Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 15:10     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.


Your son is biobanding and playing down against players 20 months younger.


My son is 7 so no and there’s no incentive to hold kids back for soccer.
My point is if ncaa turns into euro league 2.0 ECNL will be dead because the reason players are there are for college recruitment and that’s it.

MLSN at least has the pro pathway option. As unlikely as it is.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 15:08     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.

If college coaches can get 22 year old adults from outside America then why are they hosting camps aimed at 16-18 year olds? Also why is American recruiting targeted at 16-18 year olds when you plan to bring on washed up foreign 22 year olds?

This is why you cant listen to college coaches.


This is the guy who doesn’t realize he’s buying something from the snake oil salesman.College coaches want the money honey….

They are essentially getting guys on one year deals and then building new rosters each season.

Going to get harder to be recruited when 5 years of eligibility is a thing.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 14:29     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.



This is why colleges/us club/us soccer need to change how many foreign players are allowed per team. Whatever that percent is.
I thought I heard something about this at one point but can’t remember where.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 13:55     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.


This is soccer in America. I actually get it for Basketball/Football because there are a lot of $$$$ on the line. Soccer not so much and the best will already be selected out way before this matters.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 13:53     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.

Socially and mentally stunting your child's growth for a chance at playing soccer in college. That makes complete sense!


Thank you for a sane response.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 13:15     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.

Socially and mentally stunting your child's growth for a chance at playing soccer in college. That makes complete sense!
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 12:42     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.

If college coaches can get 22 year old adults from outside America then why are they hosting camps aimed at 16-18 year olds? Also why is American recruiting targeted at 16-18 year olds when you plan to bring on washed up foreign 22 year olds?

This is why you cant listen to college coaches.


They are hosting camps because they make money hosting camps.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 12:37     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.


Your son is biobanding and playing down against players 20 months younger.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 12:36     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.

If college coaches can get 22 year old adults from outside America then why are they hosting camps aimed at 16-18 year olds? Also why is American recruiting targeted at 16-18 year olds when you plan to bring on washed up foreign 22 year olds?

This is why you cant listen to college coaches.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2025 11:53     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
I know the Grad Year haters won’t like this take but from listening to different podcast talk about how college recruitment is going to be even more competitive with smaller rosters and 5 years of eligibility. ECNL should incentivize Grad Year and holdbacks.

I just heard a college coach say essentially how do I recruit an 18 year old when I can get a 22 year old adult from outside the states. College is must win now now development.
Sounds like the women’s side is starting to go that route more as well.

I get the stigma of holding back for just athletics but if college coaches stop showing up to showcases and recruiting less American kids that will really hurt the ECNL platform.
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 17:54     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Can anyone confirm when exactly these changes occur for the different age groups? My child is in ECNL but in the strange age group (in LA) that does tryouts both in February and in May. When would he actually try out for/switch teams?


Fall 26. For some USYS leagues will be spring 26.

Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 14:41     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Can anyone confirm when exactly these changes occur for the different age groups? My child is in ECNL but in the strange age group (in LA) that does tryouts both in February and in May. When would he actually try out for/switch teams?

Your kid is a u12 going from SOCAL league to ECNL. SOCAL ends in Dec/Jan which is why the Feb tryouts and ECNL ends in July which is why the May tryouts. What will happen is the Feb tryouts this year will be for the ECNL team and from Feb to the end of July you'll have a part time coach until ECNL season starts in Sept.
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 12:58     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
https://y.yarn.co/5e18e9bd-90e7-449e-9125-32ed4e64a49f_text.gif
Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 12:55     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Can anyone confirm when exactly these changes occur for the different age groups? My child is in ECNL but in the strange age group (in LA) that does tryouts both in February and in May. When would he actually try out for/switch teams?


Anonymous
Post 08/26/2025 12:52     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Can anyone confirm when exactly these changes occur for the different age groups? My child is in ECNL but in the strange age group (in LA) that does tryouts both in February and in May. When would he actually try out for/switch teams?