ECNL is for suckers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I don’t understand this post. If you think it’s a waste why are you doing it? Are you so weak minded you can’t say no to your kid? Or you are afraid your “friends” will think you aren’t rich enough to afford it? Why go along with it? I’m genuinely curious how is anyone forced into paying for something they don’t want.’

When you sign up for a team in February, you are committing to something that will last for the next 16-17 month. At the time of commitment, there is no calendar, no travel schedule, and no total bill. Therefore it is extremely easy to be surprised by the end of the season at how much money the actual cost of your commitment is. Hence, the existence of this blog.

This sounds exactly like the healthcare industry (like going to the Emergency Room not knowing what to expect, financially)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard GA is trying to fix many of these issues. For example if two teams are far from each other they ask one of their clubs in the middle to host the game. The commissioner Trish Hughes is advancing a lot of new ideas to distinguish themselves from ECNL and making it point to come visit clubs to share.

Not sure this is a fix, nor a "new" idea, as its been tried in many ECNL regions in the west. If two teams are five hours apart and you meet in the middle, now you have twice the number of people traveling and teams get less weekends where they have home games and get no travel at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I don’t understand this post. If you think it’s a waste why are you doing it? Are you so weak minded you can’t say no to your kid? Or you are afraid your “friends” will think you aren’t rich enough to afford it? Why go along with it? I’m genuinely curious how is anyone forced into paying for something they don’t want.’

When you sign up for a team in February, you are committing to something that will last for the next 16-17 month. At the time of commitment, there is no calendar, no travel schedule, and no total bill. Therefore it is extremely easy to be surprised by the end of the season at how much money the actual cost of your commitment is. Hence, the existence of this blog.

That's disappointing for you that your club operates that way. Going in, club makes it clear to us what showcases we will be attending and when they are held along with other events. We also know what teams we will be playing and while not the dates where we will be going for league games. We pay one bottom line price that includes uniforms, showcase costs and other player fees. Our travel to events and hotels aren't covered, but that's known upfront. We have been able to plan a bit that was and it does help with associated costs.

Are we thrilled that ENCL playoffs have been held on the west coast since our DD has been playing? No. Are we happy that her team has qualified each year? Yes, absolutely. We have used one of the trips to Seattle as a family vacation and same with the first trip to San Diego. Won't be doing that this year, but that's fine.

Showcases - yeah, going to Florida, Texas and such for showcases can be a drag, but we know where are what we were getting into when we committed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is also why there’s very little ethnic diversity in ecnl

THIS! and if you don't see it then it's because you aren't part of the ethnically diverse plain and simple. it's tough when you are the minority.

[Anonymous]

DONT LIKE IT DONT DO IT!!!!!
Wtf

[Anonymous]

ECNL boys is having a tournament the same weekend as MLS Next tournament.
I wonder where all the college scouts are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I don’t understand this post. If you think it’s a waste why are you doing it? Are you so weak minded you can’t say no to your kid? Or you are afraid your “friends” will think you aren’t rich enough to afford it? Why go along with it? I’m genuinely curious how is anyone forced into paying for something they don’t want.’

When you sign up for a team in February, you are committing to something that will last for the next 16-17 month. At the time of commitment, there is no calendar, no travel schedule, and no total bill. Therefore it is extremely easy to be surprised by the end of the season at how much money the actual cost of your commitment is. Hence, the existence of this blog.

Sorry, I have to call BS on this. ECNL isn't new. The teams do basically the same thing every year. You know there will be showcases/playoffs on the west coast, texas, florida, south carolina. The other teams in the conference are known so it's clear where you will be traveling for league games. By the time ECNL starts you have already been exposed to travel soccer for several years and surely would have most of this knowledge by then. And even if you didn't the information is abundant and easy to find. Stop making excuses for your own decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL boys is having a tournament the same weekend as MLS Next tournament.
I wonder where all the college scouts are?

Scouting euro academy washouts, most likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL boys is having a tournament the same weekend as MLS Next tournament.
I wonder where all the college scouts are?

They all over the soccerplex in Germantown with their little chairs and clipboards going from field to field

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just competed my third trip to Charlotte this year. Heading to Seattle next month.

League Fees, Hotel Rooms, Gas, Flights, Restaurants, etc . I think we have spent more than 20k for one child to play ECNL soccer this year.

When will parents say enough is enough?
What a rip off!

Agree 100%. That much for a second tier league is brutal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is also why there’s very little ethnic diversity in ecnl

THIS! and if you don't see it then it's because you aren't part of the ethnically diverse plain and simple. it's tough when you are the minority.

Very diverse teams up and down the North Atlantic girls league. Maybe not they're all spoiled rich kids is what you are implying, but lots of ethnicities represented on almost every team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is basically bragging his DC made it to playoffs but added the gripes about cost to (poorly) hide his bragging

lol

Not hating. Congrats your child is on a good team.

In Boys ECNL? Hope that can get him to an MLSN team, otherwise maybe all for naught!

MLSNext or nothing. Poor parent. Sorry you have to travel that far for a Tier 2 League.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can beat that. Our costs for polo and dressage are out of this world. Stable fees, trainer fees, vet costs, trailer maintenance, fuel costs, hotel fees, and driving extremely long distances to compete year round. $80K is on the low end.

LOVE IT! Well played.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL boys is having a tournament the same weekend as MLS Next tournament.
I wonder where all the college scouts are?

If you are not a parent of an MLSNext player, you won’t like the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is also why there’s very little ethnic diversity in ecnl

THIS! and if you don't see it then it's because you aren't part of the ethnically diverse plain and simple. it's tough when you are the minority.

Very diverse teams up and down the North Atlantic girls league. Maybe not they're all spoiled rich kids is what you are implying, but lots of ethnicities represented on almost every team.

Lol. I guess if you consider ‘Italian’ as diverse. That division is home base for white girls from the leafy suburbs of NY and Philly.