Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please stop using the word elite to describe an entire league of players or individual players. Elite is reserved for the top of the top. 4 star recruits, Olympic level athletes, professional players.

If your child is one of hundreds in a regional league, where maybe only the top 5% in that league could be competitive in a national league, then you really need to stop calling the entire league elite. It’s not good for your child to think they are elite when they aren’t. Do we start calling dedicated hard working straight A students elite?

It’s the word I chose and I will continue to use despite your opinion on what it means. Do you have a valuable comment to contribute?

Not PP. Yes, it’s a credible and logical opinion they you’re overusing the word “elite”

Ok - to each his/her opinion. I use it as a relative term and we're talking ECNL/GA vs. NCSL, CCL, etc. Therefore, elite is the correct term. If we're talking world soccer and all players from everywhere at all ages, then clearly elite is not the right term.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are several boys on the BRYC u14 ecnl team that would make 1st teams at other NCSL clubs. They are only on the ecnl team because they have been with bryc since U9 and are willing to reach In the wallet to pay for ecnl. Just stating facts..

Honestly, what do you get out of posting this. There is nothing we can do. Talk to the club or leave. You are trying to call out 13 year olds? It's not their fault. I'm sure they are doing their best. You're just a dick head.

I think the PP is just pointing out a perfect example of players being labeled "ELITE' but are simply average. No names were used or players called out. The fact is many kids both boys and girls and especially parents wear the ECNL patch as if they are locks to get a scholarship. This just isn't the case at all. If you look over at the state rankings there are several local NCSL clubs ranked higher than that particular Bryc ECNL boys team. Maybe the poster is a newer parent on that particular team and doesn't care for the politics that have long been an issue at that club.

So now you've lost all credibility. You're looking at state rankings as an indicator of quality across leagues. You're a novice to the game apparently. Many of the GA and ECNL teams never play the non "Elite" (yes, I used that word) league teams and aren't in tournaments that are even recognized by those ranking boards, hence no point buildup, hence lower rankings. It is inaccurate however as the points only go to those that play in that particular ranking system. The real test is this. Watch the teams play. Watch the speed of play, athleticism, and style of play. It is typically night and day. Not always, but very often.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are several boys on the BRYC u14 ecnl team that would make 1st teams at other NCSL clubs. They are only on the ecnl team because they have been with bryc since U9 and are willing to reach In the wallet to pay for ecnl. Just stating facts..

Honestly, what do you get out of posting this. There is nothing we can do. Talk to the club or leave. You are trying to call out 13 year olds? It's not their fault. I'm sure they are doing their best. You're just a dick head.

I think the PP is just pointing out a perfect example of players being labeled "ELITE' but are simply average. No names were used or players called out. The fact is many kids both boys and girls and especially parents wear the ECNL patch as if they are locks to get a scholarship. This just isn't the case at all. If you look over at the state rankings there are several local NCSL clubs ranked higher than that particular Bryc ECNL boys team. Maybe the poster is a newer parent on that particular team and doesn't care for the politics that have long been an issue at that club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. There should be three non-rec leagues:
1) Local (metro) travel league - in our case NCSL
2) Regional “best of the locals” supplemental league - EDP
3) Elite league for elite players - combined ECNL/GA league.

FCV, Arlington, Bethesda, Maryland United, Pipeline, Loudoun, VDA, McLean, BRYC, Richmond, Celtic would be the mid Atlantic elite league for girls. Probably slightly different for boys.

What do you think about ECNL kids who are not elite. They have just been with the club since U9 but are far from elite. Bryc boys has a ton of kids in this category. If they were to try out as an outside player they would be Ncsl 100% not ECNL. The league you play in isn't always the telling point of the talent of the player.

You’re talking about a different issue. Yes, there are some players on ECNL teams that aren’t better than some players on NCSL teams. There are a lot more players on ECNL teams that are better than a lot more players on NCSL teams. Are there politics and favoritism and familiarity that come into play sometimes? Of course. Does true talent and hard work usually prove out most of the time, yes? Are there financial barriers? Yes. Nothing is perfect. My point was that the above three league approach could work better than the current system despite the imperfections. But in the end none of this really matters. The overwhelming majority of kids playing travel soccer won’t play college or pro ball and will end their soccer careers when they graduate HS, but will leave with great memories, in good shape, and many with a better work ethic, and knowing what it means to be part of a team.