Desert Hound
DA
Yeah I am not sure what the upside for del Sol declining ECNL would be.
ECNL expansion 2021-2022
- Thread starter Surf Zombie
- Start date
Albion LV and SD are in GA.
Soccer Cat
SILVER
Many of their top girls teams broke apart when they lost DA last year, including their National champs 06 team.
I don't think SCDS has the numbers for GAL/DPL and ECNL. Their DPL team would struggle against APL in most age groups. If RSL has one thing its numbers. Now the quality of those numbers... ehhh... shmabey..
So you are theorizing RSL drops GA? Hmm not sure about that. If they are doing MLS and ECNL for the boys they would likely do GA and ECNL for the girls too.
That's too bad because you're right Albion SD did have some strong teams...
Desert Hound
DA
Actually I am not theorizing. Happy said one might get the call or has accepted. Based on what he said I would assume Royals.
To be honest my opinion is if ECNL takes a team in AZ they take both for even numbers.
And if they grab 2 so cal teams I wouldn't be surprised to see them split the SW into a north and south. It will be interesting to see what happens if anything
Desert Hound
DA
I agree del Sol seems to have a numbers problem. I have talked about this a lot. They have issues numbers wise. Take a look at where and if they have 2nd teams are league wise
Only other clubs I think may even have a chance would be CCV or Thunder... maybe... possibly Premier? But yea likely Royals. They would simply rebadge either GA or DPL to ECNL depending on what emphasis they want to keep.
Desert Hound
DA
None of the other clubs you mentioned would get an ECNL nod.
If ECNL takes more clubs in AZ it is del sol or Royals or both.
I agree. We'll never really know. They'll claim victory either way. If their staff remains intact, they'll keep hold of their core talent. Their college coach relationships run deep and their results are proven. We'll see end of summer. The older age groups are pretty stable across all 4 clubs. I don't think too many people will want to move.
But who knows..
Del Sol certainly doesn't have the numbers to do both. Not their style either. They like to run small rosters and move key players in age groups around to fill gaps as needed. Maximizes playing time. When healthy, works like a dream. When not, well, not good. Big pros to small rosters, bigger cons to small rosters. Can't keep everyone happy though. They tend to stick to their guns on smaller rosters.
Makes sense for Royals to go, consolidate platforms for boys and girls. If offered ECRL, slide their DPL teams in, make that pool bigger.
They play their girls in the GA. Their Girls Academy staff is respected and pedigreed, with connections to YNTs, MNT and WMNT. Player parents seem very happy with the direction they are taking that program. Definitely some re-building going on in the aftermath of the DA implosion. More timely hiring might have averted some departures but stuff happens.
Surf Zombie
GOLD
I remember seeing an interview last year where the ECNL Commissioner said one of their big areas of focus, in terms of long term planning, was to reduce travel for league games. I think splitting the old 18 team Northeast conference into two new conferences of 9 & 9 is where the league is heading. This year at U14 in the "New England Conference" we have a home and away between the 9 clubs. 16 game season. No more trips to Southern NJ, PA or Maryland. Its so much better than what the U13 travel was. Plus, we'll still cross paths with those other clubs we use to play at tournaments like Jefferson Cup, PDA, Stars tournaments, etc.
If the SW conference adds 2-4 clubs i bet it gets split into groups of 8 or 9.
I could also see a couple clubs being added in FL and having that region as its own 8 team conference and split apart from GA/AL/SC. Plug in a few more clubs in the midwest and everyone is in much better shape travel wise.
Adding the right dozen or so clubs would really improve the travel for most member clubs and i think that will be a big focus.
If the SW conference adds 2-4 clubs i bet it gets split into groups of 8 or 9.
I could also see a couple clubs being added in FL and having that region as its own 8 team conference and split apart from GA/AL/SC. Plug in a few more clubs in the midwest and everyone is in much better shape travel wise.
Adding the right dozen or so clubs would really improve the travel for most member clubs and i think that will be a big focus.
I think this is a great idea and it's also what @crush has suggested several times.. I am all for improving the travel associated with ECNL! Let's hope this is the case.
Thanks for being honest and giving me a little praise. I do like praise and encouragement from others. I thank you again for my avatar name. Everyone thought I was hiding from something when in all truthfulness, I was trying to find the right name for me. Crush is so me footy. No reason we travel outside of AZ or NV for league games for kids U15 and up. Need to practice road trips. So fun. Maybe one East Coast tournament.
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Problem is SCDS is losing skilled players at an alarming rate. Look at the roster photos for RSL DA and DPL teams some of the girls are still wearing their orange SCDS shirts from the previous season. RSL and Arsenal own the east valley and the north is split between Rising, RSL and SCDS. Too many options and parents that won't stay unless their kids is sure to be rostered on a letter league team. They used to have several players on National team but now they have all left for Rising or RSL. SCDS has gotten stagnant and will need a major effort to get back to their pervious level, either that or merge with another club that has a big rec program.
I'm so confused with AZ now. We need four clubs for ECNL. Rising and Utah Royals are in Arizona? One is GAL and the other is ECNL? Plus Arizona Arsenal is ECNL and Del Sol is what now? Which one of the clubs was the old Scottsdale Blackhawks? I liked that team btw. Arizona has talent and needs four teams. Let's get this fixed before the new season.
Why do you think they are losing talent at an alarming rate, especially for their top teams? They are basically intact from end of last season. While there are a few girls who have left over the last year, the majority of the departures have been due to not making teams and parents taking their players elsewhere to make teams. They've filled those gaps rather nicely by recruiting. Now, if you are referring tot he 04 max exodus a few years ago...then yes, that was alarming and that year group has never recovered. You do have to wonder about their state league and DPL strategy. With that said, those teams seem to have the most fun and players/parents seem happy to do what they do.
As far as YNTs are concerned, they sent 3 girls from the same age group to YNT camp this time last year and they are sending another one this year. Their batch of seniors this year have power 5 pedigree.
Their approach is different to say the least. They will not carry large rosters. There's been room on rosters for each of the girls who left who weren't offered spots. Again, maybe not the best approach when talking business, but if you want playing time on arguably the best girls teams in the state, DS has a spot for you, if you can make the team. Certainly there is argument on which teams are better (07-02/03) between clubs. DS will point to their relationship with coaches and YNT staff. It's an effective one.
Will it win out in the end in terms of club viability - who knows.
Desert Hound
DA
Blackhawks changed their name to Rising after the club worked a deal with the USL pro team Phx Rising.
Rising is ECNL
Arsenal is ECNL
del Sol is GA
Royals is GA.