So if you’re not a DA/ECNL player......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was reading the thread about the 2005 player wanting to play in college.

Is it really true that a 2007/ 2008 player who is not playing DA or ECNL has little chance of eventually making it in one of these and playing in college? Really? These are 11 and 12 year old kids! There is still so much time for them to improve. Please explain

Playing in college at all? No, you don't have to be in the DA or ECNL. There are many quality D2 and D3 programs that can fit, depending on where your child is at. Playing D1 doesn't mandate DA or ECNL, but it will be hard for your child to develop the pace of play and tighter ball control those programs require because your kid isn't playing against teams that will challenge him or her enough to acquire them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience it's really hard to break in to ECNL after U13 unless you're really, really good.
This year Mclean (for example) took 5 girls for ECNL U14. All were from other DA and ECNL clubs. I know some outstanding kids who tried out from other CCL clubs but they weren't chosen.
There were very few spots and they went to kids who were already tried and true from other ECNL level play. There's enough movement from DA to ECNL that they clubs don't have to look outside of this pool.

If you are good enough, you will get noticed. Kids are added and dropped every year. Keep in mind that you aren't just competing against other US soccer players at the D1 level, you have to contend with foreign academy players that didn't make the cut to move on but are more that good enough to play at the D1 level. Look at some of the top college rosters and you will see players from around the world. Just because you played at a DA/ECNL club means nothing unless you show it on the pitch when scouts are looking.

Camps, showcases, etc. Make your own pathway, there isn't just one.

And how does one get noticed on a mid level NPL or NCSL team?

Exactly. How does this happen? (Or CLL?). Plus how does a kid get good enough for DA/ECNL when playing weekly for NPL/NCSL/CCL? My kid plays for a CCL team but practices with the club's ENCL team and the ECNL level/speed of play is light years better--and those kids are continuing to get better at a faster clip! It's like trying to stop a leak that is always getting larger and larger.

Same kid went to ECNL tryouts at U14. The players (100+) were grouped by skill (best kids on the middle field, others on the side fields). The kids from other DA/ECNL programs were all put on the center field and watched intently through the entire tryout. The kids from other programs were watched for a few minutes on a tertiary field.
The very top kid from our team went and practiced with the ECNL team for weeks on end. Still didn't make the team in favor of other ECNL or DA transfers.

Sure, some some of phenom player can show up to ECNL/DA at U14 and beyond at get selected but unless your kid is a complete athletic outlier this isn't going to happen. And examples of Alex Morgan or the Maryland basketball/soccer player referenced in this thread (or the other one) don't count (as they ARE complete athletic outliers and not relevant at all to 99% of our kids). Call me cynical but this is how I see it being played out in 2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience it's really hard to break in to ECNL after U13 unless you're really, really good.
This year Mclean (for example) took 5 girls for ECNL U14. All were from other DA and ECNL clubs. I know some outstanding kids who tried out from other CCL clubs but they weren't chosen.
There were very few spots and they went to kids who were already tried and true from other ECNL level play. There's enough movement from DA to ECNL that they clubs don't have to look outside of this pool.

If you are good enough, you will get noticed. Kids are added and dropped every year. Keep in mind that you aren't just competing against other US soccer players at the D1 level, you have to contend with foreign academy players that didn't make the cut to move on but are more that good enough to play at the D1 level. Look at some of the top college rosters and you will see players from around the world. Just because you played at a DA/ECNL club means nothing unless you show it on the pitch when scouts are looking.

Camps, showcases, etc. Make your own pathway, there isn't just one.

And how does one get noticed on a mid level NPL or NCSL team?

Exactly. How does this happen? (Or CLL?). Plus how does a kid get good enough for DA/ECNL when playing weekly for NPL/NCSL/CCL? My kid plays for a CCL team but practices with the club's ENCL team and the ECNL level/speed of play is light years better--and those kids are continuing to get better at a faster clip! It's like trying to stop a leak that is always getting larger and larger.

Same kid went to ECNL tryouts at U14. The players (100+) were grouped by skill (best kids on the middle field, others on the side fields). The kids from other DA/ECNL programs were all put on the center field and watched intently through the entire tryout. The kids from other programs were watched for a few minutes on a tertiary field.
The very top kid from our team went and practiced with the ECNL team for weeks on end. Still didn't make the team in favor of other ECNL or DA transfers.

Sure, some some of phenom player can show up to ECNL/DA at U14 and beyond at get selected but unless your kid is a complete athletic outlier this isn't going to happen. And examples of Alex Morgan or the Maryland basketball/soccer player referenced in this thread (or the other one) don't count (as they ARE complete athletic outliers and not relevant at all to 99% of our kids). Call me cynical but this is how I see it being played out in 2019.

What this for Boys or Girls? I have a DD so I’m wondering if what you stated was the same dornthe girls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience it's really hard to break in to ECNL after U13 unless you're really, really good.
This year Mclean (for example) took 5 girls for ECNL U14. All were from other DA and ECNL clubs. I know some outstanding kids who tried out from other CCL clubs but they weren't chosen.
There were very few spots and they went to kids who were already tried and true from other ECNL level play. There's enough movement from DA to ECNL that they clubs don't have to look outside of this pool.

If you are good enough, you will get noticed. Kids are added and dropped every year. Keep in mind that you aren't just competing against other US soccer players at the D1 level, you have to contend with foreign academy players that didn't make the cut to move on but are more that good enough to play at the D1 level. Look at some of the top college rosters and you will see players from around the world. Just because you played at a DA/ECNL club means nothing unless you show it on the pitch when scouts are looking.

Camps, showcases, etc. Make your own pathway, there isn't just one.

And how does one get noticed on a mid level NPL or NCSL team?

Exactly. How does this happen? (Or CLL?). Plus how does a kid get good enough for DA/ECNL when playing weekly for NPL/NCSL/CCL? My kid plays for a CCL team but practices with the club's ENCL team and the ECNL level/speed of play is light years better--and those kids are continuing to get better at a faster clip! It's like trying to stop a leak that is always getting larger and larger.

Same kid went to ECNL tryouts at U14. The players (100+) were grouped by skill (best kids on the middle field, others on the side fields). The kids from other DA/ECNL programs were all put on the center field and watched intently through the entire tryout. The kids from other programs were watched for a few minutes on a tertiary field.
The very top kid from our team went and practiced with the ECNL team for weeks on end. Still didn't make the team in favor of other ECNL or DA transfers.

Sure, some some of phenom player can show up to ECNL/DA at U14 and beyond at get selected but unless your kid is a complete athletic outlier this isn't going to happen. And examples of Alex Morgan or the Maryland basketball/soccer player referenced in this thread (or the other one) don't count (as they ARE complete athletic outliers and not relevant at all to 99% of our kids). Call me cynical but this is how I see it being played out in 2019.

Put in more work. The level really isn't that high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience it's really hard to break in to ECNL after U13 unless you're really, really good.
This year Mclean (for example) took 5 girls for ECNL U14. All were from other DA and ECNL clubs. I know some outstanding kids who tried out from other CCL clubs but they weren't chosen.
There were very few spots and they went to kids who were already tried and true from other ECNL level play. There's enough movement from DA to ECNL that they clubs don't have to look outside of this pool.

If you are good enough, you will get noticed. Kids are added and dropped every year. Keep in mind that you aren't just competing against other US soccer players at the D1 level, you have to contend with foreign academy players that didn't make the cut to move on but are more that good enough to play at the D1 level. Look at some of the top college rosters and you will see players from around the world. Just because you played at a DA/ECNL club means nothing unless you show it on the pitch when scouts are looking.

Camps, showcases, etc. Make your own pathway, there isn't just one.

And how does one get noticed on a mid level NPL or NCSL team?

Exactly. How does this happen? (Or CLL?). Plus how does a kid get good enough for DA/ECNL when playing weekly for NPL/NCSL/CCL? My kid plays for a CCL team but practices with the club's ENCL team and the ECNL level/speed of play is light years better--and those kids are continuing to get better at a faster clip! It's like trying to stop a leak that is always getting larger and larger.

Same kid went to ECNL tryouts at U14. The players (100+) were grouped by skill (best kids on the middle field, others on the side fields). The kids from other DA/ECNL programs were all put on the center field and watched intently through the entire tryout. The kids from other programs were watched for a few minutes on a tertiary field.
The very top kid from our team went and practiced with the ECNL team for weeks on end. Still didn't make the team in favor of other ECNL or DA transfers.

Sure, some some of phenom player can show up to ECNL/DA at U14 and beyond at get selected but unless your kid is a complete athletic outlier this isn't going to happen. And examples of Alex Morgan or the Maryland basketball/soccer player referenced in this thread (or the other one) don't count (as they ARE complete athletic outliers and not relevant at all to 99% of our kids). Call me cynical but this is how I see it being played out in 2019.

What this for Boys or Girls? I have a DD so I’m wondering if what you stated was the same dornthe girls?

This is primarily for girls. For boys DA is the clear top league that colleges are scouting.

[Anonymous]

This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Not one person said that making ECNL or DA is the hardest trial in life. In this area it is actually pretty watered down. BUT a ECNL or DA team is still much better than a typical NPL or EDP team. Put in perspective.

The main point is about the path to get into a D1 college is and the most consistent and reliable path is ECNL and DA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Woman here. I agree with some of this post. Watching the women's World Cup was like watching a mens game in slow motion. I actually could not believe how bad they looked. Are they that bad, or do they make it look easy? serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Woman here. I agree with some of this post. Watching the women's World Cup was like watching a mens game in slow motion. I actually could not believe how bad they looked. Are they that bad, or do they make it look easy? serious question.

It is what it is. I though the English and Japanese teams were fun to watch. Lavelle was fun to watch but most travel coaches would not have a clue what to do with her. I am surprised she survived the system.

[Anonymous]

She seems to have largely avoided the federation until she was an older teen so that probably helped

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Woman here. I agree with some of this post. Watching the women's World Cup was like watching a mens game in slow motion. I actually could not believe how bad they looked. Are they that bad, or do they make it look easy? serious question.

Unfortunately, I think it's that bad. It's not that ALL women players play that bad, but it's that the best players are separated onto different national teams, and not all countries have the same level of national team program.

Still, I think we should raise the bar on the women's game. We tend to play an athletic game far more than a technical one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Woman here. I agree with some of this post. Watching the women's World Cup was like watching a mens game in slow motion. I actually could not believe how bad they looked. Are they that bad, or do they make it look easy? serious question.

Unfortunately, I think it's that bad. It's not that ALL women players play that bad, but it's that the best players are separated onto different national teams, and not all countries have the same level of national team program.

Still, I think we should raise the bar on the women's game. We tend to play an athletic game far more than a technical one.

This forum is like Groundhog's Day. Same posters, same comments on women's game. "I think 'we' (like this poster is part of the "we") should 'raise the bar' (hackneyed platitude) on the women's (but not the U.S. men's) game." Then later, "'athletic' (yes, soccer is an athletic sport) game far more than a 'technical' (clueless soccer snob) game." Ho hum … same old posters, different day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why women’s soccer is a joke this thread makes it seem like ECNL/DA is the best League in the world hut after watching the womens World cup it’s easy to see why no one takes it seriously.
The game is unbearable to watch - Speed of play -Mistakes on the field. ( Yes men make mistakes but NOTHING compared to the womens) So the person saying its the hardest trial in life to get in ECNL No its not they just pick the fastest girl from what I see but even D1 college girls are so slow. A Womens anatomy was not built like men (breast flying all over the place)

Woman here. I agree with some of this post. Watching the women's World Cup was like watching a mens game in slow motion. I actually could not believe how bad they looked. Are they that bad, or do they make it look easy? serious question.

Unfortunately, I think it's that bad. It's not that ALL women players play that bad, but it's that the best players are separated onto different national teams, and not all countries have the same level of national team program.

Still, I think we should raise the bar on the women's game. We tend to play an athletic game far more than a technical one.

This forum is like Groundhog's Day. Same posters, same comments on women's game. "I think 'we' (like this poster is part of the "we") should 'raise the bar' (hackneyed platitude) on the women's (but not the U.S. men's) game." Then later, "'athletic' (yes, soccer is an athletic sport) game far more than a 'technical' (clueless soccer snob) game." Ho hum … same old posters, different day.

It’s clueless to suggest that US players (both women and men) aren’t very technical? You’re clueless, sweetheart.

[Anonymous]

How in the world did this thread became a USWNT bashing thread? Please. You have your own thread for that already.

Let’s get back on topic.

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on the original question.

It will be harder to make a da/ECNL team the older a kid gets. Unfortunately, the tipping point is around 8th grade. However, it is not impossible and it depends on your kid and the coach, so don’t give up on it, but realize it will take more to get noticed. Your kid can’t just play like the rest of the current team at tryouts or guest practices. They need to stand out. The coach has to be convinced enough to cut one of their existing players to make room. That’s not only a soccer decision, but also a personal one as the coach already knows the kid and parents and has a relationship with them. If the team has open slots, it will be easier to make.

As far as does a kid have to play da/ECNL to get noticed by colleges? No, but it increases their probability of getting noticed. That is the risk / return trade off. You pay more and spend more time and travel further, but increase opportunity of getting noticed and of course expose your kid to a higher level of competition, which usually results in a better player.