My daughter plays on a top club’s RL team. First couple games of the season we’ve had opponents bring 4-5 NL players down to play us. We’ve lost these games. Last year during the playoffs, a nor cal team must have had 6-8 of their NL players play. It’s obvious which players they because of the quality and the sleeve roll up. What is the point of having NL and RL if the clubs are going to have their NL players “come down” for the tough games? There should be a rule or limit on the number of players per game. If I was a parent on one of these RL teams, I would be embarrassed and pissed that my club did that.
NL vs RL
- Thread starter KickersFC
- Start date
The idea behind it is that ECNL and ECRL players are all in one big pool. In theory ECNL players that need minutes can play down and ECRL players can play up if they're doing well.
Unfortunately the reality is that coaches dont want players from other teams muddying their results. This is because ideally doing well translates into being assigned better teams. Coaches will never move up if they need top team players to win. Also top team coaches might lose their position if they cant win without lower team players playing up.
General FYI, GA and Aspire/DPL whatever they're calling it now do not allow this.
Karlton Athletic
SILVER ELITE
There is a rule, and it's generally 3 with a couple of age and geographic restrictions. It's in the ECNL handbook. I know because we just faced the same issue this weekend (though we still won, fortunately) and I was curious. Like you say; I'd be leaving a team that did that.
This. It’s the same rationale for mlsn creating mls2 on the boys side. The reality is some top teams carry more players than can even dress for games and so those players need someplace to play. Indeed it’s being encouraged that mlsn future and reserve categorized players be handled this way. It’s unfortunate that some coaches are operating as a way to achieve results rather than to develop the players. But I view that as further evidence of a central problem with the way youth soccer operates in the us. (And btw pro/rel will never work so long as doing this is an option)
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
Agreed, and yes - the rule is pretty clear. But as others have shared, nobody seems to follow, or even be aware of the rule. It will only ever be enforced (or followed) if those harmed by clubs breaking the rule actually do something about it by protesting the match and calling out the other club for cheating. And if it's ones own club that is bringing down hordes of players from the upper team to displace kids on the lower team to ensure wins - seems like it's time to leave the club, or it's tacit approval that you're OK with it.
Karlton Athletic
SILVER ELITE
Back in our AYSO days, for some reason they let a private coach form a team with all the kids he was coaching. They reached the final of course, narrowly defeating our little random band of kids, but here’s what really pissed me off: they taunted our boys at the end, making loser signs and stuff (kids were maybe 9 or 10).
I still see that coach around, and I’m still bitter, LOL.
My perspective on this doesn't really "count", as my son doesn't play in a letter league, but personally, I don't care if the opposing team has higher level players and beats my sons team as a result. As long as he's getting good playing time, and the game is competitive, I don't see the issue.
I'd be annoyed if our club brought in higher level players, and significantly curtailed the play time for the players actually on the team, though. That's one nice thing about our current club: when they add club pass players, unless there's a specific positional need, the coaches will generally play those players as subs, even if they are better players. But I don't really care at all about the results of the matches, as long as the games are competitive, and the kids on the team are playing and improving. That's my perspective on this, anyway, fwiw.
I'd be annoyed if our club brought in higher level players, and significantly curtailed the play time for the players actually on the team, though. That's one nice thing about our current club: when they add club pass players, unless there's a specific positional need, the coaches will generally play those players as subs, even if they are better players. But I don't really care at all about the results of the matches, as long as the games are competitive, and the kids on the team are playing and improving. That's my perspective on this, anyway, fwiw.
Chelsea dad g09
SILVER
Ga may not be allowing it but I know for a fact a couple socal ga teams are in fact doing this.
Maybe, but i haven't seen or heard of anyone doing it. Purely from a where on the map perspective it would be difficult Socal Aspire has teams in Santa Barbara and Socal GA has teams in AZ.
Scrub It Kook
SILVER ELITE
Hence the lack of development within clubs. Development of players includes occasionally playing them in more challenging environments where mistakes will happen.
It's hard for everyone. Most coaches believe in development and got into working with kids because they love the game. All the side deals and drama unfortunately are just how things go.
It could be worse, at least with soccer at the end of the game theres only 3 potential outcomes win, lose, or a tie. I've heard that competitive dance is just like soccer with all the travel and training. But, at the end of the day wins/losses are determined by completely corrupt dance moms.
Imagine if at the end of a soccer game a group of hand picked moms got to determine who won/lost by how well they felt the players played.
Chelsea dad g09
SILVER
100% not a maybe, I’ve seen it happen this season. A team can only suit up 18/game, those girls not suiting up are playing with the aspire teams.