Nor Cal GDA Teams - What's Next

dk_b said:
That's a really good post. Not sure what's happening these days at SRU (Ziemers) but. I think Robo will continue attract to Davis but a couple of solid San Juan age groups may make that tough. I think Marin FC may impact some of the SRU draw for northern Marin and even southern Sonoma counties (and I think Marin will see players from the East Bay and SF who typically do not make the longer commutes).

In some circles, Mo at LAMO may be considered in that class as an on-field coach (not looking for a debate on this - that's why I intentionally qualified, "in some circles") but it's been a long time since he's had a high-performing team. And if you look at college placement by club, Mustang has to be in the top tier - the 01s had 13 or so D1 commits, the 02s have a similar number and the 04s (another solid 04 team in NorCal) will have strong #s. The 03s have not been as high-achieving on the field but they still have a handful commits.

But the long commute - if you are going to skip clubs for a destination, the decision should be "better" by much more than a marginal difference. Playing for Albertin or Deza may be great but even if you are learning the game in practice, you better be seeing the field in games (and at meaningful times) if you want to leverage for college. If you are traveling a long time - with all the sacrifices that entails (such as missing out on a LOT of teenage activities + making schoolwork tougher) - you may not know the answer of "is it worth it" until it is too late to make a change that matters.
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Robo’s current team is leading their U17 ECNL Bay Area Conference standings
 
wc_baller said:
You're right. ECNL logically should add another club since there an odd number of teams in Norcal, and ideally each club should have travel partners when playing out of area teams once travel becomes an option again down the road again. It makes sense for the club to be in the Peninsula/South Bay are since MVLA is the only existing club there, needs a travel partner, and there is more than enough talent in that area to support more than one club. Agree with you too that it's unlikely Thorns will be brought back, after the fiasco when their DOC tried to pull a fast one and got booted out of ECNL. Quakes probably would've been a better choice, but if the rumor is true that their girls program is being terminated, looks like they're out. Santa Clara might be the next best option, but I don't think they have the numbers and quality to be asked to join. I don't see any other options in that area, and I doubt that ECNL would add anyone in the Sac/Central valley area since that area already has 2 clubs represented.
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I admit I’m biased but I think the kids along Hwy 80 need an ECNL club. So, I’d say Berkeley. Davis, Mustang, Marin, & MVLA is too far away with traffic.
 
Culmu said:
Robo’s current team is leading their U17 ECNL Bay Area Conference standings
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As far as significance, this is small but one of the casualties of this is that the players who are off to college, don't get a final game against players and coaches against whom they have competed since they were tiny. I know that there is a historic spring drop off with U19 teams but it still would have been nice to have the kids say their "good byes" to one another - there's a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed over the years in addition to laughs and smoothies and rice bowls. Robo, as an example, has been a presence for my kid almost this entire time; Albertin, too. And, of course, all the players. Maybe this is more a parent's perspective and my own kid might be like, "oh, sure."
 
MacDre said:
I admit I’m biased but I think the kids along Hwy 80 need an ECNL club. So, I’d say Berkeley. Davis, Mustang, Marin, & MVLA is too far away with traffic.
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The closest club to Berkeley is Bay Oaks, and there is no way they'd be considered. They don't have the track record or a well known coaching staff. Same with Union City, which is somewhat close to Berkeley. Lamorinda is somewhat close as well, and had a decent track record and coaching staff, but I doubt they will get in. They South Bay/Peninsula has 3 million people, has a history of producing quality soccer talent, and only one current ECNL club. That's the most logical spot for another club, but again their is no seemingly good choice currently in that area to get that spot.
 
wc_baller said:
The closest club to Berkeley is Bay Oaks, and there is no way they'd be considered. They don't have the track record or a well known coaching staff. Same with Union City, which is somewhat close to Berkeley. Lamorinda is somewhat close as well, and had a decent track record and coaching staff, but I doubt they will get in. They South Bay/Peninsula has 3 million people, has a history of producing quality soccer talent, and only one current ECNL club. That's the most logical spot for another club, but again their is no seemingly good choice currently in that area to get that spot.
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There are two obvious choices in the south bay.

They just both managed to get everyone mad at them.
 
MacDre said:
I admit I’m biased but I think the kids along Hwy 80 need an ECNL club. So, I’d say Berkeley. Davis, Mustang, Marin, & MVLA is too far away with traffic.
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as someone who lives in Berkeley and has made one of those commutes (and have been involved with one of the local clubs in different capacities), I’m not sure there would be the volume of interest for a viable ECNL club. The number of teams at Mustang, Davis, Rage, MVLA, etc is just so much more than at the local clubs (even at LAMO, the current numbers are quite low) and that large pipeline is key. The clubs need to count on organic numbers to be supplemented by the “outsiders”.

I know that the odd player here or there will commute to Mustang and I think might to Marin FC (and I know a couple who commutes to Force and then Quakes but that commute is BRUTAL) but, to me, that 80/580 corridor is better off focusing on developing consistency at the NPL level and helping to place their elite players at other clubs when necessary.
 
dad4 said:
There are two obvious choices in the south bay.

They just both managed to get everyone mad at them.
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And with good reason. Their club was already in, did some shady stuff to try to play both sides of the fence and got booted for it, burning bridges along the way. Place the blame where it's due if they don't get back in - on the leadership of that former member. Surf and Real So Cal left on good terms and were readmitted quickly, and it probably would've been the same for one of those "obvious choices" if they had exited in the same manner.
 
dk_b said:
as someone who lives in Berkeley and has made one of those commutes (and have been involved with one of the local clubs in different capacities), I’m not sure there would be the volume of interest for a viable ECNL club. The number of teams at Mustang, Davis, Rage, MVLA, etc is just so much more than at the local clubs (even at LAMO, the current numbers are quite low) and that large pipeline is key. The clubs need to count on organic numbers to be supplemented by the “outsiders”.

I know that the odd player here or there will commute to Mustang and I think might to Marin FC (and I know a couple who commutes to Force and then Quakes but that commute is BRUTAL) but, to me, that 80/580 corridor is better off focusing on developing consistency at the NPL level and helping to place their elite players at other clubs when necessary.
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That's been a viable model over the past several years. Local NPL teams developing top level talent that over time migrate to ECNL. I've seen it work between clubs when coaches put development first.

Just food for thought but I always felt the Peninsula was ideally located to house an ECNL team. There isn't one between San Francisco and Mountain View (about 50 miles). There are however a great number of smaller quality NPL clubs. Geographically speaking, this would not interfere with any territorial concerns for existing ECNL clubs.
 
wc_baller said:
The closest club to Berkeley is Bay Oaks, and there is no way they'd be considered. They don't have the track record or a well known coaching staff. Same with Union City, which is somewhat close to Berkeley. Lamorinda is somewhat close as well, and had a decent track record and coaching staff, but I doubt they will get in. They South Bay/Peninsula has 3 million people, has a history of producing quality soccer talent, and only one current ECNL club. That's the most logical spot for another club, but again their is no seemingly good choice currently in that area to get that spot.
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Yeah, I definitely don’t understand the evaluation process for ECNL. But, I have personally seen a few little ballers from the Bay Oaks club. The parents that I’ve talked to invariably say Bay Oaks is a better “soccer” club than Mustang. There’s a strong hate for Mustang amongst parents at Bay Oaks because they feel like their best players are being taken by Mustang and they don’t receive any recognition for their contribution to the kids development.
So is ECNL all about the money?
 
wc_baller said:
And with good reason. Their club was already in, did some shady stuff to try to play both sides of the fence and got booted for it, burning bridges along the way. Place the blame where it's due if they don't get back in - on the leadership of that former member. Surf and Real So Cal left on good terms and were readmitted quickly, and it probably would've been the same for one of those "obvious choices" if they had exited in the same manner.
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Hopefully the new top structure has done enough social distancing and created some good will along the way to get back into ECNL, but no matter what happens if there is less travel and can play HS I don't really care!
 
dk_b said:
as someone who lives in Berkeley and has made one of those commutes (and have been involved with one of the local clubs in different capacities), I’m not sure there would be the volume of interest for a viable ECNL club. The number of teams at Mustang, Davis, Rage, MVLA, etc is just so much more than at the local clubs (even at LAMO, the current numbers are quite low) and that large pipeline is key. The clubs need to count on organic numbers to be supplemented by the “outsiders”.

I know that the odd player here or there will commute to Mustang and I think might to Marin FC (and I know a couple who commutes to Force and then Quakes but that commute is BRUTAL) but, to me, that 80/580 corridor is better off focusing on developing consistency at the NPL level and helping to place their elite players at other clubs when necessary.
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But why the lack of volume? I think exclusionary policies and practices-this is where the po folk of the Bay Area live (Vallejo, Rodeo, Richmond, S. Berkeley, & Oakland). I’m sure this area has the potential and interest to put together many great teams. I just don’t think it would be as profitable as a club on the peninsula.
I guess it’s more about the money than soccer. If it don’t make dollars then it don’t make sense.
 
MacDre said:
I admit I’m biased but I think the kids along Hwy 80 need an ECNL club. So, I’d say Berkeley. Davis, Mustang, Marin, & MVLA is too far away with traffic.
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It is too far with traffic but, unless I'm way off, aren't we only talking 30-40 miles from each other and your "Hwy 80"? I always thought it was odd that Lamorinda was given a DA team. Is that a better location? I still think the San Jose area justifies 1-2 clubs but, if memory serves me, so many of those Quakes and Thorns kids came from other regions.
 
wc_baller said:
You're right. ECNL logically should add another club since there an odd number of teams in Norcal, and ideally each club should have travel partners when playing out of area teams once travel becomes an option again down the road again. It makes sense for the club to be in the Peninsula/South Bay are since MVLA is the only existing club there, needs a travel partner, and there is more than enough talent in that area to support more than one club. Agree with you too that it's unlikely Thorns will be brought back, after the fiasco when their DOC tried to pull a fast one and got booted out of ECNL. Quakes probably would've been a better choice, but if the rumor is true that their girls program is being terminated, looks like they're out. Santa Clara might be the next best option, but I don't think they have the numbers and quality to be asked to join. I don't see any other options in that area, and I doubt that ECNL would add anyone in the Sac/Central valley area since that area already has 2 clubs represented.
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All that info makes me think could be zero.

Not sure how great rumor is on killing off quakes girls program unless they pay for a good portion. Would just not help financially I would assume.I predict it's Placer or no one at this point(assuming the South Bay rumors are accurate). Sad if Quakes program terminated. If I'm betting though I'd go with no one added at this point.
 
The Outlaw said:
It is too far with traffic but, unless I'm way off, aren't we only talking 30-40 miles from each other and your "Hwy 80"? I always thought it was odd that Lamorinda was given a DA team. Is that a better location? I still think the San Jose area justifies 1-2 clubs but, if memory serves me, so many of those Quakes and Thorns kids came from other regions.
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LAMO is a perfect location. It accessible from backroads, and other Hwy’s. I didn’t go to LAMO because the coach I was talking to got caught up in a sex sting with a minor girl. I didn’t think I would respond well to how I saw Mo’ talk to some parents. And I felt like the coaches and players were trying to target and hurt my kid for embarrassing them with her street balling trickery.
After LAMO, the only places in the USA my kid plays are college camps. Too many haters on club teams for her to break into a roster now.
 
MacDre said:
Yeah, I definitely don’t understand the evaluation process for ECNL. But, I have personally seen a few little ballers from the Bay Oaks club. The parents that I’ve talked to invariably say Bay Oaks is a better “soccer” club than Mustang. There’s a strong hate for Mustang amongst parents at Bay Oaks because they feel like their best players are being taken by Mustang and they don’t receive any recognition for their contribution to the kids development.
So is ECNL all about the money?
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Look at the roster bios for the major college programs in CA. Mustang is taking players from a lot of programs.
 
The Outlaw said:
With a couple of exceptions in NorCal, I think the difference between NPL and ECNL is very small.
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Check the NPL Champions League standings this year. The difference between ECNL and NPL are actually very wide. And those scores and standings are with the ECNL teams treating those NPL games as development opportunities.

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