DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a different theory. There will soon be 7 NoVa clubs playing ECNL or DA. There are not enough elite players to support these clubs. I suspect that an age group may have enough to field 2 elite teams. By elite, I mean teams that could pre-DA be Jeff Cup top bracket (it’s not the same now without the DA clubs), or compete at ECNL nationals or (assuming there is one ) DA nationals. USYS nationals has been decimated by DA/ECNL and US Soccer’s nationals - so that no longer has the same pedigree it used to have.

The top players want to compete on these top teams. They will self select and move what they feel is the best team. The strongest club for one age probably won’t be the strongest for the next. As evidence - look at MClean’s 02s or BRYCs 03s. Both have players playing up - if they weren’t, McLeans 03s and BRYCs 04s would be significantly stronger.

Don’t assume that because club X now has (DA or ECNL) that players won’t leave. Players move. It has always happened, it will keep happening. Only difference now is there are more potential landing spots.

+1
Nothing new ...... when clubs have a weak age group players play up or leave. Will be hard for 1 place to rule all comers!

I bet DA will win out over time. You will have a bunch of ECNL and one DA(maybe two) in the area. DA has taken off nationally and will get all the attention and hype. The DMV will have watered down ECNL with a strong DA. As the pp said, the best girls will go to the strongest team and that will be the DA(add in the exposure, hype, named coaches, ECNL 2nd league status nationally, etc.). This happened with the boys side and there in no reason to think it will not be the same on the girls side.

Everyone has seen this before. For the U-littles, it all depends on what that the best 1 or 2 girls do in your team/club peer group. Do they stay for ECNL or their NCSL team, or do they give DA a look at one of the upcoming ID sessions at WS, FCV, and ASA? It only takes a few going out to check things out to cause an age group at a club/team to really change. DA really is after those top 1-2, but with the trickle affect, you will get players 3-5 thinking as well. Players 6-10 are probably not DA anyway. A trickle here or there will probably lead to a shift overtime, where the top 1-3 on any given team are regularly focusing on their local DA when they hit U12, and their non-DA club expects and understands that. Would be nice for the girls who can't make DA to have a fallback that was not as expensive as ECNL. That is a very expensive platform (same cost as ASA and FCV DAs) just to be able to play in high school.

Isn't it the case that ECNL fees doesn't cover travel expenses? It's more of a platform to make college coaches' scouting easier.

[Anonymous]

When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

Braddock Road's fee structure is here: http://www.brycsoccer.com/about-us/fees. ECNL club fees were $2050 for this year (2017-18).

These fees do not include tournament fees, travel costs, indoor league fees, rental of winter training space, and uniforms. The per player budget for these other team expenses varies by age group and league; uniforms are about $400 if you're starting from scratch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

Braddock Road's fee structure is here: http://www.brycsoccer.com/about-us/fees. ECNL club fees were $2050 for this year (2017-18).

These fees do not include tournament fees, travel costs, indoor league fees, rental of winter training space, and uniforms. The per player budget for these other team expenses varies by age group and league; uniforms are about $400 if you're starting from scratch.

And with regard to ECNL travel, two NC away games are bundled in one weekend, and two SC away games are also bundled. So there is one trip to Richmond, two trips to NC, and one trip to SC per year. Plus tournament, showcase, and finals travel which all vary club to club.

DA clubs do not bundle games so likely have greater travel costs. How much does FCV charge for DA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

Braddock Road's fee structure is here: http://www.brycsoccer.com/about-us/fees. ECNL club fees were $2050 for this year (2017-18).

These fees do not include tournament fees, travel costs, indoor league fees, rental of winter training space, and uniforms. The per player budget for these other team expenses varies by age group and league; uniforms are about $400 if you're starting from scratch.

And with regard to ECNL travel, two NC away games are bundled in one weekend, and two SC away games are also bundled. So there is one trip to Richmond, two trips to NC, and one trip to SC per year. Plus tournament, showcase, and finals travel which all vary club to club.

DA clubs do not bundle games so likely have greater travel costs. How much does FCV charge for DA?

DA DOES sometimes bundle games - when WS played the NY teams this past fall, they were bundled into one weekend to save on travel.

[Anonymous]

It's all about playing D1 college soccer. If that's not your kids dream then your wasting your time and money. It's all expensive and your better off putting the money in a college fund and having school paid off by time they are 18. #truedat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

Braddock Road's fee structure is here: http://www.brycsoccer.com/about-us/fees. ECNL club fees were $2050 for this year (2017-18).

These fees do not include tournament fees, travel costs, indoor league fees, rental of winter training space, and uniforms. The per player budget for these other team expenses varies by age group and league; uniforms are about $400 if you're starting from scratch.

IOW way more than $5K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about playing D1 college soccer. If that's not your kids dream then your wasting your time and money. It's all expensive and your better off putting the money in a college fund and having school paid off by time they are 18. #truedat

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When ppl say ECNL is a very expensive platform do us all a favor and put down some facts or numbers. Almost every club advertising elite soccer is expensive. Kinda goes with the territory. The only real number posted here has been Spirit's $5k price tag and everything it includes.

Braddock Road's fee structure is here: http://www.brycsoccer.com/about-us/fees. ECNL club fees were $2050 for this year (2017-18).

These fees do not include tournament fees, travel costs, indoor league fees, rental of winter training space, and uniforms. The per player budget for these other team expenses varies by age group and league; uniforms are about $400 if you're starting from scratch.

IOW way more than $5K?

That honestly depends on the age group and what tournaments/national events that they do. The U13/14 girls ECNL price tag was about $4k (that includes busses to the away games, hotels, food, and tournaments for the players). That price does not include parent travel. For the older kids when you start adding the National Events where they are flying, the price certainly will be significantly higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a different theory. There will soon be 7 NoVa clubs playing ECNL or DA. There are not enough elite players to support these clubs. I suspect that an age group may have enough to field 2 elite teams. By elite, I mean teams that could pre-DA be Jeff Cup top bracket (it’s not the same now without the DA clubs), or compete at ECNL nationals or (assuming there is one ) DA nationals. USYS nationals has been decimated by DA/ECNL and US Soccer’s nationals - so that no longer has the same pedigree it used to have.

The top players want to compete on these top teams. They will self select and move what they feel is the best team. The strongest club for one age probably won’t be the strongest for the next. As evidence - look at MClean’s 02s or BRYCs 03s. Both have players playing up - if they weren’t, McLeans 03s and BRYCs 04s would be significantly stronger.

Don’t assume that because club X now has (DA or ECNL) that players won’t leave. Players move. It has always happened, it will keep happening. Only difference now is there are more potential landing spots.

+1
Nothing new ...... when clubs have a weak age group players play up or leave. Will be hard for 1 place to rule all comers!

I bet DA will win out over time. You will have a bunch of ECNL and one DA(maybe two) in the area. DA has taken off nationally and will get all the attention and hype. The DMV will have watered down ECNL with a strong DA. As the pp said, the best girls will go to the strongest team and that will be the DA(add in the exposure, hype, named coaches, ECNL 2nd league status nationally, etc.). This happened with the boys side and there in no reason to think it will not be the same on the girls side.

I don't think the boys had an established league like the ECNL. I honestly think folks are treating DA like the new shiny object. ECNL and DA are two different products. Player who have an interest in more flexibility to play HS soccer and play other sports will pick ECNL. Even considering those two options, there will remain competitive teams outside of these two. Up and down each age group you will see a number of teams in the area that are considered better teams than the ECNL/DA teams. These teams will remain. Some of the top area teams in Region I are not ECNL/DA. Arlington and Loudon account for many of those teams but others affiliated with Pipeline, SAC and Celtic. There are also much smaller clubs and independents. DA/ECNL will change the landscape but let's not give those leagues too much credit. It is a nice option to have for sure but let's not get carried away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a different theory. There will soon be 7 NoVa clubs playing ECNL or DA. There are not enough elite players to support these clubs. I suspect that an age group may have enough to field 2 elite teams. By elite, I mean teams that could pre-DA be Jeff Cup top bracket (it’s not the same now without the DA clubs), or compete at ECNL nationals or (assuming there is one ) DA nationals. USYS nationals has been decimated by DA/ECNL and US Soccer’s nationals - so that no longer has the same pedigree it used to have.

The top players want to compete on these top teams. They will self select and move what they feel is the best team. The strongest club for one age probably won’t be the strongest for the next. As evidence - look at MClean’s 02s or BRYCs 03s. Both have players playing up - if they weren’t, McLeans 03s and BRYCs 04s would be significantly stronger.

Don’t assume that because club X now has (DA or ECNL) that players won’t leave. Players move. It has always happened, it will keep happening. Only difference now is there are more potential landing spots.

+1
Nothing new ...... when clubs have a weak age group players play up or leave. Will be hard for 1 place to rule all comers!

I bet DA will win out over time. You will have a bunch of ECNL and one DA(maybe two) in the area. DA has taken off nationally and will get all the attention and hype. The DMV will have watered down ECNL with a strong DA. As the pp said, the best girls will go to the strongest team and that will be the DA(add in the exposure, hype, named coaches, ECNL 2nd league status nationally, etc.). This happened with the boys side and there in no reason to think it will not be the same on the girls side.

I don't think the boys had an established league like the ECNL. I honestly think folks are treating DA like the new shiny object. ECNL and DA are two different products. Player who have an interest in more flexibility to play HS soccer and play other sports will pick ECNL. Even considering those two options, there will remain competitive teams outside of these two. Up and down each age group you will see a number of teams in the area that are considered better teams than the ECNL/DA teams. These teams will remain. Some of the top area teams in Region I are not ECNL/DA. Arlington and Loudon account for many of those teams but others affiliated with Pipeline, SAC and Celtic. There are also much smaller clubs and independents. DA/ECNL will change the landscape but let's not give those leagues too much credit. It is a nice option to have for sure but let's not get carried away.

DA is the new 'thing'. Anyone who played soccer in this area back in the 70/80s will have seen how every few years its something new and shiny that is going to revolutionize youth soccer. Leagues disband, merge, are created time and time again. What was once the biggest and best will get thrown to the wayside for the next great white hope. No, DA isn't the answer. It is today's newest hope.

Wait a few years. It will change again.

These things are never about the players. These things are always grown-ups having pissing matches and trying to mark their territory and lay claim to the most players. Not one of these initiatives has helped our player development. Not one.

We still won't qualify for the world cup. The girls are now following the ill-fated path of the boys.

[Anonymous]

I personally don't see how adding one more shitty team practice per week helps an individual development. There is nothing personal in this model. They still aren't looking at individuals. There is nothing special going on at these sessions. They would do best to use that fourth practice sharpening their own weaknesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a different theory. There will soon be 7 NoVa clubs playing ECNL or DA. There are not enough elite players to support these clubs. I suspect that an age group may have enough to field 2 elite teams. By elite, I mean teams that could pre-DA be Jeff Cup top bracket (it’s not the same now without the DA clubs), or compete at ECNL nationals or (assuming there is one ) DA nationals. USYS nationals has been decimated by DA/ECNL and US Soccer’s nationals - so that no longer has the same pedigree it used to have.

The top players want to compete on these top teams. They will self select and move what they feel is the best team. The strongest club for one age probably won’t be the strongest for the next. As evidence - look at MClean’s 02s or BRYCs 03s. Both have players playing up - if they weren’t, McLeans 03s and BRYCs 04s would be significantly stronger.

Don’t assume that because club X now has (DA or ECNL) that players won’t leave. Players move. It has always happened, it will keep happening. Only difference now is there are more potential landing spots.

+1
Nothing new ...... when clubs have a weak age group players play up or leave. Will be hard for 1 place to rule all comers!

I bet DA will win out over time. You will have a bunch of ECNL and one DA(maybe two) in the area. DA has taken off nationally and will get all the attention and hype. The DMV will have watered down ECNL with a strong DA. As the pp said, the best girls will go to the strongest team and that will be the DA(add in the exposure, hype, named coaches, ECNL 2nd league status nationally, etc.). This happened with the boys side and there in no reason to think it will not be the same on the girls side.

I don't think the boys had an established league like the ECNL. I honestly think folks are treating DA like the new shiny object. ECNL and DA are two different products. Player who have an interest in more flexibility to play HS soccer and play other sports will pick ECNL. Even considering those two options, there will remain competitive teams outside of these two. Up and down each age group you will see a number of teams in the area that are considered better teams than the ECNL/DA teams. These teams will remain. Some of the top area teams in Region I are not ECNL/DA. Arlington and Loudon account for many of those teams but others affiliated with Pipeline, SAC and Celtic. There are also much smaller clubs and independents. DA/ECNL will change the landscape but let's not give those leagues too much credit. It is a nice option to have for sure but let's not get carried away.

I love how everyone thinks ECNL is this High School friendly environment. Yes, playing HS soccer is not forbidden by the LEAGUE, but to assume a coach is going to be thrilled with your kid playing HS better think again. When the rubber hits the road, ECNL coaches will do all they can to discourage HS play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all about playing D1 college soccer. If that's not your kids dream then your wasting your time and money. It's all expensive and your better off putting the money in a college fund and having school paid off by time they are 18. #truedat

What can be accomplished even you get to play D1? what happens after that with a sports management degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all about playing D1 college soccer. If that's not your kids dream then your wasting your time and money. It's all expensive and your better off putting the money in a college fund and having school paid off by time they are 18. #truedat

What can be accomplished even you get to play D1? what happens after that with a sports management degree?

It is about opening the doors of schools not otherwise considered. There is an athlete bump on admissions requirements for kids with good grades but could not go to Thomas Jefferson.