Is GAL just letting anyone in? What ECNL should have done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

That is true, and, ECNL is a great venue. Takes a lot of money/travel but it is of course a great venue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

A country our size doesn't NEED two elite national leagues, but it would aid the development of future NT players if we had a two league tiered system. As it is, NT caliber players are spread far and wide, and would probably develop better if they were all playing together in a smaller league under federation support. One league does not allow this format, unless it was tiered and had pro/rel. However, with our pay to play culture, a pro/rel system is problematic because relegation would kill clubs financially. ECNL will not do that to member clubs. As it stands today, ECNL and GA both support the college aspirations of the mostly elite, but do a poor job for those players at the highest skill level.

We are talking about middle and high school soccer. Players develop at different rates and at different ages. Many of the star players in middle school will be over taken by other payers by high school. Look at all the national team call ups a u15/16 that are never heard from again. If you are really concerned about developing players for the national team you need a very large pool of players, less barriers to play(cost, travel, etc) and competitive pressure on clubs. One league for the country will leave a lot of players out, keep marginal coaches propped up and kills innovation.

Look at Rose Lavelle. Under the system you want she would not be playing on the national team. She had one option to play for an ECNL club in her hometown. She did not play for that club. She was either a late developer or more likely the coaches did not know what to do with her. She did not play for the national team till college.

If you have been around travel soccer you know clubs can be petty, coaching style and personality make a big difference and many coaches are very limited in the type of player they want(specially in the younger ages). Not much out side the box thinking. More options and more competition is the best thing to develop players. Let’s face it. If your daughter makes an ECNL team at u13 she will most likely remain on that team. There is very little competitive pressure on ECNL clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tine will tell but the teams around here are good and there is something to be said about good competition close. We are ECNL family but with many GA friends. I actually am a believer that the more opportunity the better. All these kids who stay in GA or ECNL can play in college. That is a great thing. Not everyone at UNC but not everyone wants a UNC. Find the team that best suits your child and it will all work out.

Everyone wants UNC very few can go to UNC

No one wants UNC anymore... come on.. it's not 1989

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

You seem to be annoyed that GA was created. What's the difference between those clubs drifting over to EDP, than joining GA? Aside from the name, it appears not much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tine will tell but the teams around here are good and there is something to be said about good competition close. We are ECNL family but with many GA friends. I actually am a believer that the more opportunity the better. All these kids who stay in GA or ECNL can play in college. That is a great thing. Not everyone at UNC but not everyone wants a UNC. Find the team that best suits your child and it will all work out.

Everyone wants UNC very few can go to UNC

No one wants UNC anymore... come on.. it's not 1989

Seriously the west coast(UCLA, Stanford, etc) is where it’s at. UNC plays some ugly soccer and has not won a title in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

[Anonymous]

How so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

Maybe. But GA and to a certain extent ECNL have standards clubs need to adhere to in order to keep the focus on players. These standards help shift away from the winning is everything mentality that clubs and parents seek (to the detriment of the players).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

EDP lacks a showcasing platform. That is what this is all about.