How’s the 2025-2026 season going?

[TeamDadJokes]

Last year for this group before the age matrix changes everything. Last year ended with the SoCal teams coming up short:

ECNL: Hawks over legends going through Solar, Koge and Surf on the way

ECRL: Slammers RL was a first round and out performance in Virginia

GA: Top Hat still on top but City SC getting better every year.

DPL: Rangers lost in the finals and is getting bumped to GA

NPL/National Cup: Fury lost in the national cup finals but still dominant

Not too much movement this year, but expect a lot of movement next year when the age matrix changes.

So who are next years contenders?

 

[Carlsbad7]

Current Rankings...

 

[futboldad1]

These rankings look different on my rankings app. Were these before the past weekend's results across playoffs and surf?

Current rankings

 

[Carlsbad7]

These rankings look different on my rankings app. Were these before the past weekend's results across playoffs and surf?

They were the rankings when I posted them

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

Season 2025/26 for the 2010's should be nothing about rankings and everything about focusing on your kid's play and development to get ready for college recruiting that will kick off in December. Colleges could care less about team rankings.

 

[Zeke]

Season 2025/26 for the 2010's should be nothing about rankings and everything about focusing on your kid's play and development to get ready for college recruiting that will kick off in December. Colleges could care less about team rankings.

Don’t worry. We’ll spend more than enough time obsessing over college recruiting.

 

[crush]

Season 2025/26 for the 2010's should be nothing about rankings and everything about focusing on your kid's play and development to get ready for college recruiting that will kick off in December. Colleges could care less about team rankings.

Coach Rainbow is 100% right. This is when youth soccer sucks, moo!!!

 

[futboldad1]

Season 2025/26 for the 2010's should be nothing about rankings and everything about focusing on your kid's play and development to get ready for college recruiting that will kick off in December. Colleges could care less about team rankings.

God forbid anyone has some fun before the misery of college coach torment!

 

[Carlsbad7]

Season 2025/26 for the 2010's should be nothing about rankings and everything about focusing on your kid's play and development to get ready for college recruiting that will kick off in December. Colleges could care less about team rankings.

Hahaha bet you'd be singing a different tune if your kids team was on the list.

Both recruiters and college coaches use many different tools to assess players. The ranking app is quick and its free. Why wouldn't they use it to get a general understanding about the level a team or club plays at when a player reaches out to play for their team? While they might know the level of play many teams/clubs perform at they're not going to know all of them at every age group.

 

[KingMI]

This is a talented age group. This age group now moves on to recruiting which is fun and stressful at the same time. But moving forward this maybe the last year of actual team play. Players may start holding on to ball longer trying to impress scouts. Before scouts came into play all you had to play for was rankings. The teams who stay on top stick to team play over individual play. This is also the year for high turnover(mid-end of yr) if recuriting does not show promise. Or more playtime is needed to show your abilities to college scouts.

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

Hahaha bet you'd be singing a different tune if your kids team was on the list.

Both recruiters and college coaches use many different tools to assess players. The ranking app is quick and its free. Why wouldn't they use it to get a general understanding about the level a team or club plays at when a player reaches out to play for their team? While they might know the level of play many teams/clubs perform at they're not going to know all of them at every age group.

Comments like this make me pause when trying to help out others.

What College Coaches Generally Don't Do:

• Browse team rankings apps
• Read articles on PrepSoccer or SoccerWire
• Search social media for highlight videos

What College Coaches Actually Do:

• Scout players at showcases
• Evaluate talent at their own school’s ID camps
• Communicate with trusted club coaches they know

Colleges don't care about what rank your team is. They don't care if your team wins or loses at a showcase. All they care about is whether or not your kid can ball. Can your kid ball? Can they set themselves apart when they're thrown into a group of 30 random ECNL players from around the country at a college ID camp? That's the only thing that matters if you're looking to get recruited. It will be a stressful time for many parents. But the one you can control that has a big impact is your kid's development...don't lose sight of that.

BTW, my kid's team won SW ECNL conference title last year, made it to ECNL national finals this year.

 

[Carlsbad7]

Comments like this make me pause when trying to help out others.

What College Coaches Generally Don't Do:

• Browse team rankings apps
• Read articles on PrepSoccer or SoccerWire
• Search social media for highlight videos

What College Coaches Actually Do:

• Scout players at showcases
• Evaluate talent at their own school’s ID camps
• Communicate with trusted club coaches they know

Colleges don't care about what rank your team is. They don't care if your team wins or loses at a showcase. All they care about is whether or not your kid can ball. Can your kid ball? Can they set themselves apart when they're thrown into a group of 30 random ECNL players from around the country at a college ID camp? That's the only thing that matters if you're looking to get recruited. It will be a stressful time for many parents. But the one you can control that has a big impact is your kid's development...don't lose sight of that.

BTW, my kid's team won SW ECNL conference title last year, made it to ECNL national finals this year.

That "pause" you're feeling was likely Menopause.

College coaches dont go to "Events" (not just showcases) walking around looking at the teams playing shopping for players.

They have a list of players on teams that have expressed interest in playing on their team. When this occurs the coach either knows the team + club they play for or they don't. If they dont they'll likely use the ranking app to see the level they're playing at. If theres interest the coach might look at some highlight links or background and GPA. If all this looks good they'll put the player on their list of players to watch at an event they're attending. The coach will also let the player know which events they're attending to try and setup a game to watch them in. If something works out the player should let their club coach know that XYZ college coach is there watch them play at ABC game. Ideally the club coach will set them up to look good with a start and minutes.

 

[KingMI]

That "pause" you're feeling was likely Menopause.

College coaches dont go to "Events" (not just showcases) walking around looking at the teams playing shopping for players.

They have a list of players on teams that have expressed interest in playing on their team. When this occurs the coach either knows the team + club they play for or they don't. If they dont they'll likely use the ranking app to see the level they're playing at. If theres interest the coach might look at some highlight links or background and GPA. If all this looks good they'll put the player on their list of players to watch at an event they're attending. The coach will also let the player know which events they're attending to try and setup a game to watch them in. If something works out the player should let their club coach know that XYZ college coach is there watch them play at ABC game. Ideally the club coach will set them up to look good with a start and minutes.

This is correct. They don't recruit players like they are playing football or basketball. (Like its a meat market) These girls at 15 must know what schools are in their top 5 out of the gate. Some schools will try to make players interested so that is still a possibility.

 

[Surfer_dad]

Comments like this make me pause when trying to help out others.

What College Coaches Generally Don't Do:

• Browse team rankings apps
• Read articles on PrepSoccer or SoccerWire
• Search social media for highlight videos

What College Coaches Actually Do:

• Scout players at showcases
• Evaluate talent at their own school’s ID camps
• Communicate with trusted club coaches they know

Colleges don't care about what rank your team is. They don't care if your team wins or loses at a showcase. All they care about is whether or not your kid can ball. Can your kid ball? Can they set themselves apart when they're thrown into a group of 30 random ECNL players from around the country at a college ID camp? That's the only thing that matters if you're looking to get recruited. It will be a stressful time for many parents. But the one you can control that has a big impact is your kid's development...don't lose sight of that.

BTW, my kid's team won SW ECNL conference title last year, made it to ECNL national finals this year.

I will add a bit here because you are close but not totally accurate. So, what teams and players do they scout at showcases? It depends on the level of the college program. Some background also needs to be understood. Most college coaches are a bit lazy. Each program is different, but generally, if I am a Stanford coach, I am going to be drawn to the best teams other than the players that I have specifically identified by different means. So yes, I am going to be very aware of the ranking of the team. Why? Are you kidding? Because if you are the #1 ranked team in the country, its because there are special players on the team. Even better, if players are on the National Team, I will get looked at. I as a college coach want to see those players if they aren't already on my list. So don't say that they don't browse team ranking apps, National team lists, etc. They do. They do read articles, etc. (if they are good and hard working) They do look at social media, but usually only for players that already are contacting them. Again, this is true for the elite players.

Nothing is absolute here and applies in context, not universally. A top player at a high profile (think winning, ranking team) gets more exposure. More exposure = more opportunities. Koge, Legon's, Beach, Surf players at the older ages get more exposure because coaches know that they have to be good to play at those clubs teams, especially if they are ranked highly. And, they all want the same players to some degree. Perhaps I speak from experience.

The last think I will say is that the elite player will get many letters/offers unsolicited and even more so if on an elite team. The good player must work a lot harder to go where they want to go. If you are a really good player on an elite team, that just improves your exposure and chances to be to more colleges. An average player on an elite team definitely helps but not a lot.

 

[shirivelli]

That "pause" you're feeling was likely Menopause.

College coaches dont go to "Events" (not just showcases) walking around looking at the teams playing shopping for players.

They have a list of players on teams that have expressed interest in playing on their team. When this occurs the coach either knows the team + club they play for or they don't. If they dont they'll likely use the ranking app to see the level they're playing at. If theres interest the coach might look at some highlight links or background and GPA. If all this looks good they'll put the player on their list of players to watch at an event they're attending. The coach will also let the player know which events they're attending to try and setup a game to watch them in. If something works out the player should let their club coach know that XYZ college coach is there watch them play at ABC game. Ideally the club coach will set them up to look good with a start and minutes.

Both views are valid. Simply, if your DD plays for a top ECNL or GA club like Solar FC or Top Hats and reaches the playoffs, rankings are largely irrelevant. Coaches already trust these clubs and programs and focus on individual talent and not on the rankings. At this stage, your time and effort are not prudently guided if your goal is to climb up one or two spots above other top clubs in the rankings. No need to bring a bazooka to a pillow fight.

On the other hand, if your DD plays for a lesser-known club outside the ECNL or GA leagues, or in a region with minimal visibility, coaches from lower D1, NAIA, or D3 schools may look at team rankings to understand the context. But if it comes to that, the ranking is likely the least of your concerns. The real priority is gaining meaningful exposure with ID camps and related.

 

[rainbow_unicorn]

That "pause" you're feeling was likely Menopause.

College coaches dont go to "Events" (not just showcases) walking around looking at the teams playing shopping for players.

They have a list of players on teams that have expressed interest in playing on their team. When this occurs the coach either knows the team + club they play for or they don't. If they dont they'll likely use the ranking app to see the level they're playing at. If theres interest the coach might look at some highlight links or background and GPA. If all this looks good they'll put the player on their list of players to watch at an event they're attending. The coach will also let the player know which events they're attending to try and setup a game to watch them in. If something works out the player should let their club coach know that XYZ college coach is there watch them play at ABC game. Ideally the club coach will set them up to look good with a start and minutes.

Forgot to add that top schools recruit a lot more from ECNL than GA