Pay to play soccer and pay to get a degree is for 99% of our kids. I like what you said about this is her choice. It's so true.
Strikers ECNL rumors
- Thread starter Mom of 2
- Start date
Well said. It's probably worth adding that soccer can also open doors that might have otherwise been closed. It's not just about the money, but admission and acceptance to schools in today's highly competitive college environment. My old college buddies and I often joke that we would have never gotten into the school we went to with today's requirements. If soccer gets a kid into their dream school they may not have otherwise been accepted to then all those ECNL fees and travel costs could end up being money well spent.
YES!!!! Even an offer of a books scholarship, which is very little money, is enough to get a player admitted to the school as a recruit. The player gets into a school they may not have otherwise been admitted to without soccer.
whatithink
GOLD
ECNL kicked Surf previously, so there are no sacred cows. Surf felt that boys DA was more important than girls ECNL when given an ultimation of all in ECNL. ECNL also let them back in straight away when DA folded, but I expect Surf very much want MLS Next, but they made their bed. Blues (all girls so no conflict) kept ECNL & GDA as they had the national ECNL title, but a decision point was coming (unless Blues won another ECNL national title) as I understand it.
In AZ, neither Phoenix Rising or RSL-AZ will give up the MLS Next, so if it is put to them, then I can see them both going GA. Alternatively, they might suddenly spin off a girls club only and a boys club only ... and then it would get really silly.
If ECNL need to threaten clubs to get their boys sides into ECNL, then their league mustn't be all that, and they must know it.
It seems like every ECNL player thinks they are getting a D1 soccer scholarship but when I look at the list of commits in previous years (clubs love to post that stuff) I see way more D2 or 3 than D1. You do realize there are over 2000 ECNL girls graduating every year. Plus your "Dream School" is likely everyone else's as well and will only take 5 or 6 players in a given year. The scenario you are presenting is lottery like it its probability of happening. The ROI on all forms of youth soccer is negative from a money standpoint. Except for maybe those few boys that may make it to the pro ranks. If you honestly think it will "save" you money you are a unicorn. I still do it but realize its more about the experience and the memories than any sort of financial return. I tried for years to make the math work in my head and eventually just gave up and am enjoying the ride.
This season, the deals were dropped big time too. One school already have 5 commitments from 8th grade and were not looking to add. Based on my research, it's still holds true. My dd loved the program and the coached loved her but it was too late because of you know what, The girls who waited to do official visit like they were asked to do got no chance because of you know what. I just got off the phone with a dad with a 2022. Solid player and has good grades. Dad has been doing travel ball soccer in all the leagues since his child was 12. He knows where every dollar is spent and he spent $61,235.67 in 6 years. Travel's to all the games during GDA and never missed a showcase or a game. My other rich friend did the same 6 years and his family spent over $90,000 traveling first class and eating at super nice places and playing golf and drinking every night. Anyway man, the cost to play soccer is super expensive. If your kid is going to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher or something that really needs a degree and your dd is smart and can play soccer, she is set.
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
She is moving on to West Virginia for a better scholarship and more playing time.
ECNL players also now compete with the better players from Mexico, Japan, Europe, South America. Women’s recruiting in top D1schools is now a global market.
I think Surf kicked ECNL out. If Surf chooses ECNL, the Blues would have bailed on GDA and now you got three of the best clubs in the country staying with ECNL, Slammers, Blues and Surf. The power clubs in the Mecca of soccer. Surf had the control and Surf Cup. They got 5 year contract and ECNL was out in the cold. DPL ring a bell? Surf said bye bye and now they and ECNL are best pals.
Academic money is huge on the girls side.
You mean the 50% scholarship worth $20K, but which requires about a thousand hours of work to keep your spot on the team?
That's called a part time job. Soccer is more fun than Starbucks, but it's not exactly huge money either.
Letsplaysoccer
BRONZE
Not just strikers boys but girls too. Strikers as a whole got ECNL taken. They will need to move what players they have to another league, if they have any left! As I would assume many of their current ECNL players will leave and look for other ECNL opportunities at other clubs.
RedCard
GOLD
Sharks had a pretty good weekend going 4-1-1, so maybe things are turning around. But it was against the L.A. Breakers which most of their teams are in 8th or 9th place in their division, so take it for it's worth. Only the U16 have a winning record, and that's the Breakers team that had the only win this past weekend.
Strikers do not have Boys ECNL. Only Girls. Been that way since they went MLS Next.
Strikers do not have Boys ECNL.
soccermail2020
SILVER
Do they not have enough talent to field a solid 07 and a solid 06 team? Do their 06’s play up in 05? I dislike “playing up” except for the one or two phenom’s who just can’t play with their age group. HS season is interesting enough with the different age groups, imo club should be their age appropriate peers.
I'm starting to sense a tipping point with ECNL.
Booting Clubs because they're all in on MLS Next wont work in the long run.
As more and more clubs go all in on MLS Next ECNL wont be able to keep the girls under thumb. Eventually theres going to be hurt feelings + clubs will be looking for league alternatives.
Also, MLS Next and GA seem to be loosely affiliated (might be wrong) if this is the case MLS Next could also play the exclusion game not allowing big clubs in unless they drop Girls ECNL and go GA.
Didnt this exact playbook happen with DA + ECNL 10+ years ago?
Booting Clubs because they're all in on MLS Next wont work in the long run.
As more and more clubs go all in on MLS Next ECNL wont be able to keep the girls under thumb. Eventually theres going to be hurt feelings + clubs will be looking for league alternatives.
Also, MLS Next and GA seem to be loosely affiliated (might be wrong) if this is the case MLS Next could also play the exclusion game not allowing big clubs in unless they drop Girls ECNL and go GA.
Didnt this exact playbook happen with DA + ECNL 10+ years ago?
LetsGooooo
BRONZE
Which school has 5 girls in the 8th grade committed already? I just don’t believe that. They haven’t even played high school level yet and have 5 more years to grow and they already have scholarships to play soccer at college? No way….
2022's were able to commit early in 8th grade. Lot;s of the top schools signed ((verbal)) players early. I was told to send them emails but I told my little baby girl to wait and visit, just like the football and basketball players do. No lie at all. Trust me, I know many kids that did the verbal in 8th grade four years ago. It;s worked out for them and it was the right decision looking back for so many. One girl told my kid no way she gets the deal she got in 8th grade in todays market. Strike while the iron is hot.
I don't buy this either. We are in OC and know/have played with almost all of the top of the recruitment class for our area and haven't seen/heard this anywhere...
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Referring to programs looking for players with quality grades to get them academic money. And if that happens to be $20K great. It’s that much less.