ECNL expansion 2021-2022

Desert Hound said:
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?
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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."
 
Messi>CR7 said:
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.
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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.
 
happy9 said:
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.
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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.
 
Desert Hound said:
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.
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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.
 
Desert Hound said:
Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit.
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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...
 
azsnowrider said:
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...
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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.
 
Desert Hound said:
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.
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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.
 
Desert Hound said:
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.
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The better soccer programs wasn't your statement. Your statement is Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit. Your narrowing your view to only "better soccer programs" which usually means D1 Power 5 type programs, and I think I alluded to that as well. There are close to well over 600+ D2 and D3 programs as well, where most kids end up. Many of those kids don't play ECNL/GA and you know that... My point is for Smaller D1 programs or D2/D3 whether or not you are in ECNL isn't a deciding factor. I know you are tooting your ECNL horn but I am not sure you want to make that first statement either of ECNL/GA players go to better programs, percentage wise yes, but just because you have the ECNL patch doesn't mean you get in. Fact....
 
azsnowrider said:
The better soccer programs wasn't your statement. Your statement is Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit. Your narrowing your view to only "better soccer programs" which usually means D1 Power 5 type programs, and I think I alluded to that as well. There are close to well over 600+ D2 and D3 programs as well, where most kids end up. Many of those kids don't play ECNL/GA and you know that... My point is for Smaller D1 programs or D2/D3 whether or not you are in ECNL isn't a deciding factor. I know you are tooting your ECNL horn but I am not sure you want to make that first statement either of ECNL/GA players go to better programs, percentage wise yes, but just because you have the ECNL patch doesn't mean you get in. Fact....
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Well I will still say quality of competition is an important consideration for many colleges. They want players who have played against the best players.

It seems non controversial to say that the level of competition in the ECNL SW will be much stronger vs GA SW no?
 
What does the addition of Beach and Legends do to GA and DPL in SoCal? We all know that Pats and West Coast would do anything to have ECNL instead of ECNL-RL.
Since WC and Pats are also on the technical committee for SCDSL and SCDSL moved away from Cal-South - This is their chance to try and revise this leagues relevance. Keep ECNL-RL if you must. But put everything else back into SCDSL and prop your league up a bit.
 
Desert Hound said:
Well I will still say quality of competition is an important consideration for many colleges. They want players who have played against the best players.

It seems non controversial to say that the level of competition in the ECNL SW will be much stronger vs GA SW no?
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Not just ECNL SW. ECNL NW > GA, too.
 
azsnowrider said:
The better soccer programs wasn't your statement. Your statement is Quality of competition is an important factor coaches look at as it relates to who they recruit. Your narrowing your view to only "better soccer programs" which usually means D1 Power 5 type programs, and I think I alluded to that as well. There are close to well over 600+ D2 and D3 programs as well, where most kids end up. Many of those kids don't play ECNL/GA and you know that... My point is for Smaller D1 programs or D2/D3 whether or not you are in ECNL isn't a deciding factor. I know you are tooting your ECNL horn but I am not sure you want to make that first statement either of ECNL/GA players go to better programs, percentage wise yes, but just because you have the ECNL patch doesn't mean you get in. Fact....
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I played NAIA hoops and I did not need to be in AAU to be recruited. I actually got recruited playing pick up ball at CSUF Titans Gym open play on a Saturday. I played against and with Cedric Ceballos and a few of the Titans that would come play to stay in shape. Well, i happen to get picked up by Ced ((he liked my hustle and I always made sure he got the rock to shoot )) and I made a name for myself. Scotty Brooks would be there as well. Keep in mine this was not pick up like UCLA had in those awesome summer games at Pauly back when Magic and Jordan would have epic battles. No, this was a little bit lower level but I was hanging with future NBA players and that made me feel proud. Any who, one of the players over at Pacific Christian College ((Hope U now)) spotted my talents and talked to me about Christ and his awesome coach, Lee Erickson. He coached over at Witch a ta State and Cal Baptist. He told me if I worked hard at my game I could go over seas and play pro. He coached Cliff Livingston at State and he would show up to our practices at CSUF. We did get to scrimmage Ced's team in pre-season and it was a crushing defeat. Ced pulled me aside and told me he loved my hustle and if i keep up the good work, I could go pro in Europe.
 
I have a question..

If the SW ECNL does decide to split into two groups how do you see this split happening? With now 4 out of state teams who are the lucky (or unlucky depending on where you stand on travel) who gets to travel out of state?? hmmmmm
 
Glad to see them expand it. Hope they do something to separate out the top 20-40 teams per age bracket.
Desert Hound said:
Well I will still say quality of competition is an important consideration for many colleges. They want players who have played against the best players.

It seems non controversial to say that the level of competition in the ECNL SW will be much stronger vs GA SW no?
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Kind of a moot point for most players.

Yes, top colleges will want players who play and excel against the top players.

If you aren’t already dominating in your non-ECNL league, maybe that’s not you.

Barca probably wants players who play against top players, too. That doesn’t mean they’re calling up every bench warmer from Leipzig just because they occasionally face Bayern.
 
Footy30 said:
I have a question..

If the SW ECNL does decide to split into two groups how do you see this split happening? With now 4 out of state teams who are the lucky (or unlucky depending on where you stand on travel) who gets to travel out of state?? hmmmmm
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Footy, I shared my dreams about this a ways back. I see it like this
Desert Divison
AZ Royals
AZ Arsenal
AZ Risng
AZ Del Sol
NV Heat
SD Surf
SD Rebels
SD Sharks
IE Legends
IE Arsenal

West Coast Division
Beach FC
LA Breakers
Real SC
Eagles
Strikers
Blues
LAFC
Slammers
West Coast
Pats
 
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crush said:
Footy, I shared my dreams about this a ways back. I see it like this
Desert Divison
AZ Royals
AZ Arsenal
AZ Risng
NV Heat
SD Surf
SD Rebels
SD Sharks
IE Legends
IE Arsenal

West Coast Division
Beach FC
LA Breakers
Real SC
Eagles
Strikers
Blues
LAFC
Slammers
?
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You're right you did... my bad.. I think this is pretty good guess. The ?in West Coast division is in case another team is let in??
 
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