ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

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.

The original poster definitely painted a broad brush and tried to imply that high level ECNL players don't play HS. Everyone here is calling bull. I'm in SoCal and everyone plays HS ball here. Just look at all the recruiting profiles online. It’s part of the marketing package. So and so played for xyz club and helped their HS team win CIF championship, blah blah. The idea that high level recruits don't play HS, at least on the girls side is silly. Not as familiar with the boys side but multiple kids quit MLSN for the sole reason of playing HS. Ban kids from their school sports at your own peril. The season is only a couple months long, seems dumb to take that stance in a competitive market where top kids have options.

Name the teams that allow it in your market then?

Ok I will start for DMV

VDA
Arlington
Union

Do I need to go on? Every HS team in DMV is bouyed by its ECNL players. Just look at the all state teams. Hint- it’s not RL players…

These kids are playing HS ball. Period.

Agree all ecnl clubs allow it. Most girls play. There are a number of girls on all the times that do not play because of injury concern, time management, ect. But most do. In our area where it conflicts with the private school season it is tougher than the public school season.

[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.

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.

this is 100% incorrect. The SouthEast ECNL girls play in the Fall and Spring for the Florida Teams. High School is now/Winter in Florida.

YOU are incorrect. Florida does not [lay in the Southeast Region. Florida plays in its own Florida region. The Southeast region is comprised of SC/GA teams. You know how I know? Because my kid plays on that team.

https://theecnl.com/sports/2023/8/8/ECNLB_0808235537.aspx

Don't believe, look for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

That’s the huge elephant in the room. Can’t wait to hear the ECNL/RL plan!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

I second this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully the next pod cast has some info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

I second this

Also agreed. I'd add my prediction that at the end of it all, only MLSN and one league for their B teams will be BY. All the fear over a fractured landscape with tons of cut-offs will be unfounded as almost everyone goes SY. Maybe some states will have variation between 8/1 and 9/1 cutoffs for their strictly intrastate U-little leagues. The USSF guidelines for leagues, to help their decision, will stress the international alignment of BY for a pro-pathway and YNT-pathway. All the other factors (social, trapped issues, participation) will favor SY, except maybe "simplicity." That will make it clear that no league really has any business being BY unless they are tied to the absolute top players in the top tier. Annual speculation in the future will be whether the girls side has progressed to the point of wanting a BY league like the boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the next pod cast has some info.

I hope people bombarded the question link for the podcast so ECNL has to share some info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the next pod cast has some info.

I hope people bombarded the question link for the podcast so ECNL has to share some info

Agree. The devil is in the details. Everyone has decision to make and they should be transparent as possible.

[Anonymous]

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...

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.

this is 100% incorrect. The SouthEast ECNL girls play in the Fall and Spring for the Florida Teams. High School is now/Winter in Florida.

YOU are incorrect. Florida does not [lay in the Southeast Region. Florida plays in its own Florida region. The Southeast region is comprised of SC/GA teams. You know how I know? Because my kid plays on that team.

https://theecnl.com/sports/2023/8/8/ECNLB_0808235537.aspx

Don't believe, look for yourself.

we are talking about girls. get with the program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

I imagine it would go 8/1. Most August kids are a grade below..can always play up, but can’t play down. 8/1 would eliminate almost all trap players.

[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...

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.

this is 100% incorrect. The SouthEast ECNL girls play in the Fall and Spring for the Florida Teams. High School is now/Winter in Florida.

YOU are incorrect. Florida does not [lay in the Southeast Region. Florida plays in its own Florida region. The Southeast region is comprised of SC/GA teams. You know how I know? Because my kid plays on that team.

https://theecnl.com/sports/2023/8/8/ECNLB_0808235537.aspx

Don't believe, look for yourself.

we are talking about girls. get with the program

My mistake. I did not see the pronouns listed.

Considering there are 4 more boys regions and 39 more boys team it seems reasonable to think that WE aren't talking girls. WE are talking ECNL/RL. If you want to limit the conversation to girls, you should be more specific in your language.