They are only better than the bottom-feeding ECNL teams (at least for GU14 2012). Some NPL and 1 NL team above the top ECRL team in ranking.
Socal named as Operator for National 1 League
- Thread starter shankbone
- Start date
They are only better than the bottom-feeding ECNL teams (at least for GU14 2012). Some NPL and 1 NL team above the top ECRL team in ranking.
This is my daughter's year (at least until the age change) - I know most the socal teams. There are a lot of norcal teams in there too! The socal and norcal teams don't play each other much at all. I think dividing the state would be worthwhile.
One thing the app doesn't pick up is how many players change teams - there is a fair amount of movement. That adage "top 3 move on and bottom 3 look out for your spot" is real (a couple of my daughters friends left one ecnl team to join another). And I know a couple of the NPL teams ranked in the mid 50s will be disbanding and/or changing league affiliation.
Its fun to have something to check in on - but to me there just isn't many chances for non-ECNL teams to play ECNL teams on the girls side - making 4-5 tournaments a year the only chances to see where they might compare. From that screenshot just cut off - there is a team Joga Bonita ranked 15 which is really interesting - Joga mainly plays Coast. # 17 Empire Surf NL won top flight socal state cup. A local team from Newbury Park is ranked 63 they produce some interesting teams. Tudela is 64 they play NPL but have few chances to lock horns with ECNL teams.
Agreed on separating Northern and Southern California teams, but they do play each other from time to time.
Jogo is a training group only. They pull as many top girls as they can to play in a tournament. There are a few others that are like.
It looks like Empire Surface is ramping up its competition little by little.
Code
GOLD
I think some of the MLS Academy teams bleed into Tier 2, and some of the MLS Next teams bleed into Tier 3, if you are looking for an honest visual representation, you should show that like you did with the US Specialty and US Club Soccer categories. Other than that seems accurate.
Code
GOLD
I think it is just returning to a bit of normal, but once again under a different name. When E64 rolled out, it was basically a renaming of NPL, because it was made up of established NPL teams from the previous season. Nothing really changed, except teams had to incur more travel and expenses, because the pool of Tier 3 teams was split in half between NPL and E64. Now they are just returning to the same pool, but everyone gets a new name. That's about it. Likely the name change was required by US Club Soccer now that they are part of the pool umbrella. Probably better for everyone who was previously in NPL or E64. More teams closer to home. Level of play will be the same, as I've said 100 times on here. Changing a name or governing body does not change the level of play of the team or players involved, it is a marketing scam. N1L is going to be looked at as NPL/E64 was last season.
Code
GOLD
And very likely that that the N1L teams get smoked going against the Playoff ECRL teams, that are likely pushing into the ECNL level of play. Lot of money to travel to playoffs and be embarrassed.
rainbow_unicorn
PREMIER
I think it's a good thing that top N1L teams get rewarded and get to play in ECRL playoffs. And it helps bring clarity to the many different letter league levels if, for example, the top N1L team in the region ends up winning 1 game and losing 2 at the ECRL regional playoffs.
superfly10
BRONZE
Some major questions remain:
What is next for SOCAL because Flight 1 straight to NL1 just simply doesn't make too much sense from a competition standpoint where some teams will get boat raced. Right now you can see some SOCAL teams that went from Flight 1 -> NL last season and they are at the bottom of the standings with really bad goal differential and games are not even close.
Also now current NPL teams that finished bottom three may be relegated to Flight 1, which we all know if/when that happens, those teams will disband. If those teams disband, SOCAL loses money so I wonder if the rumor of NL2 might come to fruition. Still have to think a division between Flight 1 and NL1 makes sense.
Sounds like NL1 will have regions within SOCAL so: LA, OC and San Diego (how many teams will be allowed per club per region).
Also lets face it, not every club or team has aspirations to play at the NL1, ECNL, etc levels. There is a cost factor in play for many teams/families and clubs that provide a service to the community. SOCAL have added so many small clubs recently in efforts to kill off Coast Soccer.
We'll see what else comes up by the end of this month cause team registrations are ongoing and not all info is available.
What is next for SOCAL because Flight 1 straight to NL1 just simply doesn't make too much sense from a competition standpoint where some teams will get boat raced. Right now you can see some SOCAL teams that went from Flight 1 -> NL last season and they are at the bottom of the standings with really bad goal differential and games are not even close.
Also now current NPL teams that finished bottom three may be relegated to Flight 1, which we all know if/when that happens, those teams will disband. If those teams disband, SOCAL loses money so I wonder if the rumor of NL2 might come to fruition. Still have to think a division between Flight 1 and NL1 makes sense.
Sounds like NL1 will have regions within SOCAL so: LA, OC and San Diego (how many teams will be allowed per club per region).
Also lets face it, not every club or team has aspirations to play at the NL1, ECNL, etc levels. There is a cost factor in play for many teams/families and clubs that provide a service to the community. SOCAL have added so many small clubs recently in efforts to kill off Coast Soccer.
We'll see what else comes up by the end of this month cause team registrations are ongoing and not all info is available.
East County Soccer Dad
SILVER ELITE
Any sense if travel will be more like NPL or e64?
Code
GOLD
It sounds like it going to be structured just like SoCal soccer league was structured 4 or 5 years ago. Except NPL is now called N1L. Before all the E64/SoCal ECRL/EA nonsense. It worked well IMHO. Promotion and Relegation. Most teams in the region played Flight 2, because that was where average teams played.
My speculation
1) playoffs will end up being like some sort of state cup at least in the SoCal area.
2) I saw Empire Surf announce they got ECRL for both boys and girls. Kind of a random club imo but I dunno.
3) What will this do to GA Aspire and DPL? I imagine they fold and this was part of the reason the ECNL formed this NL1.
4) if ECNL gives a team to either city SC or SDSC Surf does GA fold in SoCal?
1) playoffs will end up being like some sort of state cup at least in the SoCal area.
2) I saw Empire Surf announce they got ECRL for both boys and girls. Kind of a random club imo but I dunno.
3) What will this do to GA Aspire and DPL? I imagine they fold and this was part of the reason the ECNL formed this NL1.
4) if ECNL gives a team to either city SC or SDSC Surf does GA fold in SoCal?
Scrub It Kook
SILVER ELITE
SDSC makes the most sense since they already have ECNL for the boys side. Odd that they don’t have for the girls side and went with GA instead.
luzsoccermom
BRONZE
Is the National 1 League , basically all NPL teams rebranded with a different name? If you were NPL , do you automatically get N1 now? We were NPL and finished 5th or 6th in the league...so now we are just N1?
East County Soccer Dad
SILVER ELITE
I’m wondering the same thing. Since I’m guessing all e64 will be made N1, so there will be a lot more teams?
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
Depends on a bunch of things, but the answer to your question is mostly yes. Rules for NPL vary across regions, and there are both ones that are focused on individual teams, and ones that are more focused on wider clubs. In our area, being an NPL club means that once teams get old enough, they are given entrance into the youngest ages of NPL. So every age group essentially gets an NPL team. But also - once a team has made it in to NPL - they can be relegated, by finishing low enough in the lowest level of NPL, and then the next season they are instead in Premier. Now that NPL (and NL) are morphing in to N1L, it's a reasonable assumption that nothing much changed except the name. An NPL team in good standing is going to be called N1L pretty soon, likely as soon as next season.
Your speculation could go either way.
1. Theres more than CitySC and SDSC in GA Southwest. What about Rangers, FRAM, Del Sol, etc.
2. There are multiple socal girls ECNL clubs that want MLSN for their boys. Everyone knows everyone else so you're not going to hide it. You can see the gears turning at some clubs.
sandiegofutbolguy
SILVER
From what I have heard it should be about a dozen San Diego teams (last year's NPLs plus E64 teams)
Possible two divisions if even clubs have teams they thing can compete.
The old E64 clubs should have NL1 no matter what, the other clubs will be if they have good enough teams.
Scrub It Kook
SILVER ELITE
I guess what is the definition of a good enough SoCal team in SD. Last years NPL was certainly not merit based. Not sure how bottom table flight 2 teams move to flight 1, end up bottom of the table again, then move to NPL the following year. I thought there was supposed to be a pro/rel scenario with flight 1 but obviously not.
Elite players are not produced by name change. You can name it MLS "Academy", but it is still a B-team league, and now it requires extensive travel and a mandatory out-of-state showcase. Now, soccer parents have to pay more and travel farther to compete against 2nd-tier teams, which are easily found in the local league.
This is because letter leagues sign up as many local clubs as possible, leaving very few teams for the SoCal league, esp. at the HS age. So they promote any team to NPL.
I got no problem with it but it aint a landmark development and lots of things could make it easier to navigate, but not this at all