Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody is way too caught up in the alphabet soup of leagues. Until now I’ve just quietly sat back and not commented on the elitist attitudes. There are strong players in every league. My kid plays in EDP and *gasp* not even EDP 1. He plays there because MLS Next wouldn’t allow him to play HS. He practiced with the team a few times and the coach was honest that he would probably not have much playing time. It wasn’t worth it to miss the HS season with friends and have the stress of playing that high level just to sit on the bench. He considered ECNL teams but they were all far and it was going to be a pain getting to/from practice. Plus, he would miss too much club due to HS where the coach thinks he owns the kids and benches the kids who miss. I’m sure the ECNL coaches would feel the same. Sure he could have skipped HS but it’s what makes HS fun for him. Yes, we know Potomac now has ECNL which would make the whole thing a lot easier but we commited to his team before we knew of that development. A bunch of kids from his team did wind up at ECNL this year so clearly EDP has kids that are that level.

We know a family that spent the last decade jumping from elite team to elite team. They swore their daughter would be playing D1. The entire family’s life revolved around traveling around the country for tournaments. Is she good? Yes! But there were no D1 offers. She is going D3, full pay. And guess what? So are a bunch of boys who played HS varsity soccer and EDP.

We can see the difference between our kid and the top players. We have no delusions. We have always known he isn’t going D1 and probably not playing in college D3 (though he’d like to). I really don’t understand why people on here feel the need to put down leagues and teams that others may be happy with. I understand if a post is seeking guidance about levels but this thread is simply about EDP sub rules. If your child is so talented as to be playing at the highest level, why bother posting here?

Oh goodness, another one of these.
Can't we all just accept that overall, and knowing that there are always exceptions, that MLS Next is the strongest leage overall, followed by ECNL, followed by EDP?

Other than the excessive travel, expenses and marketing aesthetics, ECNL is EDP.
No ambitious EDP player is saying, I'm going to take a step up to ECNL on my way to MLS Next. It's straight to MLS Next.

That's true if you ignore half of the players and parents on this board. For girls, ECNL is the highest level. People posting the two leagues together are including girls and boys in their posts

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody is way too caught up in the alphabet soup of leagues. Until now I’ve just quietly sat back and not commented on the elitist attitudes. There are strong players in every league. My kid plays in EDP and *gasp* not even EDP 1. He plays there because MLS Next wouldn’t allow him to play HS. He practiced with the team a few times and the coach was honest that he would probably not have much playing time. It wasn’t worth it to miss the HS season with friends and have the stress of playing that high level just to sit on the bench. He considered ECNL teams but they were all far and it was going to be a pain getting to/from practice. Plus, he would miss too much club due to HS where the coach thinks he owns the kids and benches the kids who miss. I’m sure the ECNL coaches would feel the same. Sure he could have skipped HS but it’s what makes HS fun for him. Yes, we know Potomac now has ECNL which would make the whole thing a lot easier but we commited to his team before we knew of that development. A bunch of kids from his team did wind up at ECNL this year so clearly EDP has kids that are that level.

We know a family that spent the last decade jumping from elite team to elite team. They swore their daughter would be playing D1. The entire family’s life revolved around traveling around the country for tournaments. Is she good? Yes! But there were no D1 offers. She is going D3, full pay. And guess what? So are a bunch of boys who played HS varsity soccer and EDP.

We can see the difference between our kid and the top players. We have no delusions. We have always known he isn’t going D1 and probably not playing in college D3 (though he’d like to). I really don’t understand why people on here feel the need to put down leagues and teams that others may be happy with. I understand if a post is seeking guidance about levels but this thread is simply about EDP sub rules. If your child is so talented as to be playing at the highest level, why bother posting here?

Oh goodness, another one of these.
Can't we all just accept that overall, and knowing that there are always exceptions, that MLS Next is the strongest leage overall, followed by ECNL, followed by EDP?

Other than the excessive travel, expenses and marketing aesthetics, ECNL is EDP.
No ambitious EDP player is saying, I'm going to take a step up to ECNL on my way to MLS Next. It's straight to MLS Next.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody is way too caught up in the alphabet soup of leagues. Until now I’ve just quietly sat back and not commented on the elitist attitudes. There are strong players in every league. My kid plays in EDP and *gasp* not even EDP 1. He plays there because MLS Next wouldn’t allow him to play HS. He practiced with the team a few times and the coach was honest that he would probably not have much playing time. It wasn’t worth it to miss the HS season with friends and have the stress of playing that high level just to sit on the bench. He considered ECNL teams but they were all far and it was going to be a pain getting to/from practice. Plus, he would miss too much club due to HS where the coach thinks he owns the kids and benches the kids who miss. I’m sure the ECNL coaches would feel the same. Sure he could have skipped HS but it’s what makes HS fun for him. Yes, we know Potomac now has ECNL which would make the whole thing a lot easier but we commited to his team before we knew of that development. A bunch of kids from his team did wind up at ECNL this year so clearly EDP has kids that are that level.

We know a family that spent the last decade jumping from elite team to elite team. They swore their daughter would be playing D1. The entire family’s life revolved around traveling around the country for tournaments. Is she good? Yes! But there were no D1 offers. She is going D3, full pay. And guess what? So are a bunch of boys who played HS varsity soccer and EDP.

We can see the difference between our kid and the top players. We have no delusions. We have always known he isn’t going D1 and probably not playing in college D3 (though he’d like to). I really don’t understand why people on here feel the need to put down leagues and teams that others may be happy with. I understand if a post is seeking guidance about levels but this thread is simply about EDP sub rules. If your child is so talented as to be playing at the highest level, why bother posting here?

Oh goodness, another one of these.
Can't we all just accept that overall, and knowing that there are always exceptions, that MLS Next is the strongest leage overall, followed by ECNL, followed by EDP?

Anonymous wrote:Everybody is way too caught up in the alphabet soup of leagues. Until now I’ve just quietly sat back and not commented on the elitist attitudes. There are strong players in every league. My kid plays in EDP and *gasp* not even EDP 1. He plays there because MLS Next wouldn’t allow him to play HS. He practiced with the team a few times and the coach was honest that he would probably not have much playing time. It wasn’t worth it to miss the HS season with friends and have the stress of playing that high level just to sit on the bench. He considered ECNL teams but they were all far and it was going to be a pain getting to/from practice. Plus, he would miss too much club due to HS where the coach thinks he owns the kids and benches the kids who miss. I’m sure the ECNL coaches would feel the same. Sure he could have skipped HS but it’s what makes HS fun for him. Yes, we know Potomac now has ECNL which would make the whole thing a lot easier but we commited to his team before we knew of that development. A bunch of kids from his team did wind up at ECNL this year so clearly EDP has kids that are that level.

We know a family that spent the last decade jumping from elite team to elite team. They swore their daughter would be playing D1. The entire family’s life revolved around traveling around the country for tournaments. Is she good? Yes! But there were no D1 offers. She is going D3, full pay. And guess what? So are a bunch of boys who played HS varsity soccer and EDP.

We can see the difference between our kid and the top players. We have no delusions. We have always known he isn’t going D1 and probably not playing in college D3 (though he’d like to). I really don’t understand why people on here feel the need to put down leagues and teams that others may be happy with. I understand if a post is seeking guidance about levels but this thread is simply about EDP sub rules. If your child is so talented as to be playing at the highest level, why bother posting here?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

EDP is a lower league

"Lower" than what?
What objective methods of measurement shows this as fact?

Why are so many players going straight from EDP teams to MLS Next teams?

Because EDP is a high league until MLS Next and ECNL start. At the ages we're talking about, EDP is a lower league. If you think otherwise, why are so many kids leaving EDP teams for MLS Next and ECNL teams

First of all, kids go where their parents take them.
Secondly, majority of parents are chasing labels and trying to keep up with the Jones's (when the Jones's don't even know where they're going)
Third, didn't realize MLS Next and ECNL were on the same level

If players are being recruited from EDP to MLS Next clubs, then that Clearly shows those players are MLS Next level, no? Not lower.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

EDP is a lower league

"Lower" than what?
What objective methods of measurement shows this as fact?

Why are so many players going straight from EDP teams to MLS Next teams?

Because EDP is a high league until MLS Next and ECNL start. At the ages we're talking about, EDP is a lower league. If you think otherwise, why are so many kids leaving EDP teams for MLS Next and ECNL teams

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

EDP is a lower league

"Lower" than what?
What objective methods of measurement shows this as fact?

Why are so many players going straight from EDP teams to MLS Next teams?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

EDP is a lower league

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve NEVER seen this rule followed or enforced.

Our team moved to EDP last year and followed the rule initially and then gave up since everyone else seems to ignore it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

That's just about the worst analogy I've ever heard, but I'll ignore that for now.
Rules to please everyone? Who is unhappy about open subbing in EDP? What's the reasoning to allow fewer subs in any non-professional league? These are still developmental leagues.

This. It's a solution in search of a probelm that doesn't exist. Why not let the coaches decide who they want to sub at this level?

You can say the same thing for college or Premier League soccer too…..unlimited substitutions and let the coach decide.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sucks. EDP is supposed to be a step down from ECNL and MLSnext. Why would the want to encourage coaches to shorten their benches?

No it doesn't suck. The game is more fun when the coaches don't keep subbing. Most coaches pretend not to know though.

Tell that to the kid on the bench.

There’s ways around the bench situation. Either practice a lot more or move to a lower team/league. You can’t make rules just to please everyone. It’s no different in schools….the kids that get C’s and D’s on their report cards aren’t pleased either.

That's just about the worst analogy I've ever heard, but I'll ignore that for now.
Rules to please everyone? Who is unhappy about open subbing in EDP? What's the reasoning to allow fewer subs in any non-professional league? These are still developmental leagues.

This. It's a solution in search of a probelm that doesn't exist. Why not let the coaches decide who they want to sub at this level?