Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 11:33     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


For boys, MLS Next is better than ECNL. For girls, ECNL is better than GA. In most cases, ECNL requires both sides (boys/girls) to be in ECNL. If boys play in MLS Next, girls have to go GA. So which side gets priority? Ideally, it would be girls in the ECNL, boys in MLS Next.



The ECNL is better than GA Mantra is old perception. Since the DA failed, the newer GA is rising in status. Aligning with MLSN will bring GA to a higher level than ECNL just like DA did. Within a few years, you will see better players defecting to the GA. This is already happening. ECNL made a big mistake forcing clubs to align with each other to generate more competitive teams. ECNL is generally disorganized. There are a lot of under the breath complaints about the operation of ECNL. Just look at the failed showcase in Seattle where many games were cancelled. ECNL is dropping the ball.

It's easier to understand when you step back and look at what ECNL and GA provide.

1. League Games
2. Events like showcases
3. Playoffs
4. Talent IDs

Both GA and ECNL provide above in a nearly identicle manner. What makes them different is the clubs involved.

If the only way into MLSN (the top boys league) is to play in GA over time clubs will switch their girls over from ECNL. It's just a matter of time. Also the way it will work is 1 or 2 big clubs will switch from ECNL to MLSN and GA then the rest will follow. This is how it worked when everyone switched to DA and it's how it worked when all the girls clubs switched back to ECNL when DA blew up. (The boys went to MLSN)
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 11:14     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


For boys, MLS Next is better than ECNL. For girls, ECNL is better than GA. In most cases, ECNL requires both sides (boys/girls) to be in ECNL. If boys play in MLS Next, girls have to go GA. So which side gets priority? Ideally, it would be girls in the ECNL, boys in MLS Next.



The ECNL is better than GA Mantra is old perception. Since the DA failed, the newer GA is rising in status. Aligning with MLSN will bring GA to a higher level than ECNL just like DA did. Within a few years, you will see better players defecting to the GA. This is already happening. ECNL made a big mistake forcing clubs to align with each other to generate more competitive teams. ECNL is generally disorganized. There are a lot of under the breath complaints about the operation of ECNL. Just look at the failed showcase in Seattle where many games were cancelled. ECNL is dropping the ball.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 11:09     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The decision is simple for clubs.

Which league will make me the most $$$.


right now and for the foreseeable future MLSN (with GA on the girls side) is winning. It is OK to join an ECNL NL team, still good competition for a year or two but they are bound to disappear from NoVA.


Why do you say GA winning? I have not seen anything that even suggests this. NVA to GA is not winning. At best it is a bet that they may win in the future.

MLSN is the best on the boys side but the money is the same as ecnl boys.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 10:50     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


Current state is MLSN for boys - ECNL for girls, but don't read into either too much.

DA was only folding 5-6 years ago and with that fold came a lot of ECNL's top clubs. Things change all the time. If you are not in HS I would say either is an equal option - things can change very quickly. Specifically in the DC area it looks like you will probably get strong competition from GA.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 10:02     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:The decision is simple for clubs.

Which league will make me the most $$$.


right now and for the foreseeable future MLSN (with GA on the girls side) is winning. It is OK to join an ECNL NL team, still good competition for a year or two but they are bound to disappear from NoVA.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 09:58     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
The decision is simple for clubs.

Which league will make me the most $$$.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 09:56     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:girls are better in ECNL soccer, all the stats and facts, etc are non debatable, GAS is 2nd tier, but you will still get looks from playing GA but 1/7 of girls playing GA will play college soccer compared to ECNL....should be 1 post, no threads needed....nor replies...just look it up


The top 20 ECNL clubs + the top 10 GA clubs…Then everyone else.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 09:53     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


For boys, MLS Next is better than ECNL. For girls, ECNL is better than GA. In most cases, ECNL requires both sides (boys/girls) to be in ECNL. If boys play in MLS Next, girls have to go GA. So which side gets priority? Ideally, it would be girls in the ECNL, boys in MLS Next.



I think I understand. If ECNL has to have both boys and girls in the league, but one of the groups leaves (sounds like boys are getting preference here going to MLS Next), then the girls have no choice but to leave ECNL as well and go to GA. Is GA good soccer? You said that ECNL is better for the girls. In what ways? Is it worth staying with our team in the GA league even though players might leave or is it better to go ID with other ECNL teams? We are happy to stay but don't understand why girls are leaving.


No one knows what the future may bring in terms of changes. It really all depends on you DD's age, skill level, and interest in playing in college. If she is in high school, ECNL will provide you the best pathway to play in college. If younger, it depends. The key to it all, whatever league you end up in, is to find a good team/coach that can be successful in driving coaches to watch your games in the showcases and have a coach who's knowledgeable about and connected to the college coaches.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 23:49     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
The soccer scene is changing, and clubs are starting to vibe with MLSN and GA. Rumor has it that in two years, all the top clubs will make the switch. Get ready for some exciting changes in the next few years!
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 22:35     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
girls are better in ECNL soccer, all the stats and facts, etc are non debatable, GAS is 2nd tier, but you will still get looks from playing GA but 1/7 of girls playing GA will play college soccer compared to ECNL....should be 1 post, no threads needed....nor replies...just look it up
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 22:32     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


For boys, MLS Next is better than ECNL. For girls, ECNL is better than GA. In most cases, ECNL requires both sides (boys/girls) to be in ECNL. If boys play in MLS Next, girls have to go GA. So which side gets priority? Ideally, it would be girls in the ECNL, boys in MLS Next.



I think I understand. If ECNL has to have both boys and girls in the league, but one of the groups leaves (sounds like boys are getting preference here going to MLS Next), then the girls have no choice but to leave ECNL as well and go to GA. Is GA good soccer? You said that ECNL is better for the girls. In what ways? Is it worth staying with our team in the GA league even though players might leave or is it better to go ID with other ECNL teams? We are happy to stay but don't understand why girls are leaving.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 18:29     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.


For boys, MLS Next is better than ECNL. For girls, ECNL is better than GA. In most cases, ECNL requires both sides (boys/girls) to be in ECNL. If boys play in MLS Next, girls have to go GA. So which side gets priority? Ideally, it would be girls in the ECNL, boys in MLS Next.

Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 17:36     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Anonymous wrote:Nice try troll


I'm not sure what you mean, but I really am looking for details. There are so many threads on this and I can't begin to figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 17:34     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Nice try troll
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2025 17:33     Subject: MSLN - GA - ENCL
Can someone explain the decision a club makes to join each of these leagues? What decision is best on the boys side and what decision is best on the girls side? Do boys teams have to go the same way as the girls team? Is it all or nothing in the league? Why would a club pick MLSN over GA or ECNL? Or GA over ENCL? Or why would you want to stay ECNL if given the "opportunity" to play GA? Can someone really explain the leagues to this new to travel soccer dad? If my club has changed to GA, why are some players on my child's team not wanting to do that with their teammates and instead want to go to other ENCL teams? I don't understand. Please help explain. We are trying to figure out what we should be doing here.