Trapped players are 8th graders or Seniors in high school who are young for their team and old for their school in places where the club teams don't play in the fall due to school sports.

Example, for U15, some kids are playing for their high school team in the fall and not playing club, and half are still in middle school. This repeats senior year where half the kids graduate high school while the other half have a full year left to play. (So the spring season for club is missing half the kids).

ENCL-R does not play, in my state, during the Fall.

Hello, not 100% sure what a trap player is. Just wanted to share that GFR who feeds ECNL NVA now, plays in multiple leagues for the same club fee. Currently playing in ECNL-R, also in EDP south Atlantic, and also playing NCSL super group.

I’m not trying to recruit or steal any players, but it’s pretty nice to get in 20-30 league games over the entire season vs playing in one league in one season. I am most familiar with the girls side of the club, but if you have a kid looking for fall and spring play GFR is currently doing that.

We have been in the club going on 2 years and I am truly impressed with the focus of development over wins….with that being said development is turning into wins on the field.

Good luck

My DD has been a trapped ECNL-R player. ODP worked for us, as she made it far enough to have some games through February. Fall season rolled right into a moderately busy winter season and it worked until spring virginia soccer began. She also guest played on another team so got games in through late February. Also, some tournaments allow a single player to sign up (including Jeff Cup) and she was picked up for a spring tournament once. We got by. It may be a good time to add private lessons or small group lessons.

Hi. This doesn't apply to just trapped players but also perhaps ECNL R players whose team may not have league play in the Spring. I know some ECNL R teams are playing in NCSL super league. I know some boys who have joined EDP teams in addition to the ECNL R team. I expect there is a financial cost to this but as the leagues (EDP and ECNL) are under different sanctioning associations apparently it is permitted.

novalegendary16 wrote:Curious if anyone has any insight on being an ECNL trap player. What is the most effective way to handle being a trap player for development?

I have 2 trap players - 1 this year and 1 next year. This year their club did not use them at all. I worry this will happen to my other player. I wish I would have known that they wouldn't get much training or opportunities this spring. I would have handled it differently. I would appreciate any info or options or how to handle trap players who are not being used by their club.

Can we play in another league in the spring? Train with other teams?

Would love to know what others have done!

I can't figure out where you live. However, I often wonder what Maryland players who play club in Virginia do. This may be something that those parents can answer.

Curious if anyone has any insight on being an ECNL trap player. What is the most effective way to handle being a trap player for development?

I have 2 trap players - 1 this year and 1 next year. This year their club did not use them at all. I worry this will happen to my other player. I wish I would have known that they wouldn't get much training or opportunities this spring. I would have handled it differently. I would appreciate any info or options or how to handle trap players who are not being used by their club.

Can we play in another league in the spring? Train with other teams?

Would love to know what others have done!