DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

And soccer is much more popular as a year-round sport in CA because of the weather.

[Anonymous]

Girls soccer in California is good. Southern California is great.

Lets be real....The kids on current YNT have a one percent chance of making it to the USWNT. Its a pipe dream...but dreams are great for kids to have. It push them to be their best....and if their best isn't good enough its still way better than most.

College College College.

Then get a real job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Girls soccer in California is good. Southern California is great.

Lets be real....The kids on current YNT have a one percent chance of making it to the USWNT. Its a pipe dream...but dreams are great for kids to have. It push them to be their best....and if their best isn't good enough its still way better than most.

College College College.

Then get a real job

College college college is right. The better the soccer resume, the better the college admissions ´hook´. Which is hugely important for kids vying for elite schools from this, the most competitive college admissions region in the country. No disrespect to SoCal.

[Anonymous]

TFW your ECNL hook gets you into Elon

[Anonymous]

Troll

[Anonymous]

ELON is a great school with a good soccer program.

Furman...great school with good soccer program

Richmond...great school with good soccer program

Lots of good D-1 soccer schools....LOTS

[Anonymous]

I'm a newbie and trying to follow all this. So are you all saying that the only way for my DD to play for a D1 or D2 school is for her to be in the ENCL or Washington Spirit Academy aka GDA? She's 10 so we are in no hurry to leave our wonderful NCSL team, just wondering what the future might hold and if I should start paying attention now.

[Anonymous]

No...but she needs to be a good player with exposure to college coaches. ECNL and DA is a great platform for that exposure. Also, playing at that level proves to the coaches that you can perform in a high speed environment.

Speed of play is a BIG deal...there is no comparison between lower leagues and girls ECNL and DA. Everyone is a rock star until they play against kids who are fast, strong and technical.

Playing fast pace / pressure soccer is too much for the majority of kids to handle. Either their decision making is too slow, their speed is too slow, their touch too bad, or they lack composure. All of which will eventually get them weeded out.

Its a proving ground

[Anonymous]

Did Arlington have their Id sessions earlier this week? Or were they postponed due to snow? Asking for a friend........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No...but she needs to be a good player with exposure to college coaches. ECNL and DA is a great platform for that exposure. Also, playing at that level proves to the coaches that you can perform in a high speed environment.

Speed of play is a BIG deal...there is no comparison between lower leagues and girls ECNL and DA. Everyone is a rock star until they play against kids who are fast, strong and technical.

Playing fast pace / pressure soccer is too much for the majority of kids to handle. Either their decision making is too slow, their speed is too slow, their touch too bad, or they lack composure. All of which will eventually get them weeded out.

Its a proving ground

thank you, that makes sense. So, in theory, can a current NCSL team move to ECNL when it's age appropriate or does the entire club have to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a newbie and trying to follow all this. So are you all saying that the only way for my DD to play for a D1 or D2 school is for her to be in the ENCL or Washington Spirit Academy aka GDA? She's 10 so we are in no hurry to leave our wonderful NCSL team, just wondering what the future might hold and if I should start paying attention now.

No. If your daughter is age 10, you should be focused on her developing a love for the game, having fun, and getting good fundamental skills in a positive training environment. Foot skills and ball control should be the core of that training. Games don't matter. Tournament results don't matter. What league her team or club is in doesn't matter. This is a good time for her to play other sports and develop other interests while she has the time to do so. As a parent, continue to educate yourself on her options for when she gets older. DA is an option. ECNL is another. Try some camps offered by other trainers/clubs. Talk to parents with older kids in the system.

[Anonymous]

Clubs must be granted entrance to play in ECNL / DA.

Its not a team by team thing

So no, only ECNL / DA clubs can field teams in those leagues.

History:

Years ago, ECNL emerged as the top platform for Woman's soccer in the United States. One of the founding members of ECNL, Terry Foley, was also the founder of FC Virginia. Kids began flocking to FCV to play in the top national league. That's how FCV got their talent and made their name.

College coaches went to ECNL showcases by the hundreds to scout the talent (Recruiting budgets are slim...so recruiters go to national showcases to see hundreds of top players at one location.

US Soccer wanted control of the ECNL platform and formed the US Girls Development Academy after a deal fell through with ECNL who refused to compromise with US soccer demands (And why should they? They did more for women's soccer then the USSF ever did up until this point)


Once the US GDA was formed, the majority of ECNL clubs (and their talented player pool) switched over to play in the Development Academy. The switch greatly weakened the ECNL league and made the US GDA the top league (kind of...It will strength as the years go on)

ECNL is currently putting up a fight by adding new clubs to fill in the gaps of the fleeing clubs.

The problem is that they are replacing the clubs but not the talent.

COACHES FOLLOW THE TALENT.

In the next few years, ECNL in this market (DC area), will be known as 2nd tear to the college coaches and wont be as heavily recruited. However, some good teams will remain here or there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clubs must be granted entrance to play in ECNL / DA.

Its not a team by team thing

So no, only ECNL / DA clubs can field teams in those leagues.

History:

Years ago, ECNL emerged as the top platform for Woman's soccer in the United States. One of the founding members of ECNL, Terry Foley, was also the founder of FC Virginia. Kids began flocking to FCV to play in the top national league. That's how FCV got their talent and made their name.

College coaches went to ECNL showcases by the hundreds to scout the talent (Recruiting budgets are slim...so recruiters go to national showcases to see hundreds of top players at one location.

US Soccer wanted control of the ECNL platform and formed the US Girls Development Academy after a deal fell through with ECNL who refused to compromise with US soccer demands (And why should they? They did more for women's soccer then the USSF ever did up until this point)


Once the US GDA was formed, the majority of ECNL clubs (and their talented player pool) switched over to play in the Development Academy. The switch greatly weakened the ECNL league and made the US GDA the top league (kind of...It will strength as the years go on)

ECNL is currently putting up a fight by adding new clubs to fill in the gaps of the fleeing clubs.

The problem is that they are replacing the clubs but not the talent.

COACHES FOLLOW THE TALENT.

In the next few years, ECNL in this market (DC area), will be known as 2nd teir to the college coaches and wont be as heavily recruited. However, some good teams will remain here or there.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate this info, thank you!! now this thread makes more sense

[Anonymous]

http://www.ussoccerda.com/college-coach-scout-check-in

Click on link and scroll to bottom to see list of coaches who started checking in to see the GDA Spring showcase in NC. The list will triple by kickoff. Just to get an idea