What I dont understand about many ECNL parents is that they like to backpack off the top teams in their league. You see it all the time in lower level ECNL team parents. They try to justify not winning because they've bought into the league being so much more difficult. Getting worked week after week by top teams isnt a badge of honor and doesnt attract recruiter attention. You're just crash test dummies that haven't figured it out yet. You're funding the top teams players scholorships. Maybe its time to reassess. Maybe its time to check out a GA club. ![]() |
Exactly. Slapping a badge on some random club in the middle of North Dakota, with no talented kids, isnāt going to make them good. |
Or the same for metro area. |
I donāt get parents who pay for ECNL or GA to either:
A) be on a team ranked lower than ~150 and travel all over the country just to get beat 7-0 by Sting Or B) have your kid on end of bench playing 10-15 min a game. Or Both You can get a great coach and program in almost any metro area for half the fee and 25% of the travel. If you are on a lower ranked team you are looking at a handful of D1 opportunities AT MOST per team. And if you are on the bench for anyone lower than probably top 50 you aināt going D1 either. Save the money and time and play with the top USYS team in your area! |
Sure, just making a calendar change is easy way to force change BUT if we've learned anything is savvy soccer parents will be playing games to get what they think they want. |
USYS -- especially with Elite 64 -- does just as much travel. |
In my area E64 is no more than 2.5-3 hour drive. GA and ECNL longest trip more than double that. But assume different geographies have different issues. |
My kid is a Q4 (U11/U12) and to some degree, I want the decision to be taken out of our hands. Our club told us that they will move everyone to school year, but who knows if it is that strong of a rule, but that is what we were explicitly told, and gives me a little anxiety relief. I really dont know what is in his/ she best interest as they are our oldest sibling and we are learning as we go. He/ She has always played at the highest level and plays at one of the better clubs in the area for when of the better teams in he/ she age group. However, I feel like my kid is growing slower relative to peers, mentally and a bit physically. He/ She isnt necessarily the smallest, middle of the pack, but lacks a level of maturity that I see with others. He/She loves the game and I keep waiting for it to click, but it is really hard. I see the argument that leveling to school year will have them back to where they are in a few years, but could also become a major confidence boost that springs he/she into their teenage years. Also, it seems like there is a lot of benefit for an extra year at 9v9 as he/she isnt making decisions fast enough. I am sharing our story in case there are others feeling a similar way. |
True, BUT E64, you still had to go to places like Arizona and Texas for the national events -- and not that many scouts, especially compared to ECNL or GA. |
I am not sure this is entirely true. My kidās ECNL RL team was poor this last season. He moved to a higher level team within ECNL RL and has been told that he will play with the ECNL team some matches. He is late December. Anyhow, his team last season had a dreadful game against his current team, although my son played well in that match. His new coach told us my son stood out to him during the match and that he is very glad to have him on his team this season. He also remarked that my sonās former team also had 2 other very good players. Good coaches and recruiters evaluate each player individually. No such thing as black and white. Take Pedri. He was in a club that got relegated, but Barcelona bought him anyway. |
Parents want their kid on a good team so they are willing to sit instead of getting on a team that is lower ranking and getting playing time. |
Your child loves the game. As long as he / she continues to love the game, they will become a great player. There are no 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 year old super stars. The super stars at 15, 16, and 17 are generally not super stars in their 20s. Love for the game will take them far. If it doesnāt, he or she had a lot fun and enjoyed the sport! |
Your coach is hinting for you to recruit a couple of players from your kids old team. Also ECRL or any 2nd team parents in general arent trying to backpack off anyone. Theyre just looking for minutes and a chance to play on a 1st team. If you want your kid to play on a 1st team start reaching out to coaches and ask if they can practice with their team. Then after follow up to see if theres any interest. |
Getting a D1 offer is not about how technically skilled and tactically intelligent a player is. Itās all about physicality. The ātopā ECNL and MLSN teams are filled with physical players with very little technical skills and tactical acumen. These players are going nowhere in soccer. Real soccer players should be aiming for Europe. |
After u15 theres injuries, families move, boyfriends/girlfriends, homecoming, parents get tired of driving so far, etc, etc ,etc. The top players at u13 arent the same at u16. Even the top teams change. This is why everyone thinks US Soccers process of identifying superstars at u13 and sticking with them + ignoring everyone else is ridiculous. |