ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

Abso fing lutly. To get into one of those high D3s? Yes it is worth it. Your kid could have a perfect test scores and perfect GPA and not get into those places. Now if you want to ask about other D3s -- I might agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

For the McMansioned Chad and Becky, yes, they will take that as a win. They have the HHI and 529 to pay those bills and it works out to be a pretty strong brag about their DD, Katie. In their world, in which they give zero real sh—s about the world’s game, their hierarchy of brags for post-HS Katie is something like this:
1) Playing at an ACC/SEC school
2) Attending an Ivy/NESCAC…playing not that important
3) Attending a state flagship school (UVA/UMD/Penn St/Georgia)
4) Playing D1 at a lesser known school (eg Elon, Campbell)
5) Attending a locally known ‘regular’ college (eg VCU, JMU)
6) Playing D2/D3 at a lesser known school out in the sticks (Frostburg, Bridgewater)
7) Getting pregnant by a 24 year old nicknamed ‘Lucky’

It is not about the brag. That is what I think you are missing. And it is rich folk (not uber wealthy because they don't care) but not McMansion. It is getting to the right school. Why? It matters in life. Cost is meaningless in the decision. No way they would allow kids to go to most of the places you name. And most do not give a sh_t about world game. So I would reorder your post:

1. If you could get top 25 soccer at a high academic school you would do it (think Vandy, ND, Georgtown).
2. Ivy
3. Top academic p4 D1 private (BC, USC)
4. NESCAC or UAA D3
5. Flagship if top school (UVA, Mich, Cal., GA)
6. Other non P4 D1's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

For the McMansioned Chad and Becky, yes, they will take that as a win. They have the HHI and 529 to pay those bills and it works out to be a pretty strong brag about their DD, Katie. In their world, in which they give zero real sh—s about the world’s game, their hierarchy of brags for post-HS Katie is something like this:
1) Playing at an ACC/SEC school
2) Attending an Ivy/NESCAC…playing not that important
3) Attending a state flagship school (UVA/UMD/Penn St/Georgia)
4) Playing D1 at a lesser known school (eg Elon, Campbell)
5) Attending a locally known ‘regular’ college (eg VCU, JMU)
6) Playing D2/D3 at a lesser known school out in the sticks (Frostburg, Bridgewater)
7) Getting pregnant by a 24 year old nicknamed ‘Lucky’

It is not about the brag. That is what I think you are missing. And it is rich folk (not uber wealthy because they don't care) but not McMansion. It is getting to the right school. Why? It matters in life. Cost is meaningless in the decision. No way they would allow kids to go to most of the places you name. And most do not give a sh_t about world game. So I would reorder your post:

1. If you could get top 25 soccer at a high academic school you would do it (think Vandy, ND, Georgtown).
2. Ivy
3. Top academic p4 D1 private (BC, USC)
4. NESCAC or UAA D3
5. Flagship if top school (UVA, Mich, Cal., GA)
6. Other non P4 D1's

Oh, it is ALL about the BRAG! Don’t kid yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

For the McMansioned Chad and Becky, yes, they will take that as a win. They have the HHI and 529 to pay those bills and it works out to be a pretty strong brag about their DD, Katie. In their world, in which they give zero real sh—s about the world’s game, their hierarchy of brags for post-HS Katie is something like this:
1) Playing at an ACC/SEC school
2) Attending an Ivy/NESCAC…playing not that important
3) Attending a state flagship school (UVA/UMD/Penn St/Georgia)
4) Playing D1 at a lesser known school (eg Elon, Campbell)
5) Attending a locally known ‘regular’ college (eg VCU, JMU)
6) Playing D2/D3 at a lesser known school out in the sticks (Frostburg, Bridgewater)
7) Getting pregnant by a 24 year old nicknamed ‘Lucky’

It is not about the brag. That is what I think you are missing. And it is rich folk (not uber wealthy because they don't care) but not McMansion. It is getting to the right school. Why? It matters in life. Cost is meaningless in the decision. No way they would allow kids to go to most of the places you name. And most do not give a sh_t about world game. So I would reorder your post:

1. If you could get top 25 soccer at a high academic school you would do it (think Vandy, ND, Georgtown).
2. Ivy
3. Top academic p4 D1 private (BC, USC)
4. NESCAC or UAA D3
5. Flagship if top school (UVA, Mich, Cal., GA)
6. Other non P4 D1's

Your list applies to Bethesda, Arlington and Union. Mine is more inclusive, and factors in NVA, VDA, FCV and BRAVE. Your 1-6 is 1-2 on my list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

Abso fing lutly. To get into one of those high D3s? Yes it is worth it. Your kid could have a perfect test scores and perfect GPA and not get into those places. Now if you want to ask about other D3s -- I might agree.

These are pricey schools. Academic Scholarships in these schools if any are granted to the smartest students only.

[Anonymous]

No one is watching 2010s for the idiot poster above lol! Clearly you know nothing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breath papa bear, remember its the ride not the destination that ultimately matters for you and your DC.

To answer the last question, D3 soccer opportunities at an academic schoool you might not have gotten in without the soccer hook is ultimately all that ECNL can really deliver on. This is good enough for most sheep in ECNL. Let them eat their grass and be fleeced 2-3 times a year to be "showcased" totally worth it if you alreay have the cash to pay for the hamster wheel

That's definitely the game, isn't it?

Take a look at the D3 Directors' Cup standings for all sports. The top 10 is Johns Hopkins, Williams, Emory, Tufts, NYU, Middlebury, MIT, Washington U, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. Not far behind: U. Chicago and Carnegie Mellon.

Those are some legit academic powerhouses that are not at all easy to get into. If I knew my DC would get into one of those schools by being a bench player at an ECNL team, that'd be a pretty strong incentive.

It is, of course, the journey and not the destination. One of the saddest things in youth sports is seeing kids who feel like playing U17 is a job because they're really only in it for the prestige and the college admission.

The D3 thing is hysterical - these dumbass parents have been paying for their kid to play travel sports for 10 or 11 years by the time they're ready for college. Figure somewhere between 5-10k a year depending on how much you've paid to travel all over the place (i.e. how big of a sucker you are).

And for so many after the D1 dreams have faded, the reward is to "commit" to a D3 school - usually NESCAC and the like - with high academics and even higher tuition. Oh, and you won't get any money. So you've spent tens and tens of thousands of dollars and now you get to pay hundreds of thousands more - all to play on a team that would lose to most D1 club teams. But the parents get to tell their friends that their kid goes to Williams or whatever. So, it was all worth it and you win, right? Right?!!?!?!

Abso fing lutly. To get into one of those high D3s? Yes it is worth it. Your kid could have a perfect test scores and perfect GPA and not get into those places. Now if you want to ask about other D3s -- I might agree.

These are pricey schools. Academic Scholarships in these schools if any are granted to the smartest students only.

I agree with PP that this is an Arlington, McLean, Bethesda and also half of nva and Vda issue but those folks are fine with paying full. In fact most have 4 years plus graduate school already set aside. Cost is not even a consideration.

[Anonymous]

I think it was actually on this very forum that I learned that admission, not a scholarship, was the long-range goal. The scholarship would be a bonus, sure. But the Harvard Crimson, in the wake of Operation Varsity Blues, did some research into how much easier it is to get in if you're on the coaches' radars, and it was staggering.

Not that it's new. I knew a kid who was nowhere near the top of his class in my high school who got into Princeton because he MIGHT make the basketball team. (He didn't.)

So parents aren't quite as stupid about this as we might all think. My advice, though, would be to take up rowing. Much surer bet. Or even better, equestrian -- because in the name of Title IX, colleges have to give scholarships to people rich enough to get horses for their kids. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it was actually on this very forum that I learned that admission, not a scholarship, was the long-range goal. The scholarship would be a bonus, sure. But the Harvard Crimson, in the wake of Operation Varsity Blues, did some research into how much easier it is to get in if you're on the coaches' radars, and it was staggering.

Not that it's new. I knew a kid who was nowhere near the top of his class in my high school who got into Princeton because he MIGHT make the basketball team. (He didn't.)

So parents aren't quite as stupid about this as we might all think. My advice, though, would be to take up rowing. Much surer bet. Or even better, equestrian -- because in the name of Title IX, colleges have to give scholarships to people rich enough to get horses for their kids. Go figure.

I think it's different for every player/family...if there is 18 players on a team, there are 18 different priorities/factors for the next level, so trying to lump them all into one list is asinine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it was actually on this very forum that I learned that admission, not a scholarship, was the long-range goal. The scholarship would be a bonus, sure. But the Harvard Crimson, in the wake of Operation Varsity Blues, did some research into how much easier it is to get in if you're on the coaches' radars, and it was staggering.

Not that it's new. I knew a kid who was nowhere near the top of his class in my high school who got into Princeton because he MIGHT make the basketball team. (He didn't.)

So parents aren't quite as stupid about this as we might all think. My advice, though, would be to take up rowing. Much surer bet. Or even better, equestrian -- because in the name of Title IX, colleges have to give scholarships to people rich enough to get horses for their kids. Go figure.

I think it's different for every player/family...if there is 18 players on a team, there are 18 different priorities/factors for the next level, so trying to lump them all into one list is asinine.

Agree but Mclean, Arlighton and Bethesda have 13 or 14 girls that fit the above on every team.

[Anonymous]

Did your kid go to M.I.T. to become a PE teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your kid go to M.I.T. to become a PE teacher?

I'm sorry being a teacher is beneath you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your kid go to M.I.T. to become a PE teacher?

What are you talking about? If you think it was clever, it was so clever that most will not get it.

[Anonymous]

Assuming several people here are follwing the ECNL Girls thread. Discussion there is the team results dont matter as much for a player to get recruited and coaches are attending games to see players they are interested in regardless of how good the team is including non-champions league tournaments. And that the end game is college recruitment.

So if that is true then why did Brave and Union voluntarily combine the girls programs when ECNL only made them do the boys? More girls teams would mean more loplayers in ECNL and getting college looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming several people here are follwing the ECNL Girls thread. Discussion there is the team results dont matter as much for a player to get recruited and coaches are attending games to see players they are interested in regardless of how good the team is including non-champions league tournaments. And that the end game is college recruitment.

So if that is true then why did Brave and Union voluntarily combine the girls programs when ECNL only made them do the boys? More girls teams would mean more loplayers in ECNL and getting college looks.

Perhaps it may be in one of the previous 320+ pages, but was decoupling the boys and girls ECNL program even an option?