ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If ECNL allows trap player to play down in showcase, they should allow them to join the younger team and play the league game. It is very awkward to guest in a younger team for important showcase and everyone in that team will hate you. Since ECNL already allows 2 trapped 8th grader to play half the season, it should be not an issue for them to allow 2/3 trapped players play the next season for all age groups. Potential 2/3 players change is a good transition before we go full SY next year.

If they are going to do this then just go all the way and do it! How many more than 3 would there be anyway 5 or 6. Just move to SY and be done with it.

Going full SY is always dramatic. So I do not believe ECNL will wait a year without doing anything. I think extending the current two trapped 8th graders for half the season to 2 trapped players of all age groups for the next season is a reasonable transition plan and will reduce the SY change impact by half. Unless ECNL has a better transition plan, that is what I think will be a good plan.

ECNL will not go full SY next year. It will be a wasted year. If that’s how you view it. Clubs will be advised on what the new cut off date will be and any changes the roster size and tournaments. It will be up to the clubs to decide to change up rosters a year early or let kids play with them for showcases or whatever is decided.

But ECNL will not make any major changes to team configuration until 26/27.

We will know it in 2 weeks. One thing is for sure. It will Not be a wasted year. It is not ECNL way doing things.

It’s known already and has been for a while: there will be no changes next year. Besides, ECNL is now focused on more urgent priorities like stopping the current hemorrhaging taking place ..

Are you an idiot? After SY, GA will be RL league and GA2 will be trash. ECNL first priority is how to push out SY soon.

Take off your ECNL blinders. This is the beginning of the end for ECNL. GA is setting themselves up to be the elite league alongside MLSN. The GA/NWSL pathway is next.

My kid guest plays both ECNL and GA. I don’t see the problem with two string soccer structures for girls. But how exactly is ECNL going to fail?

The NWSL has a few youth soccer teams in GA and they are not doing super terrific. I just don’t think girls care about being soccer pros like boys do. I don’t think a pro pathway is what the majority of girls and families are looking for.

You are 100% wrong.

All players dream of playing professionally at one time or another.

You might prefer to shoot low. Don't put that mentality on others.

Yea…that’s not true.

And I can say most parents burn that dream out of kids when they do have it.

Wow, I feel bad for your kid.

It's their dream not yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid for sure got recruited after a coach from a teammate’s dream school showed up to recruit a teammate. Went with my kid instead of the teammate. Awkward.

Yep. That happens more than people know.

It does happen! But look at what you just said…the coach went to recruit one kid, and saw another they liked. That isn’t the same as “scouting the entire team.” The reason the coach was there wasn’t to scout both teams, the player that got found, or a favor to ECNL. The coach went for a specific player.

What people don’t understand is that coaches aren’t on the sidelines to “get to yes” on a player. They’re actually watching because the target is often in the “yes” or “maybe” column, and they’re looking to see if the player really should be a “no.” So of course this sort of thing happens, but it’s not the majority of the time. And great for that player that did so well they got on that coach’s radar!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ECNL allows trap player to play down in showcase, they should allow them to join the younger team and play the league game. It is very awkward to guest in a younger team for important showcase and everyone in that team will hate you. Since ECNL already allows 2 trapped 8th grader to play half the season, it should be not an issue for them to allow 2/3 trapped players play the next season for all age groups. Potential 2/3 players change is a good transition before we go full SY next year.

If they are going to do this then just go all the way and do it! How many more than 3 would there be anyway 5 or 6. Just move to SY and be done with it.

Going full SY is always dramatic. So I do not believe ECNL will wait a year without doing anything. I think extending the current two trapped 8th graders for half the season to 2 trapped players of all age groups for the next season is a reasonable transition plan and will reduce the SY change impact by half. Unless ECNL has a better transition plan, that is what I think will be a good plan.

How about up to 10 players are allowed to "play down" if they were born Sept. to Dec.? Seems reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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That is also why the BY / SY b&m-ing from ECNL is such crocodile tears. There is ZERO problem recruiting in BY.

ECNL isn't going to birth year as a strategic move. It because it what has been requested from their customer (college coaches). That is what is driving the change. the ones who actually do the recruiting disagree that there is no problem recruiting by BY. They want to go go to a showcase and see players all in the same recruiting class, and not have to watch a game and determine who is what grad year.

Stop making stuff up! This absolutely is not true. You clearly have no clue what happens on top teams and in college recruitment. College coaches never show up to watch any team - they follow and watch specific players. Try to stay informed.

I know two D1 college soccer coaches. They most definitely show up to watch TEAMS at showcases. They do not have the resources to only scout specific players. Once they’ve identified players they want (usually after seeing them play in tournaments or showcases), they reach out to those players. They do not have the budgets to travel around the country to follow specific players and just watch their games - especially since there’s no guaranty those players will commit to their school.

You heard what you wanted to hear from your college coach friends. That is absolutely not what they do.

Do you think they fill a roster every year? If you need a CM and a CB for next year…do you watch a “TEAMs”? Do you have time to watch a full match to see if any other players stand out? Nope…coaches go to these evens on a mission, it’s not some romanticized discovery process.

They get tape sent from 100s of players. They send that to their assistants, who help zero in on a few names. Then those coaches go to watch those names in person for each position. When they go to watch Suzy Striker play, they are not looking at your Betty Leftback. Betty doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell with that coach if she wasn’t already on the radar.

Ok. I’ll let them know that one or two random parents on a soccer chat board think they’re doing it wrong.

Btw - I know the coaches because they were friends of mine growing up and we played soccer together in college (after we went through the college recruitment process). Coaches only need to see a kid play once or twice in person to know if they want you or not.

Sounds like a plan. And if I bump into any college coaches, I’ll make sure to ask if they also know of you, since you’ve decided to roll out the “I know a guy, therefore I am an expect” justification for your opinion.

I think you think college coaches are more adept than they actually are. Once upon a time they absolutely were the pinnacle of US soccer coaching - that ship sailed 20+ years ago. The best coaches in the US are in the club-to-pro pyramid.

I’ll grant you that you may personally know the two most inefficient college soccer coaches in the country, two of whom also apparently have unlimited amounts of time, resources and potentially an analytics team on staff to help them with their inefficiencies - after all they do end up with recruiting classes I assume. Also, apparently your college soccer coach friends are stuck in a recruiting system that was based on the HS pyramid, because you all went through it together when you played, and nothing ever changes according to your friend group.

And yes, college coaches, all knowing experts that they are, only need to see once or twice to make a snap decision. Thats why they waste all that extra time with private invites for practices and camps. And those kids on their shortlist that they go see live for the 3m on ball out of an 80-90m match, well if they’re off the shortlist the coaches just mosey over and watch some random team to find their target replacement…genius!

Dude…take the L…you’re an idiot, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I’ve been through the college soccer recruiting process and talk to two friends who are D1 soccer coaches, but you still claim to know more than me and the two guys who do it for a living. Love your ignorance and blind confidence.

Not sure who you think said the coaches “just mosey over and watch random teams”. But the college coaches have relationships and connections with lots of the club teams at showcases and tournaments. Most (all?) ECNL teams have people whose sole job is to network with college coaches and get the college coaches to come and watch their players at these things. And when the college coaches come over to watch those TEAMS play, they will also scout the team they are playing against. (Not sure why you think the college coaches wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player on the field.)

At these showcases, college coaches will also check out promising players that sent them tape. But when they do, they are scouting every player on the field in that game (not sure why you think they wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player they see play.)

And if your team makes the elimination round at one of these showcases or tournaments, there will for sure be college scouts randomly watching those teams/games. College scouts know that good players are on teams that make it to the elimination round of these events.

The main purpose for these showcases is for college scouts to find and recruit players that they have not yet seen, met, or heard of. While they’re at it, they’ll also take a moment to check out any players that reached out to them who will be playing in the showcase.

The coaches will also scout players that go to soccer camps put on by the coaches at that school. So if there is a college that your son/daughter wants to play at, see if that school has a soccer camp they can attend.

Take it or leave it. I lived it and have two friends who do it for a living. I’m posting here simply for the benefit of those parents who want to know how it works. If your son/daughter is a good player, even if they are on a mid-level or not good team, they will have scouts watching them at these events - even if the scout was there to watch another team or to see a different player in the game. And colleges are always looking for impact players, regardless of position.

Dude - give it up! You’ve so outed yourself as being clueless about all this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If ECNL allows trap player to play down in showcase, they should allow them to join the younger team and play the league game. It is very awkward to guest in a younger team for important showcase and everyone in that team will hate you. Since ECNL already allows 2 trapped 8th grader to play half the season, it should be not an issue for them to allow 2/3 trapped players play the next season for all age groups. Potential 2/3 players change is a good transition before we go full SY next year.

If they are going to do this then just go all the way and do it! How many more than 3 would there be anyway 5 or 6. Just move to SY and be done with it.

Going full SY is always dramatic. So I do not believe ECNL will wait a year without doing anything. I think extending the current two trapped 8th graders for half the season to 2 trapped players of all age groups for the next season is a reasonable transition plan and will reduce the SY change impact by half. Unless ECNL has a better transition plan, that is what I think will be a good plan.

ECNL will not go full SY next year. It will be a wasted year. If that’s how you view it. Clubs will be advised on what the new cut off date will be and any changes the roster size and tournaments. It will be up to the clubs to decide to change up rosters a year early or let kids play with them for showcases or whatever is decided.

But ECNL will not make any major changes to team configuration until 26/27.

We will know it in 2 weeks. One thing is for sure. It will Not be a wasted year. It is not ECNL way doing things.

It’s known already and has been for a while: there will be no changes next year. Besides, ECNL is now focused on more urgent priorities like stopping the current hemorrhaging taking place ..

Are you an idiot? After SY, GA will be RL league and GA2 will be trash. ECNL first priority is how to push out SY soon.

Take off your ECNL blinders. This is the beginning of the end for ECNL. GA is setting themselves up to be the elite league alongside MLSN. The GA/NWSL pathway is next.

My kid guest plays both ECNL and GA. I don’t see the problem with two string soccer structures for girls. But how exactly is ECNL going to fail?

The NWSL has a few youth soccer teams in GA and they are not doing super terrific. I just don’t think girls care about being soccer pros like boys do. I don’t think a pro pathway is what the majority of girls and families are looking for.

You are 100% wrong.

All players dream of playing professionally at one time or another.

You might prefer to shoot low. Don't put that mentality on others.

Yea…that’s not true.

And I can say most parents burn that dream out of kids when they do have it.

Wow, I feel bad for your kid.

It's their dream not yours.

🤣 not my kid. But I see it on my kids teams and hear it from the parents too.

It it sucks because it affects kids that do have that dream.

The pro-pathway kids wants to train with purpose, a lot of their team mates are there because they enjoy being with their friends and hope to play college and are fairly good in terms of the overall geographic pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ECNL allows trap player to play down in showcase, they should allow them to join the younger team and play the league game. It is very awkward to guest in a younger team for important showcase and everyone in that team will hate you. Since ECNL already allows 2 trapped 8th grader to play half the season, it should be not an issue for them to allow 2/3 trapped players play the next season for all age groups. Potential 2/3 players change is a good transition before we go full SY next year.

If they are going to do this then just go all the way and do it! How many more than 3 would there be anyway 5 or 6. Just move to SY and be done with it.

Going full SY is always dramatic. So I do not believe ECNL will wait a year without doing anything. I think extending the current two trapped 8th graders for half the season to 2 trapped players of all age groups for the next season is a reasonable transition plan and will reduce the SY change impact by half. Unless ECNL has a better transition plan, that is what I think will be a good plan.

How about up to 10 players are allowed to "play down" if they were born Sept. to Dec.? Seems reasonable.

Yeah if you are doing 2-3 players then just do the whole change now. Going part way doesn’t make sence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

That is also why the BY / SY b&m-ing from ECNL is such crocodile tears. There is ZERO problem recruiting in BY.

ECNL isn't going to birth year as a strategic move. It because it what has been requested from their customer (college coaches). That is what is driving the change. the ones who actually do the recruiting disagree that there is no problem recruiting by BY. They want to go go to a showcase and see players all in the same recruiting class, and not have to watch a game and determine who is what grad year.

Stop making stuff up! This absolutely is not true. You clearly have no clue what happens on top teams and in college recruitment. College coaches never show up to watch any team - they follow and watch specific players. Try to stay informed.

I know two D1 college soccer coaches. They most definitely show up to watch TEAMS at showcases. They do not have the resources to only scout specific players. Once they’ve identified players they want (usually after seeing them play in tournaments or showcases), they reach out to those players. They do not have the budgets to travel around the country to follow specific players and just watch their games - especially since there’s no guaranty those players will commit to their school.

You heard what you wanted to hear from your college coach friends. That is absolutely not what they do.

Do you think they fill a roster every year? If you need a CM and a CB for next year…do you watch a “TEAMs”? Do you have time to watch a full match to see if any other players stand out? Nope…coaches go to these evens on a mission, it’s not some romanticized discovery process.

They get tape sent from 100s of players. They send that to their assistants, who help zero in on a few names. Then those coaches go to watch those names in person for each position. When they go to watch Suzy Striker play, they are not looking at your Betty Leftback. Betty doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell with that coach if she wasn’t already on the radar.

Ok. I’ll let them know that one or two random parents on a soccer chat board think they’re doing it wrong.

Btw - I know the coaches because they were friends of mine growing up and we played soccer together in college (after we went through the college recruitment process). Coaches only need to see a kid play once or twice in person to know if they want you or not.

Sounds like a plan. And if I bump into any college coaches, I’ll make sure to ask if they also know of you, since you’ve decided to roll out the “I know a guy, therefore I am an expect” justification for your opinion.

I think you think college coaches are more adept than they actually are. Once upon a time they absolutely were the pinnacle of US soccer coaching - that ship sailed 20+ years ago. The best coaches in the US are in the club-to-pro pyramid.

I’ll grant you that you may personally know the two most inefficient college soccer coaches in the country, two of whom also apparently have unlimited amounts of time, resources and potentially an analytics team on staff to help them with their inefficiencies - after all they do end up with recruiting classes I assume. Also, apparently your college soccer coach friends are stuck in a recruiting system that was based on the HS pyramid, because you all went through it together when you played, and nothing ever changes according to your friend group.

And yes, college coaches, all knowing experts that they are, only need to see once or twice to make a snap decision. Thats why they waste all that extra time with private invites for practices and camps. And those kids on their shortlist that they go see live for the 3m on ball out of an 80-90m match, well if they’re off the shortlist the coaches just mosey over and watch some random team to find their target replacement…genius!

Dude…take the L…you’re an idiot, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I’ve been through the college soccer recruiting process and talk to two friends who are D1 soccer coaches, but you still claim to know more than me and the two guys who do it for a living. Love your ignorance and blind confidence.

Not sure who you think said the coaches “just mosey over and watch random teams”. But the college coaches have relationships and connections with lots of the club teams at showcases and tournaments. Most (all?) ECNL teams have people whose sole job is to network with college coaches and get the college coaches to come and watch their players at these things. And when the college coaches come over to watch those TEAMS play, they will also scout the team they are playing against. (Not sure why you think the college coaches wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player on the field.)

At these showcases, college coaches will also check out promising players that sent them tape. But when they do, they are scouting every player on the field in that game (not sure why you think they wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player they see play.)

And if your team makes the elimination round at one of these showcases or tournaments, there will for sure be college scouts randomly watching those teams/games. College scouts know that good players are on teams that make it to the elimination round of these events.

The main purpose for these showcases is for college scouts to find and recruit players that they have not yet seen, met, or heard of. While they’re at it, they’ll also take a moment to check out any players that reached out to them who will be playing in the showcase.

The coaches will also scout players that go to soccer camps put on by the coaches at that school. So if there is a college that your son/daughter wants to play at, see if that school has a soccer camp they can attend.

Take it or leave it. I lived it and have two friends who do it for a living. I’m posting here simply for the benefit of those parents who want to know how it works. If your son/daughter is a good player, even if they are on a mid-level or not good team, they will have scouts watching them at these events - even if the scout was there to watch another team or to see a different player in the game. And colleges are always looking for impact players, regardless of position.

You absolutely don’t live the current recruiting landscape AND grew up with two current college coaches. You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. Sorry you are so defensive that you’re unable to be wrong.

Yes, many coaches that don’t have a specific target recruit watch the finals but they aren’t scouting teams, they are scouting needs.

Coaches aren’t there “doing favors” for ECNL and scouting whole teams.

And again, congratulations for either being too myopic to understand what your college coach friends told you, OR, being friend with their two least efficient college coaches in college coaching. And that’s saying something, because college coaches as a whole are not the most impressive stock of football coaches.

(You also make a lot of assumptions that others on here haven’t gone through the recruiting process, and that others on here have had kids going through, or players, or have “college coach BFFs” - loose said yesterday, just because it came from your brain, doesn’t make it right)

You read things that aren’t written. No one said they only scout the finals. There are several elimination games prior to the finals. And several pool play games that they target to watch.

And college coaches don’t scout teams as a “favor” to anyone. They have clubs that they target (usually clubs in their school’s region) to scout each year because those clubs produce good college players. I’ve heard college coaches say, “I’ve been successful with players from X club”, or “for some reason, I haven’t had any luck when recruiting players from Y club”. I’ve heard them say “X club is one of the best around. I always try to get players from them.” The coaches don’t just sit in their office and hope that good players send them their highlights to watch. They don’t just hope that players accept invites to their camps.

Of course showcases are just one avenue. Of course players should be sending coaches their highlight tape and soccer profile/“resume”. There are articles about that all over the internet that people can look up.

But college coaches don’t recruit positions as you say (except goalie). They recruit impact players. They will move players (incoming players and existing players) to new positions to get the best players on the field. They don’t decide not to recruit a great striker because they already have two strikers returning from last season.

It’s great if you’ve been through the process, but you’re blind to certain things (especially how it plays out from the college coach’s side).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid for sure got recruited after a coach from a teammate’s dream school showed up to recruit a teammate. Went with my kid instead of the teammate. Awkward.

Yep. That happens more than people know.

It does happen! But look at what you just said…the coach went to recruit one kid, and saw another they liked. That isn’t the same as “scouting the entire team.” The reason the coach was there wasn’t to scout both teams, the player that got found, or a favor to ECNL. The coach went for a specific player.

What people don’t understand is that coaches aren’t on the sidelines to “get to yes” on a player. They’re actually watching because the target is often in the “yes” or “maybe” column, and they’re looking to see if the player really should be a “no.” So of course this sort of thing happens, but it’s not the majority of the time. And great for that player that did so well they got on that coach’s radar!

We agree that they will go watch some specific players that sent in tape and interest the coach. Players that are in the “yes” or “possibly” category. But the coaches 100% do scout teams as well. And they aren’t usually flying across country for 1 player (unless that player is a big time recruit). That game was likely at a showcase or close to where the school was located.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone corroborate this story I heard?

Heard that an MLS next team from Pittsburgh just stopped going to matches, because they were getting destroyed. MLS Next fined the club $100K. Parents on the team just refused to travel anymore after lopsided defeats.

Seems too fake since I've never heard of a team just refusing to keep going. The fine also seems hyperbolic.

Has anyone ever heard of ECNL teams just quitting mid season?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone corroborate this story I heard?

Heard that an MLS next team from Pittsburgh just stopped going to matches, because they were getting destroyed. MLS Next fined the club $100K. Parents on the team just refused to travel anymore after lopsided defeats.

Seems too fake since I've never heard of a team just refusing to keep going. The fine also seems hyperbolic.

Has anyone ever heard of ECNL teams just quitting mid season?

Name the club. Seems like you hopped on the biggest topic to scare people from joining and club looking to switch MLSN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ECNL allows trap player to play down in showcase, they should allow them to join the younger team and play the league game. It is very awkward to guest in a younger team for important showcase and everyone in that team will hate you. Since ECNL already allows 2 trapped 8th grader to play half the season, it should be not an issue for them to allow 2/3 trapped players play the next season for all age groups. Potential 2/3 players change is a good transition before we go full SY next year.

If they are going to do this then just go all the way and do it! How many more than 3 would there be anyway 5 or 6. Just move to SY and be done with it.

Going full SY is always dramatic. So I do not believe ECNL will wait a year without doing anything. I think extending the current two trapped 8th graders for half the season to 2 trapped players of all age groups for the next season is a reasonable transition plan and will reduce the SY change impact by half. Unless ECNL has a better transition plan, that is what I think will be a good plan.

ECNL will not go full SY next year. It will be a wasted year. If that’s how you view it. Clubs will be advised on what the new cut off date will be and any changes the roster size and tournaments. It will be up to the clubs to decide to change up rosters a year early or let kids play with them for showcases or whatever is decided.

But ECNL will not make any major changes to team configuration until 26/27.

We will know it in 2 weeks. One thing is for sure. It will Not be a wasted year. It is not ECNL way doing things.

It’s known already and has been for a while: there will be no changes next year. Besides, ECNL is now focused on more urgent priorities like stopping the current hemorrhaging taking place ..

Are you an idiot? After SY, GA will be RL league and GA2 will be trash. ECNL first priority is how to push out SY soon.

Take off your ECNL blinders. This is the beginning of the end for ECNL. GA is setting themselves up to be the elite league alongside MLSN. The GA/NWSL pathway is next.

My kid guest plays both ECNL and GA. I don’t see the problem with two string soccer structures for girls. But how exactly is ECNL going to fail?

The NWSL has a few youth soccer teams in GA and they are not doing super terrific. I just don’t think girls care about being soccer pros like boys do. I don’t think a pro pathway is what the majority of girls and families are looking for.

You are 100% wrong.

All players dream of playing professionally at one time or another.

You might prefer to shoot low. Don't put that mentality on others.

They weren’t saying all Girls do not want to be pros? Just that most girl players by the time they get to high school and their families have different priorities.
They want the college first pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That is also why the BY / SY b&m-ing from ECNL is such crocodile tears. There is ZERO problem recruiting in BY.

ECNL isn't going to birth year as a strategic move. It because it what has been requested from their customer (college coaches). That is what is driving the change. the ones who actually do the recruiting disagree that there is no problem recruiting by BY. They want to go go to a showcase and see players all in the same recruiting class, and not have to watch a game and determine who is what grad year.

Stop making stuff up! This absolutely is not true. You clearly have no clue what happens on top teams and in college recruitment. College coaches never show up to watch any team - they follow and watch specific players. Try to stay informed.

I know two D1 college soccer coaches. They most definitely show up to watch TEAMS at showcases. They do not have the resources to only scout specific players. Once they’ve identified players they want (usually after seeing them play in tournaments or showcases), they reach out to those players. They do not have the budgets to travel around the country to follow specific players and just watch their games - especially since there’s no guaranty those players will commit to their school.

You heard what you wanted to hear from your college coach friends. That is absolutely not what they do.

Do you think they fill a roster every year? If you need a CM and a CB for next year…do you watch a “TEAMs”? Do you have time to watch a full match to see if any other players stand out? Nope…coaches go to these evens on a mission, it’s not some romanticized discovery process.

They get tape sent from 100s of players. They send that to their assistants, who help zero in on a few names. Then those coaches go to watch those names in person for each position. When they go to watch Suzy Striker play, they are not looking at your Betty Leftback. Betty doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell with that coach if she wasn’t already on the radar.

Ok. I’ll let them know that one or two random parents on a soccer chat board think they’re doing it wrong.

Btw - I know the coaches because they were friends of mine growing up and we played soccer together in college (after we went through the college recruitment process). Coaches only need to see a kid play once or twice in person to know if they want you or not.

Sounds like a plan. And if I bump into any college coaches, I’ll make sure to ask if they also know of you, since you’ve decided to roll out the “I know a guy, therefore I am an expect” justification for your opinion.

I think you think college coaches are more adept than they actually are. Once upon a time they absolutely were the pinnacle of US soccer coaching - that ship sailed 20+ years ago. The best coaches in the US are in the club-to-pro pyramid.

I’ll grant you that you may personally know the two most inefficient college soccer coaches in the country, two of whom also apparently have unlimited amounts of time, resources and potentially an analytics team on staff to help them with their inefficiencies - after all they do end up with recruiting classes I assume. Also, apparently your college soccer coach friends are stuck in a recruiting system that was based on the HS pyramid, because you all went through it together when you played, and nothing ever changes according to your friend group.

And yes, college coaches, all knowing experts that they are, only need to see once or twice to make a snap decision. Thats why they waste all that extra time with private invites for practices and camps. And those kids on their shortlist that they go see live for the 3m on ball out of an 80-90m match, well if they’re off the shortlist the coaches just mosey over and watch some random team to find their target replacement…genius!

Dude…take the L…you’re an idiot, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Not the previous poster....you're right about most of the above, with the exception of the camps part. Those aren't wasted time for coaches....nor are they truly recruiting tools....they are revenue generators for the programs. Not saying that they don't find a kid or two, but the primary driver for those camps is $$$$.

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That is also why the BY / SY b&m-ing from ECNL is such crocodile tears. There is ZERO problem recruiting in BY.

ECNL isn't going to birth year as a strategic move. It because it what has been requested from their customer (college coaches). That is what is driving the change. the ones who actually do the recruiting disagree that there is no problem recruiting by BY. They want to go go to a showcase and see players all in the same recruiting class, and not have to watch a game and determine who is what grad year.

Stop making stuff up! This absolutely is not true. You clearly have no clue what happens on top teams and in college recruitment. College coaches never show up to watch any team - they follow and watch specific players. Try to stay informed.

I know two D1 college soccer coaches. They most definitely show up to watch TEAMS at showcases. They do not have the resources to only scout specific players. Once they’ve identified players they want (usually after seeing them play in tournaments or showcases), they reach out to those players. They do not have the budgets to travel around the country to follow specific players and just watch their games - especially since there’s no guaranty those players will commit to their school.

You heard what you wanted to hear from your college coach friends. That is absolutely not what they do.

Do you think they fill a roster every year? If you need a CM and a CB for next year…do you watch a “TEAMs”? Do you have time to watch a full match to see if any other players stand out? Nope…coaches go to these evens on a mission, it’s not some romanticized discovery process.

They get tape sent from 100s of players. They send that to their assistants, who help zero in on a few names. Then those coaches go to watch those names in person for each position. When they go to watch Suzy Striker play, they are not looking at your Betty Leftback. Betty doesn’t have a snowballs chance in hell with that coach if she wasn’t already on the radar.

Ok. I’ll let them know that one or two random parents on a soccer chat board think they’re doing it wrong.

Btw - I know the coaches because they were friends of mine growing up and we played soccer together in college (after we went through the college recruitment process). Coaches only need to see a kid play once or twice in person to know if they want you or not.

Sounds like a plan. And if I bump into any college coaches, I’ll make sure to ask if they also know of you, since you’ve decided to roll out the “I know a guy, therefore I am an expect” justification for your opinion.

I think you think college coaches are more adept than they actually are. Once upon a time they absolutely were the pinnacle of US soccer coaching - that ship sailed 20+ years ago. The best coaches in the US are in the club-to-pro pyramid.

I’ll grant you that you may personally know the two most inefficient college soccer coaches in the country, two of whom also apparently have unlimited amounts of time, resources and potentially an analytics team on staff to help them with their inefficiencies - after all they do end up with recruiting classes I assume. Also, apparently your college soccer coach friends are stuck in a recruiting system that was based on the HS pyramid, because you all went through it together when you played, and nothing ever changes according to your friend group.

And yes, college coaches, all knowing experts that they are, only need to see once or twice to make a snap decision. Thats why they waste all that extra time with private invites for practices and camps. And those kids on their shortlist that they go see live for the 3m on ball out of an 80-90m match, well if they’re off the shortlist the coaches just mosey over and watch some random team to find their target replacement…genius!

Dude…take the L…you’re an idiot, and you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I’ve been through the college soccer recruiting process and talk to two friends who are D1 soccer coaches, but you still claim to know more than me and the two guys who do it for a living. Love your ignorance and blind confidence.

Not sure who you think said the coaches “just mosey over and watch random teams”. But the college coaches have relationships and connections with lots of the club teams at showcases and tournaments. Most (all?) ECNL teams have people whose sole job is to network with college coaches and get the college coaches to come and watch their players at these things. And when the college coaches come over to watch those TEAMS play, they will also scout the team they are playing against. (Not sure why you think the college coaches wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player on the field.)

At these showcases, college coaches will also check out promising players that sent them tape. But when they do, they are scouting every player on the field in that game (not sure why you think they wouldn’t use the opportunity to scout every player they see play.)

And if your team makes the elimination round at one of these showcases or tournaments, there will for sure be college scouts randomly watching those teams/games. College scouts know that good players are on teams that make it to the elimination round of these events.

The main purpose for these showcases is for college scouts to find and recruit players that they have not yet seen, met, or heard of. While they’re at it, they’ll also take a moment to check out any players that reached out to them who will be playing in the showcase.

The coaches will also scout players that go to soccer camps put on by the coaches at that school. So if there is a college that your son/daughter wants to play at, see if that school has a soccer camp they can attend.

Take it or leave it. I lived it and have two friends who do it for a living. I’m posting here simply for the benefit of those parents who want to know how it works. If your son/daughter is a good player, even if they are on a mid-level or not good team, they will have scouts watching them at these events - even if the scout was there to watch another team or to see a different player in the game. And colleges are always looking for impact players, regardless of position.

You absolutely don’t live the current recruiting landscape AND grew up with two current college coaches. You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. Sorry you are so defensive that you’re unable to be wrong.

Yes, many coaches that don’t have a specific target recruit watch the finals but they aren’t scouting teams, they are scouting needs.

Coaches aren’t there “doing favors” for ECNL and scouting whole teams.

And again, congratulations for either being too myopic to understand what your college coach friends told you, OR, being friend with their two least efficient college coaches in college coaching. And that’s saying something, because college coaches as a whole are not the most impressive stock of football coaches.

(You also make a lot of assumptions that others on here haven’t gone through the recruiting process, and that others on here have had kids going through, or players, or have “college coach BFFs” - loose said yesterday, just because it came from your brain, doesn’t make it right)

You read things that aren’t written. No one said they only scout the finals. There are several elimination games prior to the finals. And several pool play games that they target to watch.

And college coaches don’t scout teams as a “favor” to anyone. They have clubs that they target (usually clubs in their school’s region) to scout each year because those clubs produce good college players. I’ve heard college coaches say, “I’ve been successful with players from X club”, or “for some reason, I haven’t had any luck when recruiting players from Y club”. I’ve heard them say “X club is one of the best around. I always try to get players from them.” The coaches don’t just sit in their office and hope that good players send them their highlights to watch. They don’t just hope that players accept invites to their camps.

Of course showcases are just one avenue. Of course players should be sending coaches their highlight tape and soccer profile/“resume”. There are articles about that all over the internet that people can look up.

But college coaches don’t recruit positions as you say (except goalie). They recruit impact players. They will move players (incoming players and existing players) to new positions to get the best players on the field. They don’t decide not to recruit a great striker because they already have two strikers returning from last season.

It’s great if you’ve been through the process, but you’re blind to certain things (especially how it plays out from the college coach’s side).

Your ignorance is showing. Colleges absolutely recruit for a position, and if it's filled they move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone corroborate this story I heard?

Heard that an MLS next team from Pittsburgh just stopped going to matches, because they were getting destroyed. MLS Next fined the club $100K. Parents on the team just refused to travel anymore after lopsided defeats.

Seems too fake since I've never heard of a team just refusing to keep going. The fine also seems hyperbolic.

Has anyone ever heard of ECNL teams just quitting mid season?

Well, there's not many MLS Next clubs in that area...there is a fine schedule on the MLS Next website that shows a $5000 fine / game of refusing to play. So, whole club quits, that would be it.

[Anonymous]

For 25/26, ECNL will recommend that clubs play up. And for the playoff next year, it will be SY-based.