ECNL expansion 2021-2022

[Desert Hound]

Even talking to College coaches, they are split on coaching VS platform.

That assumes the platforms are equal. The look very closely at the level of play. I would say this yr GA in the SW has been less than ECNL in the SW. With Royals, Beach and Legends gone next yr, the quality suffers.

Royals were winning a lot of games by big margins this yr. They won't be next yr. Likely they drop back to middle of the pack.

Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit.

 

[Kicker4Life]

Glad to see the additions and well-deserved entry of Beach and Legends back in the fold. Congrats @Kicker4Life and to all. Slight criticism can't see having three Oklahoma teams in the Texas division. Not a lot of talent at most age levels in either current club. Not sure how much further dissolution the clubs can take up there.

Thank you! Looking forward to more Beach v Solar match ups!

 

[Messi>CR7]

That assumes the platforms are equal. The look very closely at the level of play. I would say this yr GA in the SW has been less than ECNL in the SW. With Royals, Beach and Legends gone next yr, the quality suffers.

Royals were winning a lot of games by big margins this yr. They won't be next yr. Likely they drop back to middle of the pack.

Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit.

I would like to hear some perspectives from parents that have gone through the recruiting process. If your kid is a true 1% goat, this conversation is not for you. Let's say the choices for my kid are:
1) Bench player on a solid ECNL SW team
2) Starter on a bottom 3 ECNL SW team
3) Starter on a solid ECRL team that does Surf Cup and other tourneys

#1 is a usually a no go as my kid (and most kids) prefers playing over sitting. But from the recruiting perspective, how important is it to be on one of the better teams? Would #3 be better than #2 if team#2 is not very competitive? TIA.

 

[SoccerLocker]

2 Qs to ask: A. Is your DD having fun? B. Is she improving? If the answer is yes to both: She is in the right spot.

Majority of movement is #1 ---> #2. I have seen many a coach watch other teams games to ID bench players and "recruit" them.

Preference depends on your coach and kid. Most choose #2 b/c they want to play, but if the coaching fit is good and they are committed to developing your player #1 is better - IMO.

 

[crush]

I would like to hear some perspectives from parents that have gone through the recruiting process. If your kid is a true 1% goat, this conversation is not for you. Let's say the choices for my kid are:
1) Bench player on a solid ECNL SW team
2) Starter on a bottom 3 ECNL SW team
3) Starter on a solid ECRL team that does Surf Cup and other tourneys

#1 is a usually a no go as my kid (and most kids) prefers playing over sitting. But from the recruiting perspective, how important is it to be on one of the better teams? Would #3 be better than #2 if team#2 is not very competitive? TIA.

#2, hands down.

 

[dad4]

2 Qs to ask: A. Is your DD having fun? B. Is she improving? If the answer is yes to both: She is in the right spot.

Majority of movement is #1 ---> #2. I have seen many a coach watch games to try and poach bench players from other teams.

Preference depends on your coach and kid. Most choose #2 b/c they want to play, but if the coaching fit is good and they are committed to developing your player #1 is better - IMO.

Life is to be lived. We aren't talking about multi million dollar pro deals on the line. You really want to spend all of HS on the bench?

If you love to play soccer, find a team where you can do that.

 

[crush]

Life is to be lived. We aren't talking about multi million dollar pro deals on the line. You really want to spend all of HS on the bench?

If you love to play soccer, find a team where you can do that.

Never ever. My Sr year I had to move to Troy. Baseball country. Anyway, returning all league second baseman who could hit for average and power, was not going to lose his spot to some cocky surfer from Laguna. I had him on speed, throwing and hustle defense. He had me on offense and that wins. I was brought in to run for him or play defense in the last inning. Dad, I quit before league because of my pride. I thought I was better and if given a chance, I would have helped the team make CIF.

 

[happy9]

That assumes the platforms are equal. The look very closely at the level of play. I would say this yr GA in the SW has been less than ECNL in the SW. With Royals, Beach and Legends gone next yr, the quality suffers.

Royals were winning a lot of games by big margins this yr. They won't be next yr. Likely they drop back to middle of the pack.

Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit.

You are falling into what the platforms want you to believe. I know enough power 5 coaches and others conferences who don't put as much weight on the platform. The platform matters sure, but it's not they only thing they look at and it's not weighted as much as you think. Find a coach and an environment that provides development as a player, a person, and student. The club and coaches need to have connections and relationships. It's a balance. Parents will chase platforms because that's what the platforms want you to do.

Coaches scout large tournament across the country across multiple player platforms. And yes, CA is the nexus of girls soccer and ECNL will be considered the top league by everyone and parents will pay (for ECNL and GA).

I think Royals will be slotted back to where they were when they were in the DA, lower third for most age groups. Their 04s were their best team in the DA, placing 8th overall and didn't play the back end of the season against the strongest competition. They likely would have been at the bottom of the pack. I don't see how they'll be better than that, maybe a bit worse. Their 07s could cause a rucus.

Del Sol would have been the better talent pick. Their 05s and 02/03s were in the top half of the DA SW conference. Their 07s are just as good on any given day against the Royals 07s, and the 06s are the best 06 team in the state. Del Sols weakness is their numbers.

We will see if Del Sol parents start to panic or if they trust the direction of the club.

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

I would like to hear some perspectives from parents that have gone through the recruiting process. If your kid is a true 1% goat, this conversation is not for you. Let's say the choices for my kid are:
1) Bench player on a solid ECNL SW team
2) Starter on a bottom 3 ECNL SW team
3) Starter on a solid ECRL team that does Surf Cup and other tourneys

#1 is a usually a no go as my kid (and most kids) prefers playing over sitting. But from the recruiting perspective, how important is it to be on one of the better teams? Would #3 be better than #2 if team#2 is not very competitive? TIA.

2) Starter on bottom 3 ECNL SW team. Benefit from more playing time and playing tougher competition at same time.

 

[GT45]

You are falling into what the platforms want you to believe. I know enough power 5 coaches and others conferences who don't put as much weight on the platform. The platform matters sure, but it's not they only thing they look at and it's not weighted as much as you think. Find a coach and an environment that provides development as a player, a person, and student. The club and coaches need to have connections and relationships. It's a balance. Parents will chase platforms because that's what the platforms want you to do.

Coaches scout large tournament across the country across multiple player platforms. And yes, CA is the nexus of girls soccer and ECNL will be considered the top league by everyone and parents will pay (for ECNL and GA).

I think Royals will be slotted back to where they were when they were in the DA, lower third for most age groups. Their 04s were their best team in the DA, placing 8th overall and didn't play the back end of the season against the strongest competition. They likely would have been at the bottom of the pack. I don't see how they'll be better than that, maybe a bit worse. Their 07s could cause a rucus.

Del Sol would have been the better talent pick. Their 05s and 02/03s were in the top half of the DA SW conference. Their 07s are just as good on any given day against the Royals 07s, and the 06s are the best 06 team in the state. Del Sols weakness is their numbers.

We will see if Del Sol parents start to panic or if they trust the direction of the club.

Platform matters because of the competition. You get better by playing competitive games, not by walking over lesser opponents in 7-0 games. So if a kid is in the upper tier they should be competing with and against similarly skilled players.

 

[Desert Hound]

We will see if Del Sol parents start to panic or if they trust the direction of the club

I don't think there will be a mass exodus. What I am pretty sure of is with GA in the SW being 2nd tier, over time the ECNL clubs will capture most of the talent in Phx as they age into ECNL or GA. Next yr or the yr after if your DD is good, your first choice won't be del Sol. And long term that will be a problem for the club.

Like I said I don't see current players all leaving or even most. Their issue going forward will be getting new kids into the club when most parents perceive ecnl is the top option.

 

[crush]

I don't think there will be a mass exodus. What I am pretty sure of is with GA in the SW being 2nd tier, over time the ECNL clubs will capture most of the talent in Phx as they age into ECNL or GA. Next yr or the yr after if your DD is good, your first choice won't be del Sol. And long term that will be a problem for the club.

Like I said I don't see current players all leaving or even most. Their issue going forward will be getting new kids into the club when most parents perceive ecnl is the top option.

It's so confusing for us in socal. The perceived landing spot 6 years ago was ECNL. Then the perceived top option was GDA 4 years ago. Plus we all know The List was put in the hands of the Docs of the clubs and perception became a reality. Today, ECNL is top choice.

 

[Desert Hound]

Today, ECNL is top choice

The fact 3 big clubs in the SW leave GA to ECNL tells you what they think the top league is. After all why leave GA?

 

[crush]

The fact 3 big clubs in the SW leave GA to ECNL tells you what they think the top league is. After all why leave GA?

The back and forth has been hard, I wont lie. As a paying customer the last three sum years, this has been a whip lash of confusion for some of us chasing the dream. "Hey you, ya you, come here. We gots something you want but it's over here now. That league sucks and our league is top dog now. In fact, all the ynt scouts work here now and some are now on the YNT staff. Come over here little one, this is where all the goods are."

 

[happy9]

I would like to hear some perspectives from parents that have gone through the recruiting process. If your kid is a true 1% goat, this conversation is not for you. Let's say the choices for my kid are:
1) Bench player on a solid ECNL SW team
2) Starter on a bottom 3 ECNL SW team
3) Starter on a solid ECRL team that does Surf Cup and other tourneys

#1 is a usually a no go as my kid (and most kids) prefers playing over sitting. But from the recruiting perspective, how important is it to be on one of the better teams? Would #3 be better than #2 if team#2 is not very competitive? TIA.

I would start by determining what school(s) is being targeted by your player. But, if you have the $$$ to throw around and you must be in a letter league, #2 is a great option., followed by #3.

There are plenty of players being recruited and playing at the next level that did not have access or the means to play in a letter league. Coaches really do value the complete player ---Academics, multi sport, good kid in general, etc.

 

[Desert Hound]

I would start by determining what school(s) is being targeted by your player. But, if you have the $$$ to throw around and you must be in a letter league, #2 is a great option., followed by #3.

There are plenty of players being recruited and playing at the next level that did not have access or the means to play in a letter league. Coaches really do value the complete player ---Academics, multi sport, good kid in general, etc.

It also depends on the bench.

At some clubs or some teams within clubs, bench players get very little time.

On the other hand I have seen teams with bench players who consistently get solid minutes.

If it is the first, then I opt to have my kid go elsewhere.

 

[crush]

It also depends on the bench.

At some clubs or some teams within clubs, bench players get very little time.

On the other hand I have seen teams with bench players who consistently get solid minutes.

If it is the first, then I opt to have my kid go elsewhere.

I had to play in the actual game or I quit or find a lower level. I was not a bench player and neither is my dd. In youth soccer, if your a parent with some extra millions laying around, you can buy a starting spot in youth soccer. I'm dead serious. Imagine playing AAU and some dude shows up with a ton of cash and says, "My kid starts, how much?" Then the same dude buys the AAU club and get's in on the action and runs the show.

 

[azsnowrider]

Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit.

I think the answer to this depends on the school and the coach, what they value, what they are looking for, how do they fit, etc . Take a look around AZ, you cant tell me some of these kids in the last few years who have committed are playing in a highly rated platform. If you are one of the top rated college programs or even power 5 you can maybe make that case. But then again those coaches are probably hanging around the YNT camp. If you are a smaller D1, D2, D3, NAIA,JC (reality schools for most) I don't think platform matters as much, as that conversation usually starts with "How are your grades". I can show you a dozen kids today who are going on to play in college that didn't play in ECNL/GA/MLS or the former DA. One look at rosters backs this...

 

[Desert Hound]

I think the answer to this depends on the school and the coach, what they value, what they are looking for, how do they fit, etc . Take a look around AZ, you cant tell me some of these kids in the last few years who have committed are playing in a highly rated platform. If you are one of the top rated college programs or even power 5 you can maybe make that case. But then again those coaches are probably hanging around the YNT camp. If you are a smaller D1, D2, D3, NAIA,JC (reality schools for most) I don't think platform matters as much, as that conversation usually starts with "How are your grades". I can show you a dozen kids today who are going on to play in college that didn't play in ECNL/GA/MLS or the former DA. One look at rosters backs this...

As you know ECNL/DA rosters as a whole go to a lot better soccer programs vs APL rosters. That is a fact.

And in the Valley? Over time with ECNL being the better competition at least in the SW you know the better players will go to the ECNL clubs. And so those rosters will generally go to better soccer programs vs non ECNL platforms. We have seen a variation of this now for years.

We can always find kids from APL who play in college. But when you look at those rosters and where they go vs DA/ECNL rosters there is a big difference. Hell if you look at where Rising is now placing kids vs pre ECNL the difference is noticeable. Same with Arsenal.

The fact is going forward del Sol and GA will be perceived as 2nd tier vs what the other 3 are offering. And based on history we know where parents with the most talented kids will head to.

I suspect that same perception will grow in So Cal as well with the same results.

 

[crush]

As you know ECNL/DA rosters as a whole go to a lot better soccer programs vs APL rosters. That is a fact.

And in the Valley? Over time with ECNL being the better competition at least in the SW you know the better players will go to the ECNL clubs. And so those rosters will generally go to better soccer programs vs non ECNL platforms. We have seen a variation of this now for years.

We can always find kids from APL who play in college. But when you look at those rosters and where they go vs DA/ECNL rosters there is a big difference. Hell if you look at where Rising is now placing kids vs pre ECNL the difference is noticeable. Same with Arsenal.

The fact is going forward del Sol and GA will be perceived as 2nd tier vs what the other 3 are offering. And based on history we know where parents with the most talented kids will head to.

I suspect that same perception will grow in So Cal as well with the same results.

I was thinking GA should just merge with ECNL. Have two tiers of two teams. A National Travel Team ((NTT)) and Local Regional Team ((LRT)). Have 30 kids at each age group per club. We need only one top league and then sister teams.