ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine that all of these leagues won’t get together to come up with a uniform cut off date, but then again it is youth soccer. If MLS/GA do one thing and ECNL does another, they would just fracture the youth system even more. But as most have stated in some form or fashion, that probably doesn’t matter because there is no true path to development anyway as it is, nor is there one true “top” team or club.

[Anonymous]

What time is the podcast today?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Unless the NWSL is free like MLS academies I don’t see how they will make a dent in what ECNL is doing. Some NWSL clubs already have academies but I don’t think any of them are highly ranked.

The facts are most girls want to goto college before playing pro. Until the women’s game can start getting larger checks for their bench players that will always be the case.

You say the same things on every forum. It gets old.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6001750/2024/12/17/nwsl-expansion-denver/

The source said that the expansion fee is in the range of $105 to $120 million, which was also reported by Sportico

MLS just charged San Diego $500m. MLS has more dollars and MLS Next side DCU doesn't even bother to have a U13 side. Rolling in cash doesn't make you want to share or spend.

Are you trying to explain why Acadamies on the girls side will vacuum up talent?

Businesses don't run charities. How would NWSL academies come remotely close to breaking even while offering free soccer to about 1,500 kids?

You don’t understand professional academy economics. The MLS Academies are in their infancy, but eventually, it is a break-even paid for via transfer fees and homegrown discounts.

That said, a NWSL academy would get to a sustainable business much faster than the MLS Academies due to the demand side for talent.

What demand for talent are you talking about? College players are better. It would take years to put academies together and when they do --- NWSL teams could not pay any significant transfer fees. Almost all of the teams are money losing.

Most top colleges try to recruit MLSN Academy players

Right. They are the best on the boys' side. But that has nothing to do with the girls side or transfer fees. Colleges don't pay transfer fees.

Ok so the top boys league is now working with GA. Doesn't this ring bells in the back of your head that it might be an issue for girls ECNL.

Not at all…why would everyone prefer the league that did away with trapped players? ECNL should be a global model for soccer academies. Plus they have a really excellent podcast.

Trying to understand the comments on the other thread about the competitive consequences for ECNL now. So the most competitive players will need to stay BY to be relevant or they will choose the path that MSLN/GA offers?

Elite soccer players should prefer to play SY because they are getting to play against older kids. So Jan to July kids who are usually the oldest now get the opportunity to play “up”. The most competitive kids would want to play up as much as they can if they are that elite.

Your regular ECNL kids will probably also stay with SY because of the same reasons mentioned above.

SY really only negatively affects kids Jan to July who are just average players within their level.

I think you mixed a few things up.

US Soccer historically wanted BY so Youth Teams aren't disadvantaged in international competitions, because of how previously SY affected its teams due to RAE.

ECNL (as well as everyone) is currently is BY (some leaders are looking to change it SY now that US Soccer says its doing away with its mandate for BY).

BY currently favors Jan-July kids (of course there are exceptions). SY would favor Aug-Oct (if Aug. 1 cutoff, say -- and again there are exceptions). All elite players, regardless of birth month, typically play up because they are so damn good.

Having both -- if possible -- likely best scenario for overall soccer ecosystem to reduce RAE for late-developing players, including elite.

Didn’t mix it up. If you’re a great Jan to July kid playing school year then go play BY for national team competition. You would want to play SY normally as you are playing against older kids.

Same logic applies to great players from Aug to Dec playing BY.

True for individuals but for soccer as a whole that means over time fewer players the younger parts of those various windows. What's simpler is if you're a soccer player and good, you probably play against older age groups regardless. If you're eying some edge because of birth month for BY or SY, you're probably not yet at the very top (although maybe you could find yourself there one day).

For my Sept DD, I can definitely see taking a closer look at a GA team if ECNL goes SY and GA stays BY. Dropping down a year and being the oldest player on the team will let her dominate but playing against younger kids will stunt her development. She’s always been the youngest (or near youngest) on her team and still does well, but I worry that, even if she can continue to make her current team after it moves to SY (ie, play up), her role on the team will be diminished because now she’ll be competing against kids as many as 14 months older than her (compared to the current 9), and a diminished role also hurts development. BY at a GA club may be a better choice for her long-term.

[Anonymous]

We don’t have any GA clubs that are close to competing with the two ECNL clubs in our market. If GA is now aligned with MSLN, is this going to funnel a lifeline to the weaker GA clubs? There are so many factors now…the new partnership and SY/BY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time is the podcast today?

It’s typically released at noon eastern time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time is the podcast today?

It’s typically released at noon eastern time

Don’t get too excited. There will be nothing of substance announced. Just a couple guys pontificating on the BY/SY concept.

[Anonymous]

Just an opinion…people are getting anxious and annoyed with the lack of real information coming from ECNL and the announcement of a new partnership with GA/MLSN could become damaging if ECNL doesn’t make their intentions known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just an opinion…people are getting anxious and annoyed with the lack of real information coming from ECNL and the announcement of a new partnership with GA/MLSN could become damaging if ECNL doesn’t make their intentions known.

I wondered if that was the intent of the release yesterday. I saw a post on x that this merger was already announced in 2020, so I am not sure what to think about that.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Unless the NWSL is free like MLS academies I don’t see how they will make a dent in what ECNL is doing. Some NWSL clubs already have academies but I don’t think any of them are highly ranked.

The facts are most girls want to goto college before playing pro. Until the women’s game can start getting larger checks for their bench players that will always be the case.

You say the same things on every forum. It gets old.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6001750/2024/12/17/nwsl-expansion-denver/

The source said that the expansion fee is in the range of $105 to $120 million, which was also reported by Sportico

MLS just charged San Diego $500m. MLS has more dollars and MLS Next side DCU doesn't even bother to have a U13 side. Rolling in cash doesn't make you want to share or spend.

Are you trying to explain why Acadamies on the girls side will vacuum up talent?

Businesses don't run charities. How would NWSL academies come remotely close to breaking even while offering free soccer to about 1,500 kids?

You don’t understand professional academy economics. The MLS Academies are in their infancy, but eventually, it is a break-even paid for via transfer fees and homegrown discounts.

That said, a NWSL academy would get to a sustainable business much faster than the MLS Academies due to the demand side for talent.

You are seriously overestimating transfer fees and the staying power of a small league with 14 teams only a decade in. The previous versions WUSA and the other one only lasted a few seasons.

Wish they were more stable and had higher team salaries but it is what it is.

You’ve no idea if I’m overestimating anything. 😂

You’re confusing news worthy size of fee in the European men’s game with the economic value of the transfer fee and series of fees for the academies.

The girls side is riper in the US for the academy economics than the boys side in the US. A variety of reasons for that.

Kind of like a farmer saying if I only had rain.

Yep. You just keep on keeping on. I always kick myself for sharing / helping others too much anyway.

[Anonymous]

Do you two who bicker on here know each other anonymously? Can you pick each other out through the wording in your banter?

[Anonymous]

Its Pod day!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time is the podcast today?

It’s typically released at noon eastern time

Don’t get too excited. There will be nothing of substance announced. Just a couple guys pontificating on the BY/SY concept.

Spot on. The podcast’s value is solely in its newsworthiness. The doofuses on it are as qualified as any “soccer dad” on a NPL sideline, they just happen to run a league. Every time I listen to the podcast I am shocked with their lack of humility in confusing their own opinions and desires with facts and data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time is the podcast today?

It’s typically released at noon eastern time

Don’t get too excited. There will be nothing of substance announced. Just a couple guys pontificating on the BY/SY concept.

Spot on. The podcast’s value is solely in its newsworthiness. The doofuses on it are as qualified as any “soccer dad” on a NPL sideline, they just happen to run a league. Every time I listen to the podcast I am shocked with their lack of humility in confusing their own opinions and desires with facts and data.

Isn't that any podcasts worthiness? At least they are willing to talk about it, where is MLSN and their supposed defense of BY?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an opinion…people are getting anxious and annoyed with the lack of real information coming from ECNL and the announcement of a new partnership with GA/MLSN could become damaging if ECNL doesn’t make their intentions known.

I wondered if that was the intent of the release yesterday. I saw a post on x that this merger was already announced in 2020, so I am not sure what to think about that.

There is no merger. That is not what was announced. What was announced is typical stuff that amounts to nothing but indicates that there is talking and maybe if it all works something real will be coming down the line. This was done in an effort to keep a number of clubs from leaving GA to ECNL after the season is over. This will not be the only thing. GA is doing everything it can to limit the number of clubs that switch. If they can do that and buy some time they think they can build -- maybe even something real with MLS. Worst case scenario for GA is that a number of clubs leave including the top ones. They are pulling out all the stops to make sure that does not happen. The discussions between ECNL and any clubs they want or that want them would start right after the first of the year. This is an effort to make those clubs stop and think.

That is the battle. GA making moves. Question is -- will it work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just an opinion…people are getting anxious and annoyed with the lack of real information coming from ECNL and the announcement of a new partnership with GA/MLSN could become damaging if ECNL doesn’t make their intentions known.

You know what would be a great move? For ECNL to set up a showcase for college coaches where ECNL teams play GA teams. Most likely GA would not accept. But if they did --- it would be filled with college coaches and would likely cut the number of coaches that go to GA Showcases for that year.