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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This whole subject thread started out with the question, “Serious question: why does it seem like DA is losing out to ECNL?“ So, let’s get back to that.

The use of the word “seem” indicates that the poster realizes that this may be a perception not a reality, so there are multiple angles to address this question: 1) is the DA actually losing more clubs to ECNL; and 2) if so, why? We’d also need to look at the boys side different than the girls as they are reverse images of each other. Boys DA has been around longer than ECNL and girls ECNL has been around longer than boys DA.

There are lots of forums and articles discussing this topic. There seem to be several common themes.  Here they are.

1) Most agree that the turf war between DA and ECNL is not helping raise the level of soccer and increases stress and non-value activity for players, parents, clubs, and coaches.

2) US Soccer which governs all of this is not likely to do anything about it.

3) The reasons for choosing ECNL are frequently the same: less restrictions on opponents and schedules; ability to play high school soccer; more consistent competition (less disparity in team quality); more control at club level vs. control at governing body level.

4) The reasons for choosing DA are frequently the same: link to MLS club allowing for more direct pathway to pro level (note on boys side the MLS DA clubs tend to be better than the non MLS clubs, not always, but mostly); belief of being part of the elite of the elite; strict training to game ratio and “meaningful competition” principle (although in reality this principle has proven to be difficult to achieve with some wide disparity and lopsided game results).

5) Several clubs have converted from DA to all ECNL in the past year. At the same time the DA has also added new clubs. ECNL remains larger in terms of teams and clubs participating.

There above is information gathered across multiple sources from around the country.

Now, since this is a forum, I will give my opinion. I believe 1 and 2 above and am disappointed in the USSF. I see it first hand and have had many conversations with parents, coaches, and club admins. who also see it. I also believe that ECNL will remain / end up being larger simply due to the lower restrictions it offers. This does not mean “better” in all cases, but that there will be more clubs and teams participating in ECNL. On the boys side I see the MLS clubs either separating from DA (which will severely damage DA) or exerting greater influence and shaping it in their direction. There are lots of paths to YNT and MNT. DA attraction on boys side is primarily the better path to an MLS team. On the girls side it is less clear as NWSL doesn’t have the financial strength or pro-career attractiveness that MLS has. If the meaningful competition principle is to be followed, then some clubs/teams will have to be terminated or absorbed. This will remove complaints about long travel just to win a game 10-0 and keep the best clubs in the DA vs. giving them a reason to defect to ECNL. Hence the clubs that have consistently poor results across age groups with large, negative goal differentials will have the most pressure and likelihood to be terminated as a DA club (or absorbed into a more successful closely located club) in the coming 1 to 2 years.[/quote]

You are very invested in having your decision for your DD be validated. [/quote]

What decision was that? You seem to think you know. No, not invested. Just had some free time and find this an interesting topic. As do you, lest you wouldn’t be on here. [/quote]

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