Thinking of making a move to an ECNL team for next year

[SoccerEnvy]

Funnynot funny post. I don't think bribing coaches and the club with straight cash is as common as you elude. But as others have already mentioned, there are more subtle, ?socially acceptable ways of getting preferential treatment for your child. ie: form a relationship of any kind with the coach, buy them lunch at tournaments, pay them for one on one trainings (not allowed at some clubs for good reason), drink at tournaments with the coach and tell them gossip, make a large donation to the club. What also works? having a player that is highly skilled and dedicated, being respectful, volunteering when needed, and being a great member of the team. The realitity is, and I hate to break it to you, and I apologize because it sounds insulting to you without knowing you. You likely do not have a skilled player if you think you need to do this. This really only works for situations where you are trying to "buy" your way onto a top team and your child is on the "bubble" or there are two players that it is a toss up who will start and this gives your child an advantage. Also, at a certain point, the player usually falls off the bench, so to say, and gets cut from the team because it is obvious that your player is not keeping up. My advice to you is if you feel like you need to bribe your way onto a team, then you should find a team that fits your daughter's skill level. I'm pretty sure you already know this though.

 

[SoccerFan4Life]

So really here's the deal and please be honest. Remember my pockets aren't deep coming off a school teaches salary so I'm really looking for a flat number $$$$$ of what ill need to spend. My inside trader information from the golf course has already told me that in one of the Clubs ill be looking at the followings being done by an individual(s) X.

-Pay all the coaches travel expense.
-Pay Club dues for at least 2 players on the team and travel expenses when necessary.
-Credit Card for the coach. Pay for gas and food to and from the facility.
-Extravagant coaches gifts.

Now I'm not able to compete anymore with is having multiple's in a club . My sons focus now is with Football. X is a team manager who has multiple kids in this club. Should I just look somewhere else? Just don't think my DD will ever see the field and get to play her primary position since its the same as the behind the scene managers kid.

you forgot the free vacation for the coach and family for a week. Free $500 monthly gas card and always Starbucks before every game.

On a more serious note, $10k per year will cover all cost. It could be more depending on how often the team travels out of state and how many from your family go.

 

[oh canada]

What the title said.

Things have been getting stale for my daughter in terms of competition in the Coast / DPL so its time to start looking for the next challenge. What's holding me back from a move is the politics. Its been a good long run with her current team and time for a new voice.

Can anyone give me an honest figure on how much extra ill need to pay the coach on the side for my DD to see the field? She's a defender, not sure if prices change for each position? (serious question) Its this a flat rate or percentage? Do I pick up hotels and room service for the coach at tournaments? In Vegas, do I send up one escort or two? Is there a magic number that keeps my kid on the field even if they make mistakes? Seems like everywhere I'm looking the coaches get younger and younger. Youth is very easy to manipulate. I'm a aware of the red flags from the start. Coaches talking to groups of parents having a good laugh and a beer. Individual conversations before games, new BMW's on a coaches salary in the parking lot etc. Its been known in the past the two clubs I'm looking at are run by the almighty dollar and the same parents are still there so my assumption is ill need to keep up with the Jones's monthly installments for my daughter to see the field.

The helps appreciated. Please don't deny it happens. Its common knowledge in the ECNL landscape for girls more so then boys and I've talked with plenty parents who "contribute" to the coaches cause out on the greens.

Just looking for some transparent pricing information to see if I can afford the move.

+ $500 to $1000/yr if the soccer club has an annual Gala fundraiser. High correlation between parents that attend-donate and favorable treatment of their kid

On its face, events like these create a clear conflict of interest, but clubs don't care. As the NWSL report confirmed, so much wrong with youth club soccer.

 

[Willy Falcon]

I’d say $8k-$10k range. Maybe less is if the travel is limited. But if you’re taking the whole family to all travel games/showcases and choose to fly you’ll be north of $10k when you factor in travel/lodging/food expenses.

Buyer beware. Not all ECNL programs are good or worth the $$$. Lots of bad coaches out there that are solely there for the money and mail in training and development. Lots of politics as well.

 

[Simisoccerfan]

This thread is hilarious and you are all a bunch of idiots for taking it as a serious post.

 

[SoccerFan4Life]

This thread is hilarious and you are all a bunch of idiots for taking it as a serious post.

I didn’t that’s why I said don’t forget the $500 gas card per month. Would be a cool perk. Lol

 

[Chalklines]

This thread is hilarious and you are all a bunch of idiots for taking it as a serious post.

Nope its serious and happening.

Just don't want to make a move for my DD to warm the bench because of politics. With the DM's I've been getting its clear that I've struck a chord with those who know exactly what team and age group I'm talking about.

I've also been asked to delete this thread for an undisclosed amount of money so I don't reveal the coach and parents behind this disgusting act. Good thing is I'll be in SD this weekend for a recruiting trip at Snapdragon. Should have a chance to find my way over to watch and observe a few teams during the ECNL Showcase. Will be nice to see what some coaches do before after and during games.

 

[soccersc]

This thread is hilarious and you are all a bunch of idiots for taking it as a serious post.

You know what does happen that I think is absolutely ridiculous...is that clubs allow coaches to give privates to players on their team. that for sure happens, so maybe not a direct payment to the coach, but it's pretty much the same thing...and those players always somehow find more playing time, coincidence?

 

[crush]

You know what does happen that I think is absolutely ridiculous...is that clubs allow coaches to give privates to players on their team. that for sure happens, so maybe not a direct payment to the coach, but it's pretty much the same thing...and those players always somehow find more playing time, coincidence?

The last 6 years many youth soccer players were sold and told to be full time soccer players and put in the extra "training" it takes to be the best, besides the three days a week already committed to 10 months out of the year. Plus, each player needs to be able to handle the yelling from some of the top coaches. It's par for the course as a youth to beat out the best. The best used to play other sports as well and played high school soccer. However, the real best players became the one's who were willing to pay "extra" to make their kid the best. Extra flying, extra hotels, extra eating out and extra gasoline. It was, "Extra Extra, Read All About It." Girls youth soccer will now be run by the men of US Soccer. I do think some players get better with the extra privates with the head coach and the Doc, but it sure rubs other parents wrong who with can't afford the "extra" couple grand and the 'extra" time it takes to do the "extra" workouts to make that player "extra" better. Who gives more beside dads money? The dd time is ripped from her youth and she is all in soccer 24/7 and 365. The top top players of the girls soccer pyramid just were told that abuse was systematic and it ALL started when they were in their youth. Parents on here are like, "I might know of one dad paying a little "extra" for play time but no one else."

 

[Chalklines]

The last 6 years many youth soccer players were sold and told to be full time soccer players and put in the extra "training" it takes to be the best, besides the three days a week already committed to 10 months out of the year. Plus, each player needs to be able to handle the yelling from some of the top coaches. It's par for the course as a youth to beat out the best. The best used to play other sports as well and played high school soccer. However, the real best players became the one's who were willing to pay "extra" to make their kid the best. Extra flying, extra hotels, extra eating out and extra gasoline. It was, "Extra Extra, Read All About It." Girls youth soccer will now be run by the men of US Soccer. I do think some players get better with the extra privates with the head coach and the Doc, but it sure rubs other parents wrong who with can't afford the "extra" couple grand and the 'extra" time it takes to do the "extra" workouts to make that player "extra" better. Who gives more beside dads money? The dd time is ripped from her youth and she is all in soccer 24/7 and 365. The top top players of the girls soccer pyramid just were told that abuse was systematic and it ALL started when they were in their youth. Parents on here are like, "I might know of one dad paying a little "extra" for play time but no one else."

There's one if not many on every team. Even my current club.

Where does it stop?

Privates multiple times a week with the coach, futsal on the weekends, beach soccer training, speed and agility, dinners with the coach, private video sessions with the coach, golf tournament donations.............What gets me are the ones behind the scenes that dictate the starters, positions and playing time. They form their little group off the field and have their kids do the same on the field. You know, the late night texts and calls talking about the line-up. Waiting for the coach in the shadows. We have all seen it done. We all know it exists at the higher levels of play. Flight one and ECNL almost ALWAYS. Their kids never come off the pitch when the better ones sit on the bench watching the coach congratulate mistake after mistake to keep cashing that extra check. Coach will always over look hard work and effort when the donations keep coming in and that's my worry.

 

[crush]

There's one if not many on every team. Even my current club.

Where does it stop?

Privates multiple times a week with the coach, futsal on the weekends, beach soccer training, speed and agility, dinners with the coach, private video sessions with the coach, golf tournament donations.............What gets me are the ones behind the scenes that dictate the starters, positions and playing time. They form their little group off the field and have their kids do the same on the field. You know, the late night texts and calls talking about the line-up. Waiting for the coach in the shadows. We have all seen it done. We all know it exists at the higher levels of play. Flight one and ECNL almost ALWAYS. Their kids never come off the pitch when the better ones sit on the bench watching the coach congratulate mistake after mistake to keep cashing that extra check. Coach will always over look hard work and effort when the donations keep coming in and that's my worry.

Remember, "Outside The Line?" I think you should start a podcast, "Inside The Chalklines"

 

[oh canada]

What gets me are the ones behind the scenes that dictate the starters, positions and playing time. They form their little group off the field and have their kids do the same on the field. You know, the late night texts and calls talking about the line-up. Waiting for the coach in the shadows.

often the team manager and that's one of the reasons they volunteered

 

[Carlsbad7]

There's one if not many on every team. Even my current club.

Where does it stop?

Privates multiple times a week with the coach, futsal on the weekends, beach soccer training, speed and agility, dinners with the coach, private video sessions with the coach, golf tournament donations.............What gets me are the ones behind the scenes that dictate the starters, positions and playing time. They form their little group off the field and have their kids do the same on the field. You know, the late night texts and calls talking about the line-up. Waiting for the coach in the shadows. We have all seen it done. We all know it exists at the higher levels of play. Flight one and ECNL almost ALWAYS. Their kids never come off the pitch when the better ones sit on the bench watching the coach congratulate mistake after mistake to keep cashing that extra check. Coach will always over look hard work and effort when the donations keep coming in and that's my worry.

The one thing that I've seen that stops a lot of this is if the team isn't winning because of all the nonsense + the club is clamping down on the coaches performance/record.

Unfortunately coaches are hard to find + in demand so often clubs look the other way to keep the player $$$ rolling in.

 

[crush]

often the team manager and that's one of the reasons they volunteered

Some TMs have really good players and great kids and not all about winning a spot on the team by working a part time job for free. TMs also can 100% help with recruiting and finding out what parents can pay to play and who is poor but has a dd that can score. The TM can make a teams success so I believe it's one of the top spots to get with certain pay to play coaches. Great coaches just need a fair and loving TM that helps everyone and is not looking for the "wink wink" if you know what I mean. I had good Tms and nasty ones over all the years. it all depends. Buyer beware is all I can say. One TM I knew loved to hand out the fliers and talk it up with the coaches and be in the know it all of the goings on with the recruiting. Super cool dad Some TMs were spies for the coach and gossipers and that pissed me off but oh well, it's water under the bridge but something I would recommend to end some day and just have a club TM and not a parent who has a kid trying to earn a spot and minutes on the field.

 

[Chalklines]

The one thing that I've seen that stops a lot of this is if the team isn't winning because of all the nonsense + the club is clamping down on the coaches performance/record.

Unfortunately coaches are hard to find + in demand so often clubs look the other way to keep the player $$$ rolling in.

The problem's when its a winning team and the corruptions been deep rooted for years. You'll need join them and accept what's going on or risk being an outcast that gets pushed out the door. Your child will not be accepted onto the team if they are better then the starters or better then any of the kids whos parents are paying the coaches way.

 

[diamondcoach]

If your daughter is bored on her current team, then the ECNL or GA is easily your best bet. No idea about what’s happening on the side with pay to play etc. No doubt it happens, I just haven’t witnessed it.

My oldest started club in the CSL, and after a couple of years needed to be challenged. So she tried out and made an ECNL team. She became a starter within a month or two, the team was mediocre at first and eventually qualified for champions league. But, even with that she still felt the desire to be surrounded by better players. So, we moved to a new club/team for her final year of ECNL.

if your daughter is an above average player, she needs to go to the ECNL or GA simply so she can get the exposure and play in front of college coaches. The better the team the more exposure she will get.

But, bottom line, it’s expensive. Last year, my older daughter’s team played in three showcases; two in Phoenix and one in New Jersey. We then travel to Seattle for eight days for the ECNL playoffs. And the travel is what makes it so expensive. As we easily spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 last year. I teach and my wife is a nurse. So it’s not like we’re rolling in dough.

Playing at that level will certainly help your daughter get to where she wants to be… Playing in college. My daughters U19 team has 23 rostered players (two are out for the season with ACL injuries)…. but all 23 have received offers and committed to D1 programs.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

When our daughter played ECNL some of the east or Midwest coast showcase/playoff trips would run between 20-30k for the whole team including air, buses, hotel 6x, food, etc for the 20-22 or so players so it was expensive. Imagine some of the players paid thousands and hardly got on the field

Ugh that is so expensive. I recently read an article somewhere about youth soccer in Spain and how they just play local. Even like the Barcelona youth, they mostly play local non La Liga youth teams. Is American soccer SO advanced that we need kids traveling across the continent for "quality games"?

Maybe it won't work for other areas of the country, but surely in SoCal, we can keep it local and still have kids compete against other kids their level??

 

[Woodwork]

A lot of replies to a joke post with grain (a silo) of truth. I personally have witnessed an experienced ECNL coach completely tank a team (to where it lost league games by more than 10 goals) in order to satiate a parent who had multiple kids paying full price to the club.

It is the Maslow heirarchy of club needs:

Money first

Then winning if you have money

Then development if you have your money and are winning already

 

[lafalafa]

Ugh that is so expensive. I recently read an article somewhere about youth soccer in Spain and how they just play local. Even like the Barcelona youth, they mostly play local non La Liga youth teams. Is American soccer SO advanced that we need kids traveling across the continent for "quality games"?

Maybe it won't work for other areas of the country, but surely in SoCal, we can keep it local and still have kids compete against other kids their level??

Yes true but when there several different so called "elite" leagues" that all travel so the genie is out of bottle and it's nearly impossible to put back in.

For Socal 80/20 rules: 80% should be fine with local play and the real elite 20% would need to venture regionally to play better comp but what we have is upside down with > 50% Traveling to play so travel soccer ends up being only for certain social economic groups.

 

[crush]

Ugh that is so expensive. I recently read an article somewhere about youth soccer in Spain and how they just play local. Even like the Barcelona youth, they mostly play local non La Liga youth teams. Is American soccer SO advanced that we need kids traveling across the continent for "quality games"?

Maybe it won't work for other areas of the country, but surely in SoCal, we can keep it local and still have kids compete against other kids their level??

"Stay Local & Play Local" is my motto and 100% my recommendation after learning the last 11 years. In SoCal, we have no reason to travel except for the fact a few dads saw a biz opportunity in travel soccer and some love to travel and play golf and watch dd play top elite level soccer. The travel league makes soccer super expensive for a real family of four that will go into debt to help dd achieve goals and basically kicking out the poor kids 100% and their families to participate. Please don't tell me to just send your kid on da plane and let the soccer family take care of your dd on the road all alone. We now know girls soccer had ((has)) a systematic abuse problem, from yelling to sexual abuse and everything in between. It's 100% a fact and it starts at the youth level. Don't tell me it stopped long ago at the youth level somehow and it;s just up at the top of the soccer food chain, where the top pros have been abused. Stay local for the girls well being and if some top club from New Your wants to make trip to Socal to play the best, so be it. Socal should stay home to heal from all the abuse and just let the girls have some fun and some happiness Other teams and players would want to come to SoCal and experience the beautiful weather and amazing soccer competition. We were told the world was watching and girls needed to be developed and trained like the men so they needed this new travel league and 100% full time commitment.