ECNL "Trapped Player"

[Anonymous]

I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Is she VA or MD ECNL team? If feasible commute/travel wise, just play opposite state ECNL and then join her regular team after.. DA is a waste, super expensive and not nearly enough games - it would also be a “lost” year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Is she VA or MD ECNL team? If feasible commute/travel wise, just play opposite state ECNL and then join her regular team after.. DA is a waste, super expensive and not nearly enough games - it would also be a “lost” year.

here we go again. DA is a waste and ECNL is the best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Is she VA or MD ECNL team? If feasible commute/travel wise, just play opposite state ECNL and then join her regular team after.. DA is a waste, super expensive and not nearly enough games - it would also be a “lost” year.

here we go again. DA is a waste and ECNL is the best

If the shoe fits wear it...

[Anonymous]

you are talking about 3 months. she will probably train with the next older age group anyway. you and she will survive.

[Anonymous]

My son was in a similar situation. His club made a team of the “trapped” kids and some younger kids from all the teams at his age group (larger club), and they played a regular EDP league and some tournaments. Was a pretty good experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Is she VA or MD ECNL team? If feasible commute/travel wise, just play opposite state ECNL and then join her regular team after.. DA is a waste, super expensive and not nearly enough games - it would also be a “lost” year.

This DA statement is not accurate regarding fees, unless you are just talking about STJ FCV. Also DA has plenty of games, check out the US Soccer DA sight, pick a team in your area and see how many games you get in the spring, the answer to that is plenty of games plus two showcases and maybe a tournament or two. But whatever you do, don't pick Metro United.

[Anonymous]

Don't pick or NOT pick any team or club based on a post on this forum. Make some calls. Attend a couple of practices, and decide for yourself. Period.

My personal opinion is that DA has the advantage in terms of simply being a full year program. It hasn't been an issue, and we haven't had problems with players "disappearing" or dropping out during the high school season or for private school. Everyone signs on for the year.

But some others have done just fine with the ECNL. There is no decision that is right or wrong, just what is right or wrong for your DC.

[Anonymous]

DA teams also scrimmage in addition to their posted schedule. There are plenty of competitions for the kids. But yes, DA does has a larger training to game ratio than most other teams by design. I believe that US Soccer feels that training is more important than games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Could she sign on as a part time player with a DA club? That would permit her to play in a few games, maybe all concentrated in the not-ECNL season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Could she sign on as a part time player with a DA club? That would permit her to play in a few games, maybe all concentrated in the not-ECNL season.

You mean, play ECNL during their season then go to a DA club and play during high school?

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that ain't gonna happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Could she sign on as a part time player with a DA club? That would permit her to play in a few games, maybe all concentrated in the not-ECNL season.

You mean, play ECNL during their season then go to a DA club and play during high school?

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that ain't gonna happen.

Actually I know players that have done it. However, the risk is if the ECNL club finds out, they may drop punitively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

Could she sign on as a part time player with a DA club? That would permit her to play in a few games, maybe all concentrated in the not-ECNL season.

You mean, play ECNL during their season then go to a DA club and play during high school?

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that ain't gonna happen.

Actually I know players that have done it. However, the risk is if the ECNL club finds out, they may drop punitively.

Remember, she will be an 8th grader. My DD plays on a DA club and one of the younger teams had this situation last year -- a 2004 girl with a fall birthday from an ECNL club came in and played as a PT player during the spring. Most of her teammates at the ECNL club were already in 9th grade and playing HS. So it can happen during 8th grade (ONLY).

[Anonymous]

question - what did all the "Trapped" players do last year? they survived... just live with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a U14 ECNL player who is a 7th grader so next year she will be "trapped" in the spring. We like her team but are trying to decide what to do about next year. Almost all the girls on her team will be playing HS soccer next spring with the exception of a few private school girls. I've talked to a few parents of older kids who had trapped players and almost all have said they consider it a lost season. She is one of the better players on her current team so I'm not sure how much she will gain playing down an age group for a season. Would like to hear from parents who have gone through this. Considering a one year move to DA. Anyone have a helpful opinion? I'm not interested in a DA vs ECNL showdown. My DD currently is saying she wants to play HS soccer so we will likely return to ECNL for U16.

My daughter was in that position last year. She was able to train with the older girls not playing HS twice a week and then the U14 team (who were mostly in her grade) once a week all spring. She played Jeff Cup and PDA with her team, but was still able to get a full season of almost 8-10 games in. We thought the experience was a good one.