Is GAL just letting anyone in? What ECNL should have done

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

EDP lacks a showcasing platform. That is what this is all about.

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

Strong EDP clubs should continue to join GA, which would make an even better alternative to ECNL. there’s room for two.

[Anonymous]

Classic case of old/rigid/outdated model (ECNL) w/ an uh oh realization as both the former DA clubs and strongest EDP clubs join. Fast forward 3-5 years Davy swallows Goliath possible.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

EDP lacks a showcasing platform. That is what this is all about.

Bingo.

And GA has a platform. Colleges go to ECNL showcases and especially now. They will go to large non-ECNl showcases, i.e, JeffCUp, CASL, SD Surf Cup, LV College Showcase, etc., but I don't see GA showcases making the priority list for most schools. They will bet on ECNL but probably feel that large showcases are better than GA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Classic case of old/rigid/outdated model (ECNL) w/ an uh oh realization as both the former DA clubs and strongest EDP clubs join. Fast forward 3-5 years Davy swallows Goliath possible.

What’s outdated about ecnl?

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the training platform vs a 10mnth model? Let’s start there.

[Anonymous]

pew pew pew-pew-pew

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We don't need two elite national leagues. Period. We just don't. The GA was formed so that parents and club directs could save face. If you want to kill off EDP/National League than admit that but don't try to argue that you are going to compete against ECNL because that ship has sailed.

Signed, Non-ECNL/DA/GA parent.

Not everyone wants to play for their local ECNL club. You act as if the league makes the player. The reality is that most kids are average even in ECNL. I'm not sure why parents think they should play at the highest level when they are just average.

Because they want to have a shot at being a college athlete.

Not all college athletes come from ECNL teams. Many come from other clubs that still have good teams that can beat the ECNL teams.

PP here. I know plenty of college players who did not play ECNL/DA.

My post about ECNL and GA is that you don't need another league claiming to be elite. As a matter of fact, you don't need another regional/national league format when one is already in place. All GA does is creates another competitor for an existing platform. Ask GA parents why they weren't excited about EDP. It is because they are elitists and wanted to be better in the eyes of ECNL, "Hey, ECNL, we are just as coll as you." If the soccer snobs had just let this play out, local clubs in the east would have joined EDP and become part of the NL.

Both ECNL and GA are closed-system by "application only" single tier leagues. EDP is more open and has a healthier model, which has a much lower entry barrier and has promotion-relegation across multiple divisions. However, EDP is generally a lower level of play at least with respect to ECNL.

And had DA teams become part of EDP, EDP would have been stronger than what GA is today.

False.

+1 . EDP doesn’t offer anything that a club can’t get In any other league. It is just a scheduling provider.

I think you both misunderstood the PP. EDP has some strong teams. His point was that if GA clubs joined EDP, the joint league would have been stronger than just GA. There would have been more competition than in a small closed pond.

And yes, that is exactly my point.

EDP lacks a showcasing platform. That is what this is all about.

Bingo.

And GA has a platform. Colleges go to ECNL showcases and especially now. They will go to large non-ECNl showcases, i.e, JeffCUp, CASL, SD Surf Cup, LV College Showcase, etc., but I don't see GA showcases making the priority list for most schools. They will bet on ECNL but probably feel that large showcases are better than GA.

Colleges went to DA too and have said they will go to GA as well. Amazing how people honestly believe the change of a letter is going to scare colleges off.

[Anonymous]

Not just the change in the letters. Here are a few facts that will impact recruiting:

1. ECNL is now stronger. All but a few of the strongest DA clubs are now in ECNL. ECNL also picked up Pipeline.
2. GA is diluted.
3. College AD budgets are being cut as we speak. If they hit ten showcases before, they will hit five next year.

Given the above, where do you think coaches will go? They will prioritize the league with an established track-record of producing talent and the fact that the showcases will include the top DA teams and players will make it more attractive to coaches. I imagine that ECNL will increase the number of showcases. I also think the better avenue for any GA team is to also schedule to play in a major showcase like JefCup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not just the change in the letters. Here are a few facts that will impact recruiting:

1. ECNL is now stronger. All but a few of the strongest DA clubs are now in ECNL. ECNL also picked up Pipeline.
2. GA is diluted.
3. College AD budgets are being cut as we speak. If they hit ten showcases before, they will hit five next year.

Given the above, where do you think coaches will go? They will prioritize the league with an established track-record of producing talent and the fact that the showcases will include the top DA teams and players will make it more attractive to coaches. I imagine that ECNL will increase the number of showcases. I also think the better avenue for any GA team is to also schedule to play in a major showcase like JefCup.

Coaches will go where they have interested players. If any player is hoping for a coach to discover them at a showcase, they are doing their recruiting wrong. Contact the coaches you are interested in, go that school’s ID camp, let the coach know where you will be playing. If they are interested, they will come and see you play. Leagues don’t develop talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not just the change in the letters. Here are a few facts that will impact recruiting:

1. ECNL is now stronger. All but a few of the strongest DA clubs are now in ECNL. ECNL also picked up Pipeline.
2. GA is diluted.
3. College AD budgets are being cut as we speak. If they hit ten showcases before, they will hit five next year.

Given the above, where do you think coaches will go? They will prioritize the league with an established track-record of producing talent and the fact that the showcases will include the top DA teams and players will make it more attractive to coaches. I imagine that ECNL will increase the number of showcases. I also think the better avenue for any GA team is to also schedule to play in a major showcase like JefCup.

Coaches will go to see players who are interested in their programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not just the change in the letters. Here are a few facts that will impact recruiting:

1. ECNL is now stronger. All but a few of the strongest DA clubs are now in ECNL. ECNL also picked up Pipeline.
2. GA is diluted.
3. College AD budgets are being cut as we speak. If they hit ten showcases before, they will hit five next year.

Given the above, where do you think coaches will go? They will prioritize the league with an established track-record of producing talent and the fact that the showcases will include the top DA teams and players will make it more attractive to coaches. I imagine that ECNL will increase the number of showcases. I also think the better avenue for any GA team is to also schedule to play in a major showcase like JefCup.

Coaches will go where they have interested players. If any player is hoping for a coach to discover them at a showcase, they are doing their recruiting wrong. Contact the coaches you are interested in, go that school’s ID camp, let the coach know where you will be playing. If they are interested, they will come and see you play. Leagues don’t develop talent.

Again, where will ore elite players on a coaches radar likely play? Last Fall it was probably ECNL and DA. Given that the top teams are now in ECNL, they will head there. Maybe they hit one GA showcase and one non ECNL/DA showcase but not multiple.

[Anonymous]

College coaches go to see players, not teams or leagues. I think PP's point is that economics is a factor as well, especially with reducing budgets. So if there has to be a choice, they will go wherever they can scout most efficiently. That could mean GA or ECNL, but since ECNL has the numbers, and higher level of play on average, it will probably average higher scout attendance this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not just the change in the letters. Here are a few facts that will impact recruiting:

1. ECNL is now stronger. All but a few of the strongest DA clubs are now in ECNL. ECNL also picked up Pipeline.
2. GA is diluted.
3. College AD budgets are being cut as we speak. If they hit ten showcases before, they will hit five next year.

Given the above, where do you think coaches will go? They will prioritize the league with an established track-record of producing talent and the fact that the showcases will include the top DA teams and players will make it more attractive to coaches. I imagine that ECNL will increase the number of showcases. I also think the better avenue for any GA team is to also schedule to play in a major showcase like JefCup.

Coaches will go where they have interested players. If any player is hoping for a coach to discover them at a showcase, they are doing their recruiting wrong. Contact the coaches you are interested in, go that school’s ID camp, let the coach know where you will be playing. If they are interested, they will come and see you play. Leagues don’t develop talent.

Again, where will ore elite players on a coaches radar likely play? Last Fall it was probably ECNL and DA. Given that the top teams are now in ECNL, they will head there. Maybe they hit one GA showcase and one non ECNL/DA showcase but not multiple.

I’m a scout. I could care less about your team or league (as long as you are playing competitively for your region). I go watch players who are interested in my program and are a good fit for my school. I don’t waste time on watching random games looking for talent - that is not how the system works. I have a list and can get through it without any showcases. I want to see you at my ID camp, that is where I can really evaluate you. If I can’t fill my recruiting class, I call a couple of local coaches I know and pick players from their program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Classic case of old/rigid/outdated model (ECNL) w/ an uh oh realization as both the former DA clubs and strongest EDP clubs join. Fast forward 3-5 years Davy swallows Goliath possible.

What’s outdated about ecnl?

Here is the thing most people will not admit, DA was very appealing and was doing well in the younger ages. If it had stayed together and changed a few thing it would have become like boys DA in 5 years. The older age groups really do not change much. So it was never about them. It’s all about getting players at u12-u13.

Parents at u12/u13 were staying at the DA club because of familiarity, cost and travel time. Other clubs kids were coming in for the same reason include ecnl kids. You are crazy if you think this does not matter. Look at the travel times and cost for ecnl clubs.

Look at the clubs around here. The ECNL clubs 08’s and 07’s are just not what they should be. It’s because those clubs did not get the steady stream of payers from the DA and other clubs. All the ecnl clubs in the area are recruiting hard at those ages. Who knows what will happen but cheaper, less travel, girl only league does have an appeal. College coaches have a formal and informal scouting system. The coaches will find the players regardless of the league and showcases.