Anonymous wrote:I think that regardless of level, you would likely try to set your kid up for success by playing on a team where they get to play at least 40%-50% of the game.

Also, I recognize that is some of the information the OP is after. Who would want to commit to an ECNL RL team where they have 18+ roster spots and a lot of players only see 10 minutes a game? It's hard to know in advance how things will turn out, but unless they love their friends and are having fun getting not much playing time, I'd would consider shifting programs down a level or to another club.

+1 For another club with a smaller roster size.

Anonymous wrote:I think the bottom 5+ players is sort of a rotating cast for ECNL RL every year. Kids make the team, but are disillusioned with lack of playing time, lose confidence, start to play poorly … not great.

+1
Defense gets to play most of the game and a few very good kids in other positions are rarely subbed out. Bottom bottom sometimes don't get rostered for the game which is rotten; they only rotate with each other. The lower kids but not at the bottom bottom get a quarter or two if they are lucky. The next year many of these players leave and they bring on a new set of suckers.

I think the bottom 5+ players is sort of a rotating cast for ECNL RL every year. Kids make the team, but are disillusioned with lack of playing time, lose confidence, start to play poorly … not great.

I think that regardless of level, you would likely try to set your kid up for success by playing on a team where they get to play at least 40%-50% of the game.

Also, I recognize that is some of the information the OP is after. Who would want to commit to an ECNL RL team where they have 18+ roster spots and a lot of players only see 10 minutes a game? It's hard to know in advance how things will turn out, but unless they love their friends and are having fun getting not much playing time, I'd would consider shifting programs down a level or to another club.

We moved from a small club to ECNL this year so this world is new to us. On prior teams after 13 or so, there’s been no minimum playing time guaranteed. You play however much the coach wants you to, whether it’s the whole game or 10 minutes. In club, i rarely saw anyone play less than 10 mins, in high school I see players who’ve never played a minute all season. Now that we’re on an ECNL team, i actually see a smaller discrepancy in playing time between starters and subs and also a smaller discrepancy in skill level between the two groups. Our subs typically play 30-40% of the game, and it’s closer to 50/50 at tournaments and showcases. Not sure how each club handles that on the RL teams…

For games where 19+ players are available, there’s a rotation on who doesn’t dress for the game.