Giant Rosters in u16?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2014 kid in a fairly big academy in the DMV. I was talking with a fellow Dad who also has a 2010 kid who plays in the ECNL RL team. He tells me that his RL team has around 19 players, which makes sense because I hear they have many injuries at that age. However, what blew my mind is that he then went on to mention that the main ECNL team currently has 26 players and that they will take new players at any time of the season.
We are talking about 26 families that will be spending close to $30k per year (travel/lodging/food) and most of those players will either not play or play very little. Not to mention that it becomes nearly impossible for an RL player to get an opportunity to move up.
Is this par for the course in the ECNL world? I just cannot wrap my head around the complete disregard for players and families. I can't help but feel that things have gotten off the rails somewhere...
Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2014 kid in a fairly big academy in the DMV. I was talking with a fellow Dad who also has a 2010 kid who plays in the ECNL RL team. He tells me that his RL team has around 19 players, which makes sense because I hear they have many injuries at that age. However, what blew my mind is that he then went on to mention that the main ECNL team currently has 26 players and that they will take new players at any time of the season.
We are talking about 26 families that will be spending close to $30k per year (travel/lodging/food) and most of those players will either not play or play very little. Not to mention that it becomes nearly impossible for an RL player to get an opportunity to move up.
Is this par for the course in the ECNL world? I just cannot wrap my head around the complete disregard for players and families. I can't help but feel that things have gotten off the rails somewhere...
Any thoughts?

my daughter is on a U17 GA team. 26 rostered. 4 are currently injured and out for the Fall. Over 10 of them are in High School season in either private or MD based schools. We play in GA but also have supplemental games in EDP and opportunities with the Aspire team in addition to 4-5 tournaments/showcases a season. Everyone gets plenty of time to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2014 kid in a fairly big academy in the DMV. I was talking with a fellow Dad who also has a 2010 kid who plays in the ECNL RL team. He tells me that his RL team has around 19 players, which makes sense because I hear they have many injuries at that age. However, what blew my mind is that he then went on to mention that the main ECNL team currently has 26 players and that they will take new players at any time of the season.
We are talking about 26 families that will be spending close to $30k per year (travel/lodging/food) and most of those players will either not play or play very little. Not to mention that it becomes nearly impossible for an RL player to get an opportunity to move up.
Is this par for the course in the ECNL world? I just cannot wrap my head around the complete disregard for players and families. I can't help but feel that things have gotten off the rails somewhere...
Any thoughts?

This why foreign coaches come in drove$$$$$$$

Extremely shameful players not playing

[Anonymous]

Omg where did you get the $30k figure from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2014 kid in a fairly big academy in the DMV. I was talking with a fellow Dad who also has a 2010 kid who plays in the ECNL RL team. He tells me that his RL team has around 19 players, which makes sense because I hear they have many injuries at that age. However, what blew my mind is that he then went on to mention that the main ECNL team currently has 26 players and that they will take new players at any time of the season.
We are talking about 26 families that will be spending close to $30k per year (travel/lodging/food) and most of those players will either not play or play very little. Not to mention that it becomes nearly impossible for an RL player to get an opportunity to move up.
Is this par for the course in the ECNL world? I just cannot wrap my head around the complete disregard for players and families. I can't help but feel that things have gotten off the rails somewhere...
Any thoughts?

The change from birth year to school year changes teams dynamics with trap players. Clubs are taking this into account for the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg where did you get the $30k figure from?

Just for perspective, a friend has his 2014 playing in my same academy in the top Pre-ECNL team (meaning not actual ECNL until next year). We are in mid October. Season started 2 months ago. My friend tells me that they have played 4 tournaments up to this point (including one in Ohio). He tells me that in these first 2 months, he has already spent around $5k just in travel/lodging/car rentals/food.

[Anonymous]

That $30K number is absolutely crazy. My son plays on a 2010 ECNL team and I'd estimate we've spent less than $1K so far this season (exclusive of club fees) and that's accounting for hotels, gas, food, etc. Even with the club fees and two tournaments involving air travel, there's no way we'll top $15K this year, maybe not even $10K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That $30K number is absolutely crazy. My son plays on a 2010 ECNL team and I'd estimate we've spent less than $1K so far this season (exclusive of club fees) and that's accounting for hotels, gas, food, etc. Even with the club fees and two tournaments involving air travel, there's no way we'll top $15K this year, maybe not even $10K.

$30k seems off but my kid plays on a GA and we will have at least 5 out of town showcases/tournaments requiring multiple hotel nights each in high cost locations.. 3 of the trips will also require plane travel, rental cars. $20k seems possible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg where did you get the $30k figure from?

Exactly.. no way your year is 30k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That $30K number is absolutely crazy. My son plays on a 2010 ECNL team and I'd estimate we've spent less than $1K so far this season (exclusive of club fees) and that's accounting for hotels, gas, food, etc. Even with the club fees and two tournaments involving air travel, there's no way we'll top $15K this year, maybe not even $10K.

$30k seems off but my kid plays on a GA and we will have at least 5 out of town showcases/tournaments requiring multiple hotel nights each in high cost locations.. 3 of the trips will also require plane travel, rental cars. $20k seems possible

Yeap...Sounds crazy, but if your ECNL team goes far and your club is overly ambitious and enters them into several far away tournaments/showcases, $30k per year is certainly possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg where did you get the $30k figure from?

Rocket Money exists because most people don’t track their spending in Quicken or another tool.

ECNL travel can add up quickly if you are bringing the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg where did you get the $30k figure from?

Exactly.. no way your year is 30k

Ok. $15k-$20k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2014 kid in a fairly big academy in the DMV. I was talking with a fellow Dad who also has a 2010 kid who plays in the ECNL RL team. He tells me that his RL team has around 19 players, which makes sense because I hear they have many injuries at that age. However, what blew my mind is that he then went on to mention that the main ECNL team currently has 26 players and that they will take new players at any time of the season.
We are talking about 26 families that will be spending close to $30k per year (travel/lodging/food) and most of those players will either not play or play very little. Not to mention that it becomes nearly impossible for an RL player to get an opportunity to move up.
Is this par for the course in the ECNL world? I just cannot wrap my head around the complete disregard for players and families. I can't help but feel that things have gotten off the rails somewhere...
Any thoughts?

Families believe their kid must be on an ECNL roster (at least) to play in college. They rotate the players at the showcases for the college coaches/ highlight film. Families pay and believe this and clubs cash in. They attract more families and transfers this way.

[Anonymous]

but realistically, you know your kid isn't playing in college if they are one of the kids who is getting rotated and not playing in games. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:but realistically, you know your kid isn't playing in college if they are one of the kids who is getting rotated and not playing in games. Right?

-Wrong. That is a Terrible Take. That can depend on the club. Some ECNL teams are stacked and there is depth of quality on the bench too. Also, too many posters on this forum put playing in college way too high up on a pedestal that makes it seem like that prospect unattainable unless they are starters for the very best team a leagues. It doesn't matter if you are a starter or not, if you look around, most players at that level should be able to find a spot in college. Comb through D3 schools in the centennial conference, you will find lots of open roster spots.