The best players will be on the best team - ECNL - just like it was before. There is absolutely no chance they’ll try to stick many of their best players on a team that plays in a lower tier because they’ll lose them.
Say bye-bye-bye to Girls and Boys DA
- Thread starter dreamz
- Start date
The best players will be on the best team - ECNL - just like it was before. There is absolutely no chance they’ll try to stick many of their best players on a team that plays in a lower tier because they’ll lose them.
Dos Equis
GOLD
No, I may disagree with their (ECNL) decisions, but it could be made in good faith and based on their business needs and desires.
No club has a right to play in a private league. Merit is measured by more than a bunch of wins in a diluted pool of “elite” teams. And merit is irrelevant, you do lot like the rules of the game, then create your own merit based system, or your own league with the rules you like No one is stopping you.
Oh wait, Legends and Beach did that, they bailed on the merit based system called CSL when they helped create SDSL, perhaps the single most destructive thing that ever happened to club soccer in SoCal. I guess they agreee merit is not that important.
RedCard
GOLD
The boys side has 4 Arizona teams in the ECNL; Arizona Arsenal, FC Tucson Youth SC, Phoenix Rising, and RSL-AZ. I know the girls side is different than the boys side, but they do have 4 AZ teams.
Girls ECNL in Arizona has Arsenal and Phx Rising. GDA is RSL and SC del Sol. But.. The powerhouse clubs in the Area are RSL and Phx Rising in both number and quality. I would bet if this goes down RSL gets ECNL on the Girls side to match the boys.
RedCard
GOLD
It was bad enough driving the AZ twice this season, one weekend for season play and one for the Fall Showcase. Of course, the 3rd trip get canned due to this beervirus bs, but adding a 4th trip for another regular season weekend, that just sucks....My dd left her ECNL team but my son just joined one so I'll just wait to see the dust settle to see just how this affects us.
I can't see ECNL dropping Breakers, Sharks, and Rebels. That would straight out be a d#ck move on their part. Who knows, if ECNL brings in no new DA teams, then SD Surf players will try out for Sharks & Rebels and Beach players will try out for Breakers.
foreveryoung
SILVER ELITE
Curious if moving to ECNL was merely a timely coincidence or was it strategic knowing what was coming?
RedCard
GOLD
It was a personal issue in which we had to be closer to home. DD was with Breakers and son was with Legends and we live in the SGV. Both kids are with teams much closer to home which makes the situation better. Just gotta see what happens now after all of this, especially with my son since his ECNL club also has a boys DA team. Who knows what the hell will happen. Just gotta sit back, grab some popcorn, strap on the seatbelts, and get ready for on hell of a summer...
silverback
SILVER
“if ECNL brings in no new DA teams, then SD Surf players will try out for Sharks & Rebels”
LOL
LOL
This whole thing is interesting for sure. The idea that was floated regarding a North and South Division in the ECNL SW Division if DA does fold is interesting or something to that affect. It makes the most sense IMHO. I do not think many would argue that the DA in SoCal is on the whole a bit stronger of a League than the ECNL SW. Hasn’t LAFC lapped the field in almost every age group the last couple of years? I would think like others have mentioned ECNL would want the best competition and clubs available.
ECNL is a non-profit organization but that does not mean they are different than for profit businesses in that they do want to grow...bigger is more money $$$, more clubs, more Regional Showcases. More customers is a problem I love to have in my business. Plus how they handle this sets the tone for when the “next” big league try's to pop up. They will have insulated themselves from the situation they faced when DA arrived and clubs defected. They can actually step in and save some of these clubs if DA is folding. I doubt clubs would be as quick to leave if the opportunity arises in the future.
If they stay true to their mission, I can’t imagine them turning away quality clubs that want to come back. I would figure out a way to take as many as I can that meet a specific criteria.
Good business people make good decisions, ones that will benefit their organization. You would have to be very short-sighted, or an immature business person to let emotion or a previous slight affect you from growing your brand, organization, or closing a good deal that will benefit the bottom line. They may ask for concessions, possible leadership changes, etc. from some of these clubs as they have leverage.
I’m sure there will also be some crow eaten. Whatever happens, it will entertaining.
ECNL is a non-profit organization but that does not mean they are different than for profit businesses in that they do want to grow...bigger is more money $$$, more clubs, more Regional Showcases. More customers is a problem I love to have in my business. Plus how they handle this sets the tone for when the “next” big league try's to pop up. They will have insulated themselves from the situation they faced when DA arrived and clubs defected. They can actually step in and save some of these clubs if DA is folding. I doubt clubs would be as quick to leave if the opportunity arises in the future.
If they stay true to their mission, I can’t imagine them turning away quality clubs that want to come back. I would figure out a way to take as many as I can that meet a specific criteria.
Good business people make good decisions, ones that will benefit their organization. You would have to be very short-sighted, or an immature business person to let emotion or a previous slight affect you from growing your brand, organization, or closing a good deal that will benefit the bottom line. They may ask for concessions, possible leadership changes, etc. from some of these clubs as they have leverage.
I’m sure there will also be some crow eaten. Whatever happens, it will entertaining.
sdklutz
SILVER ELITE
SD will be interesting, if Sharks and Surf are in...no way Carlsbad (or whatever they are called) gets in. Too many North County coastal teams. Albion and Surf added makes sense. That would make 4 teams in SD.
I disagree with your assertion that DA is stronger than ECNL. ECNL kids who get cut land in the DA. My DD plays ECNL and we see it happen every year. Maybe at the younger age groups, before HS soccer kicks in, DA is stronger. But once they get to HS a lot of players shift to or stay in ECNL.
As for ECNL grabbing more teams - more is not always better if it dilutes the product. Too many AZ teams or too many So Cal teams waters down the talent. If we were all bitching that it was watered down by having ECNL and DA both, why would anyone campaign for ECNL to repeat that mistake. Sure some clubs belong there for sure. But, ECNL has to decide how to play it. And, regardless of who the top two clubs are in AZ (let's be honest - it changes per age group), the players are going to go where the ECNL clubs are. So if there are only PR and AZ Arsenal, then that is where the top players will play. If SD Surf does not get in, then most of those players will go elsewhere.
As for a competing league rising out of this, good luck. If US Soccer couldn't take down ECNL I doubt anyone else can.
How important is merit when you're playing shit teams in CSL?
silverback
SILVER
In SD no top player is going to leave surf or even Albion for that matter for other SD clubs regardless of the league. ECNL would be wise to be very thoughtful of who they choose to include or not include. Leave too many out and those left wanting will just band together and create their own competing league all over again.
Interesting points. Which league in So Cal is better is up for debate and and everyone has their own perspective and experiences. Our perspective is based on our DD playing in both. I’m sure others have different perspectives, but experiences will drive opinions.
I agree 100% if this goes down you would be foolish to take on ECNL if US Soccer could not.
I was not suggesting ECNL take every DA Club, what I said was take those that meet a specific criteria, whatever that is and take those clubs in. Bringing in strong clubs like Surf, Legends, Beach, and RSC among others would not be watering down competition, but would be additive to the level of competition.
At the end of the day it is about money isn’t it? Why DA may fold is about $$$, and ECNL has an opportunity to grow and make more $$$..I think they are more interested in the $$$ than than having a few too many clubs affecting competition.
If it was not about money, than why does it all cost so much to play. They may take more teams than people think. We will know soon enough.
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Great analysis. At least at the U17 age group the DA top tier teams are far superior to what ECNL has to offer. If your into TDS, it has 3 DA teams in the top 10 in the country. Blues, Legends, and Beach. TDS has only 2 SW ecnl teams in the top 25; slammers and blues.
oh canada
GOLD
Don't be so sure. Thanks to Covid, many families' thoughts have changed about making soccer the be-all/end-all of their child's existence.
A new league formed by a few SoCal clubs is not going to threaten ECNL's national dominance. Real Colorado or NC Courage gonna leave ECNL because Surf etc. have their own little league in SoCal? Nah. Some of these clubs drink their own kool-aid and think they mean more to the rest of the soccer community than they really do. ECNL doesn't NEED to let in any more clubs. The existing clubs cover most of the geographical SoCal area. If a kid wants to play ECNL, they have plenty of club options. If they want to play outside of ECNL, they can play at the other clubs in whatever league they form. Easy.
IMO the right play would be for ECNL to offer spots to most all of the DA teams who are considered to be at least pretty good. Maybe half of GDA, or 30-40 of the clubs. Starting tomorrow.
It will lead to a very bloated ECNL league with maybe 140 clubs for now, but it would kill any possible splinter league from forming that might be seen as competitive.
And then set benchmarks for keeping ECNL spots and start contracting weaker clubs out over the next couple of years. Settle in eventually at around 110 of the best clubs.
Net result is a stronger league that would be pretty unassailable in the future.
It will lead to a very bloated ECNL league with maybe 140 clubs for now, but it would kill any possible splinter league from forming that might be seen as competitive.
And then set benchmarks for keeping ECNL spots and start contracting weaker clubs out over the next couple of years. Settle in eventually at around 110 of the best clubs.
Net result is a stronger league that would be pretty unassailable in the future.
silverback
SILVER
Who cares about Real Co, Courage etc. let’s say all DA clubs in So Cal are left out. That’s plenty of competition for them to play amongst each other for most of the year and organize some outside competition at their discretion. If ECNL takes Surf, Legends etc then maybe that’s a different story.
Don’t interpret my comments as for or against a particular club.
I just look at youngers where I am in Norcal, with pretty decent pro/rel and lots of good games.
Then look at olders, with 3-4 different “top“ leagues, no pro/rel, and a lot of blowouts. Not to mention the ACL and concussion risk, which no one in power seems to want to deal with.
It is not appealing. Your product stinks once the kids turn 13 or 14.
Toepuncher
BRONZE
Well said. I agree
Dos Equis
GOLD
I apologize ahead of time, my time in youth soccer is coming to an end, so I am through with suffering fools.
Pre-SCDSL, when ECNL was first formed, the "shit" teams left in CSL included Beach and Legends. When they left CSL to help create the new SCDSL league, and accommodate and play a bunch of ECNL "B" teams, they brought a bunch of shit with them from CSL to fill out the brackets. SCDSL was entirely made up of former CSL teams. So by your own logic, perhaps they simply wanted to be the cherry on top of a pile of their own shit.