and created some good will along the way to get back into ECNL, but no matter what happens if there is less travel and can play HS I don't really care!
 
dk_b said:
as someone who lives in Berkeley and has made one of those commutes (and have been involved with one of the local clubs in different capacities), I’m not sure there would be the volume of interest for a viable ECNL club. The number of teams at Mustang, Davis, Rage, MVLA, etc is just so much more than at the local clubs (even at LAMO, the current numbers are quite low) and that large pipeline is key. The clubs need to count on organic numbers to be supplemented by the “outsiders”.

I know that the odd player here or there will commute to Mustang and I think might to Marin FC (and I know a couple who commutes to Force and then Quakes but that commute is BRUTAL) but, to me, that 80/580 corridor is better off focusing on developing consistency at the NPL level and helping to place their elite players at other clubs when necessary.
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But why the lack of volume? I think exclusionary policies and practices-this is where the po folk of the Bay Area live (Vallejo, Rodeo, Richmond, S. Berkeley, & Oakland). I’m sure this area has the potential and interest to put together many great teams. I just don’t think it would be as profitable as a club on the peninsula.
I guess it’s more about the money than soccer. If it don’t make dollars then it don’t make sense.
 
MacDre said:
I admit I’m biased but I think the kids along Hwy 80 need an ECNL club. So, I’d say Berkeley. Davis, Mustang, Marin, & MVLA is too far away with traffic.
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It is too far with traffic but, unless I'm way off, aren't we only talking 30-40 miles from each other and your "Hwy 80"? I always thought it was odd that Lamorinda was given a DA team. Is that a better location? I still think the San Jose area justifies 1-2 clubs but, if memory serves me, so many of those Quakes and Thorns kids came from other regions.
 
wc_baller said:
You're right. ECNL logically should add another club since there an odd number of teams in Norcal, and ideally each club should have travel partners when playing out of area teams once travel becomes an option again down the road again. It makes sense for the club to be in the Peninsula/South Bay are since MVLA is the only existing club there, needs a travel partner, and there is more than enough talent in that area to support more than one club. Agree with you too that it's unlikely Thorns will be brought back, after the fiasco when their DOC tried to pull a fast one and got booted out of ECNL. Quakes probably would've been a better choice, but if the rumor is true that their girls program is being terminated, looks like they're out. Santa Clara might be the next best option, but I don't think they have the numbers and quality to be asked to join. I don't see any other options in that area, and I doubt that ECNL would add anyone in the Sac/Central valley area since that area already has 2 clubs represented.
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All that info makes me think could be zero.

Not sure how great rumor is on killing off quakes girls program unless they pay for a good portion. Would just not help financially I would assume.I predict it's Placer or no one at this point(assuming the South Bay rumors are accurate). Sad if Quakes program terminated. If I'm betting though I'd go with no one added at this point.
 
The Outlaw said:
It is too far with traffic but, unless I'm way off, aren't we only talking 30-40 miles from each other and your "Hwy 80"? I always thought it was odd that Lamorinda was given a DA team. Is that a better location? I still think the San Jose area justifies 1-2 clubs but, if memory serves me, so many of those Quakes and Thorns kids came from other regions.
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LAMO is a perfect location. It accessible from backroads, and other Hwy’s. I didn’t go to LAMO because the coach I was talking to got caught up in a sex sting with a minor girl. I didn’t think I would respond well to how I saw Mo’ talk to some parents. And I felt like the coaches and players were trying to target and hurt my kid for embarrassing them with her street balling trickery.
After LAMO, the only places in the USA my kid plays are college camps. Too many haters on club teams for her to break into a roster now.
 
MacDre said:
Yeah, I definitely don’t understand the evaluation process for ECNL. But, I have personally seen a few little ballers from the Bay Oaks club. The parents that I’ve talked to invariably say Bay Oaks is a better “soccer” club than Mustang. There’s a strong hate for Mustang amongst parents at Bay Oaks because they feel like their best players are being taken by Mustang and they don’t receive any recognition for their contribution to the kids development.
So is ECNL all about the money?
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Look at the roster bios for the major college programs in CA. Mustang is taking players from a lot of programs.
 
The Outlaw said:
With a couple of exceptions in NorCal, I think the difference between NPL and ECNL is very small.
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Check the NPL Champions League standings this year. The difference between ECNL and NPL are actually very wide. And those scores and standings are with the ECNL teams treating those NPL games as development opportunities.

Event Information

events.gotsport.com events.gotsport.com
 
davin said:
Check the NPL Champions League standings this year. The difference between ECNL and NPL actually very wide. And those scores and standings are with the ECNL teams treating those NPL games a development opportunities.

Event Information

events.gotsport.com events.gotsport.com
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That's because so many kids were either in DA or ECNL the last couple years. NPL only teams were 3rd tier. If the ex DA clubs end up placing teams in NPL next year, I think Tyler Durden may get to experience some nostalgia.
 
Soccerfan2 said:
That's because so many kids were either in DA or ECNL the last couple years. NPL only teams were 3rd tier. If the ex DA clubs end up placing teams in NPL next year, I think Tyler Durden may get to experience some nostalgia.
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Haha. None of that made any sense, but ok. Who’s the first and second tier?
 
MacDre said:
Yeah, I definitely don’t understand the evaluation process for ECNL. But, I have personally seen a few little ballers from the Bay Oaks club. The parents that I’ve talked to invariably say Bay Oaks is a better “soccer” club than Mustang. There’s a strong hate for Mustang amongst parents at Bay Oaks because they feel like their best players are being taken by Mustang and they don’t receive any recognition for their contribution to the kids development.
So is ECNL all about the money?
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I'd love to have a conversation with those Bay Oaks parents - I may even know some of them. The reality is that Bay Oaks top girls teams are not that strong any longer - their "best" team in a while was a team that was combined with a Berkeley club most of you in SoCal have never heard of but some of the key players are from that club (it has been a number of years). Bay Oaks does not lose many players to Mustang and any player who moves from Bay Oaks to Mustang and makes Mustang's ECNL team for her age group is not going to get what she needs at Bay Oaks in terms of competition, exposure, etc. This is not a slam on Bay Oaks at all but a reality of what the elite players "need" and what smaller clubs can provide.

(as for "recognition" . . . what does that even mean? I know a few excellent players who played at Bay Oaks and moved to Mustang - this is over a 10 year period. Really, really good players (one of whom is in college and two had really good college careers). And there are two others whom I don't know but know of but those are a bit older than the ones I know. It's sort of funny to think about these parents complaining to you, @MacDre )
 
MacDre said:
But why the lack of volume? I think exclusionary policies and practices-this is where the po folk of the Bay Area live (Vallejo, Rodeo, Richmond, S. Berkeley, & Oakland). I’m sure this area has the potential and interest to put together many great teams. I just don’t think it would be as profitable as a club on the peninsula.
I guess it’s more about the money than soccer. If it don’t make dollars then it don’t make sense.
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You and I could have a good conversation about these issues - the lack of volume, the economic challenges. When I say the "volume", I mean the sheer # of players who continue to play through the teen years. There is a drop off and it plays out with nearly every age cohort in that area. Our area also suffered a lot when youth soccer underwent its major restructuring about 10 or so years ago (with the disintegration of Class I and Class III). The small clubs that had a peaceful coexistence and a structured hierarchy started to cannibalize each other and the quality of the teams suffered, more players started making lateral club moves (w/promises of how green the grass would be on the other side), etc. I am of the belief that there are still some really good players - and some excellent on-the-pitch coaches - in that area and there could be some very strong teams year in and year out. But I also think that the girls who are elite D1 prospects (Power 5, National Team candidates) will not get the same exposure and attention staying along that corridor. At least not until the overall profile is significantly raised.
 
MacDre said:
LAMO is a perfect location. It accessible from backroads, and other Hwy’s. I didn’t go to LAMO because the coach I was talking to got caught up in a sex sting with a minor girl. I didn’t think I would respond well to how I saw Mo’ talk to some parents. And I felt like the coaches and players were trying to target and hurt my kid for embarrassing them with her street balling trickery.
After LAMO, the only places in the USA my kid plays are college camps. Too many haters on club teams for her to break into a roster now.
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Magic has a pretty nice little club up in that area
 
davin said:
Haha. None of that made any sense, but ok. Who’s the first and second tier?
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I'm not sure what part doesn't make sense. My point is that if ex DA clubs return to NPL with in tact teams you will see some cases where those teams beat the ECNL teams in their NPL league.
First and second tier are ECNL and DA in no particular order because it depends on the age group and team. Some ECNL teams are stronger, some DA teams are stronger. And there are a few NPL only exceptions that do challenge both.
 
davin said:
Check the NPL Champions League standings this year. The difference between ECNL and NPL are actually very wide. And those scores and standings are with the ECNL teams treating those NPL games as development opportunities.

Event Information

events.gotsport.com events.gotsport.com
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No doubt but consider this... not everyone has played the same teams and some of the NPL teams really should not be NPL teams. I'm not sure why they were admitted. I'm going more on experience with watching these players and teams over the years. Girls are still jumping to ENCL as they get older but, as a whole, I don't think the gap is that large. For example, I've watched the MVLA U15 team for years. That's not a dominant team like the U16 girls are but they're in 1st place.
 
davin said:
Haha. None of that made any sense, but ok. Who’s the first and second tier?
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I'm referring to the time when the ECNL was younger, when the 98, 99 and 00s were playing. I think things have matured and more of the talent has moved over to the ECNL and DA platforms. Some of the clubs that are now Academy and ECNL were playing NPL.
 
youthsportsugh said:
Magic has a pretty nice little club up in that area
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I have been a big fan of Magic for a while (I am friends with one of the families who were part of the original move). They have good coaching, play some nice soccer. But they also suffer from Small Club problems - age groups are uneven in terms of talent so that makes it hard to develop at a steady rate and makes it hard for the elite player to get what they need. But in terms of pedagogy, I think they are a great option,
 
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