The ECNL scam?

[Anonymous]

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?

Are there actually parents who look at youth sports as an investment and expect a monetary return? Sheesh. No wonder they think everything is a scam.

Do they also view all the money spent on food, clothes, and toys as an investment to eventually earn their money back? I've never thought of kids as a money making scheme but maybe I'm doing it wrong. That halloween costume that costs $50? Not a good investment to only get back only $20 worth of candy. I would be better off from an investment standpoint if I just bought the candy directly. Where's my return on the $5000 for braces or summer camps or Disney vacations? Are those are all scams too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?

Are there actually parents who look at youth sports as an investment and expect a monetary return? Sheesh. No wonder they think everything is a scam.

Do they also view all the money spent on food, clothes, and toys as an investment to eventually earn their money back? I've never thought of kids as a money making scheme but maybe I'm doing it wrong. That halloween costume that costs $50? Not a good investment to only get back only $20 worth of candy. I would be better off from an investment standpoint if I just bought the candy directly. Where's my return on the $5000 for braces or summer camps or Disney vacations? Are those are all scams too.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?

Are there actually parents who look at youth sports as an investment and expect a monetary return? Sheesh. No wonder they think everything is a scam.

Do they also view all the money spent on food, clothes, and toys as an investment to eventually earn their money back? I've never thought of kids as a money making scheme but maybe I'm doing it wrong. That halloween costume that costs $50? Not a good investment to only get back only $20 worth of candy. I would be better off from an investment standpoint if I just bought the candy directly. Where's my return on the $5000 for braces or summer camps or Disney vacations? Are those are all scams too.

I was cheering you on until you went too far and brought Disney into it. Now that's a scam! happiest place on Earth my a-ss! Just kidding. Great post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For girls, ENCL is the top spot for college recruiting. Whether that's best for US Women overall to be competitive with up and coming European leagues is up for debate.

For boys, ENCL is competing with MLS-Next and more importantly overseas players for college attention and losing. Long term I can't see how ENCL wins vs. MLS-Next as the professional pipeline will draw in the best.

ECNL for girls is just a college prep league. Their “developmental” work is building muscle and creating physical players because that is the college game and it is the easiest way to get the most girls in college. Colleges use women soccer to balance football in terms of title 9 and 95% of the women college soccer programs are at best part time amateur leagues.

Parents see ECNL as a hook to get their kid in to college. Though the scholarship money is not really there for freshmen and many could get in to a “higher” ranked or better known school without soccer. So there is some elements of scam to the whole thing.

ECNL is a UMC sport. The point is getting in not getting a scholarship.

Yes, it is. It's very expensive, but what can you do? Travel isn't free. You can't expect all of the college coaches to come to you.

[Anonymous]

My DS is playing college now and by far the worst coaching and organization we encountered was during his time on ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the scam? I'm not exactly sure who created ECNL but I'm guessing someone saw a need to create a league to consolidate talent that they can pitch to to college coaches that coming to these ECNL events will be worth their while for recruiting...and it worked. My son, who is white, played for a predominately Latino EDP D1 team. Tons of talent on that team. ECNL level kids. Everyone understood that continuing on this team would not provide the platform to be seen by as many college coaches, so my son left and now plays on an ECNL team, so did others. Is ECNL more expensive? Very much so....especially when you add in the travel costs. His three years at ECNL, plus this year, he has had zero white coaches. His team consists of about 1/3 white kids. less than 25% came from the local mega clubs. All the others started out at small clubs like my son. So I don't understand what the issues are here. I do understand that some kids can't afford ECNL and therefore don't get the opportunity, but I don't see that as ECNL's fault.

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?
Isn't MLS Next the big dog and go-to for college recruiting? (after International players)

How is ECNL measurably 'better' for college/pro future than say EDP1... considering scouts recruit players, not teams?

I'm not looking for an ROI. I that THAT"S what wrong with youth sports...parents looking for ROI instead of just wanting their kids to play and challenge themselves.

How is ECNL better for scouts? Look at the side lines? We have DC United and a few other local coaches at almost every home game. When we went to playoffs in the summer, I think we had 25 colleges watching our final game in group play. They watch because the overall quality is better. The teams are better than EDP1 and the opponents are better. So even though the coach is watching an individual player, they are seeing that individual play in a much more competitive environment. Even tournaments like Bethesda and Jeff Cup don't pull the number of colleges like an ECNL showcase....and just to be fair, MLS Next showcases attract even more coaches than ECNL...even though, at least locally, ECNL teams and MLS Next teams are very competitive. Some ECNL teams are stronger than MLS Next teams, but it is what it is. Some kids what to play HS so they choose ECNL.

Sounds like a very subjective emotional take here, with a tailored narrative to suit your confirmation bias requirements.

DC United Scouts are seen watching games everywhere in the DMV at games for every league.
Please stop the false equivalence between MLS Next and ECNL. All the knowledgeable objective people know the truth. MLS Next is clearly a cut above ECNL.
If you take the time to look at the rosters of D1 top 25 college soccer teams, it is predominantly by a large percentage, International and MLS Club Academy players, followed by MLS Next.

You are spending that much money and that much time traveling around for a challenge?
Why isn't playing in EDP a challenge?

Soccer isn't basketball or football to US Colleges. There aren't big budgets and resources for scouting. So no, they aren't at ECNL showcases as your narrative suggests, when MLS Next events has one stop quality shopping. (yes, yes, there are surely some quality individual ECNL, EDP, NCSL, NAL, MSI players)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?

Are there actually parents who look at youth sports as an investment and expect a monetary return? Sheesh. No wonder they think everything is a scam.

Do they also view all the money spent on food, clothes, and toys as an investment to eventually earn their money back? I've never thought of kids as a money making scheme but maybe I'm doing it wrong. That halloween costume that costs $50? Not a good investment to only get back only $20 worth of candy. I would be better off from an investment standpoint if I just bought the candy directly. Where's my return on the $5000 for braces or summer camps or Disney vacations? Are those are all scams too.

Do you spend $5,000 on the Versace version of $50 Halloween costume, then drive 8 hours to a well decorated neighborhood to get the same candy as available in your neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

^ people do drive to our neighborhood for the experience. It’s a destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For girls, ENCL is the top spot for college recruiting. Whether that's best for US Women overall to be competitive with up and coming European leagues is up for debate.

For boys, ENCL is competing with MLS-Next and more importantly overseas players for college attention and losing. Long term I can't see how ENCL wins vs. MLS-Next as the professional pipeline will draw in the best.

ECNL for girls is just a college prep league. Their “developmental” work is building muscle and creating physical players because that is the college game and it is the easiest way to get the most girls in college. Colleges use women soccer to balance football in terms of title 9 and 95% of the women college soccer programs are at best part time amateur leagues.

Parents see ECNL as a hook to get their kid in to college. Though the scholarship money is not really there for freshmen and many could get in to a “higher” ranked or better known school without soccer. So there is some elements of scam to the whole thing.

ECNL is a UMC sport. The point is getting in not getting a scholarship.

Yes, it is. It's very expensive, but what can you do? Travel isn't free. You can't expect all of the college coaches to come to you.

You act like that's a bad thing. It's a feature. If you kid is good enough and you can afford it, you know they're competing against far fewer kids than if it was about just the best. I don't think colleges care because they want recruits who can afford to attend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the scam? I'm not exactly sure who created ECNL but I'm guessing someone saw a need to create a league to consolidate talent that they can pitch to to college coaches that coming to these ECNL events will be worth their while for recruiting...and it worked. My son, who is white, played for a predominately Latino EDP D1 team. Tons of talent on that team. ECNL level kids. Everyone understood that continuing on this team would not provide the platform to be seen by as many college coaches, so my son left and now plays on an ECNL team, so did others. Is ECNL more expensive? Very much so....especially when you add in the travel costs. His three years at ECNL, plus this year, he has had zero white coaches. His team consists of about 1/3 white kids. less than 25% came from the local mega clubs. All the others started out at small clubs like my son. So I don't understand what the issues are here. I do understand that some kids can't afford ECNL and therefore don't get the opportunity, but I don't see that as ECNL's fault.

What's the ROI in spending all that money and time/expenses for years in ECNL?
Isn't MLS Next the big dog and go-to for college recruiting? (after International players)

How is ECNL measurably 'better' for college/pro future than say EDP1... considering scouts recruit players, not teams?

I'm not looking for an ROI. I that THAT"S what wrong with youth sports...parents looking for ROI instead of just wanting their kids to play and challenge themselves.

How is ECNL better for scouts? Look at the side lines? We have DC United and a few other local coaches at almost every home game. When we went to playoffs in the summer, I think we had 25 colleges watching our final game in group play. They watch because the overall quality is better. The teams are better than EDP1 and the opponents are better. So even though the coach is watching an individual player, they are seeing that individual play in a much more competitive environment. Even tournaments like Bethesda and Jeff Cup don't pull the number of colleges like an ECNL showcase....and just to be fair, MLS Next showcases attract even more coaches than ECNL...even though, at least locally, ECNL teams and MLS Next teams are very competitive. Some ECNL teams are stronger than MLS Next teams, but it is what it is. Some kids what to play HS so they choose ECNL.

Sounds like you see the higher probability of getting scouted by college scouts (and recruited) as the R on your I to me.

[Anonymous]

If your primary goal is to "be seen", you'd be better off paying for ID camps that most all colleges host than expecting ECNL to be a golden window to college. Expecting a school you actually want to attend seeing you among the hundreds of other kids through ECNL is just a crapshoot. It's like getting a job. The more directly you get in front of someone, the more likely you are to be hired.

[Anonymous]

Those camps are more of the same if the coach doesn't reach out specifically to invite you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those camps are more of the same if the coach doesn't reach out specifically to invite you.

Disagree. College coaches started tracking my kid at age 11-12 because he stood out at their residential camps. They never invited him. He just keep showing up and ended up playing at an ACC school because they became familiar with him as a player and person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those camps are more of the same if the coach doesn't reach out specifically to invite you.

Disagree. College coaches started tracking my kid at age 11-12 because he stood out at their residential camps. They never invited him. He just keep showing up and ended up playing at an ACC school because they became familiar with him as a player and person.

So, you're in disagreement, because just showing up at a camp with hundreds of other players is a Better way to get recruited than collaborating with a coach in advance and having the coach coming to the even prepared to find and see you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those camps are more of the same if the coach doesn't reach out specifically to invite you.

Disagree. College coaches started tracking my kid at age 11-12 because he stood out at their residential camps. They never invited him. He just keep showing up and ended up playing at an ACC school because they became familiar with him as a player and person.

So, you're in disagreement, because just showing up at a camp with hundreds of other players is a Better way to get recruited than collaborating with a coach in advance and having the coach coming to the even prepared to find and see you?

I disagree that the camps are "more of the same" and they don't have any merit. I didn't compare it to anything. Not the one who commented on ECNL before. I'm just telling you my experience - that my kid went to camps and leveraged that into a college scholarship. Would his college recruiting experience have been different through a different approach? Probably. Maybe better / maybe worse. But, it's hard for me to discredit college camps when it worked for us. Why is everyone so angry all the time?