Fall 2025 NL & RL G13 – Who Are the Top Teams in the Southwest?

[RandomSoccerFan]

There is no rule that anyone follows as to how many NLs can play on RL.

Like TeamDad said above, no rule for league games. It's the same league so NL and RL players can be pulled for either team as long as they are only playing one game a day.

This is untrue. There are very clear rules about how many NL can be pulled down to an RL team, with the stated goal to retain the integrity of the RL roster.

Here's a quote from the rules:

Exhibit E: Roster Integrity Policy

The ECNL Regional League is both a proving ground and developmental pathway for players, teams, and clubs. While many participants in the ECNL Regional League will move directly from the ECNL Regional League to college soccer, some players and/or clubs, based upon performance and development, will move from the ECNL Regional League to the ECNL prior to the step to collegiate soccer or beyond. Based upon this potential player and club pathway, competition and developmental integrity within the ECNL Regional League must be protected.

There are two pages of details about what is and isn't permitted, with limits of how many based on age and location. Download the rules from this link and read them directly for these details; it's the last 2 pages.

If a club brings 6 NL players down to the RL team and they make a difference in the game, there is a clear, unambiguous effort to break the rules by the club. It's silly that nobody has gone to bat to force the league to either enforce their rules on clubs behaving badly, or admit that their rulebook is optional.

 

[smom]

This is untrue. There are very clear rules about how many NL can be pulled down to an RL team, with the stated goal to retain the integrity of the RL roster.

Here's a quote from the rules:



There are two pages of details about what is and isn't permitted, with limits of how many based on age and location. Download the rules from this link and read them directly for these details; it's the last 2 pages.

If a club brings 6 NL players down to the RL team and they make a difference in the game, there is a clear, unambiguous effort to break the rules by the club. It's silly that nobody has gone to bat to force the league to either enforce their rules on clubs behaving badly, or admit that their rulebook is optional.

Oh wow. I wasn't aware that there was a a designated maximum for league games. I knew there was some sort of rule for playoffs. I wasn't there so can't confirm exactly how many were out there. Was just going on what I was told.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

I’m aware the rule is there, but its not enforced. I have videos of at least 3 teams with 6-8 patches out there during league playing RL in 2023 during their U13 year. The other thing to consider too is, teams have players who moved down to RL but didn’t buy new uniforms since its on a 2 year cycle. This wasn’t the case since it was the first year of RL for that age group.

 

[socaldad10]

This is untrue. There are very clear rules about how many NL can be pulled down to an RL team, with the stated goal to retain the integrity of the RL roster.

Here's a quote from the rules:



There are two pages of details about what is and isn't permitted, with limits of how many based on age and location. Download the rules from this link and read them directly for these details; it's the last 2 pages.

If a club brings 6 NL players down to the RL team and they make a difference in the game, there is a clear, unambiguous effort to break the rules by the club. It's silly that nobody has gone to bat to force the league to either enforce their rules on clubs behaving badly, or admit that their rulebook is optional.

so what's the number??? how many NL players can guest play with a RL team in league play??

 

[nomo]

I heard that Legends RL had several players with NL patches out there yesterday.

It would be fairly easy to check whom the NL players that are playing down. Just check the box score for that game and look at which players are not rostered for that team. Also, whoever it was that said these players are getting extra touches from not getting much game time on their NL squad is more spot on then starters playing down to help win

 

[SoccerFan6]

The rule says you can have 3 ECNL players in an RL match. I know the previous week, Legends had 3 NL players against Pats. I'm assuming it was 3 against Slammers HBK as well. I think it does a disservice to the RL players as Legends has a good team without any NL girls. They probably would have won both games without any "guests".

Legends is known for doing this. As Team Dad Jokes stated they brought in 6-8 NL players in for the 2010 playoffs 3 years ago.

 

[zanian]

The rule says you can have 3 ECNL players in an RL match. I know the previous week, Legends had 3 NL players against Pats. I'm assuming it was 3 against Slammers HBK as well. I think it does a disservice to the RL players as Legends has a good team without any NL girls. They probably would have won both games without any "guests".

Legends is known for doing this. As Team Dad Jokes stated they brought in 6-8 NL players in for the 2010 playoffs 3 years ago.

People were complaining that in the 2010 Boys ECNL finals this year, Legends had some LA Galaxy Academy players.

 

[Karlton Athletic]

so what's the number??? how many NL players can guest play with a RL team in league play??

It's 3. My kid played against 4 this past weekend. Same opponents brought 7 at the tail end of last season when they were chasing top 6.

Kids aren't stupid. They see the badges, they see the rosters, and in this case, they knew a couple of them as they used to play for our NL. It's a small world.

We beat them though

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

so what's the number??? how many NL players can guest play with a RL team in league play??

Read the rules. In most cases 3, for U18, it's 4, and individual leagues can decide on their own for a different number (but RL southwest, and I imagine most others, don't).

I’m aware the rule is there, but its not enforced. I have videos of at least 3 teams with 6-8 patches out there during league playing RL in 2023 during their U13 year. The other thing to consider too is, teams have players who moved down to RL but didn’t buy new uniforms since its on a 2 year cycle. This wasn’t the case since it was the first year of RL for that age group.

We've talked about this over a year ago (maybe 2?) when you had mentioned the problem then. Video doesn't do anything. Complaining about it online doesn't do anything. The only thing that could possibly have an effect is if the team facing the obviously guilty team protests the match due to the cheating, and doesn't back off until ECNL clearly states that they are OK with the cheating, or the club is punished. This doesn't win friends - and will cause bad blood between clubs. But it's the only way that change will happen, and you're already calling out clubs for being cheaters online - it's just not effective in actually changing anything.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

Read the rules. In most cases 3, for U18, it's 4, and individual leagues can decide on their own for a different number (but RL southwest, and I imagine most others, don't).



We've talked about this over a year ago (maybe 2?) when you had mentioned the problem then. Video doesn't do anything. Complaining about it online doesn't do anything. The only thing that could possibly have an effect is if the team facing the obviously guilty team protests the match due to the cheating, and doesn't back off until ECNL clearly states that they are OK with the cheating, or the club is punished. This doesn't win friends - and will cause bad blood between clubs. But it's the only way that change will happen, and you're already calling out clubs for being cheaters online - it's just not effective in actually changing anything.

Maybe you’re misunderstanding my post. I’m not complaining this happens. It is a frustration for some RL parents, especially come playoffs. But this post specifically was to let parents know on the G13 forum to get used to it.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

You sent me DM's complaining about it in the past, no?

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

Funny how parents will kill to get their kid moved from RL to ECNL team. But the moment an ECNL player plays down at an RL level game the parents go nuts.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

You sent me DM's complaining about it in the past, no?

Ya, that was 2 years ago. Lots has happened since. I’m at the point of acceptance now that I’ve had time to observe and reflect. You start to realize it’s just a patch. Players get the patch for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t mean they’re any better. If you’re a high level RL team, you’ll be able to hang with most ECNL teams. In the end, it’s 11 players out there for both teams and 1,2 or 6 or 7 players with a patch really wont change how they do when they’re working together with good coaching and time playing with eachother.

I’m at the stage where I’m focused on my kid getting ready for college recruitment. So that means film review and putting together highlights and emails and setting up ID camps, looking at the details of her game, working with a college advisor and a team of trainers in conjunction with the expectation of her coaches to get her the best opportunity once club is finished.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

Ya, that was 2 years ago.

You've grown a lot in 6 months.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

Funny how parents will kill to get their kid moved from RL to ECNL team. But the moment an ECNL player plays down at an RL level game the parents go nuts.

I don't see the disconnect. One can certainly feel that caring too much about either of these things is silly. But them wanting their kid to excel, and not have to play against clubs that are cheating, doesn't seem to be conflicting much as far as I can tell.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

View attachment 31561

You've grown a lot in 6 months.

Happy to have grown

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

I don't see the disconnect. One can certainly feel that caring too much about either of these things is silly. But them wanting their kid to excel, and not have to play against clubs that are cheating, doesn't seem to be conflicting much as far as I can tell.

The disconnect is that parents that want their kid playing at ECNL level should welcome the chance to play ECNL level players regardless. The irony is that in order to play at the ECNL level you need to challenge yourself...yet these parents that cry about not being on ECNL are also not wanting to be challenged.

 

[RandomSoccerFan]

The disconnect is that parents that want their kid playing at ECNL level should welcome the chance to play ECNL level players regardless. The irony is that in order to play at the ECNL level you need to challenge yourself...yet these parents that cry about not being on ECNL are also not wanting to be challenged.

You're combining a couple different groups ("these parents") into one in order to make the point. Some of the kids on the opposing team might feel things are fine. Some might have serious objections. What about the ones that now have to sit so the team has any chance of competing? What about the ones on the guilty club who have to sit to accommodate those being brought down?

In no world is it reasonable for a bunch of NL kids to come down to an RL team in order to destroy the competition (by cheating). If the game turns out to be competitive, and all girls on both teams get the chance to both compete/improve/enjoy the game, great! No harm no foul! But in so many cases the reason these kids are brought down is that so the games aren't competitive.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

For the record, that year legends had brought 3 NLs during the playoffs in 2023 not 6-8.

During league, it wasn’t the top team bringing 6/8, it was lower to mid tier teams that did (out of state and some teams named after pro clubs or wear red and white). Trying not to give specifics, but you can read between the lines.

Playoffs, most teams brought 3, specifically the ones who made it to Virginia.

 

[Carlsbad7]

The disconnect is that parents that want their kid playing at ECNL level should welcome the chance to play ECNL level players regardless. The irony is that in order to play at the ECNL level you need to challenge yourself...yet these parents that cry about not being on ECNL are also not wanting to be challenged.

I dont agree with this poster very often but in this case I do. If my kid was on a second team and they brought down several first team players for wins. I'd look at it as an opportunity to show that my kid can play with them at that level. (Unless my kid never saw the field)

If it was the other team playing down first team players again I'd look at it as an opportunity for your kid to beat them and show coaches that they belong on the first team. You have to remember it's not just your clubs coaches watching the players. I guarantee if another club brought down first team players for a second team win and still lost that they're going to start recruiting from that second team.

Being on the second team isnt always a bad thing. Make the most of your time being a big fish in a small bowl. This way when you move up to the first team you have confidence and provide added value.

 

[Carlsbad7]

I'll add a little more...

Usually 1st teams run 20-22 player rosters. This means between 2 and 4 can't play each week. Many clubs play the "extra" players up with older groups for development instead of down for wins. Sometimes parents simply say they wont play with the second team. Or just happen to have an emergency whenever they're asked to play with the second team.

Personally I'd be concerned about playing on the second team for wins instead of playing on an older team for development. It shows what clubs value.