DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

YNT player Nick Taitague did just that: he left the DA because he wanted to play high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^

Honestly I hadn't noticed the conference change, so I was talking about what I knew was currently happening. But are you saying if they had stayed in the same conference, then that would have been competitive, or just arguing on semantics?

Appreciate your frankness.

I am not interested in arguing at all. I was just trying to give more information to the person who wants to know more about BRYC's Boy ECNL.

That's fair. . I just don't understand why the same people who love the girls' ECNL turn their noses up at the boys' ECNL. Wt if your son really wants to play high school?

I'm not a girls ECNL supporter. Girls ECNL has no bearing on the Boys ECNL vs BDA debate. There is no debate. BDA is a better platform, league and holder of talent by a large margin. Nothing wrong with talking up Boys ECNL but it should really be left within the context of NPL, CCL and EDP because that is actually more honest.

The talent level is comparable, the showcase opportunities are comparable across those 3 leagues but NOT BDA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YNT player Nick Taitague did just that: he left the DA because he wanted to play high school.

Yup, if you are a YNT player and you are committed you are free to walk away, play HS soccer your senior year and move on to the next chapter. Many kids do, especially in VA because HS soccer is the Spring season. There is not much more incentive to play DA for the final 6-4 months of your school career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YNT player Nick Taitague did just that: he left the DA because he wanted to play high school.

Yup, if you are a YNT player and you are committed you are free to walk away, play HS soccer your senior year and move on to the next chapter. Many kids do, especially in VA because HS soccer is the Spring season. There is not much more incentive to play DA for the final 6-4 months of your school career.

Just to be clear, he played 2 years of high school.

[Anonymous]

I find it sad that many people here have such a myopic view of girls soccer. Comparing the alternatives today to the alternatives 20 years ago, young female soccer players have great opportunities.

For the girls who just wants to play soccer at the top level, they have DA.

For those girls that love soccer but also play another sport or want to play HS soccer, ECNL offers the chance to play at a top level and still pursue other sports

If you don't live near a DA or ECNL, there are many strong independent clubs that play a schedule that is plays EDP DI or the CCL supplemented by ERL, State Cup and Showcases.

Parents, don't let these "league chasers" who have fallen victim to the marketing efforts of the various soccer organizations, pressure you into joining the new "hot" league. You don't have to be a lemming.

[Anonymous]

If you are not a girls' ECNL supporter, then it is consistent to argue the DA is a better platform. If you are, then boys' ECNL bashing is hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And....Indy Fire leaves the Girls DA to join the ECNL again.

The blood letting continues.

Old news. We already talked about that on this forum. Try to keep up.

It's hard to keep up with the flood of teams leaving the DA for the ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are not a girls' ECNL supporter, then it is consistent to argue the DA is a better platform. If you are, then boys' ECNL bashing is hypocrisy.

Not true at all.

We had an opportunity to play for a couple of different DAs and decided not to as my daughter chose to play ECNL with her current club. My kid chose to stay and play ECNL over the GDA because she liked the club, the training, and the opportunities. She also likes having a sense of community there. It is not about HS soccer as we have no clue if we will even allow that. In all honesty as far as I am concerned GDA and Girls ECNL is currently a tossup. Will that last forever, probably not. US Soccer started the league and wants it to flourish. It will, but it might also take a few years to really get there. I am not sure where all of the negativity for each other comes from. We have friends playing both GDA and ECNL, and we hope that their choices work out for all of them. Frankly the hate and vitriol seem to come from people who are threatened that their opinion isn't the only one that matters. This is youth soccer y'all, let's be a bit smart about this.

Boys ECNL as a whole is a fledgling league with some good teams and some not so good teams. There is no question whatsoever that the BDA is by far stronger, and will almost 100% certainly continue to be the better league. Does that mean that Boys ECNL can't become a good league that develops very good (and even develop some National Team players), no not at all. It just will likely always fall below the BDA.

So there you go, someone who is an ECNL Supporter (but not a GDA basher) has no problem stating that Boys ECNL is and will remain to be the weaker league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And....Indy Fire leaves the Girls DA to join the ECNL again.

The blood letting continues.

Old news. We already talked about that on this forum. Try to keep up.

It's hard to keep up with the flood of teams leaving the DA for the ECNL.

It's only been 4 teams. But I guess then last year, you must have been beside yourself with anguish at the 50+ teams that left the ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that many people here have such a myopic view of girls soccer. Comparing the alternatives today to the alternatives 20 years ago, young female soccer players have great opportunities.

For the girls who just wants to play soccer at the top level, they have DA.

For those girls that love soccer but also play another sport or want to play HS soccer, ECNL offers the chance to play at a top level and still pursue other sports

If you don't live near a DA or ECNL, there are many strong independent clubs that play a schedule that is plays EDP DI or the CCL supplemented by ERL, State Cup and Showcases.

Parents, don't let these "league chasers" who have fallen victim to the marketing efforts of the various soccer organizations, pressure you into joining the new "hot" league. You don't have to be a lemming.

There seems to be some confusion.

You can play other sports in DA. Just not soccer

[Anonymous]

Someone asked why Spirit had 25 kids on their 04 team. It's because Spirit was a startup and did not have a second team. Therefore, their developmental players are listed on the roster.

Next year, according to an email, roster will be 18-20 which is on par with the age group nationwide.

ECNL allowed 30 on roster back in the day. They called them dual rostered players. Probabley still the same.

Regardless...playing time is always a premium wherever youre at.

DA sub rules suck. But atleast they have a mandatory start percent.

ECNL, no such rule. They can sub all they want...but rarely do.

It's a a wash.

DA doesn't allow outside soccer

ECNL allows HS soccer. But be prepared to practice twice in one day and have your club playing time substantially decreased. Injuries skyrocket in these settings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone asked why Spirit had 25 kids on their 04 team. It's because Spirit was a startup and did not have a second team. Therefore, their developmental players are listed on the roster.

Next year, according to an email, roster will be 18-20 which is on par with the age group nationwide.

ECNL allowed 30 on roster back in the day. They called them dual rostered players. Probabley still the same.

Regardless...playing time is always a premium wherever youre at.

DA sub rules suck. But atleast they have a mandatory start percent.

ECNL, no such rule. They can sub all they want...but rarely do.

It's a a wash.

DA doesn't allow outside soccer

ECNL allows HS soccer. But be prepared to practice twice in one day and have your club playing time substantially decreased. Injuries skyrocket in these settings.

I can only speak for BRYC, but our ECNL schedule of regular season games is over in February for U15-19 (HS age) so that this is not an issue. Kids playing HS are limited to what they can do with the club so that they are NOT over exerted. Those not playing HS have workouts and are playing some competitive matches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that many people here have such a myopic view of girls soccer. Comparing the alternatives today to the alternatives 20 years ago, young female soccer players have great opportunities.

For the girls who just wants to play soccer at the top level, they have DA.

For those girls that love soccer but also play another sport or want to play HS soccer, ECNL offers the chance to play at a top level and still pursue other sports

If you don't live near a DA or ECNL, there are many strong independent clubs that play a schedule that is plays EDP DI or the CCL supplemented by ERL, State Cup and Showcases.

Parents, don't let these "league chasers" who have fallen victim to the marketing efforts of the various soccer organizations, pressure you into joining the new "hot" league. You don't have to be a lemming.

So right. More options for everyone. The deaths of DA and ECNL have both been greatly exaggerated on this board. Both provide elite play options. My daughter plays DA but am not banging the drum DA has clearly better teams than ECNL. It really does not in this area. Not yet. In mid-atlantic and northeast U14, on average ECNL has an edge, but not by much. In MD, ECNL has a clear edge in rankings comparing Bethesda and Maryland United to Wash Spirit. In VA (with Arlington next year), it is a virtual tie in ranking points: 32.53 for DA in VA and 32.52 for ECNL in VA. Quite funny actually. I have actually looked at the data (if you trust youthsoccerrankings.us as the best available data). DA really does have a better development platform. Over time that will make the difference for the individual and the team.

I for one was so happy when they started DA and were looking to fill an entire roster. My DD had trouble breaking into the local ECNL whose roster barely changed year to year. I am not saying she should clearly have made it, just not enough room for coach to take a chance on a developmental player. On her DA team, my daughter's development curve has steepened significantly. DA opened up a great elite soccer option not available to her before. After the ECNL defections did not happen, the DA coaches of new teams had to find girls who did not have local ECNL option or with undeveloped potential overlooked by ECNL. I am really seeing it on my daughter's team. The bottom half has really improved. Great coaching, impressive results.

Advice to 2005 and 2006 parents of a (potentially) elite player who wants to play at the highest level she can...do consider DA if development is your ultimate goal but obviously have DD tryout for both DA and ECNL. If she gets an offer for only DA, take it. If she gets an offer for only ECNL, take it. If she gets offers from both, great! If you want your daughter to play on the highest ranked team in the state next year, that may be DA or ECNL in VA ...and might be ECNL or an EDP team in MD...but it won't be forever.

As for us, we're happy with DA and staying as long as my daughter wants to play this level and as long as they let her play. Good luck to you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And....Indy Fire leaves the Girls DA to join the ECNL again.

The blood letting continues.

Old news. We already talked about that on this forum. Try to keep up.

It's hard to keep up with the flood of teams leaving the DA for the ECNL.

It's only been 4 teams. But I guess then last year, you must have been beside yourself with anguish at the 50+ teams that left the ECNL.

You have some odd math on both counts.

VDA, Hawks, Loudon, PDA, FC Stars, Seattle United, Indy Fire...Oh and more dual clubs still set to announce they are done with the DA. Stay tuned folks....

[Anonymous]

^ Don't forget KC Atheltics.