Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:34     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.

Places like DFW and Socal have huge latin communities. They grew up with and have played soccer their entire lives. They know all the tricks and they know what quality soccer looks like.

Unfortunately many NoVA clubs are just cash registers aimed at rich parents.


There's a huge latin community here as well, they even have their own leagues and you'll even find some really great players from clubs participating in them.

It doesn't compare.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:26     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:It's how clubs like Solar are successful, and how this area might succeed if there were less clubs but that won't likely happen. Clubs like Solar are able to cast a MUCH wider net because there are less clubs servicing THAT many people. Solar carries something like over 200 teams between boys and girls, that is a real mega club, and that is how they are able to put together teams that can win at the national level.


Solar also doesn't charge for their ECNL girls teams thanks to the size of their club and their mega-donors.

Back to the point of the thread though. Looks like everybody should just go to VDA.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:22     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
It's how clubs like Solar are successful, and how this area might succeed if there were less clubs but that won't likely happen. Clubs like Solar are able to cast a MUCH wider net because there are less clubs servicing THAT many people. Solar carries something like over 200 teams between boys and girls, that is a real mega club, and that is how they are able to put together teams that can win at the national level.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:14     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.

Places like DFW and Socal have huge latin communities. They grew up with and have played soccer their entire lives. They know all the tricks and they know what quality soccer looks like.

Unfortunately many NoVA clubs are just cash registers aimed at rich parents.


There's a huge latin community here as well, they even have their own leagues and you'll even find some really great players from clubs participating in them.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:12     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.


Total number of clubs / options is a bit irrelevant. The top players always gravitate towards the ECNL because it leads to the most exposure for national team and college identification.


I don't see how it is irrelevant when people are questioning why areas like the DFW have success within the ECNL, have higher population to pick from yet have less clubs between ECNL/ECNL-RL.

Here in this area we have a smaller population and about 16 clubs between ECNL/ECNL-RL. The players and coaches are spread too thin.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:12     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.

Places like DFW and Socal have huge latin communities. They grew up with and have played soccer their entire lives. They know all the tricks and they know what quality soccer looks like.

Unfortunately many NoVA clubs are just cash registers aimed at rich parents.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:09     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.


Total number of clubs / options is a bit irrelevant. The top players always gravitate towards the ECNL because it leads to the most exposure for national team and college identification.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 10:06     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
I could be off but by my count and the last population numbers of NoVA (3.5 million about, which also includes as far south as Spotsylvania) we have about 20 clubs in total between ECNL-RL, ECNL, an GA. That is a hell of a lot of clubs for only that many people, might even be more than the DFW area of Texas, which has a higher population and I'm pretty sure less clubs.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:59     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Saw another post about how clubs are doing and thought I'd broach this topic here, including all VA teams.

Below is a list of teams currently in playoff positions going into the last few games of the year (minus 2012 and 2011 teams which still have an entire spring of matches)

Arlington: 3 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009
Beach: 0 Teams
Fairfax: 2 Teams - 2012, 2010
NVA: 1 Team - 2012
Richmond: 4 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
VDA: 5 Teams - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007/2006

The most concerning thing is the lack of older teams that are in playoff positions in the local area. Maybe other markets are doing a better job at developing, or maybe they just have better players.


Other markets are not as diluted as northern virginia.


This argument doesn't stand up when you look at how well the younger teams are doing in the division.


There are other markets beyond the mid-atlantic...the younger teams would need to do well at national events not within their division.

Look at other major metro areas, they have much higher population and typically have less then the same number of teams that we have. based off population size, there should be 3 ECNL clubs in the area not 4.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:46     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Saw another post about how clubs are doing and thought I'd broach this topic here, including all VA teams.

Below is a list of teams currently in playoff positions going into the last few games of the year (minus 2012 and 2011 teams which still have an entire spring of matches)

Arlington: 3 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009
Beach: 0 Teams
Fairfax: 2 Teams - 2012, 2010
NVA: 1 Team - 2012
Richmond: 4 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
VDA: 5 Teams - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007/2006

The most concerning thing is the lack of older teams that are in playoff positions in the local area. Maybe other markets are doing a better job at developing, or maybe they just have better players.


Other markets are not as diluted as northern virginia.


This argument doesn't stand up when you look at how well the younger teams are doing in the division.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:31     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Younger ages are kickball and early developers.

Older ages are more about team tactics.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:08     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Fairfax’s 06/07’s are in too.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:06     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Anonymous wrote:Saw another post about how clubs are doing and thought I'd broach this topic here, including all VA teams.

Below is a list of teams currently in playoff positions going into the last few games of the year (minus 2012 and 2011 teams which still have an entire spring of matches)

Arlington: 3 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009
Beach: 0 Teams
Fairfax: 2 Teams - 2012, 2010
NVA: 1 Team - 2012
Richmond: 4 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
VDA: 5 Teams - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007/2006

The most concerning thing is the lack of older teams that are in playoff positions in the local area. Maybe other markets are doing a better job at developing, or maybe they just have better players.


Other markets are not as diluted as northern virginia.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 09:00     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
And for people that say this doesn't matter, it does. If the goal of the ECNL is to be seen for college, you need to be playing against the best teams at the national events. Like playoffs.

Not developing teams to be showcased at the playoff event is a detriment to all.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2024 08:37     Subject: Local ECNL Girls Playoff Teams
Saw another post about how clubs are doing and thought I'd broach this topic here, including all VA teams.

Below is a list of teams currently in playoff positions going into the last few games of the year (minus 2012 and 2011 teams which still have an entire spring of matches)

Arlington: 3 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009
Beach: 0 Teams
Fairfax: 2 Teams - 2012, 2010
NVA: 1 Team - 2012
Richmond: 4 Teams - 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
VDA: 5 Teams - 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007/2006

The most concerning thing is the lack of older teams that are in playoff positions in the local area. Maybe other markets are doing a better job at developing, or maybe they just have better players.