This is the current SoCal League N1 schedule page: https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/54026
Unlike the former NPL, which had 1 select group for each gender/age, the N1 division has up to 4 flights per gender/age. Judging from the ratings app, N1 team strength goes from roughly second tier (for the highest end team) to formerly low Flight 3, and skews toward the lower end (ie: only about 1/3 of the N1 teams would be ranked high enough to be Flight 1 in previous league formulations). It doesn't seem to be exclusive at all, but just a parallel competitive structure to the other/legacy Flights structure.
Am I right in concluding that this is effectively the new competitive SoCal League, and the current/remaining Flights system is now effectively just rec soccer (in an overcoat)? Cause it sure seems like there's no effective distinction between the two groups in terms of team strength, except that N1 is a patch on the jerseys, and an opportunity to maybe play against the low-end of ECNL-RL at the end of the season.
Unlike the former NPL, which had 1 select group for each gender/age, the N1 division has up to 4 flights per gender/age. Judging from the ratings app, N1 team strength goes from roughly second tier (for the highest end team) to formerly low Flight 3, and skews toward the lower end (ie: only about 1/3 of the N1 teams would be ranked high enough to be Flight 1 in previous league formulations). It doesn't seem to be exclusive at all, but just a parallel competitive structure to the other/legacy Flights structure.
Am I right in concluding that this is effectively the new competitive SoCal League, and the current/remaining Flights system is now effectively just rec soccer (in an overcoat)? Cause it sure seems like there's no effective distinction between the two groups in terms of team strength, except that N1 is a patch on the jerseys, and an opportunity to maybe play against the low-end of ECNL-RL at the end of the season.