DA and ECNL

Info said:
Dual DA/ECNL Clubs were given an "all-in ECNL" option from ECNL this off-season. If they went "all-in" they were given the option of having two ECNL teams (to help the transition of moving their DA players to ECNL). Imagine the pissed off Slammers families, if Slammers went back to ECNL and had only one team. Many of the current players on their ECNL/DA teams would be cut from their now only one ECNL team. So ECNL gave these dual clubs an easy transition. This is why Slammers has two teams. I do not know if they will keep it permanently or just until these age groups age out.

If these dual DA/ECNL clubs did not meet a very high competitive bar, they were told by ECNL that you are "all-in ECNL" or you are out. West Coast (OC Surf) was one such club that did not meet that criteria. So they chose DA (a choice they probably regret since so many top clubs -Slammers, Michigan Hawks, Elipse, PDA, etc - all publicly dropped DA after OC Surf chose DA). Slammers obviously met the competitive standard but still chose to go "all-in ECNL". Blues met the competitive standard too. So they can remain a dual club.

It appears to me (but I do not know for a fact), that Surf was given the take "all-in ECNL" or you are out ultimatum. They were probably campaigning to stay in both, but ECNL is firm on their competitive standards. Surf probably lost their argument to be an exception, and is now caught holding the bag with their families.
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Sorry I'm slow but I still don't understand why Blues gets to remain DA and ECNL while San Diego Surf does not? I thought ECNL forced Surf to choose? Why wasn't Blues forced to choose?
 
I like how in the U19 DA bracket at Surf Cup both Surf and OC Surf play the Pats, Albion, and Lamorinda. Meanwhile Crossfire Premier, Real Socal, and San Jose Earthquakes all have to play each other. Lol
 
Hank Walker said:
Sorry I'm slow but I still don't understand why Blues gets to remain DA and ECNL while San Diego Surf does not? I thought ECNL forced Surf to choose? Why wasn't Blues forced to choose?
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Simisoccerfan said:
I like how in the U19 DA bracket at Surf Cup both Surf and OC Surf play the Pats, Albion, and Lamorinda. Meanwhile Crossfire Premier, Real Socal, and San Jose Earthquakes all have to play each other. Lol
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Because life is not fair, get over it!
 
Simisoccerfan said:
I like how in the U19 DA bracket at Surf Cup both Surf and OC Surf play the Pats, Albion, and Lamorinda. Meanwhile Crossfire Premier, Real Socal, and San Jose Earthquakes all have to play each other. Lol
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Personally I would rather my kid play the tough teams. Patsies won’t get you ready to play UCLA, Stanford or Penn State. I preferred when my daughter played against Surf than when she played for them. She got more out of the games.
 
ToonArmy said:
If i were a local club like Slammers i would be more concerned with what the teams i play in local league on a weekly basis did not what michagan pda and others outside the west coast did. For example in 05s Slammers competition has been teams that are "all in" DA and Blues A team which is in DA. I guess Heat will give them a game but no competition otherwise in league. I imagine that teams top players will either play up or jump ship.

But this decision was probably based on money anyways
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I agree with this. It will take some time to see how the rosters fill out and change over the next few seasons. This next season will be telling right out of the gate. Historically the SW ECNL conference really has had only three or so teams in each age bracket that were 'elite' as seasons moved on ... Generally Blues, Surf and Slammers with the occasional Arsenal, Strikers or WC (keeping it Cali) having a juggernaut. So maybe in the 05 age bracket Slammers and Heat end up being the teams to beat in that bracket as the seasons change and that's okay. At the end of the day one of those teams will need to beat a Michigan Hawks or PDA type elite group of teams in the CL for the trophy. Seems more things change, the more they stay the same IMHO.
 
Hank Walker said:
Sorry I'm slow but I still don't understand why Blues gets to remain DA and ECNL while San Diego Surf does not? I thought ECNL forced Surf to choose? Why wasn't Blues forced to choose?
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As I understand it, ECNL created (and I understand changed when it suited them) criteria for a club to maintain ENCL while also having DA of winning X # of national championship(s) and/or placing X # of teams into the finals (I think the # was 4 teams). Blues met the criteria, Surf did not.
 
GoWest said:
@CaliKlines I assume based upon your comment that your DD played this last season on a GDA team? If so, what league did she play in the prior years?
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GW, my post was in jest...everyone knows that the ECNL is a legitimate platform for youth soccer. And I am no longer concerned about DA v. ECNL as my player is aging out right now. I don't plan on following these forums now that she is finished. She played 1 year of ECNL, then multiple years on a non-affiliated team that performed well at the national level, and then her final year on a DA side. She has experienced a variety of gaming platforms, and now will be competing in the toughest conference in women's collegiate soccer, the ACC.

FWIW, the DA ushered in a new level of professionalism to the practices and on field coaching. Reviewing of the game films, and one on one instruction was immensely helpful to my player in her final youth season. I'm not sure how much of it was DA or how much of it was the club she played for, but it was a very productive experience. (Full disclosure, she left the DA team in December to finish off her high school career, and did not return to the DA for the 2nd half of the season. She had alot invested in that team after being a 3 year varsity starter, and she wanted to play her senior year.) This was her path, and it worked out for her, but there are many ways to get to where you need to go...Good luck with your player's journey!
 
CaliKlines said:
GW, my post was in jest...everyone knows that the ECNL is a legitimate platform for youth soccer. And I am no longer concerned about DA v. ECNL as my player is aging out right now. I don't plan on following these forums now that she is finished. She played 1 year of ECNL, then multiple years on a non-affiliated team that performed well at the national level, and then her final year on a DA side. She has experienced a variety of gaming platforms, and now will be competing in the toughest conference in women's collegiate soccer, the ACC.

FWIW, the DA ushered in a new level of professionalism to the practices and on field coaching. Reviewing of the game films, and one on one instruction was immensely helpful to my player in her final youth season. I'm not sure how much of it was DA or how much of it was the club she played for, but it was a very productive experience. (Full disclosure, she left the DA team in December to finish off her high school career, and did not return to the DA for the 2nd half of the season. She had alot invested in that team after being a 3 year varsity starter, and she wanted to play her senior year.) This was her path, and it worked out for her, but there are many ways to get to where you need to go...Good luck with your player's journey!
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Congratulations! Which college?
 
MakeAPlay said:
Personally I would rather my kid play the tough teams. Patsies won’t get you ready to play UCLA, Stanford or Penn State. I preferred when my daughter played against Surf than when she played for them. She got more out of the games.
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I agree. Just commenting on how Surf is trying to make it easier for themselves.
 
CaliKlines said:
GW, my post was in jest...everyone knows that the ECNL is a legitimate platform for youth soccer. And I am no longer concerned about DA v. ECNL as my player is aging out right now. I don't plan on following these forums now that she is finished. She played 1 year of ECNL, then multiple years on a non-affiliated team that performed well at the national level, and then her final year on a DA side. She has experienced a variety of gaming platforms, and now will be competing in the toughest conference in women's collegiate soccer, the ACC.

FWIW, the DA ushered in a new level of professionalism to the practices and on field coaching. Reviewing of the game films, and one on one instruction was immensely helpful to my player in her final youth season. I'm not sure how much of it was DA or how much of it was the club she played for, but it was a very productive experience. (Full disclosure, she left the DA team in December to finish off her high school career, and did not return to the DA for the 2nd half of the season. She had alot invested in that team after being a 3 year varsity starter, and she wanted to play her senior year.) This was her path, and it worked out for her, but there are many ways to get to where you need to go...Good luck with your player's journey!
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Appreciate the insight and transparency. I'm with you on the whole 'GDA v ECNL better, worse or indifferent' skirmishes. Both leagues develop players just in different ways. Glad your DD enjoyed her senior season.

CaliKlines said:
...now will be competing in the toughest conference in women's collegiate soccer, the ACC.
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ACC is certainly one of the most difficult conferences to play in. Pac12 has had the most dominant top teams in Stanford, UCLA and SC the last couple seasons and that doesn't look to be changing this season. SEC is catching up. Thanks for the kind words and best of everything to your DD in the ACC :)
 
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