Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are they trying to do? This is just dumb.

https://www.usysnationalleague.com/news/2025/02/07/usys-national-league-introduces-new-event-formats/

Funnel more of your hard-earned money into their pockets? Is this even a question?

Come on now, any youth parent, even ECNL would do better to invest their money for college rather than chasing a scholarship.

Bingo! Curtains for the ECNL hats!

Anonymous wrote:What are they trying to do? This is just dumb.

https://www.usysnationalleague.com/news/2025/02/07/usys-national-league-introduces-new-event-formats/

Funnel more of your hard-earned money into their pockets? Is this even a question?

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully everyone realizes that the top USYS teams are ever bit as good as the top ECNL teams. Look at results of recent showcases.

This ... They have some tremendous teams.

Hopefully everyone realizes that the top USYS teams are ever but as good as the top ECNL teams. Look at results of recent showcases.

Anonymous wrote:For those kids who couldn't make MLSN, ECNL/GA can now say they won a National Title. We're the bestest of NOT the best.

They've always had a national title, too -- it's just a big maze of how it works because they keep changing the format and ways to qualify and adding other national events (like the national cup).

Also, USYS has had plenty of world class players -- it's just many of whom also have gone on to play in other youth elite leagues, too, as well. From their website:

"National League alumni have gone on to excel at the collegiate, professional and international levels, with former players competing in all levels of college soccer, as well as Major League Soccer, National Women’s Soccer League, English Premier League, English Women’s Super League, UEFA Champions League, the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup (Men’s and Women’s).

U.S. Men’s National Team appearances…
George Bello, Daryl Dike, Jeremy Ebobisse, Chase Gasper, Daniel Lovitz, Jordan Morris, Andrija Novakovich, Emmanuel Sabbi & Walker Zimmerman

U.S. Women’s National Team appearances…
Morgan (Brian) Gautrat, Danielle Colaprico, Alana Cook, Savannah DeMelo, Imani Dorsey, Emily Fox, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, Emily Sonnett & Sam Staab"

Anonymous wrote:What are they trying to do? This is just dumb.

https://www.usysnationalleague.com/news/2025/02/07/usys-national-league-introduces-new-event-formats/

Here's my guess ...Right now, some teams have to travel across the country twice in a couple of months (this year Arizona and Texas) and it looks like the new winter format makes it 1 event to qualify for the nationals -- which reduce the cost on clubs and families for all the travel.

Admittedly, USYS pathways to the national championships are super confusing and seem aimed at giving clubs plenty of chances to qualify. You can qualify through these winter events, mostly teams from Elite 64 OR you can still win your state cup/do well in the National League and qualify through that competition.

And they also have something called Presidents Cup -- another national tournament for winners of the second-tier division of the state cup competitions.

Anonymous wrote:For those kids who couldn't make MLSN, ECNL/GA can now say they won a National Title. We're the bestest of NOT the best.

I'm trying to remember where I heard it, but I think in the podcast with skip shared in the ECNL thread. And basically the premise was the best team from small area cannot compete with a top tier team from larger area. And they shouldn't need to there should be national events for those kids too. And to compete against those in the same level.

It is a little funny that they have quotes from a Cedar Stars administrator talking about how USYS provides the highest level of competition when Cedar Stars has MLS Next (Bergen) and two teams in NAL Northeast. Plus MLS Next (Monmouth) and a team in NAL Mid Atlantic.

so . . . . highest level of competition possible for our third or fourth level teams.

They are trying to make money to support their existence and expand their organization. Just like every other business. Why is that dumb?

For those kids who couldn't make MLSN, ECNL/GA can now say they won a National Title. We're the bestest of NOT the best.

What are they trying to do? This is just dumb.

https://www.usysnationalleague.com/news/2025/02/07/usys-national-league-introduces-new-event-formats/