I bet you get one team - Utah Royals(currently GA). I don't think you'll get two. Don't know what will happen with Arsenal, likely nothing this year. They are the weakest of the 4 big clubs in AZ. And when I mean weak, I mean ECNL weak. They are a great club on their side of town and do a pretty goo job of providing teams for their communities. The blackhawks are now Phoenix Rising.
ECNL expansion 2021-2022
- Thread starter Surf Zombie
- Start date
Thanks for help bro. I get it now. So, if ECNL gets those GAL teams, then the Sandsharks will get the call up to the GAL?
Lot's of movement in the desert. I honestly can;t keep up. I do love the drive and the games are quality. My advise is to get together so we can have 4 teams in ECNL. Royals are the best, right? I only care about u17 btw and pure competition. I'm tired. Tired of confusion and division.
Desert Hound
DA
I always joke about Sandsharks.
The are a small club up in N. Scottsdale. They have a few decent teams here and there. They have the problem the other small clubs do. When they have a good player, that player usually leaves at some point for one of the big clubs.
The guy that runs the club is a nice guy. I used to bump into him off and on at a couple of watering holes I stop by in Scottsdale/Phoenix.
I get it. So Sandsharks develop local goat and then the Royals or Rising snatch player? Sounds like the same thing in socal. Small club like Legends builds a local IE brand and then the Arsenals and Socal Blues of the world takes the young player. The Gaffer and the Grey Fox were always at my dd games scouting the next best.
azsnowrider
SILVER ELITE
Your basing your theory on roster photos? To start, in my opinion it's pretty dumb to use roster photos with another clubs shirt in them. It's clear what age group you are looking at. Read @ Happy9's post not once but twice. Those girls didn't make the team they wanted to make and RSL always has open arms. They need more kids to help pay for that bloated/expensive staff they have. Why else are those poor kids walking billboards for chevy and others.
FYI, kids are and have moved from RSL to Rising, from RSL to Arsenal, from Rising to RSL to Del Sol. That's the nature of the business, it happens and means nothing except a kid switched clubs.
azsnowrider
SILVER ELITE
Just to add something, some of those girls who split went from playing full games to not, and coming off the bench. Was it a good move for some? Maybe not
I think Del Sol is fine rolling out with just 11, no hassles with Subs. I don't think they sit around crying about rosters and play with what they have. If they really wanted to they could run with 17-18 player rosters, I think it's there philosophy to not do so. The only con is injurie's, and you only need 11 to play. Full games does a wonder to a kids fitness.....
surfertwins
SILVER
SDSC Surf has boys ECNL, could a forth girls ECNL club for San Diego be in the works?
futboldad1
PREMIER
I would not rule that out given the depth of talent at San Diego Surf...... it would give an even number of teams for the divisions...... I have no knowledge of this from my many surf friends but if this happens I would guess that would be at least another year away given the DA-ECNL history of Surf.........
So no rumor mill from third hand, just a thought in your mind bro? I like that thought and it makes a lot of sense to this dad. That SDSC almost beat our U12 team right before QF, where Kickers Beach team beat us in Pks. Tough tough loss and well deserved victory by Beach FC. Those were some fun times. I still remember one of the top players from Beach getting sick and then coming back Willis Reed style and help keep their team in the game and beat us in PKs. We were so knocking at the end and couldnt find the net. Let's only talk soccer bro.
wow... well that is a different philosophy. I suppose it could work if you built up to it but forwards and outside backs that run the field a lot would be at a pretty high risk of injury getting there and the team would be highly vulnerably as those tired defenders try to run down fresh forwards from the other team.
Royals have a good U17 team, as does Rising. Del Sol's U17 team is not as talented as the Rising/Royals team. A few years ago there was a scuff up amongst parents and staff, causing a rift in the team. Tight race in the other age groups. Hard to tell since ECNL and GA/DA have never had an official game with full rosters. Rising ECNL and Del Sol 07s did play in an official capacity over the weekend with Del Sol eeking out a victory in PKs. I heard it was a good game. I think the Royals 07 team is the class of the age group but I bet those games would be competitive.
To your point, the addition of the Royals U17 team would be a good addition to the the ECNL SW Conference.
It's how they roll. 12-14 field players 1 goalie, sometimes two but rarely. They have one team with 2 goalies - both can play up with no loss in ability. It maximizes playing time and fitness. Injuries do occur and can certainly impact play. They tend to have a core group of players in each age group that play up when needed - either for injuries or development. Works out well for them and keeps parents happy in regards to playing time. 17-20 player rosters are great for injuries but not good for morale or flow of the game.
They've done it for a while. when their are injuries, it gets rough and the criticism flows. When the injuries are minimal, playing time is aplenty and parents are happy. Fitness lessens injuries but they do happen. They spend plenty of time on the field for sure. They also dedicate recovery time. It's a delicate balance and not for everyone.
whatithink
GOLD
wrt the 07 game at the weekend. They played to 1-1 in group play. They finished at a dead heat, same scores, points, GD etc. and so had a one off PK shootout to see who would play the final.
BTW, Rising had 3 players from NorCal playing for the weekend fwiw.
Royals 07 is probably the best, but take the 2 youngers out (08 & 09) and prob. not. The 09 is an absolute stud. She was the diff when they played DelSol 07s. Her brother is at Rising 08 MLS Next ... She was ranked in the 20s on the soccerwire top 100 to watch (or whatever) in late 2020.
they have an 09’ playing on their 07’ team? Permanently or just guesting? Yeah I would think she’s pretty damn good to play two years up... is she a good size? Not that you can’t be badass and be small but just curious because 2 yrs is quite a jump...
There is a DS 08 who routinely guests on the 05 and 06 team but plays permanently on the 07 team. Special player.
RSL is showing pretty good depth. The DS 07 team is starting to come together.
Interesting that Rising had out of state players guest. Del Sol is guilty of that as well, but usually with one of their partnership clubs from NM. As far as I know, there weren't any players from out of state playing for DS. Goes to show how heated that rivalry remains.
There was hope that maybe their would be some head to head play during PDT this weekend but apparently not.
whatithink
GOLD
Permanent and the best player on the team. She’s a good size, not crazy big or anything, but an excellent athlete. She could comfortably hang on their 06s
soccermom74
BRONZE
They had their 3 girls who play up all year at on the 06 team playing with them. One of them scored the only goal in the 1-1 Rising game. Another is an absolute stud who is a major difference maker on the field. Plus Rising was without one of their top players (ACL), so I don't think you can use this game as a real indicator of who is the better team, since they both had guest players.
LASoccerMom
SILVER
Late to the conversation and maybe I missed this...If Legends and Beach get ECNL is speculation will they drop GAL and move second team into ECRL slot? What about DPL?