why do parents sign up for a giant ECNL roster (Mclean 2006 has 28 players)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the thinking?
I don't get it.
Can someone explain the thinking?
Do kids beyond the top 11 get recruited to college?

05 technically has upwards of 40 on the roster... There are 2 teams wearing the VA Union name on the girls side at some age groups - one ECNL, one "composite". The composite team at 05, for example, will play EDP, NL PRO, and tournaments, but still trains with the ECNL girls -- so they aren't actually just "watching their teammates play".

And why? I'll answer for my family... maybe some of the toxic responders will get it and knock it off. For us, Mclean is conveniently located, which is a big deal for larger families. Composite gives my kiddo the opportunity to play in bigger tournaments, enjoy some of the travel experience, train with quality players, and have "room to grow" while still not keeping us out of traffic for an hour + in the evenings. For recruiting, yes, kids beyond the top 11 get recruited to college, they might just have to do a little more legwork. They may not go to Power 5 schools, but if "playing in college" is all your kid wants, Mclean's composite teams are still a great option.

OP here. But Mclean has no history of sending composite team members to college. They have only sent straight ECNL players.
Over the last 5 years they have sent 13 to 21 ECNL players each year to college (all divisions).

You're making it up when you say that Mclean composite teams are a great option for playing in college.

You wouldn't know whether a player was "composite" or not when Mclean lists their ECNL commits... if they are ECNL rostered, it just says ECNL. So, for example, in a year when 21 ECNL players are committed, good chance some of them played composite. Like mentioned when explaining composite -- it used to be a "pool" of high school players on one overflow team. They are just doing it a little differently with the 05's because they have enough kids. And all 35+ kids have the same jersey with the same patch, so if/when the "composite" kids commit somewhere, the website will just read "VA Union ECNL". Note that Mclean also had a D3 commit from their green team last year... So no, I'm not "making it up"... like i said, it will require a little more legwork on the kid's part - they won't have power 5 coaches knocking down the door, but they will have the platform they need to play in college if they choose to.

[Anonymous]

Questions, did parents know how large the roster was going to be when they accepted?
And what happened with the 3rd white team? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 3 teams for 2006, with the large roster (ECNL, Green, White)? Really doubtful all 28 players will make the college track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Questions, did parents know how large the roster was going to be when they accepted?
And what happened with the 3rd white team? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 3 teams for 2006, with the large roster (ECNL, Green, White)? Really doubtful all 28 players will make the college track.

The offer they received likely stipulated whether they were full time ECNL or not. They likely knew going in that they were dual roster players. It is not a bait and switch in that regards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

This too. I haven't seen the crazy thread about pre-season scrimmages yet... but the composite team did beat VDA 05 ECNL pretty easily...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

This too. I haven't seen the crazy thread about pre-season scrimmages yet... but the composite team did beat VDA 05 ECNL pretty easily...

That was mostly ECNL starters, not composite, that beat VDA 7-1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

The days of McLean sending large numbers to play in college are over. How many rising seniors do they have committed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Questions, did parents know how large the roster was going to be when they accepted?
And what happened with the 3rd white team? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 3 teams for 2006, with the large roster (ECNL, Green, White)? Really doubtful all 28 players will make the college track.

Not sure for 06. 05 was clearly designated composite or not at registration, no bait & switch. RE: the 3 teams -- maybe? but maybe not. People at the bottom of the roster might prefer to play EDP over CCL and train with the ECNL kids instead of the green team kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

This too. I haven't seen the crazy thread about pre-season scrimmages yet... but the composite team did beat VDA 05 ECNL pretty easily...

That was mostly ECNL starters, not composite, that beat VDA 7-1

not the week before when they beat them 3-1...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other 11 will be playing on a composite age combined team. I would be more concerned if you are the 18th on the roaster on any team and would rather get playing minutes playing. Pool teams are actually better for training which is why many top clubs do this. Clearly the poster doesn’t understand.

ECNL pretty much eliminated composite team league scheduling. Sending half of ECNL players to play in EDP on a composite team is no different than playing on EDP team of another club, except for higher cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

This too. I haven't seen the crazy thread about pre-season scrimmages yet... but the composite team did beat VDA 05 ECNL pretty easily...

That was mostly ECNL starters, not composite, that beat VDA 7-1

not the week before when they beat them 3-1...

So VDA ECNL lost to both McLean ECNL team and McLean composite team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other 11 will be playing on a composite age combined team. I would be more concerned if you are the 18th on the roaster on any team and would rather get playing minutes playing. Pool teams are actually better for training which is why many top clubs do this. Clearly the poster doesn’t understand.

ECNL pretty much eliminated composite team league scheduling. Sending half of ECNL players to play in EDP on a composite team is no different than playing on EDP team of another club, except for higher cost.

ah, the cost, because the real concern is what some one else's family decides to spend money on. LOL, i have never understood this obsession on this board. youth soccer is expensive in the US. It is what it is. I think spending a premium on a high end car is stupid - but if that's what makes you and your family happy, who the hell am I to tell you that your Mercedes SUV is financially stupid... you do you.

The difference between the club fees at Mclean for ECNL vs. a Green team spot is $200... and if you signed up to be a full composite player, you didn't have to even pay the ECNL premium. Beyond that, you pay for what your kid does -- if they end up going on an ECNL trip or to a showcase, you pay for it. If your kid isn't rostered, you don't. It's a nightmare for the treasurer, but it's fair. So... maybe Mclean's club fees are higher than another EDP club's fees (though I think they're pretty on par and green team parents are paying that for CCL...) - but again, it's a decision for each family based on a lot of factors. If you love the location, or the coach, or the team, an extra couple hundred bucks is worth it, especially when you have it to spare... So don't worry about what I'm paying for soccer and I won't worry about what you spent on your car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

This too. I haven't seen the crazy thread about pre-season scrimmages yet... but the composite team did beat VDA 05 ECNL pretty easily...

That was mostly ECNL starters, not composite, that beat VDA 7-1

not the week before when they beat them 3-1...

So VDA ECNL lost to both McLean ECNL team and McLean composite team?

yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Questions, did parents know how large the roster was going to be when they accepted?
And what happened with the 3rd white team? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 3 teams for 2006, with the large roster (ECNL, Green, White)? Really doubtful all 28 players will make the college track.

The offer they received likely stipulated whether they were full time ECNL or not. They likely knew going in that they were dual roster players. It is not a bait and switch in that regards.

Dual roster with what at '06?
There is no composite team at that age and they're not dual rostered with green (they have a separate pool of 19 players).
Can you clarify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ there have been years where McLean has sent 20+ seniors to play college soccer. You are right that McLean does not have a track record of sending non-ECNL players to college but McLean has never had a team like MSI White that just moved over to McLean and was coached by Nadir. That team has beaten McLean, Bethesda and Loudoun and other top teams in the area and has at least a dozen girls capable of playing at the next level. MSI parents had the choice of going to a non-McLean ECNL team or keep the team together and move to McLean ro remain with Nadir. Some of the top players on the team were already playing McLean ECNL and others will have the opportunity to do so while others will play on the Composite where they will showcase at the top non-ECNL showcases. Given Nadir’s reputation among and connection to college coaches, moving to McLean is not a bad place. Are the players guaranteed college recruiting? No but clearly you can recognize that the opportunity is there.

Are these MSI white players wearing Union jerseys or McLean jerseys? This is the problem with these "Union" ECNL teams being overloaded. They all purchases Union kits. They can't just appear for a McLean green team game

[Anonymous]

Who wants to play with Green at CCL level? They should move Green to ECNL R or EDP to be more competitive.