Girls ECNL vs EDP players’ skills, attributes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

What do you mean it’s to late to join a ECNL team?

Do you not understand how watered down ECNL is? If your kid can play she can make a roster. You are seriously putting these kids/teams on to high a pedestal.

The only real difference is time spent. If your kid tries out she’ll make a team and quickly catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

What do you mean it’s to late to join a ECNL team?

Do you not understand how watered down ECNL is? If your kid can play she can make a roster. You are seriously putting these kids/teams on to high a pedestal.

The only real difference is time spent. If your kid tries out she’ll make a team and quickly catch up.

When I said late, I mean is it that difficult to be a starter on ECNL.

I don’t mean to put ECNL on a pedestal. I’m just ignorant about ECNL and just basing my opinion from the past 5-6 posts. I’m not overly impressed with EDP Girls’ talent level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

What do you mean it’s to late to join a ECNL team?

Do you not understand how watered down ECNL is? If your kid can play she can make a roster. You are seriously putting these kids/teams on to high a pedestal.

The only real difference is time spent. If your kid tries out she’ll make a team and quickly catch up.

When I said late, I mean is it that difficult to be a starter on ECNL.

I don’t mean to put ECNL on a pedestal. I’m just ignorant about ECNL and just basing my opinion from the past 5-6 posts. I’m not overly impressed with EDP Girls’ talent level.

You can always go back to a EDP team. You are over thinking this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

It’s all of the above. Physicality, speed, skill, quickness of the mind, etc.

Even at ECNL level there is a lot of fast and sloppy play. Players tend to hold the ball too long which leads to two girls pushing each other while they fight for the ball. Hence the importance of physicality.

You will notice the girls who have higher speed of play/quickness of mind- receive and complete a pass in 2-3 seconds consistently, one or two touch passes when needed, vision and passing skills to break pressure, rarely turn the ball over, etc. The thing is you need a few of them and they have to play together to really see an impact. Team speed of play is limited by the players with the slower speed of play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

What do you mean it’s to late to join a ECNL team?

Do you not understand how watered down ECNL is? If your kid can play she can make a roster. You are seriously putting these kids/teams on to high a pedestal.

The only real difference is time spent. If your kid tries out she’ll make a team and quickly catch up.

When I said late, I mean is it that difficult to be a starter on ECNL.

I don’t mean to put ECNL on a pedestal. I’m just ignorant about ECNL and just basing my opinion from the past 5-6 posts. I’m not overly impressed with EDP Girls’ talent level.

You can always go back to a EDP team. You are over thinking this.

I think you’re right that I’m overly thinking this.

It’s the FOMO effect......Fear Of Missing Out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

What do you mean it’s to late to join a ECNL team?

Do you not understand how watered down ECNL is? If your kid can play she can make a roster. You are seriously putting these kids/teams on to high a pedestal.

The only real difference is time spent. If your kid tries out she’ll make a team and quickly catch up.

When I said late, I mean is it that difficult to be a starter on ECNL.

I don’t mean to put ECNL on a pedestal. I’m just ignorant about ECNL and just basing my opinion from the past 5-6 posts. I’m not overly impressed with EDP Girls’ talent level.

You can always go back to a EDP team. You are over thinking this.

I think you’re right that I’m overly thinking this.

It’s the FOMO effect......Fear Of Missing Out.

If your DD wants to play in college she will need a higher level of play like ECNL or GA. Just go to a few team practices and see how things work out. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

If she isn’t really interested in playing in college then the expense just isn’t worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

The only people I have ever seen who can equally use both feet are the ones with two left feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

It’s all of the above. Physicality, speed, skill, quickness of the mind, etc.

Even at ECNL level there is a lot of fast and sloppy play. Players tend to hold the ball too long which leads to two girls pushing each other while they fight for the ball. Hence the importance of physicality.

You will notice the girls who have higher speed of play/quickness of mind- receive and complete a pass in 2-3 seconds consistently, one or two touch passes when needed, vision and passing skills to break pressure, rarely turn the ball over, etc. The thing is you need a few of them and they have to play together to really see an impact. Team speed of play is limited by the players with the slower speed of play.

You need more than a few. You basically need 8 or 9 kids to play this way for it to work. Even 2 or 3 who can't means it breaks down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

It’s all of the above. Physicality, speed, skill, quickness of the mind, etc.

Even at ECNL level there is a lot of fast and sloppy play. Players tend to hold the ball too long which leads to two girls pushing each other while they fight for the ball. Hence the importance of physicality.

You will notice the girls who have higher speed of play/quickness of mind- receive and complete a pass in 2-3 seconds consistently, one or two touch passes when needed, vision and passing skills to break pressure, rarely turn the ball over, etc. The thing is you need a few of them and they have to play together to really see an impact. Team speed of play is limited by the players with the slower speed of play.

You need more than a few. You basically need 8 or 9 kids to play this way for it to work. Even 2 or 3 who can't means it breaks down.

Anybody who is playing elite travel soccer should be able to play this way by U12/13. How can this be even a close question for ECNL players who purportedly will play in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

The only people I have ever seen who can equally use both feet are the ones with two left feet.

Really? Being on ECNL teams, I would have thought most girls are two footed (but maybe not equally well) with dribbling, passing and kicking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

It’s all of the above. Physicality, speed, skill, quickness of the mind, etc.

Even at ECNL level there is a lot of fast and sloppy play. Players tend to hold the ball too long which leads to two girls pushing each other while they fight for the ball. Hence the importance of physicality.

You will notice the girls who have higher speed of play/quickness of mind- receive and complete a pass in 2-3 seconds consistently, one or two touch passes when needed, vision and passing skills to break pressure, rarely turn the ball over, etc. The thing is you need a few of them and they have to play together to really see an impact. Team speed of play is limited by the players with the slower speed of play.

You need more than a few. You basically need 8 or 9 kids to play this way for it to work. Even 2 or 3 who can't means it breaks down.

Anybody who is playing elite travel soccer should be able to play this way by U12/13. How can this be even a close question for ECNL players who purportedly will play in college?

Girls are not that technical. It's just the way things are. This is why you can get by with pretty good athleticism and so so technical skills. You will not be a top player but you will be in the mix. The skill of your team dictates style of play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

Is she the fastest on her team? The thing is most ECNL teams are only taking a new player if they are better vs the starter. Skill players are dependant on other players. Fast players are not dependant on other players to show well when trying out.

[Anonymous]

I echo this-it does get harder and harder to break into an ECNL team after the U14 age group. They have to have a good reason to take you over their tried and true players. Even if you make it on a roster, earning minutes is a tough road to hoe too!

[Anonymous]

God these ECNL threads are exhausting and repetitive, especially with the naysayers.

Here’s the deal OP: have your kid tryout. Have them attend several team’s sessions. She’ll know within one or two sessions if she’s a fit and whether it will be worth the time and money to play ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God these ECNL threads are exhausting and repetitive, especially with the naysayers.

Here’s the deal OP: have your kid tryout. Have them attend several team’s sessions. She’ll know within one or two sessions if she’s a fit and whether it will be worth the time and money to play ECNL.

The naysayers need to keep up the illusion of unreachable eliteness. To them the thought of a plucky kid from a EDP trying out for their team at 15, making it and contributing would shatter the world they created.