New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)

[Anonymous]

Playing in poor weather is a reality of soccer, especially the farther north you go in our country in terms of cold and south in terms of heat, and you have to learn to play in it. That said, perhaps it's a fair criticism to host a big event where weather is likely to be poor in December.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:ECNL just dropped the dates of all their showcases. Great exposure.

.......waiting for GA

That's smart they get first choice on dates.

GA can choose to do alternative or the same dates for their events.

well. ECNL takes the first shot. moves their St Louis 2nd week of Dec 12-15 tournament from last year 2024 (was in Tenn in 2023) to the first week of Dec 6-8 same dates as CASL/Visit Raleigh tournament and GA Winter Showcase in California of last year. Let's see if either of those 2 tournaments move their dates.

Where you think all the coaches will go?

College coaches will go to the GA showcases. It is a league based on development and the wave of the future.

cool story

ECNL St Louis Dec 2024 - 219 D1
GA Calif Dec 2024 - 136 D1

Don't forget to share about the December weather in St. Louis. I think there's even a thread about it here somewhere ...

doesn't appear to bother the amount of coaches who attend.

Go read the thread. Talk to people who were there. Just a number doesn't reflect what actually happened because of the weather.

our team had a great time there. don't see your issue or why this is now a topic on this board.

It isn’t a mystery. Some teams have one of those three games canceled. Big deal? Still tons of college coaches and great competition for DD and her team.

"Anyone else have the terrible experience in STL? Freezing, buckets of rain, canceled third game, hotels terrible. Why is ECNL continuing to force parents to pay and kids to attend these showcases in the midwest in December. Did anyone get recruited out of there? I hope so, I hope another family had a better weekend than we did. ECNL sucks"

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1245608.page

playing in that tournament was great for my daughter.it made her dig deeper into schools that play in that kind of weather. that she was looking at it was another piece of the pie in helping her find the right "fit" for her.there are 4 schools she likes that are in the north. it was a great part of her journey cause that was the the first time she played in that type of weather and realized it was too cold for her.

Her “journey”? Dude, that is so cringe. This isn’t Columbus setting sail to unknown lands.

I’m still deciding where to eat dinner tonight. I can’t wait for what awaits in this journey. When I get there I will reflect back on all the hard work it took to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So you think College coaches will pick a player because of the badge on a kit when two players are equal?? You must be a special kind of stupid. Not only that, you think GPA doesn’t make a difference to coaches????? LMAO. Only if the player is a USYNT member will they look past OR you have a lot of money and don’t need scholarship funds. Those are the only exceptions.

Yes, because a college coach knows that a player who is playing in ECNL (and probably also GA) can handle making decisions under significant pressure. Nearly every player who moves from NPL, EPL, ECNL-RL up to ECNL/GA talks about how much faster the game is. Not that the players are faster, but that the game just moves so much faster. So a college coach may see a player that looks great in the NPL, but they have no way to judge if she can handle the next level. Worse still, lots of ECNL kids can't handle the increased speed in P4 soccer, and hit the portal. How many coaches want to roll the dice for a kid that's played two full levels below?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL just dropped the dates of all their showcases. Great exposure.

.......waiting for GA

That's smart they get first choice on dates.

GA can choose to do alternative or the same dates for their events.

well. ECNL takes the first shot. moves their St Louis 2nd week of Dec 12-15 tournament from last year 2024 (was in Tenn in 2023) to the first week of Dec 6-8 same dates as CASL/Visit Raleigh tournament and GA Winter Showcase in California of last year. Let's see if either of those 2 tournaments move their dates.

Where you think all the coaches will go?

College coaches will go to the GA showcases. It is a league based on development and the wave of the future.

cool story

ECNL St Louis Dec 2024 - 219 D1
GA Calif Dec 2024 - 136 D1

Don't forget to share about the December weather in St. Louis. I think there's even a thread about it here somewhere ...

doesn't appear to bother the amount of coaches who attend.

Go read the thread. Talk to people who were there. Just a number doesn't reflect what actually happened because of the weather.

our team had a great time there. don't see your issue or why this is now a topic on this board.

It isn’t a mystery. Some teams have one of those three games canceled. Big deal? Still tons of college coaches and great competition for DD and her team.

"Anyone else have the terrible experience in STL? Freezing, buckets of rain, canceled third game, hotels terrible. Why is ECNL continuing to force parents to pay and kids to attend these showcases in the midwest in December. Did anyone get recruited out of there? I hope so, I hope another family had a better weekend than we did. ECNL sucks"

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1245608.page

playing in that tournament was great for my daughter.it made her dig deeper into schools that play in that kind of weather. that she was looking at it was another piece of the pie in helping her find the right "fit" for her.there are 4 schools she likes that are in the north. it was a great part of her journey cause that was the the first time she played in that type of weather and realized it was too cold for her.

It would have been much cheaper + more fon for the rest of the family if you took a soccer ball with you next time you went skiing and made your kid practice for an hour in the snow.

Depends on where you go skiing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So you think College coaches will pick a player because of the badge on a kit when two players are equal?? You must be a special kind of stupid. Not only that, you think GPA doesn’t make a difference to coaches????? LMAO. Only if the player is a USYNT member will they look past OR you have a lot of money and don’t need scholarship funds. Those are the only exceptions.

Yes, because a college coach knows that a player who is playing in ECNL (and probably also GA) can handle making decisions under significant pressure. Nearly every player who moves from NPL, EPL, ECNL-RL up to ECNL/GA talks about how much faster the game is. Not that the players are faster, but that the game just moves so much faster. So a college coach may see a player that looks great in the NPL, but they have no way to judge if she can handle the next level. Worse still, lots of ECNL kids can't handle the increased speed in P4 soccer, and hit the portal. How many coaches want to roll the dice for a kid that's played two full levels below?

Did the kid hit the portal because they couldn't keep up with the speed of play? Or, were they placed on a team they had no business being on because of DOC, Coach, Club connections? Or maybe a big donation dropped on the school from parents?

This is the issue with the current p2p + gatekeeper leagues environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So you think College coaches will pick a player because of the badge on a kit when two players are equal?? You must be a special kind of stupid. Not only that, you think GPA doesn’t make a difference to coaches????? LMAO. Only if the player is a USYNT member will they look past OR you have a lot of money and don’t need scholarship funds. Those are the only exceptions.

Yes, because a college coach knows that a player who is playing in ECNL (and probably also GA) can handle making decisions under significant pressure. Nearly every player who moves from NPL, EPL, ECNL-RL up to ECNL/GA talks about how much faster the game is. Not that the players are faster, but that the game just moves so much faster. So a college coach may see a player that looks great in the NPL, but they have no way to judge if she can handle the next level. Worse still, lots of ECNL kids can't handle the increased speed in P4 soccer, and hit the portal. How many coaches want to roll the dice for a kid that's played two full levels below?

Did the kid hit the portal because they couldn't keep up with the speed of play? Or, were they placed on a team they had no business being on because of DOC, Coach, Club connections? Or maybe a big donation dropped on the school from parents?

This is the issue with the current p2p + gatekeeper leagues environment.

It’s not always something sinister. Judging soccer talent is hard. Sometimes a college coach sees something worth taking a player chance on but it doesn’t pan out. It’s not always the player or coaches fault, it just doesn’t work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So you think College coaches will pick a player because of the badge on a kit when two players are equal?? You must be a special kind of stupid. Not only that, you think GPA doesn’t make a difference to coaches????? LMAO. Only if the player is a USYNT member will they look past OR you have a lot of money and don’t need scholarship funds. Those are the only exceptions.

Yes, because a college coach knows that a player who is playing in ECNL (and probably also GA) can handle making decisions under significant pressure. Nearly every player who moves from NPL, EPL, ECNL-RL up to ECNL/GA talks about how much faster the game is. Not that the players are faster, but that the game just moves so much faster. So a college coach may see a player that looks great in the NPL, but they have no way to judge if she can handle the next level. Worse still, lots of ECNL kids can't handle the increased speed in P4 soccer, and hit the portal. How many coaches want to roll the dice for a kid that's played two full levels below?

Did the kid hit the portal because they couldn't keep up with the speed of play? Or, were they placed on a team they had no business being on because of DOC, Coach, Club connections? Or maybe a big donation dropped on the school from parents?

This is the issue with the current p2p + gatekeeper leagues environment.

It’s not always something sinister. Judging soccer talent is hard. Sometimes a college coach sees something worth taking a player chance on but it doesn’t pan out. It’s not always the player or coaches fault, it just doesn’t work out.

Connections, the buddy network, and $$$ are what get coaches to "take a chance" on certain players. Call it whatever you want. Every time this happens a deserving player misses out on an opportunity.

[Anonymous]

A few years back, my DD had the local D1 women's college coach as has her U11 coach (his daughter was in the club). At first everyone was excited, but soon it became a disaster.

Regardless of that outcome, he talked a lot. He was not shy about that. He discussed recruiting and how he wanted a certain player. She played for a large ECNL club, well known. He also needed an defender. The player he wanted was a forward. He offered the forward a spot and then talked to that club coach and asked if he had a defender available, he did. The coach then offered that girl a spot without watching her play or talking to her. first time they talked, he offered her.

I questioned it and he said "didn't care, wanted the forward. needed a body at defense to fill out the roster, didn't have time to fully find one, she played at the same club, ECNL, big club. Was good with me"

It floored me. He also was gone within 18 months, so it somewhat makes sense. but i'm sure that happens more than once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL just dropped the dates of all their showcases. Great exposure.

.......waiting for GA

That's smart they get first choice on dates.

GA can choose to do alternative or the same dates for their events.

well. ECNL takes the first shot. moves their St Louis 2nd week of Dec 12-15 tournament from last year 2024 (was in Tenn in 2023) to the first week of Dec 6-8 same dates as CASL/Visit Raleigh tournament and GA Winter Showcase in California of last year. Let's see if either of those 2 tournaments move their dates.

Where you think all the coaches will go?

College coaches will go to the GA showcases. It is a league based on development and the wave of the future.

cool story

ECNL St Louis Dec 2024 - 219 D1
GA Calif Dec 2024 - 136 D1

Don't forget to share about the December weather in St. Louis. I think there's even a thread about it here somewhere ...

doesn't appear to bother the amount of coaches who attend.

Go read the thread. Talk to people who were there. Just a number doesn't reflect what actually happened because of the weather.

our team had a great time there. don't see your issue or why this is now a topic on this board.

It isn’t a mystery. Some teams have one of those three games canceled. Big deal? Still tons of college coaches and great competition for DD and her team.

"Anyone else have the terrible experience in STL? Freezing, buckets of rain, canceled third game, hotels terrible. Why is ECNL continuing to force parents to pay and kids to attend these showcases in the midwest in December. Did anyone get recruited out of there? I hope so, I hope another family had a better weekend than we did. ECNL sucks"

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1245608.page

playing in that tournament was great for my daughter.it made her dig deeper into schools that play in that kind of weather. that she was looking at it was another piece of the pie in helping her find the right "fit" for her.there are 4 schools she likes that are in the north. it was a great part of her journey cause that was the the first time she played in that type of weather and realized it was too cold for her.

Her “journey”? Dude, that is so cringe. This isn’t Columbus setting sail to unknown lands.

I’m still deciding where to eat dinner tonight. I can’t wait for what awaits in this journey. When I get there I will reflect back on all the hard work it took to get there.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:As A GA parent I will say this, I noticed Ukies 08 had a post for ECNL TX thanking the coaches that attended games, 120 in total. I know that team sucks - bad - and Ds GA team has beaten better teams in that conference. BUT, I don't think they have had 120 coaches in total attend in 4 showcases they've been in. I doubt that 99% of those schools will ultimately recruit one of those Ukies players but it is frustration that low level ECNL teams can draw (maybe they were in attendance for the other team, I don't know) as many as it did over a playoff caliber GA team. Maybe there is a shift over the next few years, maybe not.

This is the frustration and why people get pissy about ECNL parents ... no way 120 coaches watched that team...i would question if those 120 coaches were even there...just because they sign up doesn't mean they went...and if the Ukies 08 is not a great team - likely they are on field 40 and nowhere near where all the coaches are.

Nothing wrong with saying 8-10 coaches saw you ... when they post stuff like 120 ... come on.

Totally agree. The Sunday after any ECNL showcase social media is inundated with 1,000s of “Thank you coaches” posts from random ECNL players, posting graphics saying that basically every coach that registered for the showcase watched her team play. Total garbage. It’s almost like the kids are taught to brag on social media and then it’s all echoed on IAmYouthSoccer, the megaphone for the ECNL. I can promise you that coaches are not interested in their thank you notes.

Regarding Coaches at ECNL showcases, my DD's plays for a U16 club. She is posting after the showcases thanking the coaches that attended and it's legit posting the coaches that showed up to watch them play. Parents on the team are passing out brochures and asking the coaches for their card or info and logging it. This gets tabulated and shared with the girls. That's how the list gets made and I can tell you that it was over a 100 different schools over the course of the 3 days playing. Maybe some are posting every school that signed-up. Heck, even for Jeff Cup, there are over 80 schools.

Good Luck.

So 100 different schools came to watch your daughter's team over 3 games? That is outstanding for her and her teammates. I will not ask what club - unless you want to say - but does she play on a team what would be considered one of the top u16 teams at that showcase? if she's u16, that means she's a 2027, so if it was this past winter showcases that would be in cycle. if it was last summer's showcase, probably not. if she's not on one of the top teams and still had 100 schools watch her, i question that. obviously, no true way for me to check, but i question it if her team is not one of the top.

Also, Jefferson Cup posted the list of schools that attended ... it wasn't close to 80 D1 schools. over half the school nobody would have ever heard of.

Her team is ranked in the top 20 and lucked out and played some quality teams that also were ranked highly, so it drew quite a large group of coaches. For the Jeff Cup, we found that there were a lot of coaches that were at the games that weren't listed on the website and there was a mix of D1, D2 and D3. Again, we lucked out with the draw and played against teams that were also ranked. And they were showcases in the recruiting cycle - last year, her team also played at several, but really didn't track things at this level of detail. It will be a long process for sure. Don't get me started on the ID sessions at the schools - that's another thing entirely! Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As A GA parent I will say this, I noticed Ukies 08 had a post for ECNL TX thanking the coaches that attended games, 120 in total. I know that team sucks - bad - and Ds GA team has beaten better teams in that conference. BUT, I don't think they have had 120 coaches in total attend in 4 showcases they've been in. I doubt that 99% of those schools will ultimately recruit one of those Ukies players but it is frustration that low level ECNL teams can draw (maybe they were in attendance for the other team, I don't know) as many as it did over a playoff caliber GA team. Maybe there is a shift over the next few years, maybe not.

This is the frustration and why people get pissy about ECNL parents ... no way 120 coaches watched that team...i would question if those 120 coaches were even there...just because they sign up doesn't mean they went...and if the Ukies 08 is not a great team - likely they are on field 40 and nowhere near where all the coaches are.

Nothing wrong with saying 8-10 coaches saw you ... when they post stuff like 120 ... come on.

Totally agree. The Sunday after any ECNL showcase social media is inundated with 1,000s of “Thank you coaches” posts from random ECNL players, posting graphics saying that basically every coach that registered for the showcase watched her team play. Total garbage. It’s almost like the kids are taught to brag on social media and then it’s all echoed on IAmYouthSoccer, the megaphone for the ECNL. I can promise you that coaches are not interested in their thank you notes.

Regarding Coaches at ECNL showcases, my DD's plays for a U16 club. She is posting after the showcases thanking the coaches that attended and it's legit posting the coaches that showed up to watch them play. Parents on the team are passing out brochures and asking the coaches for their card or info and logging it. This gets tabulated and shared with the girls. That's how the list gets made and I can tell you that it was over a 100 different schools over the course of the 3 days playing. Maybe some are posting every school that signed-up. Heck, even for Jeff Cup, there are over 80 schools.

Good Luck.

So 100 different schools came to watch your daughter's team over 3 games? That is outstanding for her and her teammates. I will not ask what club - unless you want to say - but does she play on a team what would be considered one of the top u16 teams at that showcase? if she's u16, that means she's a 2027, so if it was this past winter showcases that would be in cycle. if it was last summer's showcase, probably not. if she's not on one of the top teams and still had 100 schools watch her, i question that. obviously, no true way for me to check, but i question it if her team is not one of the top.

Also, Jefferson Cup posted the list of schools that attended ... it wasn't close to 80 D1 schools. over half the school nobody would have ever heard of.

Her team is ranked in the top 20 and lucked out and played some quality teams that also were ranked highly, so it drew quite a large group of coaches. For the Jeff Cup, we found that there were a lot of coaches that were at the games that weren't listed on the website and there was a mix of D1, D2 and D3. Again, we lucked out with the draw and played against teams that were also ranked. And they were showcases in the recruiting cycle - last year, her team also played at several, but really didn't track things at this level of detail. It will be a long process for sure. Don't get me started on the ID sessions at the schools - that's another thing entirely! Good Luck!

that happens a lot a tournaments like Jeff Cup with coaches not on the tournaments list. they are there to see specific teams/players. easy way to cut down on the hundreds of emails they would receive from all the lower level teams players.

[Anonymous]

Also happens at GA and ECNL events. I ran into a D1 head coach who I know personally scouting GA showcase that wasn’t registered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also happens at GA and ECNL events. I ran into a D1 head coach who I know personally scouting GA showcase that wasn’t registered.

as you noted as an example, this would happen at GA. doesn't happen hardly at ECNL, they want the players to contact them. coaches going to GA events already know who they want to see at the Winter Showcase mostly at the champions cup games and the Summer showcase at the playoff games. the normal showcase games are barely attended

[Anonymous]

this is so funny from GA. they just posted a graphic saying 158 D1 coaches attended. lol. if you go to the tournament website and count the schools, it was only 57 or 58. doing it by how many coaches total came from those 57 or 58 D1 schools is so rec league. my goodness. lmao.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is so funny from GA. they just posted a graphic saying 158 D1 coaches attended. lol. if you go to the tournament website and count the schools, it was only 57 or 58. doing it by how many coaches total came from those 57 or 58 D1 schools is so rec league. my goodness. lmao.

You sound dumb if you think only the coaches on the website are who showed up …