ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Dont forget to completely ignore the trapped player debacle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

Beyond dumb take. Also fairly repugnant vicarious joy in their own framing of punching down…

Do you really think that parents of January players think of their kids as punching down like it seems you’re looking forward to for your Q3/Q4 kid?

A lot of projection going on with you I think.

Stop with the BY self loathing. It's not punching down. For the 1000'th time, your kid is sitting right next to another kid. They are in the same grade. They are graduating at the same time. They are competing for the same scholarship. How is it punching down to have them play together. Get your head out of the broken system. I know you're holding on tight. Im sorry you're losing an artificial advantage. But to call it punching down is ridiculous. I'm so happy my kid gets to play with classmates now. They've been 'punching up' for years. There's no RAE advantage to have a Dec and Jan kid on the same team. So why is my kid so much better than yours?? You're about to find out.

No PP, but to answer your question: Your kid likely has more experience (maybe at least a year, depending on when they started) AND perhaps more experience on bigger fields (depends on what age they are at). Right now, that edge only helps in 9th grade. If/when the switch happens, it'll be an edge for that season and the older they are, the less of an edge, really. As for the Jan kid, they're more than likely welcome a more experienced player onto their team. Younger players want to play up as much as possible. It helps them get better.

This is the misconception. Why are there so few Q4 kids at the higher levels? Its not one season. Its not that every older kid in 8th grade is worse than their younger counterparts. Really sit with that question. It makes no sense. The answer is over years of being the youngest kid and other challenges of being trapped, kids drop out. LONG before this magical age you speak of where birthdays don't matter anymore and it all comes down to skill. It isn't just one season.

Being a Q4 kid has nothing to do with dropping soccer. kids drop the sport because they come to realize they don't have or want a future in the sport. They get other interests, especially in high school. If some kids don't make varsity by sophomore year that turns a lot kids off the sport too. You can't consider your kid a high level player if they can't make a high school varsity team by their sophomore year.

The BY crowd will only realize the error of their thinking when the shoe is on the other foot. I guess the majority of high level players are Jan through June because...ummmm...the weather was warmer when they were born?? I don't even have a theory you could possibly be holding onto. In five years when Q3 kids are dominating the sport I look forward to coming back here and reminding you that the June kids aren't good anymore because they aren't trying hard enough. They are dropping out of soccer at alarming rates because they all suddenly realized they liked other sports. The avoidance of the obvious is incredible and what infuriates the Q4 crowd. Just admit you've had an advantage that is going away and move on.

🙄🙄🙄 PP was not making a BY/SY post. Is there anything that you don’t agree with that you don’t dub “BY opinion?” It’s getting old.

Im sorry for your loss BY parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

What market are you in?? lol. The club wants this. The club wants that. We're in a competitive market. My daughter has options. I'd love for the club to try and dictate no HS ball so they can cease to exist. Maybe they tried that with the bubble players but everyone around here plays HS ball and is a major selling point for ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

What market are you in?? lol. The club wants this. The club wants that. We're in a competitive market. My daughter has options. I'd love for the club to try and dictate no HS ball so they can cease to exist. Maybe they tried that with the bubble players but everyone around here plays HS ball and is a major selling point for ECNL.

The previous poster is correct about the very competitive clubs in this area. You seem very unfamiliar with what is expected of players on highly competitive ECNL teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

What market are you in?? lol. The club wants this. The club wants that. We're in a competitive market. My daughter has options. I'd love for the club to try and dictate no HS ball so they can cease to exist. Maybe they tried that with the bubble players but everyone around here plays HS ball and is a major selling point for ECNL.

Feels like this thread has picked up some non-DMV followers. The “no HS ball for ECNL players” rings of a market with quality we just don’t have in DMV. The “let them try to keep my kid from playing HS” is classic DMV.

[Anonymous]

We’ve lost momentum. Need to pick it up or 400 by end of weekend is lost cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

There you go letting facts get in the way again. lol. I try once to set the ignorantly opinionated straight, then I just let them rant. Maybe in some small market the club is threatened by HS ball. The largest concern in my market is injury. Everyone knows its a risk playing with less skilled players that use physicality to overcome technical skill but I don't know one kid that doesn't play HS ball and most of the teams here are top 10 in the nation.

Most of the teams here are top in the nation. Hyperbole much? How many teams are there here? Because I do know this much, there are only 10 teams in the top 10. But sure, go ahead thinking how much stronger this market is to Florida, SoCal, and Texas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

There you go letting facts get in the way again. lol. I try once to set the ignorantly opinionated straight, then I just let them rant. Maybe in some small market the club is threatened by HS ball. The largest concern in my market is injury. Everyone knows its a risk playing with less skilled players that use physicality to overcome technical skill but I don't know one kid that doesn't play HS ball and most of the teams here are top 10 in the nation.

Most of the teams here are top in the nation. Hyperbole much? How many teams are there here? Because I do know this much, there are only 10 teams in the top 10. But sure, go ahead thinking how much stronger this market is to Florida, SoCal, and Texas.

This is a perfect response to regain our momentum!

[Anonymous]

This thread reminds me of college when we played Mario Cart and kept playing all day to see what happens when someone got to 100 wins…..it reset back to 0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

I know this much. The 2024 09 Boys National Champions were SC Surf having beaten vaunted Pipeline in the final match. Every single one of them played HS ball. Facts. But perhaps that team isn't among "the most competitive" to you.

Maybe your club's ECNL prohibits HS play, but painting all of ECNL with such a broad brush is wrong. The ECNL Southeast clubs only play in the Fall. There is no club option for them in the Spring for U15-U19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve lost momentum. Need to pick it up or 400 by end of weekend is lost cause.

Omg! Classic BY parent whining, hoping that by pushing to page 400 they can avoid the inevitable of the Q4 4th teamer knee capping their Q1 in the parking lot before practice then stealing their GF/BF AND spot on the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

I know this much. The 2024 09 Boys National Champions were SC Surf having beaten vaunted Pipeline in the final match. Every single one of them played HS ball. Facts. But perhaps that team isn't among "the most competitive" to you.

Maybe your club's ECNL prohibits HS play, but painting all of ECNL with such a broad brush is wrong. The ECNL Southeast clubs only play in the Fall. There is no club option for them in the Spring for U15-U19.

Nobody said all ECNL…you made that up in order to argue.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please clarify what the US Soccer statement means for US Club and ECNL for 2025 and 2026? I read it as no change for 2025 and 2026 will return to SY with Aug 1 cutoff. Is that correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please clarify what the US Soccer statement means for US Club and ECNL for 2025 and 2026? I read it as no change for 2025 and 2026 will return to SY with Aug 1 cutoff. Is that correct?

Be prepared to be crucified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t see ECNL doing as much as some people hope they will do. I could see them addressing the trapped player problem in some way for next year’s crop of 8th graders but even that’s a long shot.

I will say I’ve seen this posted everywhere but have not seen US club or ECNL post the announcement plan that came out.

ECNL has nothing to do with HS soccer…why do people keep trotting out the 8th grade issue like it’s a grand injustice.

The lower grade players on a club team still get 4 years of HS soccer if they want to play HS soccer…they just don’t get it at the same time the 9th graders on their club team are able to play HS soccer. If you’re on an NPL or classic team, sure maybe those awful but extra touches are helpful. But if you’re playing ECNL (and your ECNL club allows you to play HS soccer…which many do not) then HS soccer reps are bad reps, and the 8th grader that is making up for it by playing in club, or grinding with a trainer will be 1000x better off.

Another BY wacko that has no clue how things work. Ofcourse ECNL allows HS play, lookup the history and why everyone gravitated to ECNL in the first place. ECNL has ALOT to do with HS soccer. ENCL kids aren't playing at school to get better BTW, life isn't all about going pro for these kids. Even the phenoms want to help their HS win state championship and ball out in front of classmates from time to time.

And if you don't care about the 8th grade issue then you're just a BY leftover trying to justify why the current system isn't that bad. I'm sorry, but your January kid is now going to compete the December kid sitting right next to them in history class. Maybe that is why your kid doesn't play in HS, because it would expose how inferior they are to the Q3/Q4 kids in the SAME grade. What a broken system...

News flash, many if not most ECNL clubs do not allow their players to play HS until they’re committed to a college.

That is a patently false statement. ECNL thrived where DA didn't in large part because it allowed for HS participation. ECNL for U-15-U19 is only for one season, whereas U-13/U-14 is for the whole year. Why? Because of the direct conflict with HS soccer. Regardless of your opinion of HS soccer, ECNL clubs work closely with the High Schools in many regions. Heck, a lot of High School work at those clubs too.

You’re not correct. And it depends on the ECNL club…the most competitive (and many that want to be the most competitive) DO NOT allow it. Does “ECNL” allow for it? Yes. But that doesn’t mean clubs have to allow for it.

Tons of reasons for this. They don’t want to lose time un-coaching bad HS practices, they don’t want added work and wear on their athletes, they want to minimize injuries, they want to make sure the athlete is getting the right exposure to the schools they want to target, etc.

One of the big selling points for RL in many markets is that the kids have the time and freedom to play HS soccer if that is important to them. And I can tell you, for kids that playing HS soccer is important enough to drop to RL or play for a bottom ECNL club, is a kid that has already capped their soccer career.

What market are you in?? lol. The club wants this. The club wants that. We're in a competitive market. My daughter has options. I'd love for the club to try and dictate no HS ball so they can cease to exist. Maybe they tried that with the bubble players but everyone around here plays HS ball and is a major selling point for ECNL.

Feels like this thread has picked up some non-DMV followers. The “no HS ball for ECNL players” rings of a market with quality we just don’t have in DMV. The “let them try to keep my kid from playing HS” is classic DMV.

Even the DA clubs in this area where DA had said no HS ball granted waivers to anyone that asked. It is not the competitive market --- it is the power of the consumer. The consumers of elite girls soccer in this area would call the shots or walk. As a group. Next level down would do the same.