Great information. Thank you.

My DD will be U14 for Fall 2021. With COVID, we plan to stay with her EDP team. Is it too late to join an ECNL team for U15? (She has incredible foot skills and can equally use both feet.). Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:^ Based upon the above posts, I guess most ENCL bench players would be starters or even superstars on a typical Div 1 EDP team.

Hence, would it be better for them to be on an EDP team to get playing time and/or exposure?

Hard to generalize here since it depends on coaching, how much playing time, training environment, relationships, etc. Most of the exposure is at showcases, where playing time is generally more even. COVID and the greater use of video and things like Instat are changing that this year, but unclear how long this will last. For some, if you're getting the benefit of training with better athletes, and getting some showcase time, you might accept less league game time. There is a line that everyone has beyond which you might be better off playing down a level.

Anonymous wrote:^ Based upon the above posts, I guess most ENCL bench players would be starters or even superstars on a typical Div 1 EDP team.

Hence, would it be better for them to be on an EDP team to get playing time and/or exposure?

Not sure about the bench players. In my experience there is maybe 1-5 players who are competitive with the starters and a big variation in talent further down the bench. Starter for EDP, very likely. Superstar...doubtful.

Good question about bench ECNL vs. starter for EDP. IMHO, a bench ECNL player will benefit from the training and competing with higher talent but unless there is material game time, I would stay with EDP. My girls train to play in games, if there were no games or very few, it wouldn't be the optimal experience. Nothing replaces game time for development. My two cents.

Anonymous wrote:^ Based upon the above posts, I guess most ENCL bench players would be starters or even superstars on a typical Div 1 EDP team.

Hence, would it be better for them to be on an EDP team to get playing time and/or exposure?

No. You would be hard pressed to see a real tangible difference between a ECNL bench player or a CCL, EDP etc player.

Anonymous wrote:^ Based upon the above posts, I guess most ENCL bench players would be starters or even superstars on a typical Div 1 EDP team.

Hence, would it be better for them to be on an EDP team to get playing time and/or exposure?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Some kids stay with more local travel because the parents don’t have the money for ECNL travel. I wouldn’t be so positive about the skill level of ECNL second team bench players because ECNL is very much pay to play

^ Based upon the above posts, I guess most ENCL bench players would be starters or even superstars on a typical Div 1 EDP team.

Hence, would it be better for them to be on an EDP team to get playing time and/or exposure?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

It’s all of the above. Physicality, speed, skill, quickness of the mind, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

They are in general better athletes. They are in general bigger, quicker and faster. This is mistaken for increase skill and speed of play which is not the same. The biggest difference is the physicality of play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

PP, for #1 above, which age group are you referring to?

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1. On average, yes. Either bigger, likely more athletic and definitely more skillful, on average. There are outliers but EDP teams will likely align w ECNL second teams. It’s more about the speed of play than specifically size, speed, etc. and consistency in their skill and technique at speed under pressure. ECNL defenders will be center mid (10) and wingers in EDP.

2. No. Again, you may notice a higher level of play again, on average, but the level of competition is also higher. Kind of like watching EPL vs. MLS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1) Run faster, are bigger and more physical. Skill and soccer iq is not something that is selected- it’s just not that important at this level and hard to find. It is too difficult to build a team that depends of that.
2) No it’s mostly athleticism and 2-4 players that make the difference. A few try to build through the midfield but if you do not have the players in midfield it does not work. Nothing wrong with it. It’s just hard to develop skilled midfields. The system is not set up for that and they are really young.

Analysis from a u12 dad.

Not at my club - this would be pretty laughable.

Ahem... what club? IMHE it all devolves to those two rules pp posted.

Just look at the top local teams on the boys side and you will see plenty with smaller players playing in most key positions. This change has been underway for some time in this area on the boys side in VA and at DC clubs like Achilles. Maryland boys teams still trend much bigger (small sample size, but it's what I've seen over the years), but they often play bigger kids up a year, and even entire teams.

This thread is about girls. It is very different vs the boys.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1) Run faster, are bigger and more physical. Skill and soccer iq is not something that is selected- it’s just not that important at this level and hard to find. It is too difficult to build a team that depends of that.
2) No it’s mostly athleticism and 2-4 players that make the difference. A few try to build through the midfield but if you do not have the players in midfield it does not work. Nothing wrong with it. It’s just hard to develop skilled midfields. The system is not set up for that and they are really young.

Analysis from a u12 dad.

Not at my club - this would be pretty laughable.

Ahem... what club? IMHE it all devolves to those two rules pp posted.

Just look at the top local teams on the boys side and you will see plenty with smaller players playing in most key positions. This change has been underway for some time in this area on the boys side in VA and at DC clubs like Achilles. Maryland boys teams still trend much bigger (small sample size, but it's what I've seen over the years), but they often play bigger kids up a year, and even entire teams.

EDP declined the day that GA and ECNL attracted the remaining competitive clubs. There are now one-off teams that are competitive, some of which are stronger than ECNL teams but EDP is a shadow of its former self.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1) Run faster, are bigger and more physical. Skill and soccer iq is not something that is selected- it’s just not that important at this level and hard to find. It is too difficult to build a team that depends of that.
2) No it’s mostly athleticism and 2-4 players that make the difference. A few try to build through the midfield but if you do not have the players in midfield it does not work. Nothing wrong with it. It’s just hard to develop skilled midfields. The system is not set up for that and they are really young.

Analysis from a u12 dad.

Not at my club - this would be pretty laughable.

Ahem... what club? IMHE it all devolves to those two rules pp posted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for the expert soccer parents:

When watching the Girls ENCL teams compared to watching EDP Div 1 teams play:

1. Are ECNL players that much faster, more skillful, bigger/stronger, and smarter (soccer IQ)?

2. Without knowing the teams that are playing, can you tell they are ECNL teams based upon they way & how they play?

1) Run faster, are bigger and more physical. Skill and soccer iq is not something that is selected- it’s just not that important at this level and hard to find. It is too difficult to build a team that depends of that.
2) No it’s mostly athleticism and 2-4 players that make the difference. A few try to build through the midfield but if you do not have the players in midfield it does not work. Nothing wrong with it. It’s just hard to develop skilled midfields. The system is not set up for that and they are really young.

Analysis from a u12 dad.

Not at my club - this would be pretty laughable.