ECNL Broken?

Soccerhelper said:
Highlander, boy do I have a story for you about free handouts. PM me and I'll share. I dont want to get another "over" from 43 regarding a story about my DD and all the freebies. You get what you pay for and if it's free, watch out!!! Unless of course it's to help a family out. Maps teams did that and i like that. Where does your goat play? No one said that ECNL was was about developing the best players. ECNL is a private business helping kids ((parents)) and colleges find each other. It's brilliant. ECNL is #1 league for girls hands down. No ifs and or butts about it. I would like to see more of an effort to reach poorer communities for kids who want more from soccer. Their is much to fix that is broken in soccer, but ECNL is not broken.
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Would love to hear those stories! LOL.. I have a few of my own (20K donation made to ensure kid makes the team)... OK, as a business model you are right, ECNL is not broken...it's brilliant actually, and no doubt the best league to get college coaches eyes. To me its broken in the sense that it isn't making American soccer better as a whole...its making it worse. We can do better and we should do better. I wish US Club Soccer would make that happen. Change happens slow though...eventually NWSL is going to put in place their own youth league just like MLS is doing...that will change everything...
 
Highlander said:
You are missing my point.....but they don't cover everything and they don't offer it to all...hell, how could they? Numbers wouldn't work out.
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I agree with you about the business side, but when you offer free and all travel and many other benefits, you sure in the hell will win. Check this article out. Talk about the winning formula in winning the actual games. Both are now out of the girls soccer business.

exbulletin.com

LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquake shut down Girls Academy programs

MLS LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes clubs have closed their Girls Academy programs, after the NFL Academy was closed. Soccer Wire confirmed earlier reports to the Los Angeles Times and the top football stair on the closings, after clubs reported their membership to the decision in the past...
exbulletin.com exbulletin.com

Here Highlights Highlander from the article:

LA Galaxy Girls Academy was the first ((not only)) fully funded elite girls’ program run by MLS, and has seen great success since its launch in 2017 before the opening season for girls. LA Galaxy Academy ranked 35th in the latest release of SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Club rankings, and its LA Galaxy San Diego company ranked 50th.

Before the recent closure of American football DA, LA Galaxy U-16 Girls were in first place in the Southwestern division with a score of 12-1-3. LA Galaxy San Diego U-16 Girls were also in the playoff mode, ranking third in the Southwestern Division and the seed of the 12th overall playoffs.

San Jose Earthquakes Academy ranked 10th in recent SoccerWire Top 100 Girls Club rankings. The U-15 team of the club acquired the National Girls’ Championship DA last season, completing an unbeatable campaign by scoring 34-0-3.


LA Galaxy subsidiaries and Earthquakes have helped develop many players for the American National Youth Team. After last summer’s national championship, earthquakes were represented by four out of 20 players in the National Team Training Camps list for girls under 16 years of age.


As former LA Galaxy and Earthquakes players search for new places to play in the 2020-2021 season, the staff of both clubs said that they worked with families throughout the process. The Gulf and Southern California regions are among the best footballing spots in the entire country, with no shortage of elite youth football options.
 
tjinaz said:
Not sure this is a good example. The ASU coach is from England so he will prefer Internationals. Girl he brought with him when he came from Southern Alabama now plays for Liverpools team after she left ASU. He is seeing untapped talent in Europe and recruiting it. Who wouldn't want to leave rainy, dreary England and go play in Tempe?



There is your problem.. To some ECNL is the be all end all of Girls Soccer. Will never be for Boys although when DA went down some thought everything would come together under the ECNL banner. If there was a clear delineation on this it would be easy but both leagues want to say they are the best so.. it will continue.
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That should serve him well in his next job... next season. LMAO!
 
azsnowrider said:
You may be right on this, scratching my head over replacing KB with him. What been improved? Nada, except It's like the UN down there... Been told the international student is easier to get in. :rolleyes:
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He seems like a really nice guy and I don't like seeing people lose jobs... but his record is 21-29-7 in 4 years and I don't think he won a single league game last season. With Tony growing the program 2 hours down the road, I can't seem him lasting more than half a season... Pac 12 or not.
 
The Outlaw said:
He seems like a really nice guy and I don't like seeing people lose jobs... but his record is 21-29-7 in 4 years and I don't think he won a single league game last season. With Tony growing the program 2 hours down the road, I can't seem him lasting more than half a season... Pac 12 or not.
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ASU is a great school I hear. I had many friends attend and they loved it. School, friends, fun, sports, parties and more fun. U of A is really nice as well.
 
Highlander said:
Would love to hear those stories! LOL.. I have a few of my own (20K donation made to ensure kid makes the team)... OK, as a business model you are right, ECNL is not broken...it's brilliant actually, and no doubt the best league to get college coaches eyes. To me its broken in the sense that it isn't making American soccer better as a whole...its making it worse. We can do better and we should do better. I wish US Club Soccer would make that happen. Change happens slow though...eventually NWSL is going to put in place their own youth league just like MLS is doing...that will change everything...
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I think the NWSL will be hard pressed to make it through this year and into the next. They are not a financially stable league and are starting to shed top players to Europe. I agree that they should play a bigger role in girls development. Unfortunately they don't have the horsepower to even think about taking on what the MLS is doing on the boys side.

Boy's soccer development in this country is woefully lacking, as shown by our performance on the world stage. Our top talent does not stay here. Our professional league only attracts the aging euro league's superstars (which is fun to watch, but not really good futbol).

Up until recently, the NWSL attracted the top talent in the world. Now that trend seems to be reversing. The US will continue to field the best players in the world, but that gap is closing. IF leagues like the EPL and La Liga start to funnel money to their women's side, that will seal the fate of the NWSL. But that is a big IF. Those owners like getting more rich - if they determine that a women's league will not substantially raise their profits, then they will return to a status quo. There isn't a precedence set anywhere in the world (that I can see) that a women's league is a profitable venture.

I have a DD that's on consistent pathway to college and just maybe beyond. That's of course until she decides she's not on the pathway, since teens change their mind daily. And it wouldn't hurt my feelings, I prefer she were a seasonal athlete. It pains me to describe the bleak future of women's soccer in the US (beyond college), but I think it's a reality. At the end of the day, academics should drive the train - so many players do not play at the program of their dreams (the program that their coach told her and her parents she could play at when she was 9).

And yes, I think that the letter leagues are designed to take money from parents. It's the current environment and one that will likely not change for the near future. CV19 may make leagues adjust how they market to parents, but the end result will be the same.
 
The Outlaw said:
He seems like a really nice guy and I don't like seeing people lose jobs... but his record is 21-29-7 in 4 years and I don't think he won a single league game last season. With Tony growing the program 2 hours down the road, I can't seem him lasting more than half a season... Pac 12 or not.
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Yep - U o A is kicking his ass.
 
happy9 said:
Up until recently, the NWSL attracted the top talent in the world. Now that trend seems to be reversing.

I have a DD that's on consistent pathway to college and just maybe beyond. That's of course until she decides she's not on the pathway, since teens change their mind daily. And it wouldn't hurt my feelings, I prefer she were a seasonal athlete. It pains me to describe the bleak future of women's soccer in the US (beyond college), but I think it's a reality. At the end of the day, academics should drive the train - so many players do not play at the program of their dreams (the program that their coach told her and her parents she could play at when she was 9).

And yes, I think that the letter leagues are designed to take money from parents. It's the current environment and one that will likely not change for the near future. CV19 may make leagues adjust how they market to parents, but the end result will be the same.
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Excellent stuff Happy. Our DDs seem similar. I disagree in the red highlight only. I think the reality will be in late 2022 for anyone 18 years or older to go and play soccer if that makes you happy. My dd is super happy, Happy, when she plays soccer. She's happiest win she whens but not all can wind. So she works hard at life and plays hard to the fullest. She just goes and goes all day. Full of restless energy. She still wants to play soccer. I hope after Nov 3rd everyone can just freaking relax and slow down and live life the way it was supposed to be lived. Freedom is key.
 
happy9 said:
F leagues like the EPL and La Liga start to funnel money to their women's side, that will seal the fate of the NWSL. But that is a big IF. Those owners like getting more rich - if they determine that a women's league will not substantially raise their profits, then they will return to a status quo. There isn't a precedence set anywhere in the world (that I can see) that a women's league is a profitable venture.
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Women's leagues over there have the same problem as in the US.

Fans (men and women) prefer to watch the men's version in almost any league. This doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon here or abroad.

The only 2 exceptions that come to mind where the women bring in viewers on a regular basis is women's golf and tennis.
 
Soccer43 said:
ECNL was a great experience until the chaos began with changing age groupings, DA, etc. Certain birth years were especially harmed in this process.

it is the best pathway for college exposure. There are other ways to make it to college soccer but they are more difficult and nearly impossible to make it to a top D1 program without being in the ECNL. Please don’t bring up the issue of the 2 years of the DA - those players that were good enough would have been in the ECNL during that time. It is really difficult to get attention from coaches if you are not in the ECNL and you are not in the tournaments where the college coaches are. Yes, you can play in the Vegas Cup but if you aren’t an ECNL team you are playing on some field far away from the main field with no coaches watching.

The down side is the cost. People have argued on this forum that it doesn’t cost $10,000 to play in the ECNL. It definitely does when you are honest and include travel costs, uniforms, gas to practices. $3000 for club fees, min 4 trips to Phoenix $1600 (average $400 per trip), PDA $1500, Vegas Cup $800, ECNL playoffs (San Diego $ 1000 / Chicago $1500) ECNL finals ($1500), Uniforms $300, Gas $1200 (easily with an hour commute to practices and games) etc. these are just estimates because I don’t feel like spending the time to dig through bank statements but the actual are probably more than this - this is also only for player costs, not family travel

The end does not always provide a scholarship but at the very least can help you with admission to a top preferred school and a roster spot. With the increase in recruiting international players the roster
spots are even fewer and more competitive. 3% make it to college soccer, 1% to top D1 program
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Most clubs pay for air fare to finals for players (or was it the hotel, as I recall (plus a little swag :)) Then again it depends on club. Car pooling helps with weekly practice as well as room sharing with other player and parent for out of state travel, unless you make it a mini vacation for you and family. :)
 
EOTL said:
Yes, I got that. Americans are stupid. We’ll be at 200,000 dead people in a week or two. But CA teams still can’t play ECNL, just like I said.
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happy9 said:
I don't know the specific methods being used. Appears to me to be relationship driven. I think the numbers in 2017 were about 20% of all roster spots in D1 and D2 programs were being taken up by international player and about 75% of D1 schools actively recruit internationally. Plenty of coaches have ties either back to home countries.

It's just something to consider if your kid is looking to play in college, especially on the boys side.
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International students overall pay higher tuition and universities like that.
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The Outlaw said:
He seems like a really nice guy and I don't like seeing people lose jobs... but his record is 21-29-7 in 4 years and I don't think he won a single league game last season. With Tony growing the program 2 hours down the road, I can't seem him lasting more than half a season... Pac 12 or not.
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Sure nice guy but Zero wins in Conference play. I really thought they would do better on the start they had, i thought the past season would be a break out year. I am just not sure Soccer is on Ray's radar at this time.
 
azsnowrider said:
Sure nice guy but Zero wins in Conference play. I really thought they would do better on the start they had, i thought the past season would be a break out year. I am just not sure Soccer is on Ray's radar at this time.
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Agree... though that seems like a pretty good job not knowing what it pays. Have you heard anything about why Nagy left U of A? That seemed like a really solid coaching tandem.
 
Soccerhelper said:
Excellent stuff Happy. Our DDs seem similar. I disagree in the red highlight only. I think the reality will be in late 2022 for anyone 18 years or older to go and play soccer if that makes you happy. My dd is super happy, Happy, when she plays soccer. She's happiest win she whens but not all can wind. So she works hard at life and plays hard to the fullest. She just goes and goes all day. Full of restless energy. She still wants to play soccer. I hope after Nov 3rd everyone can just freaking relax and slow down and live life the way it was supposed to be lived. Freedom is key.
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Well, at least the Cactus Cup will be available - I'm crossing my fingers that the weather pans out for the teams traveling from CA - Hopefully all of our fields will be open and that play will be conducted on first class pitches.
 
The Outlaw said:
Agree... though that seems like a pretty good job not knowing what it pays. Have you heard anything about why Nagy left U of A? That seemed like a really solid coaching tandem.
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I am not sure why he left, but he was the main recruiting person I believe. Curious if he lands elsewhere as an HC maybe.
 
tjinaz said:
Just heard Scottsdale and Phoenix are going to open parks to we should have all fields available by October.
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For phoenix the word is Sept 10th. But they are going to be implementing a whole bunch of measures and will have roving compliance personal to monitor. So expect the clubs to be cracking down on people not following the guidelines. Don't want to lose those fields again....

"According to a Phoenix news release, outside organizations and teams will be able to reserve the fields if they agree to follow safety procedures: “including having spectators, officials and coaches wear a mask or face covering; maintaining six feet between field and spectators; and limiting the participants on a field to 48 youths or 24 adults.”

Hall said that teams and organizations must agree to self-monitor during their activities on the fields.

“This process will be enhanced by (organizations) having an on-site compliance person. In addition, we have rovers who visit multiple park sites during their shift,” she said.

Hall mentioned that city personnel would observe games and practices to ensure safety measures are implemented."
 
happy9 said:
Well, at least the Cactus Cup will be available - I'm crossing my fingers that the weather pans out for the teams traveling from CA - Hopefully all of our fields will be open and that play will be conducted on first class pitches.
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It's great chance for the folks at Cactus Cup to put on a great tournament. Q Happy. If goat is playing college ball right now, weather plays a facter always in soccer in AZ or do they cancel? I loved AYSO because we played in the rain and mud and it was a blast. Water breaks is cool too. Time to get tough and go ball in AZ.
 
azsnowrider said:
For phoenix the word is Sept 10th. But they are going to be implementing a whole bunch of measures and will have roving compliance personal to monitor. So expect the clubs to be cracking down on people not following the guidelines. Don't want to lose those fields again....

"According to a Phoenix news release, outside organizations and teams will be able to reserve the fields if they agree to follow safety procedures: “including having spectators, officials and coaches wear a mask or face covering; maintaining six feet between field and spectators; and limiting the participants on a field to 48 youths or 24 adults.”

Hall said that teams and organizations must agree to self-monitor during their activities on the fields.

“This process will be enhanced by (organizations) having an on-site compliance person. In addition, we have rovers who visit multiple park sites during their shift,” she said.

Hall mentioned that city personnel would observe games and practices to ensure safety measures are implemented."
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That's what I hear. Fully expect that the golf carts will be out and about. While it's tedious, parents need to do the right thing, in spite of personal beliefs. It's not that hard. It's unclear if face mask are mandatory even if you are socially distanced.
 
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