ECNL rising, GA falling . . . Where will the 06 and younger D1-thinking girls go?

[Anonymous]

Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

Ok. That makes some sense but does anyone think ECNL staffers are on this forum. It’s just parents like me trying to make sense of this crazy landscape so we can put our kids in the best position to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

Ok. That makes some sense but does anyone think ECNL staffers are on this forum. It’s just parents like me trying to make sense of this crazy landscape so we can put our kids in the best position to succeed.

Absolutely. Yes, they are. And also some parents who know nothing about soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

Ok. That makes some sense but does anyone think ECNL staffers are on this forum. It’s just parents like me trying to make sense of this crazy landscape so we can put our kids in the best position to succeed.

Absolutely. Yes, they are. And also some parents who know nothing about soccer.

Cookoo. Cookoo. That’s what I think if anyone believes ECNL staff are on forums around the US disparaging non-ECNL leagues. If you believe that, I have magic soccer beans for sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

Ok. That makes some sense but does anyone think ECNL staffers are on this forum. It’s just parents like me trying to make sense of this crazy landscape so we can put our kids in the best position to succeed.

Absolutely. Yes, they are. And also some parents who know nothing about soccer.

Cookoo. Cookoo. That’s what I think if anyone believes ECNL staff are on forums around the US disparaging non-ECNL leagues. If you believe that, I have magic soccer beans for sale.

I would have more respect for actual staffers saying these things than actual parents talking about a league the way they do.

[Anonymous]

This is like Protestants versus Catholics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t act like you don’t understand Richmond. We are wise to your game. This is the DMV not the RVA.

I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What about Richmond? Do you think people from Richmond are on this forum just to mess with us?

ECNL headquarters is in Richmond

Ok. That makes some sense but does anyone think ECNL staffers are on this forum. It’s just parents like me trying to make sense of this crazy landscape so we can put our kids in the best position to succeed.

Absolutely. Yes, they are. And also some parents who know nothing about soccer.

Cookoo. Cookoo. That’s what I think if anyone believes ECNL staff are on forums around the US disparaging non-ECNL leagues. If you believe that, I have magic soccer beans for sale.

Says the ECNL staffer...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread relates to girls, as the title says. Girls ECNL is a different discussion from boys ECNL.

That is true and thank you. I'd like to say that I think a poster said it best previously with "now that dust is settling". Talented girls almost always gravitate to ECNL. With the DA folding, the GAL unfolding, the movement of MW to VDA, the coaching staff swaps of SYC/LMVSC, and lastly COVID let to a lot less of that movement this year. It will return in full force.

ECNL Teams:
McLean and Loudoun will get stronger because, sadly, FCV will see fewer players as they opt for McLean and Loudoun. They should have never left ECNL.
VDA will get stronger as MW continues to build their program.
BRYC will get stronger simply because where they sit. They can pick off players from SYC, Alexandria, Vienna, possibly even the cream of Arlington (unless Arlington gets ECNL)

GAL Teams:
Arlington is the only GAL team that will come out as 'non impacted' next year.
Metro will really suffer.
FCV, as stated above, likely to be hurt.

Non-ECNL, Non-GAL Teams:
Best players will keep feeding into their nearest ECNL, GAL teams. If DD is talented AND serious about soccer, U13, U14 should be last years 'playing with friends'. They'll make friends on new teams, and they'll be playing better soccer. U15, U16, U17 is harder to break into a roster but the really good players will do so.

Arlington will lose players to McLean. No one is sticking around for this

Funny. Our DD and 2 of her friends are leaving McLean this year for Arlington. MYS is floundering and making excuses for its performance. Lately, they’ve made a big push to get kids from other clubs to come to them. We just figured that if McLean is trying so hard to get Arlington kids to come to them, Arlington must actually be developing players. I’m surprised about all this ECNL/GA debate - it’s like AFC v. NFC or NL v. AL. No serious player cares about the league. (Probably because they don’t have to)

Player "A" and Player "B" are interested for the same roster spot at same D1 school. Both have similar grades and SAT scores.

Player "A" is a talented leading player for a good GA Club but the competition against her is weak because of GA clubs. She shines against this competition in front of recruiting coach.

Player "B" is a talented role player at a good ECNL team. Her competition is extremely strong and fast. She hold her own and has good showings in her showcases.

Who is the coach going to offer the roster position to?

You see, "serious" players are going to understand that in order to be better, you have to play against better or play with the best. Otherwise, you are taking the easy way out and that is not something many benefit from.

You forgot “Coach of Player B is in the network, has done this for years, knows all the college coaches especially locally, and is advocating for the kids. Coach of Player A is new and doesn’t really have the same level of network yet.” This is part of why Mclean persists in attracting good players at the college recruiting ages. Their 2004 ECNL team improved tremendously with an influx of players over the last two years. And by the way, still lost to the Arlington 04 GA team in a scrimmage a few weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread relates to girls, as the title says. Girls ECNL is a different discussion from boys ECNL.

That is true and thank you. I'd like to say that I think a poster said it best previously with "now that dust is settling". Talented girls almost always gravitate to ECNL. With the DA folding, the GAL unfolding, the movement of MW to VDA, the coaching staff swaps of SYC/LMVSC, and lastly COVID let to a lot less of that movement this year. It will return in full force.

ECNL Teams:
McLean and Loudoun will get stronger because, sadly, FCV will see fewer players as they opt for McLean and Loudoun. They should have never left ECNL.
VDA will get stronger as MW continues to build their program.
BRYC will get stronger simply because where they sit. They can pick off players from SYC, Alexandria, Vienna, possibly even the cream of Arlington (unless Arlington gets ECNL)

GAL Teams:
Arlington is the only GAL team that will come out as 'non impacted' next year.
Metro will really suffer.
FCV, as stated above, likely to be hurt.

Non-ECNL, Non-GAL Teams:
Best players will keep feeding into their nearest ECNL, GAL teams. If DD is talented AND serious about soccer, U13, U14 should be last years 'playing with friends'. They'll make friends on new teams, and they'll be playing better soccer. U15, U16, U17 is harder to break into a roster but the really good players will do so.

Arlington will lose players to McLean. No one is sticking around for this

Funny. Our DD and 2 of her friends are leaving McLean this year for Arlington. MYS is floundering and making excuses for its performance. Lately, they’ve made a big push to get kids from other clubs to come to them. We just figured that if McLean is trying so hard to get Arlington kids to come to them, Arlington must actually be developing players. I’m surprised about all this ECNL/GA debate - it’s like AFC v. NFC or NL v. AL. No serious player cares about the league. (Probably because they don’t have to)

Player "A" and Player "B" are interested for the same roster spot at same D1 school. Both have similar grades and SAT scores.

Player "A" is a talented leading player for a good GA Club but the competition against her is weak because of GA clubs. She shines against this competition in front of recruiting coach.

Player "B" is a talented role player at a good ECNL team. Her competition is extremely strong and fast. She hold her own and has good showings in her showcases.

Who is the coach going to offer the roster position to?

You see, "serious" players are going to understand that in order to be better, you have to play against better or play with the best. Otherwise, you are taking the easy way out and that is not something many benefit from.

College coaches are not interested in players who cannot even start on their own youth club team. A role player/sub who simply “holds her own” is not going to impress the college coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread relates to girls, as the title says. Girls ECNL is a different discussion from boys ECNL.

That is true and thank you. I'd like to say that I think a poster said it best previously with "now that dust is settling". Talented girls almost always gravitate to ECNL. With the DA folding, the GAL unfolding, the movement of MW to VDA, the coaching staff swaps of SYC/LMVSC, and lastly COVID let to a lot less of that movement this year. It will return in full force.

ECNL Teams:
McLean and Loudoun will get stronger because, sadly, FCV will see fewer players as they opt for McLean and Loudoun. They should have never left ECNL.
VDA will get stronger as MW continues to build their program.
BRYC will get stronger simply because where they sit. They can pick off players from SYC, Alexandria, Vienna, possibly even the cream of Arlington (unless Arlington gets ECNL)

GAL Teams:
Arlington is the only GAL team that will come out as 'non impacted' next year.
Metro will really suffer.
FCV, as stated above, likely to be hurt.

Non-ECNL, Non-GAL Teams:
Best players will keep feeding into their nearest ECNL, GAL teams. If DD is talented AND serious about soccer, U13, U14 should be last years 'playing with friends'. They'll make friends on new teams, and they'll be playing better soccer. U15, U16, U17 is harder to break into a roster but the really good players will do so.

Arlington will lose players to McLean. No one is sticking around for this

Funny. Our DD and 2 of her friends are leaving McLean this year for Arlington. MYS is floundering and making excuses for its performance. Lately, they’ve made a big push to get kids from other clubs to come to them. We just figured that if McLean is trying so hard to get Arlington kids to come to them, Arlington must actually be developing players. I’m surprised about all this ECNL/GA debate - it’s like AFC v. NFC or NL v. AL. No serious player cares about the league. (Probably because they don’t have to)

Player "A" and Player "B" are interested for the same roster spot at same D1 school. Both have similar grades and SAT scores.

Player "A" is a talented leading player for a good GA Club but the competition against her is weak because of GA clubs. She shines against this competition in front of recruiting coach.

Player "B" is a talented role player at a good ECNL team. Her competition is extremely strong and fast. She hold her own and has good showings in her showcases.

Who is the coach going to offer the roster position to?

You see, "serious" players are going to understand that in order to be better, you have to play against better or play with the best. Otherwise, you are taking the easy way out and that is not something many benefit from.

You forgot “Coach of Player B is in the network, has done this for years, knows all the college coaches especially locally, and is advocating for the kids. Coach of Player A is new and doesn’t really have the same level of network yet.” This is part of why Mclean persists in attracting good players at the college recruiting ages. Their 2004 ECNL team improved tremendously with an influx of players over the last two years. And by the way, still lost to the Arlington 04 GA team in a scrimmage a few weeks ago.

God help the teacher or coach who tries to tell me that it is crucial for my kid to have access to a network to succeed. I did not, and my kid won’t, and if networks matter more than development and talent, we will be happy to call it a day and focus on academics and other pursuits. Those without top-level talent inevitably revert to this for edge, and just as indictable, it catches up with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this turned ugly lol

How else do you think ECNL plays?

Knee slapper.

It’s absolutely astonishing that some parents, with zero understanding, think that GA is a player or even a viable alternative for ECNL.

ECNL is king
The USSF tried to steal it (Let that sink in)
The ECNL and DA were about even for two years
The DA collapsed and everyone ran back to ECNL
The GA emerged under Tophat leadership
The GA is laughable compared to their big sis, the DA
Every club in GAME would take ECNL right now.

Thanks Richmond.

Seriously, what parent who’s kid is talented, on a good team and will be showcased and recruited talks like this?

It is odd that no teams in particular are mentioned, just the league. And on top of it, this seems to be a very League centric point of view completely dismissing the DD’s club, team and coach.

It seems to me, if my kid was on a particular team and I wanted to improve that team I’d talk about the team and not the league.

This isn’t how most parents really talk or think. Keep coming here though Richmond.

If that person mentioned a particular team, you’d say “aaahhh that’s only one example” and so on. The write up you responded to is a more strategic viewpoint, like telling you what’s going on from 30,000 feet. Won’t know all the details, but can tell you what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread relates to girls, as the title says. Girls ECNL is a different discussion from boys ECNL.

That is true and thank you. I'd like to say that I think a poster said it best previously with "now that dust is settling". Talented girls almost always gravitate to ECNL. With the DA folding, the GAL unfolding, the movement of MW to VDA, the coaching staff swaps of SYC/LMVSC, and lastly COVID let to a lot less of that movement this year. It will return in full force.

ECNL Teams:
McLean and Loudoun will get stronger because, sadly, FCV will see fewer players as they opt for McLean and Loudoun. They should have never left ECNL.
VDA will get stronger as MW continues to build their program.
BRYC will get stronger simply because where they sit. They can pick off players from SYC, Alexandria, Vienna, possibly even the cream of Arlington (unless Arlington gets ECNL)

GAL Teams:
Arlington is the only GAL team that will come out as 'non impacted' next year.
Metro will really suffer.
FCV, as stated above, likely to be hurt.

Non-ECNL, Non-GAL Teams:
Best players will keep feeding into their nearest ECNL, GAL teams. If DD is talented AND serious about soccer, U13, U14 should be last years 'playing with friends'. They'll make friends on new teams, and they'll be playing better soccer. U15, U16, U17 is harder to break into a roster but the really good players will do so.

Arlington will lose players to McLean. No one is sticking around for this

Funny. Our DD and 2 of her friends are leaving McLean this year for Arlington. MYS is floundering and making excuses for its performance. Lately, they’ve made a big push to get kids from other clubs to come to them. We just figured that if McLean is trying so hard to get Arlington kids to come to them, Arlington must actually be developing players. I’m surprised about all this ECNL/GA debate - it’s like AFC v. NFC or NL v. AL. No serious player cares about the league. (Probably because they don’t have to)

Player "A" and Player "B" are interested for the same roster spot at same D1 school. Both have similar grades and SAT scores.

Player "A" is a talented leading player for a good GA Club but the competition against her is weak because of GA clubs. She shines against this competition in front of recruiting coach.

Player "B" is a talented role player at a good ECNL team. Her competition is extremely strong and fast. She hold her own and has good showings in her showcases.

Who is the coach going to offer the roster position to?

You see, "serious" players are going to understand that in order to be better, you have to play against better or play with the best. Otherwise, you are taking the easy way out and that is not something many benefit from.

You forgot “Coach of Player B is in the network, has done this for years, knows all the college coaches especially locally, and is advocating for the kids. Coach of Player A is new and doesn’t really have the same level of network yet.” This is part of why Mclean persists in attracting good players at the college recruiting ages. Their 2004 ECNL team improved tremendously with an influx of players over the last two years. And by the way, still lost to the Arlington 04 GA team in a scrimmage a few weeks ago.

Coach of Player B is in the network because he is honest about his players. The trusted Coach of Player B does not even start Player B. THAT is what the coach of Player B ultimately thinks of Player B.

But kudos to you, you made “sub player” sound better by calling her a “role player”.

Don’t get me wrong, she will get recruited eventually, but not ahead of her teammates and certainly not ahead of a talented and starting GA player.

[Anonymous]

If there was no COVID, DA might not have folded as bad but it also helped prevent ECNL taking all the top ex-DA players. Now that we are coming back to a normalized society, we’ll see ECNL clubs be the destination club for many of the best players. It’s just the way it is. Yes, McLean doesn’t have great track record of developing players. They don’t need to, because players go there for the older teams and coaches. Because of the platform (league).

And that’s why VDA will succeed and BRYC will return to a viable option. But if Arlington ever gets girls ECNL, lawd have mercy.