What are the benefits of playing in ECRL?
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Anonymous
It could happen. The ECNL/ GA teams really expand their rosters at U14 & U15. Some teams carry 20+ players and only dress 18 for the games. This is also at a time when kids realize the demands of HS are such that they do not want to do what it takes to play at the ECNL/GA level (4 team practices, game (s), and extra training every week = soccer 5-7 days per week) and decide to step down from ECNL/GA teams. There is more opportunity at U14&U15 than at the initial U13 tryout year. Her odds would be much better if she was: a.) "singled out" from Rec. as a standout player and asked to practice with the top team by the coach? But if: b.) the "whole team" given travel team status? Then, you have a lot of work in front of you. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| ECNL RL teams very rarely play in the top brackets of top tournaments, you will see top USYS teams playing in top flights. |
Anonymous
Thank you for all this information, it’s very helpful! |
Anonymous
| OP is your daughter on the Pre-ECRL team or lower? If lower you may top out at ECRL and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you are on the top team maybe it's worth looking at clubs with a higher level pathway, but if your happy with the club / current progress I wouldn't chase the badge. |
Anonymous
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supplement with some private training, quickest way to catch up.
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Anonymous
| Having the same dilemma for a boy at a club whose highest level is RL. Currently on the pre-ECNL RL team. It seems like clubs favor their current players for the higher level leagues so maybe best to try to get on one of those teams next year? Also trying to figure out if a club with a path to ECNL would be better, or MLSNext. I really don’t know. |
Anonymous
They absolutely favor their current players loyalty over outside players. Trust me, if you are in a pre-ECNL-RL club, you are seen as a 2nd team player and will probably be given an offer for their 2nd team. Heck, we've shown up to training groups at CAPSTONE and Next Star and we were automatically put in a lower skilled training group because the 1st group was for pre-ECNL kids. They usually only take outsiders on the 1st team if you are coming from a rival club and defecting from their 1st team. Everybody else has to work their way up until U13. Then be ready for a lot more kids coming into to get on the ECNL/ MLS Next team. |
Anonymous
| My advice is to put your girl where she will play the most. Mine was bench at that age and it killed her confidence for a few years after. Super skilled player but doesn’t have the swagger you need for top team, and I fault a terrible coach who fully benched 9 and 10 year olds. Have her play as much as she can. |
Anonymous
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Like everything else, it varies heavily. At the high school age, I know a lot of very good former ECNL players on RL teams. A number started for top ECNL teams for years.
A lot of ECRL girls around here make their HS varsity teams as freshmen. |
Anonymous
Top bracket at Jeff Cup has 3 boys and 4 girls RL teams |
Anonymous
... for U15 |