GA & ECNL need to merge, or play nice.

[Surfer_dad]

Does ECNL deal with low performing clubs?

For almost every age group, the bottom 4 teams in Norcal are Davis, Marin, Santa Rosa, and Rage. Only 3 exceptions.

It's been that way for a while now.

I kind of wonder whether Sharks and the VA merger are the exceptions, and the general rule is to keep marginal clubs to avoid breathing life into GA.

Yes, they will kick out clubs that don’t meet their requirements. However, they define the requirements. I do know that the Del Mar Sharks got a letter warning them of their ECNL status, however, they have some good age groups. I just don’t know how if the merger into Legends was influenced by that.

I do think a bit of thinning out the herd would be useful but then again, what we consider competitive in So Cal is quite different around the country. Our 20th ranked team in So Cal might be considered very competitive in many other parts of the country.

 

[outside!]

Southern California needs to ditch ECNL and GA (and possibly US Soccer) and form our own league similar to an improved Coast soccer league . Lower levels would only play locally, better teams would start traveling more and top teams would compete in the top division for Southern California. Only the top team in each age group should ever leave SoCal, and then only to compete for a National Championship. We have enough teams and players to have a competitive soccer environment for all youth levels. Host our own tournaments. The top tournaments could invite only the top out of state teams and Surf Cup could return to being the "Best of the Best".

 

[CAZZZ]

Southern California needs to ditch ECNL and GA (and possibly US Soccer) and form our own league similar to an improved Coast soccer league . Lower levels would only play locally, better teams would start traveling more and top teams would compete in the top division for Southern California. Only the top team in each age group should ever leave SoCal, and then only to compete for a National Championship. We have enough teams and players to have a competitive soccer environment for all youth levels. Host our own tournaments. The top tournaments could invite only the top out of state teams and Surf Cup could return to being the "Best of the Best".

Only a closed league can bring $$$ to the league and club owners at the expense of players and their families and set up a deep moat to exclude other clubs' competitions. This is Business 101. ECNL and GA are running a monopoly franchise business in the name of youth soccer,

 

[aong cangkol]

Southern California needs to ditch ECNL and GA (and possibly US Soccer) and form our own league similar to an improved Coast soccer league . Lower levels would only play locally, better teams would start traveling more and top teams would compete in the top division for Southern California. Only the top team in each age group should ever leave SoCal, and then only to compete for a National Championship. We have enough teams and players to have a competitive soccer environment for all youth levels. Host our own tournaments. The top tournaments could invite only the top out of state teams and Surf Cup could return to being the "Best of the Best".

Most people agree with this assessment but without federal government intervention, it would be an impossible mission.
Within our political structure, I really hope one of the big states, FL CA TX are willing to take control of this so we have at least this structure in California, for example.
We have similar problems with Tennis, basketball, volleyball ...

 

[Brav520]

Most people agree with this assessment but without federal government intervention, it would be an impossible mission.
Within our political structure, I really hope one of the big states, FL CA TX are willing to take control of this so we have at least this structure in California, for example.
We have similar problems with Tennis, basketball, volleyball ...

Come on , government intervention in youth soccer? . I can think of about 100 much more important things the federal and state governments could work on

There is a solution to this , the customers refuse to participate . That’s the only way there is change

 

[Code]

Southern California needs to ditch ECNL and GA (and possibly US Soccer) and form our own league similar to an improved Coast soccer league . Lower levels would only play locally, better teams would start traveling more and top teams would compete in the top division for Southern California. Only the top team in each age group should ever leave SoCal, and then only to compete for a National Championship. We have enough teams and players to have a competitive soccer environment for all youth levels. Host our own tournaments. The top tournaments could invite only the top out of state teams and Surf Cup could return to being the "Best of the Best".

You are describing what SOCAL League created for the past three years. Problem is a lot of the Clubs that have done well in the top bracket (NPL) decide that they need to join the E64/DPL/DPLO to play "higher level" teams. The irony is they end up playing the same level teams, just further away from them. Maybe renaming the SOCAL League top bracket to ECRL SoCal will satisfy the parents/clubs and we will see a consolidation of good clubs instead of the continuous dilution of talent via "elite" leagues.

 

[Carlsbad7]

You are describing what SOCAL League created for the past three years. Problem is a lot of the Clubs that have done well in the top bracket (NPL) decide that they need to join the E64/DPL/DPLO to play "higher level" teams. The irony is they end up playing the same level teams, just further away from them. Maybe renaming the SOCAL League top bracket to ECRL SoCal will satisfy the parents/clubs and we will see a consolidation of good clubs instead of the continuous dilution of talent via "elite" leagues.

I was going to say the same thing reguarding SOCAL league. There's potential solutions that exist.

I don't agree that renaming SOCAL ECRL will solve anything. More likely you'll just alienate clubs not associated with ECNL for no reason or gain.

To make something like a CA league work 10ish of the top club owners need to come together and agree to it happening. This never happens organically. The last time they got together was after DA blew up.

 

[JeterwastheBEST]

The real reason relagation doesn't work for youth clubs is if they're participating in GA or ECNL. This means there's 5-6 teams of 18-20 or revenue from 110ish players a league would be missing out on if they relegated a club.

ECNL is smart in how they deal with non performing clubs . They force underperforming clubs to merge with performing clubs. This is what you saw recently with Sharks becoming LegendsSD. In this case the better performing club will likely bring up the non performing club a reasonable amount. More importantly the league doesn't lose any paying customers.

I think we'll see many more mergers as time goes by. This gets rid of the dead wood, keeps the money flowing, and makes it near impossible for a club to leave the league.

Hmmmm... LAFC and Sporting girls teams routinely under perfom in ECNL/RL... No consolidation there....

 

[JeterwastheBEST]

I was going to say the same thing reguarding SOCAL league. There's potential solutions that exist.

I don't agree that renaming SOCAL ECRL will solve anything. More likely you'll just alienate clubs not associated with ECNL for no reason or gain.

To make something like a CA league work 10ish of the top club owners need to come together and agree to it happening. This never happens organically. The last time they got together was after DA blew up.

Super League: Why have the plans collapsed?

Backers for a European Super League have admitted that the plan cannot go ahead.

www.bbc.com

 

[JeterwastheBEST]

Only a closed league can bring $$$ to the league and club owners at the expense of players and their families and set up a deep moat to exclude other clubs' competitions. This is Business 101. ECNL and GA are running a monopoly franchise business in the name of youth soccer,

Agreed. I am changing my previous posted mathematics to unequivocally state ECNL and ECNL/RL is 85% political in roster selection and only 5% to 15% based on talent... In reality, only 5% or less of these teams are halfway decent girls' soccer teams... The other 95% are sluggers at best...

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

Only a closed league can bring $$$ to the league and club owners at the expense of players and their families and set up a deep moat to exclude other clubs' competitions. This is Business 101. ECNL and GA are running a monopoly franchise business in the name of youth soccer,

Club soccer is the furthest thing from a monopoly with the proliferation of letter leagues that are too numerous to count

 

[Zeke]

Club soccer is the furthest thing from a monopoly with the proliferation of letter leagues that are too numerous to count

It depends on your kid's skill level. If you have a skilled but not exceptional player, there are plenty of options.

If your kid is good enough to earn a starting spot at an ECNL team, I don't see any other league that could offer them challenging games.

 

[CAZZZ]

Club soccer is the furthest thing from a monopoly with the proliferation of letter leagues that are too numerous to count

For girls, only ECNL and GA. ECNL already leverages its brand to have three letter leagues: ECNL, RL (B team), and RL regional (C team). The demise of E64 for girls is just a matter of time after ECNL tricks the remaining potential clubs into its RL regional league. Now, parents of B and C teams must pay much more to contribute to the wealth of the ECNL and member club owners and travel 100 miles or more to play against another B/C team. Kamala Harris needs to do something about this "gouging".

 

[Carlsbad7]

Most people agree with this assessment but without federal government intervention, it would be an impossible mission.
Within our political structure, I really hope one of the big states, FL CA TX are willing to take control of this so we have at least this structure in California, for example.
We have similar problems with Tennis, basketball, volleyball ...

You should look into how clubs are sanctioned and who does the sanctioning. The more you know the less you want to know.

Here's an example. US Soccer is the organization that controls and determines sanctioning. US Soccer also is a king maker saying which league plays at which level (top pro, 2nd pro, youth, usm/wnt etc)

The problem is US Soccer is an entity ruled by committee. An even bigger issue is large groups influence committee decisions. Over time you end up with situations that are distorted in large groups favor (cough mls cough).

Reguarding youth soccer ECNL was created for many reasons. One of reasons was youth clubs frustration with US Soccer (at the time). Once things started to take off girls clubs stuck with what works and ECNL grew quickly. US Soccer being who they are wanted control over girls youth soccer not understanding that their issues are why ECNL exists in the first place. This is what led to DA or the Development Academy trying to take over girls youth soccer. US Soccers general ineptitude are what led to DA blowing up.

With GA or Girls Academy US Soccer just copied everything ECNL was/is doing. It's hard to mess things up when you just do all the same things a successful group does.

The reason for the history lesson is to point out that getting Goverment involved in determining soccer leagues in America won't work. Or it might "work" but I wouldn't expect it to be any better than US Soccer as it exists today.

As I said in the beginning of this post, the more you know the less you want to know.

 

[crush]

As I said in the beginning of this post, the more you know the less you want to know.

So true Carlsbad. I started asking some questions after doing some digging and it was insane, sad and a big eye opener. Once I dug down deep, it was criminal. Anyway, stay strong everyone, we the parents are the one's who can fix this, not Government or Kamala. Maybe Gov can throw some $$$ to help out but that's it. We The Parents are the customers. On one of my digs, I found a few parents willing to pay extra $$ to play and secure a spot on "The List" and some even sold their bodies so their dd plays, no matter what. TGIFF!!!

 

[Carlsbad7]

So true Carlsbad. I started asking some questions after doing some digging and it was insane, sad and a big eye opener. Once I dug down deep, it was criminal. Anyway, stay strong everyone, we the parents are the one's who can fix this, not Government or Kamala. Maybe Gov can throw some $$$ to help out but that's it. We The Parents are the customers. On one of my digs, I found a few parents willing to pay extra $$ to play and some even sold their bodies so their dd plays, no matter what. TGIFF!!!

It's taken me 10+ years to understand most of how youth soccer works. I can't imagine what coaches, docs, and club owners know after the same amount of time.

Unfortunately I can see some of the negative things you alluded to happening. The higher the level of competition the crazier things can get.

 

[crush]

It's taken me 10+ years to understand most of how youth soccer works. I can't imagine what coaches, docs, and club owners know after the same amount of time.

Unfortunately I can see some of the negative things you alluded to happening. The higher the level of competition the crazier things can get.

Tad warned me back in 2015. The higher your player goes, the more knives you get in your back if you don't play, Pay FOR PLAY. I come from the old school Carlsbad. Let your play be on the field determine success, not in the back room where the real deals are made after you kiss the Docs ass. These Docs know what mommy and daddy really want and they charge a big price for entry. Also, some deals are made in a hotel room, which I can't compete. Trust me brother, the dam is about to break on some bad actors who cheated and lied so their kid gets all the prizes.

 

[Carlsbad7]

Tad warned me back in 2015. The higher your player goes, the more knives you get in your back if you don't play, Pay FOR PLAY. I come from the old school Carlsbad. Let your play be on the field determine success, not in the back room where the real deals are made after you kiss the Docs ass. These Docs know what mommy and daddy really want and they charge a big price for entry. Also, some deals are made in a hotel room, which I can't compete. Trust me brother, the dam is about to break on some bad actors who cheated and lied so their kid gets all the prizes.

I doubt anything will ever change.

Personally I just focus on my kid and block out all the rest. If things work out great. If they don't so be it.

 

[crush]

I doubt anything will ever change.

Personally I just focus on my kid and block out all the rest. If things work out great. If they don't so be it.

That's a defeatist attitude. We the parents can make the change, as I have been calling for, for over 7 years+. The biggest problem is with the rich parents who don't give a shit about the rest of us. Most of these rich parents have a very Elitist attitude and the Elite leagues want their money. California Soccer Federation is the change we all need in California.

 

[Carlsbad7]

That's a defeatist attitude. We the parents can make the change, as I have been calling for, for over 7 years+. The biggest problem is with the rich parents who don't give a shit about the rest of us. Most of these rich parents have a very Elitist attitude and the Elite leagues want their money. California Soccer Federation is the change we all need in California.

I'm rich and I could care less about people. ;-)

The difference is that some people with means feel the need to try and control everything. I know that the experience gained from overcoming adversity without resorting to cheating is more valuable than cutting corners to get what you want.