ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was curious about the oldest age groups and how this merger will affect them. From the ECNL rosters, we can see that:

Union has 8 trapped 2006 players plus 26 2007 players
Brave has 5 trapped 2006 players (maybe 7) plus 18 2007 players

Now, for a combined 06/07 FVU team, that's a total of 57 or 58 players and a max roster size of 30 with 18 being able to dress/play. That's really unfortunate for those girls, especially those for whom next year would have been their final year to play.

It’s unfortunate but on the bright side there are 2 GA programs in the area that the majority could go to, make the team and actually play: FCV and SYC. If your DD is one of the 23 BRAVE players, a Union 07 who doesn’t get rostered or comes off the bench, that should be the path forward.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How many girls are being rostered for ECNL teams at Union? How do they determine who plays in the matches?

Next year expect inflated rosters. Playing time will vary based on the coach. Expect many players to self select out in year 2.

Could be but you can only dress 18.

Why would the roster be more than 18 then?

McLean/VA Union ECNL carries rosters of well over 18 in most age groups for boys and girls. Only 18 can be rostered on game days. The rest sit.

BRAVE does not do this - no huge rosters with more players than can actually dress and play. It’s always the same team at every practice and game.

IMO announcing a cap of 18 players per ECNL team would do more to keep the best players than any one single action. Many top players are worried about accepting a 3/1 offer and then learning that there will be 30 on the roster - no ability to build chemistry, lots of "10 minutes left in the half, score tied, 7 subs come on to join you, other team immediately scores" moments.

Roster will be between 24-30

And this was acceptable to McLean players and families? Why?

There isn't deception going on. It's because some of those families were happy to pay the fee to practice with the ECNL team and develop with that team and coach and be rostered on weekends in EDP. That all works because enough people were interested in the program.

BRAVE rostered how many kids and why? Was it because they had 30 great players tryout and decided to only pick the best 14 or was is because lots of players have left and their current coaches do not attract outside talent.

Ask the 2009 Girls if you don't know the answer.

Why not also ask the other BRAVE girls teams that are doing well too rather than only use the example of the 1 that isn’t? These teams all have smaller rosters. There is great team dynamics and synergy since it’s the same players at every practice and game.

Define...doing well? I only see one current girls BRAVE team over .500

Outside of the 2011’s (who have a lot of former McLean and VYS), who is performing well in Arlington?

Outside of the 2010’s (largely from SYC), who is performing well from Union?

To the comment about the Arlington 2011 ECNL, thats not exactly right. There are several former Mclean players, one from BRAVE and no one from SYC. 9 members of the team have been together at Arlington since starting together at U8.

1 SYC

[Anonymous]

Good to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was curious about the oldest age groups and how this merger will affect them. From the ECNL rosters, we can see that:

Union has 8 trapped 2006 players plus 26 2007 players
Brave has 5 trapped 2006 players (maybe 7) plus 18 2007 players

Now, for a combined 06/07 FVU team, that's a total of 57 or 58 players and a max roster size of 30 with 18 being able to dress/play. That's really unfortunate for those girls, especially those for whom next year would have been their final year to play.

FVU is in not going to be Union 2.0, so hopefully now it will be smaller, realistic roster sizes made up of top players

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How many girls are being rostered for ECNL teams at Union? How do they determine who plays in the matches?

Next year expect inflated rosters. Playing time will vary based on the coach. Expect many players to self select out in year 2.

Could be but you can only dress 18.

Why would the roster be more than 18 then?

McLean/VA Union ECNL carries rosters of well over 18 in most age groups for boys and girls. Only 18 can be rostered on game days. The rest sit.

BRAVE does not do this - no huge rosters with more players than can actually dress and play. It’s always the same team at every practice and game.

IMO announcing a cap of 18 players per ECNL team would do more to keep the best players than any one single action. Many top players are worried about accepting a 3/1 offer and then learning that there will be 30 on the roster - no ability to build chemistry, lots of "10 minutes left in the half, score tied, 7 subs come on to join you, other team immediately scores" moments.

Roster will be between 24-30

And this was acceptable to McLean players and families? Why?

There isn't deception going on. It's because some of those families were happy to pay the fee to practice with the ECNL team and develop with that team and coach and be rostered on weekends in EDP. That all works because enough people were interested in the program.

BRAVE rostered how many kids and why? Was it because they had 30 great players tryout and decided to only pick the best 14 or was is because lots of players have left and their current coaches do not attract outside talent.

Ask the 2009 Girls if you don't know the answer.

Why not also ask the other BRAVE girls teams that are doing well too rather than only use the example of the 1 that isn’t? These teams all have smaller rosters. There is great team dynamics and synergy since it’s the same players at every practice and game.

Define...doing well? I only see one current girls BRAVE team over .500

Outside of the 2011’s (who have a lot of former McLean and VYS), who is performing well in Arlington?

Outside of the 2010’s (largely from SYC), who is performing well from Union?

To the comment about the Arlington 2011 ECNL, thats not exactly right. There are several former Mclean players, one from BRAVE and no one from SYC. 9 members of the team have been together at Arlington since starting together at U8.

False. SYC alumni are on the team.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, misstated that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was curious about the oldest age groups and how this merger will affect them. From the ECNL rosters, we can see that:

Union has 8 trapped 2006 players plus 26 2007 players
Brave has 5 trapped 2006 players (maybe 7) plus 18 2007 players

Now, for a combined 06/07 FVU team, that's a total of 57 or 58 players and a max roster size of 30 with 18 being able to dress/play. That's really unfortunate for those girls, especially those for whom next year would have been their final year to play.

It’s unfortunate but on the bright side there are 2 GA programs in the area that the majority could go to, make the team and actually play: FCV and SYC. If your DD is one of the 23 BRAVE players, a Union 07 who doesn’t get rostered or comes off the bench, that should be the path forward.

Isn’t FCV out in Loudoun? Not sure many want to do that drive during rush hour 3-4 times a week.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:How many girls are being rostered for ECNL teams at Union? How do they determine who plays in the matches?

Next year expect inflated rosters. Playing time will vary based on the coach. Expect many players to self select out in year 2.

Could be but you can only dress 18.

Why would the roster be more than 18 then?

McLean/VA Union ECNL carries rosters of well over 18 in most age groups for boys and girls. Only 18 can be rostered on game days. The rest sit.

BRAVE does not do this - no huge rosters with more players than can actually dress and play. It’s always the same team at every practice and game.

IMO announcing a cap of 18 players per ECNL team would do more to keep the best players than any one single action. Many top players are worried about accepting a 3/1 offer and then learning that there will be 30 on the roster - no ability to build chemistry, lots of "10 minutes left in the half, score tied, 7 subs come on to join you, other team immediately scores" moments.

Roster will be between 24-30

And this was acceptable to McLean players and families? Why?

There isn't deception going on. It's because some of those families were happy to pay the fee to practice with the ECNL team and develop with that team and coach and be rostered on weekends in EDP. That all works because enough people were interested in the program.

BRAVE rostered how many kids and why? Was it because they had 30 great players tryout and decided to only pick the best 14 or was is because lots of players have left and their current coaches do not attract outside talent.

Ask the 2009 Girls if you don't know the answer.

Why not also ask the other BRAVE girls teams that are doing well too rather than only use the example of the 1 that isn’t? These teams all have smaller rosters. There is great team dynamics and synergy since it’s the same players at every practice and game.

Define...doing well? I only see one current girls BRAVE team over .500

Outside of the 2011’s (who have a lot of former McLean and VYS), who is performing well in Arlington?

Outside of the 2010’s (largely from SYC), who is performing well from Union?

Every Union girls team is .500 or better. Did that answer your question?

[Anonymous]

The point was not to make a comment about SYC but rather that there is good talent in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

To the comment about the Arlington 2011 ECNL, thats not exactly right. There are several former Mclean players, one from BRAVE and no one from SYC. 9 members of the team have been together at Arlington since starting together at U8.

Wow the same 9 players were selected at tryouts as 7 year olds are strill on the top team now. Maybe you should give that persons info to all the teams in the premier league because they clearly have a skill no one else does. Or could this be a reason why Arlington's older teams get worse as they get older.

Maybe. Or maybe your info is wrong and some of those players worked their way up from the 2nd team each year and the younger age coaches should get some credit for not overlooking the idea of promoting talent from inside the club.

[Anonymous]

True too. Good point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many girls are being rostered for ECNL teams at Union? How do they determine who plays in the matches?

Next year expect inflated rosters. Playing time will vary based on the coach. Expect many players to self select out in year 2.

Could be but you can only dress 18.

Why would the roster be more than 18 then?

McLean/VA Union ECNL carries rosters of well over 18 in most age groups for boys and girls. Only 18 can be rostered on game days. The rest sit.

BRAVE does not do this - no huge rosters with more players than can actually dress and play. It’s always the same team at every practice and game.

IMO announcing a cap of 18 players per ECNL team would do more to keep the best players than any one single action. Many top players are worried about accepting a 3/1 offer and then learning that there will be 30 on the roster - no ability to build chemistry, lots of "10 minutes left in the half, score tied, 7 subs come on to join you, other team immediately scores" moments.

Roster will be between 24-30

And this was acceptable to McLean players and families? Why?

There isn't deception going on. It's because some of those families were happy to pay the fee to practice with the ECNL team and develop with that team and coach and be rostered on weekends in EDP. That all works because enough people were interested in the program.

BRAVE rostered how many kids and why? Was it because they had 30 great players tryout and decided to only pick the best 14 or was is because lots of players have left and their current coaches do not attract outside talent.

Ask the 2009 Girls if you don't know the answer.

Why not also ask the other BRAVE girls teams that are doing well too rather than only use the example of the 1 that isn’t? These teams all have smaller rosters. There is great team dynamics and synergy since it’s the same players at every practice and game.

Define...doing well? I only see one current girls BRAVE team over .500

Outside of the 2011’s (who have a lot of former McLean and VYS), who is performing well in Arlington?

Outside of the 2010’s (largely from SYC), who is performing well from Union?

Every Union girls team is .500 or better. Did that answer your question?

Is .500 or better the standard? 3 of the 6 Brave girls teams hit that standard.

[Anonymous]

When are coaches coming out?
They said middle if week it’s Wednesday night.

[Anonymous]

BRYC just canceled ALL practices. It’s not like they ever do that so wondering if this is tied into the coaching skate and maybe meeting with coaches? Maybe I’m reading too much into it but it’s very odd especially with tourneys this weekend.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My teenager's ECNL team has had 22 on the roster this year, and it's worked out fine - actually, surprisingly well for all players. In the past I've criticized the club for having deep rosters, so I was skeptical at the beginning of the season. I credit the coach's management of the roster.

Do the same group of kids not play in league matches (actually not dress, thanks to substitution rules, most wont play in a given match)? Do the kids who don't dress for games think it is working out fine?

All 22 dress, only 18 are actually rostered. If not rostered, they still show up, participate in warm-ups and watch the game; and there's always the possibility of game day substitution (i.e., a rostered player wakes up sick on game day). Of course players are disappointed when they aren't rostered. But they're free to discuss the reason with the coach, and the coach provides meaningful feedback. Again, it works because of the team chemistry (players evenly matched, for the most part) and the thought the coach puts into selecting game day rosters.

So huge rosters, uncertainty of who the team is per game, disappointed players, and reduced playing time per player?! And McLean players and families have been ok with this?

I don't consider 22 players a "huge" roster for high school players, especially given the potential for injury. Competition is part of life, as are uncertainty and disappointment. There's more to participating in youth soccer, even at the ECNL level, than the number a minutes a player gets to play per game.

Except (1) the rosters are bigger than 22, (2) most other ECNL clubs nationally cap their rosters at 18-20 to ensure development individually and as a team, (3) it’s not college where you expect you might sit. You pay to be developed and to play. You can’t develop through practice alone.