Anonymous
04/08/2026 17:21
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there will be any changes of consequence. Probably just rumors.
If so the Ihatesoccer guy has some explaining to do.
The I hate soccer guy didn’t post it?
Anonymous
04/08/2026 17:21
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:The choice of words was interesting.
I am thinking a big nothing burger
but he wasn't the one who announced it, right? it what an alleged quote by a ga director posted on a soccer X account?
Anonymous
04/08/2026 17:06
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
The choice of words was interesting.
I am thinking a big nothing burger
I am thinking a big nothing burger
Anonymous
04/08/2026 17:02
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there will be any changes of consequence. Probably just rumors.
If so the Ihatesoccer guy has some explaining to do.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:59
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there will be any changes of consequence. Probably just rumors.
I tend to agree. Just a distraction post from the pro-ECNL hats on X. People would have heard by now
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:54
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
I don’t think there will be any changes of consequence. Probably just rumors.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:47
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
So.. any announcements? Any idea who what when where and why?
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:35
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
When Club vs Club came about - it killed youth soccer.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:32
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
I question what is really beneficial for development- one elite league that provides an entry for competition level, but could ultimately thwart development since it is largely dependent on money, commute time, reduces playing time for 2/3 of the team and doesn’t have significant accountability when it comes to development. 6-7 kids playing majority minutes and the next 15 not getting rostered, playing half or less. Coaches who can just pick the next kid up.
Would it be better to go back to open access or tiered competition, but a super league model where more teams have access, teams may not be as great or complete, but more kids playing more minutes against strong competition vs elite. Clubs have no special pass to expect in layers to leave and join their club.
Yes iron sharpens iron, but it is seeming to be more and more like the good old boys club with a high entry fee and detriment to the majority of players who are largely unknown quantities.
Would it be better to go back to open access or tiered competition, but a super league model where more teams have access, teams may not be as great or complete, but more kids playing more minutes against strong competition vs elite. Clubs have no special pass to expect in layers to leave and join their club.
Yes iron sharpens iron, but it is seeming to be more and more like the good old boys club with a high entry fee and detriment to the majority of players who are largely unknown quantities.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:25
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:th appears to be in a strong position regardless of the outcome.
Scenario 1: The club remains in the Girls Academy (GA) and continues operating as it currently does, with the boys remaining in ECNL.
Scenario 2: The club stays in GA on the girls’ side, while the boys transition to MLS Next. This scenario would likely create competitive tension with local ECNL Clubs.
Scenario 3: The girls move to ECNL with two teams per age group, while the boys remain in ECNL.
Each of these paths allows the club to maintain a high level of platform placement and competitive positioning.
I don’t see them getting two ECNL spots (Nationals had 2 GA and only got 1 ECNL, Lonestar had 2 GA and only got 1 RL). It seems th GA is rewarding more clubs with 2 spots, and ECNL seems to be going away from that (a couple 2 club programs have lost their second spot).
That maybe a deal breaker for Tophat. It’s a tough debate either way I am sure.
there is no "deal breaker" for Tophat. Tophat has been begging along with very, very vocal parents trying to get back into ecnl every year.
Top hat has not been begging to get into ECNL. There are some parents that started a Kickstarter campaign to get into ECNL. But the club itself doesnt care and will be successful in whatever league they play in.
as a parent who had a kid playing in the ecnl for tophat then da and my youngest daughter played da at tophat and now a GRANDAUGHTER playing at tophat yes tophat is BEGGING to get back into ecnl.
Dang - we got grandparents trolling these boards. Let it go.
And no - TH is not begging to get back into ECNL. FOMO parents in the area might wish they were, but know that TH is a much better club top to bottom than all the other Atlanta area clubs.
Only elite clubs can survive in a market full of ecnl badges.
City SC, NEFC, and LOU FUSZ are the only others.
1. Maybe only elite GA clubs can THRIVE in an ECNL dense market, but lots of clubs survive just fine. Only so many kids are at the level to play top tier soccer, and most (larger) clubs have something for every player level.
2. LF wasn’t even a champions club team until Lonestar left their conference. They may be on their way to being elite, but imo, they are not there yet. Have some elite teams and players, yes. But elite club is a bit of a stretch.
How many legit, legit Elite clubs are there in the country? 20? then 21-40? then 41-100? then everyone else depending on age group. And the top 250 clubs are still light years above the next 700 and those are light years above the next 1000.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 16:09
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:th appears to be in a strong position regardless of the outcome.
Scenario 1: The club remains in the Girls Academy (GA) and continues operating as it currently does, with the boys remaining in ECNL.
Scenario 2: The club stays in GA on the girls’ side, while the boys transition to MLS Next. This scenario would likely create competitive tension with local ECNL Clubs.
Scenario 3: The girls move to ECNL with two teams per age group, while the boys remain in ECNL.
Each of these paths allows the club to maintain a high level of platform placement and competitive positioning.
I don’t see them getting two ECNL spots (Nationals had 2 GA and only got 1 ECNL, Lonestar had 2 GA and only got 1 RL). It seems th GA is rewarding more clubs with 2 spots, and ECNL seems to be going away from that (a couple 2 club programs have lost their second spot).
That maybe a deal breaker for Tophat. It’s a tough debate either way I am sure.
there is no "deal breaker" for Tophat. Tophat has been begging along with very, very vocal parents trying to get back into ecnl every year.
Top hat has not been begging to get into ECNL. There are some parents that started a Kickstarter campaign to get into ECNL. But the club itself doesnt care and will be successful in whatever league they play in.
as a parent who had a kid playing in the ecnl for tophat then da and my youngest daughter played da at tophat and now a GRANDAUGHTER playing at tophat yes tophat is BEGGING to get back into ecnl.
Dang - we got grandparents trolling these boards. Let it go.
And no - TH is not begging to get back into ECNL. FOMO parents in the area might wish they were, but know that TH is a much better club top to bottom than all the other Atlanta area clubs.
Only elite clubs can survive in a market full of ecnl badges.
City SC, NEFC, and LOU FUSZ are the only others.
1. Maybe only elite GA clubs can THRIVE in an ECNL dense market, but lots of clubs survive just fine. Only so many kids are at the level to play top tier soccer, and most (larger) clubs have something for every player level.
2. LF wasn’t even a champions club team until Lonestar left their conference. They may be on their way to being elite, but imo, they are not there yet. Have some elite teams and players, yes. But elite club is a bit of a stretch.
Anonymous
04/08/2026 15:58
Subject: New Additions to Leagues Check Up (ECNL & GA)
Anonymous wrote:
Only elite clubs can survive in a market full of ecnl badges.
City SC, NEFC, and LOU FUSZ are the only others.
And all 3 of those clubs have MLSN 1, so they will not be giving that up and selling out their Boys (The Money Makers) to go to ECNL
I dont think thats true, especially in more densely populated areas. Its more complicated because the ECNL draw is more powerful than GA, especially in certain places where you would end up with a lot of movement just re-distributing talent. Take STA as an example - Many people avoid GA until the last possible minute in the area because the travel is horrendous, even opting for RL over playing GA. There are also others that logically would play at STA if were in ECNL, but instead go to PDA or World Class. Others still have to stomach Matchfit, which is an awful club just because of ECNL. I don't think STA would have any problem competing in ECNL. North Jersey is the most densely populated area in the county and despite all of the keyboard warriors saying you're just watering down the league, its simply not possible in some markets because of how deep the pool is. Right now some of these clubs are pulling multiple YNT players from a single team.
The MLSN draw is exponentially more powerful and overrides any ECNL girls draw for a club.