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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]to the OP, we are a couple years from USGDA, but I can tell you already that we have no interest in ECNL, with its cost and travel, just to be able to play soccer in HS, or because a college scout may attend.  if DD is an elite player in 2 years and wants to commit to that future, then it will be trying out for the team that all the best girls (at her club, and nearby clubs) are interested in. From premature conversations, that looks like it would be DA from other parents with 1st team girls, but we will have to wait and c.  If DD is that great, then colleges will still take notice of the DA plat and she can sacrifice HS ball as some choice to pursue her highest level and ability.  If not elite and just a good 1st team player in 2 years, then a non-ECNL travel team sounds better to us and then she could enjoy HS ball and no worry about college soccer.  That is the divide. Doing ECNL as some costly middle ground with the players that don't make DA sounds like a real bad idea.  glad we have two years.[/quote]

This poster gets it.[/quote]

Playing college soccer is a great experience and opportunity, not sure why give up on that just because not DA.

In the end,  quality hour for hour, is ECNL significantly more expensive? considering most CCL/NPL get additional outside training is ECNL not a good value with what it includes? [/quote]

Oh, I don't think that is what the poster meant. Just because your kid is not in DA does not mean that they won't play in college or they have to give up on college but by that point the cost benefit of ECNL over CCL and NPL may not be worth it. Lots of CCL and NPL players will get recruited and it will cost less than ECNL. It is still a very player driven process and coaches will still seek those kids out. The point is, will ECNL make that much of a difference when cost is factored in? [/quote]

My child was in CCL last year and ECNL this year, so FWIW, I'll try to answer the question in terms of ECNL vs CCL/NPL, ie, not DA.  The switch in [i]leagues[/i] by itself doesn't make a difference in terms of training; it's not like there's a different training manual once you're in ECNL.  Now, is there a difference in training between [i]clubs[/i]?; yes, in that very good competitive clubs will, generally, have better coaching (obviously, there are exceptions to the general rule in every club).  And there are very good competitive clubs in CCL and NPL, but given the standards to be in ECNL, if you were just to pick a club out of the ECNL hat vs, the CCL/NPL hat, the odds are better you'll get a high quality club with good coaching from the ECNL hat.

In terms of costs, I'm not sure there's going to be a huge difference.  We'll save some money (both fees and travel) by not doing state cup, a regional league, and by doing a few less tournaments .  We'll pay a little more for the further travel in our regular league (ie, ECNL i/o CCL).  That's offset somewhat because on longer trips, clubs arrange for travel and hotels for the girls , meaning I don't have to drive or get a hotel room, saving me time and reducing hotel costs. In fact, much of the travel costs will be the same for any high-level (non-DA) team - you're going to Florida (Disney or Sanford), you're going to PA or NJ for Memorial Day (Delco or PDA), you're going to Jeff Cup.  The big difference in ECNL travel is the trip to Phoenix or Texas  which you wouldn't have otherwise, but your team only has to do the 3rd national event for just a couple of years.  (There's also the possibility of post-season play but that's similar to making USYS regionals and nationals)

In terms of college exposure, it's a huge difference.  The number of college coaches at an ECNL Showcase event is insane (and yes, we've been to one); it's no comparison to the CCL Showcase and from the lists I've seen, NPL events.  Also, because the league matches are higher quality you're much more likely to get local college coaches to come to regular season games.

So, "will ECNL make that much of a difference when cost is factored in?" Don't know yet but I think it will.[/quote]

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