ECNL expansion 2021-2022

[dad4]

The GA league has a few strong teams and some really weak teams which leads to blow outs. ECNL is much stronger throughout so the competition is better. ECNL Showcases will be the best attended events for exposure. It is where most of the top teams are, so it makes sense for a college coach to attend where most of the best players are. ECNL has been around a long time and has a great product. GA is brand new. The league needs to prove itself with showcases and quality.

That Legends and Beach put their A teams in ECRL and their B teams in GA is as big a statement there is about the quality perception of the two leagues.

Legends and Beach put their top teams in ECRL because any other decision would kill their chances of an ECNL membership.

It has absolutely nothing to do with a perception that GA is weaker than ECRL. It has to do with a perception that ECNL is more stable and more profitable, which it is.

Nor does it really say much about parity within ECNL. There are plenty of weak teams and blowouts in ECNL. Any league which does not relegate weak teams has blowouts, and ECNL is no exception.

 

[GT45]

Legends and Beach put their top teams in ECRL because any other decision would kill their chances of an ECNL membership.

It has absolutely nothing to do with a perception that GA is weaker than ECRL. It has to do with a perception that ECNL is more stable and more profitable, which it is.

Nor does it really say much about parity within ECNL. There are plenty of weak teams and blowouts in ECNL. Any league which does not relegate weak teams has blowouts, and ECNL is no exception.

Dad go check some of the GA scores in the Southwest Conference (or whatever you call it). Then check scores in ECNL. I did not say ECRL is better than GA. It was the only choice Beach and Legends had to be a part of ECNL. Their motivation to put their top teams in ECNL's second division over GA shows you where they want to be in the long run. You admit their motivation is to join ECNL. That was exactly what my post was saying. They do not perceive GA to be as strong as ECNL, so they chose to put their eggs in ECNL's basket for this season.

I pulled the U16 Girls from the GA league. Tell me these are competitive games that a college coach would want to watch:

 

[Giesbock]

I see the point. Given the long D1 dead period, I’m guessing that any showcases after April 15 will be well attended by D1 coaches.

 

[crush]

Really? I would think Slammers, Blues, LAFC Slammers, etc. would welcome the competition. I refuse to badmouth clubs, but it's pretty obvious that a few clubs currently in the ECNL are on the weak side and both Beach and Legends have strong teams. It was exciting to get SD Surf /Real and it will be equally exciting if Beach and Legends are allowed in. That's just my two cents not that it matters... Actually I just re-read your post and perhaps I misunderstood? I'm tired as hell today forgive me if I misunderstood..

I love your two cents worth bro I dreamed of having 16 teams in SW ECNL Conference, with two divisions of 8 teams each.

 

[dad4]

Dad go check some of the GA scores in the Southwest Conference (or whatever you call it). Then check scores in ECNL. I did not say ECRL is better than GA. It was the only choice Beach and Legends had to be a part of ECNL. Their motivation to put their top teams in ECNL's second division over GA shows you where they want to be in the long run. You admit their motivation is to join ECNL. That was exactly what my post was saying. They do not perceive GA to be as strong as ECNL, so they chose to put their eggs in ECNL's basket for this season.

I pulled the U16 Girls from the GA league. Tell me these are competitive games that a college coach would want to watch:
View attachment 10009

If you are saying that ECNL > GA > ECRL, you're probably right.

I just get annoyed at the transparent effort to put the club ahead of the kid. How many kids need to get on unnecessary plane flights just so DOCs at letter league clubs can pretend that their weak year isn't weak?

 

[SoccerFan4Life]

If you are saying that ECNL > GA > ECRL, you're probably right.

I just get annoyed at the transparent effort to put the club ahead of the kid. How many kids need to get on unnecessary plane flights just so DOCs at letter league clubs can pretend that their weak year isn't weak?

Can someone tell my why ECRL makes sense and how much better these teams are compared to a flight 1 discovery team? I’ve heard ECRL is just a money making machine and most players don’t get a chance to make it to ECNL. This is an honest question with no motivation other than understanding the landscape

 

[Surf Zombie]

Can someone tell my why ECRL makes sense and how much better these teams are compared to a flight 1 discovery team? I’ve heard ECRL is just a money making machine and most players don’t get a chance to make it to ECNL. This is an honest question with no motivation other than understanding the landscape

i think for a lot of the kids they view it is a potential gateway to the ECNL team if they perform on the regional team. On my D’s team from U13-U14 there were two kids (deservedly IMO) promoted from the regional team to the top team.

 

[Messi>CR7]

Can someone tell my why ECRL makes sense and how much better these teams are compared to a flight 1 discovery team? I’ve heard ECRL is just a money making machine and most players don’t get a chance to make it to ECNL. This is an honest question with no motivation other than understanding the landscape

ECRL, SCDSL Discovery are all money making machines. Perhaps in U8 people might think there is a promotional path within a given club, but in most cases people realize that's not the reality very quickly. When my DD was ready to jump from second team to a first team, she simply tried out at multiple clubs in our area.

People choose their team because they like their coach, practice location, teammates, etc. At the end of the day, you get a handful of games per year, and hope that most are competitive. If that means Discovery, great. If that means ECRL, it's also fine. The difference is really one extra trip to Arizona per year for ECRL if I'm not mistaken. My club charges ECNL/ECRL/SCDSL pretty much the same amount of fee, i.e. after $3,000 who is counting the little difference.

You can certainly argue there is no need for all these leagues, but we're ten years too late for that already. Specifically in SoCal, in ECRL you play the second teams from Surf, Blues, Real, etc, third and fourth teams from LAFC/Slammers, and first teams from Beach, Legends.

If you are in Discovery, you play good teams from small clubs, 3rd teams from ECNL clubs, and I believe the 4th teams from Legends and Beach (after ECRL, GA, and DPL).

 

[Surf Zombie]

I was just talking to a friend of mine who has a daughter in GA. Said the league added a few new clubs in the last week. Took a look at the GA website and looks like it’s one from TX and four up in OR & WA.

Sounds like league musical chairs is about to get moving.

 

[Desert Hound]

I was just talking to a friend of mine who has a daughter in GA. Said the league added a few new clubs in the last week. Took a look at the GA website and looks like it’s one from TX and four up in OR & WA.

Sounds like league musical chairs is about to get moving.

Anyone heard of those clubs before?

 

[Surf Zombie]

I have not.

BVB out of Texas & Bridge City SA, Harbor Premier,
Washington Timbers & Eugene Timbers in the pacific north west.

 

[Willie]

I love your two cents worth bro I dreamed of having 16 teams in SW ECNL Conference, with two divisions of 8 teams each.

When does ECNL typically announce new teams?

 

[crush]

When does ECNL typically announce new teams?

I have no idea

 

[futboldad1]

When does ECNL typically announce new teams?

March and April but there ain't nuthin typical about this year.....!

 

[lafalafa]

When does ECNL typically announce new teams?

April to May but with this year who knows maybe later vs sooner.

The clock is really ticking down on league games for the SW. Really need to start seeing home games locally in March to get a decent number in.

Between the 4 showcase blackout weekend's, champions league play, the playoff starts in June, school, etc there is not that many available to get the schedule in. Hope that > 50% of the original SW league schedules can be played but getting everything reschedulled if the flood gates open up is going to be a tough tasks, every one and league will be scrambling to get new field dates and play in.

 

[Copa9]

Legends and Beach add value to ECNL. The other two have no sway. GA would just be solidified as a B league. No one is going to change their opinion on GA whether Pats and West Coast are in it or not. If you add these four, just call it SCDSL. That is what it will turn into. If ECNL is serious about maintaining its status as elite, everyone cannot be a member. GA is no threat right now. If US Soccer could not sustain a challenge to ECNL for more than a few years, no one else is going to.

It's all about the money as far as the programs go. In the end, the top talent goes to the top programs in college.

 

[Copa9]

The GA league has a few strong teams and some really weak teams which leads to blow outs. ECNL is much stronger throughout so the competition is better. ECNL Showcases will be the best attended events for exposure. It is where most of the top teams are, so it makes sense for a college coach to attend where most of the best players are. ECNL has been around a long time and has a great product. GA is brand new. The league needs to prove itself with showcases and quality.

That Legends and Beach put their A teams in ECRL and their B teams in GA is as big a statement there is about the quality perception of the two leagues.

Except for the ol

Dad go check some of the GA scores in the Southwest Conference (or whatever you call it). Then check scores in ECNL. I did not say ECRL is better than GA. It was the only choice Beach and Legends had to be a part of ECNL. Their motivation to put their top teams in ECNL's second division over GA shows you where they want to be in the long run. You admit their motivation is to join ECNL. That was exactly what my post was saying. They do not perceive GA to be as strong as ECNL, so they chose to put their eggs in ECNL's basket for this season.

I pulled the U16 Girls from the GA league. Tell me these are competitive games that a college coach would want to watch:
View attachment 10009

None of the games this last year matter. Anyone who thinks they do really doesn't understand what has been happening. As soon as things get back to "normal" where kids are actually allowed to play and practice and have more than four games in one year, then you can again start comparing who has won or lost. Until then, it's all a sh-- show.

 

[GT45]

Except for the ol

None of the games this last year matter. Anyone who thinks they do really doesn't understand what has been happening. As soon as things get back to "normal" where kids are actually allowed to play and practice and have more than four games in one year, then you can again start comparing who has won or lost. Until then, it's all a sh-- show.

Except everyone is in the same competitive boat right now. The comparisons are fair. You cannot deny that the GA is top heavy and bottom heavy. It is pretty obvious, at least in the high school age groups.

 

[crush]

Except everyone is in the same competitive boat right now. The comparisons are fair. You cannot deny that the GA is top heavy and bottom heavy. It is pretty obvious, at least in the high school age groups.

some will be 3-2 and 2-1. Most will be 19-1 and 23-2. Top heavy is a great word for socal over the last three years. No defense and lot's of goals. Boring as heck!!!

 

[happy9]

Except everyone is in the same competitive boat right now. The comparisons are fair. You cannot deny that the GA is top heavy and bottom heavy. It is pretty obvious, at least in the high school age groups.

The GA is certainly top heavy but ECNL is generally the same. I know it's hard this season to make comparisons. You can take a peak at the Texas and Southeast ECNL conferences. They've been playing since the pandemic began. Basically it's top 3 or 4, then everyone else (I just quickly looked at U17s). There are 12 teams in each conference. Texas looks a bit more competitive than the SE conference.

ECNL doesn't keep historical records so I don't know what the standing were last year, specifically for the SW conference. The DA (before they went poooof) was usually competitive through the top seven (winning records), then 500 or sub 500 through eleven, then non competitive from 12-14 (I took a look at the SW conference from last year).

I feel that's a pretty good balance.

To your point, this year is a hard one to discern. The GA has some work to do. So far they've held up their end of the bargain in terms of organization and execution. Let's see how the TX showcase is managed. The threat of Legends and Beach going all in to ECNL is not good for them in the SW conference. We will see what happens. Plenty of GA girls getting selected for the U17 YNT. We'll see how that plays out. Youth soccer is a cutthroat game. Parents will do what parents do, they control the dollars. For us, we decided to stay put, as did the whole team (across all age groups, for the most part). I suspect if coaches leave, players will leave. In AZ, for now, the top talent is in the GA. That could change overnight, always does.

Yikes. too much typing.