Official GA Fall 2025 Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easy, for GA teams or ECNL teams. Make it to Nationals, and will make to compete with the best of Country. Nothing new!

No that's not true for GA. Unlike ECNL, GA's best events are exclusive events (called Champions Cup) just for certain clubs. Even if your team is in last place, as long as you are part of these clubs you still get to compete in the Champions Cup tournament events. And even if your team is in first place you don't get to participate unless you are at one of the designated clubs.

What you are talking about is playoffs (Nationals). Yes, being on a good team will get you to Nationals but in GA this is just one of their three national events, and it is the least attended by colleges because of the time of year.

In GA you want to be at the December and March events which are exclusive to Champions Cup clubs regardless of team records.

I see on GA’s website that VRSC is included for this season. How did they qualify? Doesn’t seem like they’d be the top MA club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?[/

We understand your point. We don’t agree. Enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?

Bla bla bla, don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?

Bla bla bla, don't care.

Looking at U15-U13s, which I see as the first batch that will either stick with GA or not, the scores are relatively within reason with the exception of TSJ. That said, it appears fairly competitive. I think ECNL is the same, which is what you want. No one wants 3+ goal differential weekly and anecdotally it looks like both are relatively competitive with one another with the occasional wooping game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

The 2013 group has always been what it is. The only 3 competitive clubs at the age were Mclean, Loudoun and Syc so it doesn't matter what league they're in those 3 clubs would still run through everyone. So I'm not sure what promises the posters club gave them about competition but we knew what the local comp would be. And every sports league in the world has "meaningless" games due to half of the league being subpar in comparison to the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easy, for GA teams or ECNL teams. Make it to Nationals, and will make to compete with the best of Country. Nothing new!

No that's not true for GA. Unlike ECNL, GA's best events are exclusive events (called Champions Cup) just for certain clubs. Even if your team is in last place, as long as you are part of these clubs you still get to compete in the Champions Cup tournament events. And even if your team is in first place you don't get to participate unless you are at one of the designated clubs.

What you are talking about is playoffs (Nationals). Yes, being on a good team will get you to Nationals but in GA this is just one of their three national events, and it is the least attended by colleges because of the time of year.

In GA you want to be at the December and March events which are exclusive to Champions Cup clubs regardless of team records.

I see on GA’s website that VRSC is included for this season. How did they qualify? Doesn’t seem like they’d be the top MA club.

VRSC is part of the South Atlantic conference this year which is a brand new conference. They qualified based on last year’s results but they only had to compare with other SA clubs most of which weren’t in GA last year so they weren’t eligible. Among VRSC, SYC, TSJ, Skyline they came out on top. You get Champions Cup points by finishing top 5 in your conference at any age group. VRSC had a couple age groups in the top 5 MA last year. They will absolutely benefit being the “best” in a terrible conference. This year there is only one Champions Cup club from the South Atlantic but next year should be two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?

Fair point. Currently the bottom teams in GA for 2013 can’t do much against the top clubs. Guessing the top clubs could win by 10 goals if they wanted.
Part of the issue is the number of GA teams we have in NOVA. There just isn’t enough talent to field 7 competitive teams. Hopefully GA recognizes this and drops teams to Aspire. That would help concentrate talent and minimize massive goal differential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to move on from the ECNL vs GA crap once again. It's been established that GA parents don't care and we don't want to hear about how ECNL is better and how are DDs are horrible players compared to ECNL players.

Back on subject please.

It would be nice, wouldn't it? I am guessing the "hats" who feel the need to be here saying ECNL is better are the parents of fringe players. It makes them feel better/superior somehow. The parents of the good players probably couldn't care less and are happy with their situation.

No hat here. GA parent who feels like my DD was lied to. It’s not about better / worse. Not looking for great, would be happy with good, but what we have is bad (even if better than terrible RL). Can’t argue with the data. Question is whether the problem is this conference and things will get better in Champions League. Wouldn’t help my DD but perhaps it’s not a league or conference issue but, as PP suggested, a 2013 issue.

And your 2013 DD would be better off in MA, where 2 of the 3 local ECNL teams (who are undefeated in league play) just went a combined 1-5 at WAGS against GA teams?

Making an issue of driving to Charlotte is kind of funny. There are 3 top level teams in Charlotte, 1 ECNL and 2 GA. You are either driving there for 1 game against a Top 1-2 team and splitting the weekend at another site in NC or spending a full weekend there and playing 2 of the top 3 Charlotte teams. Barely makes a damn’s worth of difference.

It looks like the previous poster was more indicating that his GA club had hyped up how good the competition would be in GA. And while there are some strong GA teams there are also some who are “building”.
In looking at the 2013 standings there are 3 teams with a 20+ goal differential. In 2012 there is 1, 2011 there is 1 and 2010 there are 2. So it does seem there is a bit more of a talent range in 2013 currently.
I do think that talent range will get smaller next year. I think it is likely that TSJ moves to Aspire. I also think it is likely some of the RL girls at Arlington, GFR and Vienna will migrate to GA.

Perhaps, but a little bizarre to complain about the quality and mention traveling to Charlotte, if you are an SYC parent and your one L was in Charlotte, or a VR parent and your team won 1-0 and 4-2 against the Charlotte teams, etc.

On your other point, my DD’s GA team has already had RL players showing up to train/tryout, so agree with you there.

Rankings app has Wake at 600 and CDA at 1075. Is it worth traveling to Charlotte for that? Not sure what you’re arguing about, my point is factual: the bottom half of GA south MA includes a bunch of really bad teams, so the games are a waste of time for the two or three quality teams.

Both leagues have bottom feeders, What is the difference in ECNL to go down and play 2011 NCFC, Hammerheads, Fushion, Beach? So none of this talk between GA or ECNL matters until they get to the big dance, which historically both have failed to bring home the big one

All I’m saying is that bottom half of GA teams are bad, which makes most of the league games pointless for the top 2-3 teams, full stop, no comparison needed. Since you keep trying to compare GA to ECNL, I’ll agree that the “bottom feeder” ECNL teams are not particularly strong, but they’re all inside the top 500 in rankings app (most comfortably), which is substantially better than the bottom half of MA south GA teams. We are regularly seeing 5++ single game goal differentials; who is that good for?

Fair point. Currently the bottom teams in GA for 2013 can’t do much against the top clubs. Guessing the top clubs could win by 10 goals if they wanted.
Part of the issue is the number of GA teams we have in NOVA. There just isn’t enough talent to field 7 competitive teams. Hopefully GA recognizes this and drops teams to Aspire. That would help concentrate talent and minimize massive goal differential.

Stop tilting at windmills and worry about your kid’s first touch.

[Anonymous]

Ahhh, to be new to high level Club Soccer and think you know everything…I remember those days. Once your kid is a senior in HS you will realize how little you knew back then and how little everything before U15 meant.

[Anonymous]

Y’all are talking 2013’s so I’ll assume you are new to how these things work. ECNL and GA are exposure platforms. They don’t have superior coaching or development or anything over the others that will make your kid a better soccer player. What they do have though is exposure. That’s really the only reason to be in these leagues. Playing at events where the recruiters attend is the whole game. It does not matter how weak the competition is in league games that recruiters don’t attend. On the contrary, weak competition means your player can compile some nice highlights which are what gets recruiters to watch you at the big events. Choose the team and club that will maximize exposure. That might be at a top ECNL team that makes playoffs or it might be a GA club who is in Champions Cup. Oh, and also, none of this stuff matters until U15/16. Anything younger than that just find the coach/team where your kid gets lots of playing time and will put in work on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are talking 2013’s so I’ll assume you are new to how these things work. ECNL and GA are exposure platforms. They don’t have superior coaching or development or anything over the others that will make your kid a better soccer player. What they do have though is exposure. That’s really the only reason to be in these leagues. Playing at events where the recruiters attend is the whole game. It does not matter how weak the competition is in league games that recruiters don’t attend. On the contrary, weak competition means your player can compile some nice highlights which are what gets recruiters to watch you at the big events. Choose the team and club that will maximize exposure. That might be at a top ECNL team that makes playoffs or it might be a GA club who is in Champions Cup. Oh, and also, none of this stuff matters until U15/16. Anything younger than that just find the coach/team where your kid gets lots of playing time and will put in work on their own.

Another “none of these coaches make your player better and all of the environments are the same” take. Thank you for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are talking 2013’s so I’ll assume you are new to how these things work. ECNL and GA are exposure platforms. They don’t have superior coaching or development or anything over the others that will make your kid a better soccer player. What they do have though is exposure. That’s really the only reason to be in these leagues. Playing at events where the recruiters attend is the whole game. It does not matter how weak the competition is in league games that recruiters don’t attend. On the contrary, weak competition means your player can compile some nice highlights which are what gets recruiters to watch you at the big events. Choose the team and club that will maximize exposure. That might be at a top ECNL team that makes playoffs or it might be a GA club who is in Champions Cup. Oh, and also, none of this stuff matters until U15/16. Anything younger than that just find the coach/team where your kid gets lots of playing time and will put in work on their own.

I understand what you're saying and while I'm not hung up on leagues I can understand the concern some may have with competition levels. As you know the kids wont get better as an individual or team by blowing teams out by 10 goals and while a lot of posters here don't know how to convey that concern without insults I understand because once they face a certain level of competition at one of these exposure events the lack of competition they've had in the past will show. It's just like when my daughter was younger I could see she was ahead of most of her team but still needed polishing. So I requested that she train up and also play with the boys when available. Between the two of those her game made a massive leap in a very short amount of time and that wouldn't have happened training with her team and the 2nd team when they combined practices. Some of us actually want to see our kids develop, take losses and not collect trophies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are talking 2013’s so I’ll assume you are new to how these things work. ECNL and GA are exposure platforms. They don’t have superior coaching or development or anything over the others that will make your kid a better soccer player. What they do have though is exposure. That’s really the only reason to be in these leagues. Playing at events where the recruiters attend is the whole game. It does not matter how weak the competition is in league games that recruiters don’t attend. On the contrary, weak competition means your player can compile some nice highlights which are what gets recruiters to watch you at the big events. Choose the team and club that will maximize exposure. That might be at a top ECNL team that makes playoffs or it might be a GA club who is in Champions Cup. Oh, and also, none of this stuff matters until U15/16. Anything younger than that just find the coach/team where your kid gets lots of playing time and will put in work on their own.

I understand what you're saying and while I'm not hung up on leagues I can understand the concern some may have with competition levels. As you know the kids wont get better as an individual or team by blowing teams out by 10 goals and while a lot of posters here don't know how to convey that concern without insults I understand because once they face a certain level of competition at one of these exposure events the lack of competition they've had in the past will show. It's just like when my daughter was younger I could see she was ahead of most of her team but still needed polishing. So I requested that she train up and also play with the boys when available. Between the two of those her game made a massive leap in a very short amount of time and that wouldn't have happened training with her team and the 2nd team when they combined practices. Some of us actually want to see our kids develop, take losses and not collect trophies.

+1. Competition level matters, not only within the league for games but maybe more importantly within the team since that’s who you train with / against all week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are talking 2013’s so I’ll assume you are new to how these things work. ECNL and GA are exposure platforms. They don’t have superior coaching or development or anything over the others that will make your kid a better soccer player. What they do have though is exposure. That’s really the only reason to be in these leagues. Playing at events where the recruiters attend is the whole game. It does not matter how weak the competition is in league games that recruiters don’t attend. On the contrary, weak competition means your player can compile some nice highlights which are what gets recruiters to watch you at the big events. Choose the team and club that will maximize exposure. That might be at a top ECNL team that makes playoffs or it might be a GA club who is in Champions Cup. Oh, and also, none of this stuff matters until U15/16. Anything younger than that just find the coach/team where your kid gets lots of playing time and will put in work on their own.

I understand what you're saying and while I'm not hung up on leagues I can understand the concern some may have with competition levels. As you know the kids wont get better as an individual or team by blowing teams out by 10 goals and while a lot of posters here don't know how to convey that concern without insults I understand because once they face a certain level of competition at one of these exposure events the lack of competition they've had in the past will show. It's just like when my daughter was younger I could see she was ahead of most of her team but still needed polishing. So I requested that she train up and also play with the boys when available. Between the two of those her game made a massive leap in a very short amount of time and that wouldn't have happened training with her team and the 2nd team when they combined practices. Some of us actually want to see our kids develop, take losses and not collect trophies.

Then pick up and move. If you don't the GA team she is on, find another if she's good enough.

Move to Maryland or Pennsylvania if you think the competition isn't "good enough" in the conference where you live. Or drive her to place where it is good enough

Clint Dempsey's dad used to drive him six hours round trip for soccer. It was worth it for him and his dad. That said, something tells me your kid isn't the female version of Clint Dempsey and never will be it.

If you can't tell, everyone here has "heard" you. Nobody cares anymore. Complaining to us getd you nowhere. We are not the GA decision makers. Try one of the above suggestions or sit quietly and enjoy watching your kid play at her mid or sucky club.