ECNL expansion 2021-2022

What snub? WC left ECNL for DA. They were a well below average club from the DA. Why would ECNL want them back? ECNL only brought top clubs from the SW back in (Surf, Real So Cal, Beach, Legends, Utah Royals (AZ).
Relax. Why. Easy one. WC relations with ECNL was far more positive than clubs that left and were admitted. Or those that snubbed them in DA.
 
"When the DA ended," said Christian Lavers, president of the ECNL, which also runs a boys league that expanded in the wake of the Boys DA ending while MLS Next launched on the boys side. "Everybody was trying to get in, but we had real challenges with COVID, structure and timing. A lot of these clubs wanted in then when we couldn't put everyone in. Beach FC, Legends, Sporting Blue Valley, Sporting Iowa -- they all played in the ECNL regional leagues this year.

"We told these clubs, we're going to look at your performance in the regional league. Sporting Blue Valley and Sporting Iowa did very well in the regional league. That's why they're joining the ECNL. That is the pathway and transparency in place: Regional league to club competition. If a club struggles in the club competition, eventually they'll likely be moved to a regional competition. ... Beach and Legends in California had challenges [with COVID restrictions], but they have a history of national success. ... Oklahoma Energy has obviously done well in general as a club."

 
I agree with the latter part of this out here in Norcal too. Seems that it doesn't matter as much what club you're in up until kids move to 11v11. Then- it seens everyone clammors to SJ or Davis, (waay up in Norcal, not Bay area.)
Bingo Glitter Hater. In socal back in the day at u10, every Doc that had ECNL was at State Cup to recruit all the Legends and Beach Players. That's why we have a socal forum that is on fire today. Beach and legends Docs and parents did not like that. You see, clubs like Beach and Legends would have to get with all their U10 parents during State Cup to put out fires and tell kids to stay because GDA is coming soon. I got the, "The old man taking notes is crazy, does not develop, does not promote Training Center, ODP or even YNT and if you stay, you will miss out on the Holy Grail, The List!" He would just say we have ECNL and that was a wrap for most super goats and their parents. Now Beach and Legends can tell GSFC, CVC and all the smaller clubs in IE and LA that they have ECNL. I would love to see the recruiting is going on. I'm writing a book about all this btw so I will make sure you get a copy first :) I have so many texts and emails, you will actually get a kick out of it, trust me :)
 
West Coast needs to be in is all I can say. Do it for the kids sake :)
Let them all in and let’s allow the free market to decide how many clubs will survive in the next 2 years. Consolidation is happening this year and next. Let’s face it, al youth sports have been on a decline for the past 5 years. There’s no way SoCal can sustain 10-14 ECNL teams in the near future.
 
Let them all in and let’s allow the free market to decide how many clubs will survive in the next 2 years. Consolidation is happening this year and next. Let’s face it, al youth sports have been on a decline for the past 5 years. There’s no way SoCal can sustain 10-14 ECNL teams in the near future.
How about a play in tournament for each age for all clubs who meet a basic standard in June. I'm serious.
 
Let them all in and let’s allow the free market to decide how many clubs will survive in the next 2 years. Consolidation is happening this year and next. Let’s face it, al youth sports have been on a decline for the past 5 years. There’s no way SoCal can sustain 10-14 ECNL teams in the near future.
10-14 ECNL clubs might be that only way to reduce travel and keep costs low enough for customers.

I agree it doesn't sound the same to someone who thinks of ECNL as 60 clubs. And it isn't.
 
"When the DA ended," said Christian Lavers, president of the ECNL, which also runs a boys league that expanded in the wake of the Boys DA ending while MLS Next launched on the boys side. "Everybody was trying to get in, but we had real challenges with COVID, structure and timing. A lot of these clubs wanted in then when we couldn't put everyone in. Beach FC, Legends, Sporting Blue Valley, Sporting Iowa -- they all played in the ECNL regional leagues this year.

"We told these clubs, we're going to look at your performance in the regional league. Sporting Blue Valley and Sporting Iowa did very well in the regional league. That's why they're joining the ECNL. That is the pathway and transparency in place: Regional league to club competition. If a club struggles in the club competition, eventually they'll likely be moved to a regional competition. ... Beach and Legends in California had challenges [with COVID restrictions], but they have a history of national success. ... Oklahoma Energy has obviously done well in general as a club."


So what you are saying is that Christian Lavers himself the Head Honcho at ECNL is making comments about moving struggling teams in the ECNL to the regional leagues? It's his words right? I read the article, so that tells me they are having discussions/conversations/idea sharing which sure sounds like a relegation type system to me. Makes sense actually this way they can allow in top performing clubs without inflating the numbers to much. The anti relegation crowd will start soon, and thats fine. Can't deny the man's words.
 
So what you are saying is that Christian Lavers himself the Head Honcho at ECNL is making comments about moving struggling teams in the ECNL to the regional leagues? It's his words right? I read the article, so that tells me they are having discussions/conversations/idea sharing which sure sounds like a relegation type system to me. Makes sense actually this way they can allow in top performing clubs without inflating the numbers to much. The anti relegation crowd will start soon, and thats fine. Can't deny the man's words.
I think he’s talking more about promotion than relegation. And it’s by club, not team. but, yes.
 
I think he’s talking more about promotion than relegation. And it’s by club, not team. but, yes.
Any Nocal u10 scores bro in Nocal USL? Come on man, if your kids love soccer you know you let them out to ball, dont you? Tell truth dad.....
 
When ECNL clubs migrated to DA, they were replaced with new clubs. These clubs made up most of the bottom third at each age group the last 2-3 years. You just didn't see lopsided SW scores this year as there weren't any games.

Go look at Solars or Real Colorado U17. Lots of 4-0, 5-0, 6-0, 7-0 scorelines. Same thing people here mocked in the SW GA conference (where 2 of the 3 new ECNL adds played 2nd teams) is happening in ECNL. You might say Texas or Pac NW isn't the mighty SW conference, and you would be right. They are better at the top (ECNL Phoenix, anyone?), and they should be clamoring for GA teams to move back.

Lavers is laying it out: Help us hamstring GA vie ECRL or be really strong and we will welcome you back. We will also add pro/rel to deal with the teams we let in during DA.
 
I think he’s talking more about promotion than relegation. And it’s by club, not team. but, yes.

Your right I meant Clubs not teams, I have Teams on the brain for some reason. He was talking about promotion of those clubs that got in from regional league and that being the way. He also did say moving struggling clubs to regional leagues. If you can read the article you can see at the bottom there is a "summit" that happened last week. On Thursday there was about an hour long forum with both Gallimore and Lavers, together. it was called charting the course for girls. Some interesting comments were made.
 
“Lavers is laying it out: Help us hamstring GA vie ECRL or be really strong and we will welcome you back. We will also add pro/rel to deal with the teams we let in during DA.”

I thought it was interesting where he says 4 clubs came in via strong performances in ECNL-R, but then Energy & Royals are let in without going that route. I read it as dangling a carrot for more clubs to join ECNL-R. There is an Ohio club, Cleveland Force, that was in GDA, but skipped GAL and only put teams in ECNL- R. If that clubs gets in this year it will be telling.

As far as relegation goes, I think it will be a very rare circumstance, but we’ll see.
 
I am not trying to single clubs out....... but given the fact OC Surf/WCFC went directly from ECNL to DA......if their coaching staff is so good why do their teams struggle so badly....... sure it is not all about wins and losses but good players plus good coaches plus top recruitment platforms should not result in the below performances especially as for the older teams...... I can see why ECNL made their decision

GDA AND ECNL 2020 Standings Per Club by PPG
GDA Current Standings (Based on PPG)
AVG StandingsU14U15U16U17U18/U19
San Diego Surf2.421441
Legends417525
LA Galaxy536178
Real So Cal5.2482102
Beach Futbol Club6.6132639
SC Blues6.6649113
Albion SC7.25510511
LA Galaxy San Diego8.210133114
Pateadores9.21212787
SC del Sol9.211312614
LA Surf SC9.49911126
Utah Royals FC - Arizona9.814118133
OC Surf Soccer10.671413910
Albion SC Las Vegas11.6810141412
ECNL Current Standings (Based on PPG)AVG StandingsU13U14U15U16U17U18U18 Comp
LAFC Slammers2.42111228
So Cal Blues SC3.73684311
Slammers FC4.663103163
LA Breakers FC6.35868494
Heat FC6.3144710117
Strikers FC6.6117357310
Arizona Arsenal SC7.1911126642
Phoenix Rising FC7.379221212No team
Rebels SC7.6821110589
Eagles SC7.64105121156
Arsenal FC8.9125999711
DMCV Sharks9.010127118105
 
“If ECNL actually wanted to kill off GA, they would have invited the rest of the top clubs, like Top Hat.”

I can’t speak to ECNL’s motivations, but there Is another group of clubs that are going to be admitted for next year and from what I was told
Top Hat is very much still in contention for one of those spots.

Tophat already isn't what it once was as they suffered a lot of defections of top players over the past summer.

Still are a good club, but not at all one of the top 10 in the country like they have been in recent years. Arguably aren't even the best club in Atlanta anymore.
 
Tophat already isn't what it once was as they suffered a lot of defections of top players over the past summer.

Still are a good club, but not at all one of the top 10 in the country like they have been in recent years. Arguably aren't even the best club in Atlanta anymore.
Who is the best club in the Atlanta area? And why the demise?
 
Tophat already isn't what it once was as they suffered a lot of defections of top players over the past summer.

Still are a good club, but not at all one of the top 10 in the country like they have been in recent years. Arguably aren't even the best club in Atlanta anymore.

i agree TH isn’t a top 10 club right now. They lost a ton of talent last year from what I have read. But they are still a big name program and I think they strengthen the league.
 
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i agree TH isn’t a top 10 club right now. They lost a ton of talent last year from what I have read. But they are still a big name program and I think they strengthen the league.

No doubt Tophat would still strengthen ECNL. They just aren't quite the powerhouse they have been over the past decade anymore. They lost a lot of good players to ECNL clubs (and in some cases pretty much entire teams) when Tophat was denied entry into ECNL.

It's a shame, and I hope Tophat and TSJ Virginia get into ECNL next year. Now that Beach and Legends are in, those two are probably the only elite clubs in the country still on the outside looking in (fwiw, I loosely define elite as having a Champions League level team in most every age group).
 
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