Pipeline to ECNL
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Anonymous
I don't think that's either rumor or speculation - just plain trolling. Even if Pipeline does leave (which is currently rumor and speculation until we learn otherwise, random anonymous coaches notwithstanding) Armour won't fold immediately, at least on the boys side. Most of the young boys teams are SAC players, so no great loss there. I doubt existing older DA players are going to quit and go back to Pipeline to play ECNL when they have already invested time into academy and are being looked at, or about to be looked at, by college coaches. ECNL, on the boys side, isn't yet on the same level as DA (though may be one day, especially if they can pull more good clubs from DA). So, very little should change next year. If Pipeline as a club leaves Pipeline players are still going to be eligible for Armour just like kids from any other club. Armour won't turn away good players - hell, I'm sure they would be more than happy to poach them much like DA clubs like to poach from each other. The Pipeline players who want more college looks than ECNL can currently provide may still end up at Armour. Even if they don't all it means is that Armour coaches will have to step up their recruiting a bit and do a better job getting players from other local clubs, especially some of the players in eastern Montgomery and PG counties who might otherwise have gone to DCU. In a few years, if ECNL boys keeps growing, then who knows. But in that scenario it's not just Armour going away, it's half the DA. |
Anonymous
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Pipeline will get Girls ECNL. Baltimore Armour will keep DA Girls. Celtic will not get approved.
John Ellinger, who is the Director of Development at SAC, who personally trained both Santino and Landon Donavan, will manage DA. Pipeline girls will give option to play DA if they so choose. DA players will no longer be given a “pass” to play HS soccer. DA is supposedly to remain best option for Elite players. Pipeline/SAC relationship stays intact. Deal could still fall apart...this is the latest and greatest. -Coach Doe |
Anonymous
That's a fairly good analysis and a thoughtful post. |
Anonymous
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Go to 12:30s mark of this Podcast. It is an interview with Santino Q. of Pipeline from the Coach's convention a couple weeks ago. Gives you an idea of what is going through his head.
https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVzb2NjZXJ3aXJlcG9kY2FzdC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw&episode=MjI1MDM0NTEtZDA0YS00YTg4LWJiZTEtYmM0Y2I4MTU3NGUy&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjciNrR-KjnAhVehXIEHeyoC7sQjrkEegQIBxAG&ep=6 |
Anonymous
It kind of reinforces what "Coach Doe" says. |
Anonymous
"99.9%...the one percenters". lol |
Anonymous
He clearly believes in HS, it would help pipeline out financially and their teams wouldn't lose players...i'd be shocked if this didn't happen |
Anonymous
Not a single coach believes in High School. ECNL folks simply found that allowing HS is a way to distinguish their league from DA. It is nothing more than marketing and the 99% are gullible enough to believe that compressed seasons, multiple games a week, unlimited subs (HS) allowing overly aggressive and less technical soccer is good for all because "school spirit". Did anyone watch the USWNT against Haiti in the Olympic qualifier last night? Did you notice the crowd? The stadium had perhaps 500 people in it for the Women's National team. This fantasy that the HS stadium is packed full like a football game is just not reality. |
Anonymous
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Agreed
ECNL/HS soccer fits the 'American' win at all costs mentality. Outcome over process. Financially beneficial to all involved. But ECNL presents less headaches than DA |
Anonymous
Your myopia is epic. Club coaches probably don't "believe" in HS soccer as a good development platform. It isn't, and for the most part, does not pretend to be so. But these coaches do believe that there is an entire class of elite players that love to play HS, and they acknowledge that as a club, they don't have to be so rigid with our training mantra that they exclude this whole class of player. The reality is these clubs are businesses and they need these girls. For the majority of elite players, ECNL's high school concession, costs little in terms of skill development, and gains alot in social and psychological development. That's just the way it is today. Horses for courses. |
Anonymous
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Sorry but most kids enjoy playing HS sports, including HS soccer. I would argue that 75% or more of kids who are playing DI soccer played HS soccer. It is part of the HS experience.
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Anonymous
No, they do not believe in HS soccer. All they know is their customers do so they market to that. They would much rather your kid not play HS. They would rather play a less compressed fall season. If you are Virginia based club they would rather take a team to Nationals that has been working together through the spring consistently also having the kids play 20 plus HS games in 3 months. Most HS schedules are 2-3 games a week with only a day off. So training is poor and the kids just really do not get a break. So you tanked an entire quality ECNL season of games and training to play rec soccer in front of empty stands, sub par training, 6 days of soccer a week, 2-3 games a week, unlimited subs to accommodate the lack of proper recovery time, soccer styles that rely on direct athletic soccer because what else can be trained in 4 months just to hear your name during the morning announcements. In contrast a spring DA schedule consists of 12 league games before their showcase. If you fancy playing elite soccer at the ECNL or DA level then HS soccer is unhealthy and a severe distraction. For regular club soccer sure. But if your kid wants to play in college be the adult in the room and have them look at the big picture. HS is crap, when they play it will become evident to them. It is ok, ODP is bad now, State Cup is watered down and meaningless with DA and ECNL. Lots of things changed since when you were in HS. I just can't fathom the investment in something like ECNL and only getting 6 months of training and quality games out of it so that my kid can play crap soccer in HS and receive bad training there on top of it. |
Anonymous
When soccer leagues shut down to accommodate a HS season kids who want to play soccer have no real choice now do they? If ECNL kept a regular season going during HS you might see far more push back from your ECNL coach. The coach who is going to be the first point of contact for a college coach. |
Anonymous
Sorry, but most don't. They get frustrated with teammates who don't understand the game thr way they do, or coaches that don't and just want a lot of long balls to the fast kid. But they would rather play it than not play at all. |
Anonymous
There is no way that the da is going to stop giving waivers on the boy’s side. Too many kids who are at private schools to play soccer on Baltimore Armour. |