I 100% agree that this is what it has become, but those league standards do exist and are real. I've heard (and seen!) enough stories of u14 PSPL players driving themselves to games or coaches screaming curses at players to appreciate the relative professionalism of the RCL experience. Not that RCL programs are AT ALL infallible. Just that it seems to be a different kind of issue.

Citing "Standards" is a dodge and just exposes the hypocrisy. What are the standards? Who sets them? Are they fair? If any club meets the standards are they in? Of course not! The standards are set so high that only a few mega-clubs can meet them. Why is one of the standards the number of registered players? Because that guarantees a certain level of membership fees to WYS, that's why. If a small club with 3 teams wants to enter the league, why deny them? The fact that the State Association - Washington Youth Soccer - created and operates a CLOSED league in this state is disgraceful.

Cursing? Seriously? Have you watched Bernie James coach? Driving themselves to games!? What does that have to do with anything? The fact is our State Association operates a CLOSED league and has brainwashed folks into thinking somehow kids at SU, XFire or PacNW are somehow more "elite" than kids at other clubs and, as your post confirms, WYS is keeping out the riff-raff. After all, that is really what your post is suggesting - a closed league is effective at keeping out the riff-raff or undesirables. THAT comment is completely undemocratic, arrogant and typifies exactly why CLOSED LEAGUES SUCK and are damaging to the sport. None of the so-called RCL clubs have "earned" anything. They were given undeserved status by WYS. There is such a thing as "soccer privilege" and the so-called RCL clubs are the beneficiaries. WYS is primarily culpable in creating this situation. The whole system needs to be taken down and reformed. Its not working for the kids or the sport.

I..wow

david vs. goliath

I am not a proponent of killing off the small clubs, but ECNL is a great product for some kids. The regional league and GAL probably is a money/monopoly grab. Players get better by being challenge by capable players at practice and games. Diluting talent is not the answer and will not benefit top players development. Small clubs cannot complete against goliath clubs. That is a pipe dream.

ECNL is not a "product". It is a CLOSED league. You cannot defend a CLOSED league by citing "development". Development does not happen in league games. It happens at the training ground and in a players' daily life. The league game is a 60-90 minute test. "Top players"??!! You've been brainwashed into thinking that the players who can afford to join the mega-clubs that have been admitted into CLOSED leagues are somehow the top players. You've been brainwashed into thinking the best players exist only in that CLOSED league bubble. There is an entire world of talent and passion outside the Washington Youth Soccer-created bubble of money and privilege. Leicester, Leeds, Eibar, Elche...all the minnows that thrive in an OPEN promotion/relegation league system. None of that would be possible if the world really worked they way you think it should.

Ask yourself this question: WHY do you thing small youth clubs cannot compete against goliath clubs? (By the way, I love that you call them goliath clubs because that is exactly what they are.) Is it lack of talent, money, coaching ability, knowledge, passion, organization?

WYS needs to burn it all down and start from scratch with a multi-tiered league that is OPEN to every club.

MLS, USL, NWSL, College Soccer, US Club, and USYS are all closed associations. So is PSPL.

If you think every continent and country in the world dont have similar associations and closed leagues you are naive. I am against the Super League, but the reason the other clubs are so furious is because they want tonprotect their payday. Shoot the Super League offered Promotion/Relegation.

Your argument is invalid the moment you started. Shows your true ignorance in the subject.

I like the idea of promotion relegation, but guess what, all these clubs would still be tier 2 clubs. Crossfire doesnt care who joins, they will still dominate.

Then let XFire dominate. Let other clubs take their shot. Accusing me of ignorance is a dodge, but let's assume you are the genius and I'm not. You like promotion/relegation and you are opposed to closed leagues. Let's work with that. So, why exactly are you defending the status quo? A multi-tiered league with pro/rel and every club able to join makes all the sense in the world. Its fair, rewards merit, fuels ambition and validates competition. How much inbred competition do you need before you admit the current system is not working? SU v. XFire; XFire ve EFC; EFC v. Pac; Pac v WP, WP v SU; Pac v XFire. For F**k's sake! Washington Youth Soccer has created a youth soccer cartel and you're buying the dope.

I'd argue that all pay-to-play soccer is a money grab, and talent is already diluted in ECNL (should go back to ~2, there aren't THAT many "elite" kids honestly), but that's a different topic. If it was really about the top kids and helping them out, it would be free. My understanding is the Crossfire does this (at least travel?) so kudos to them. ECNL/GAL/Whatever made up national travel league can do whatever...

Youth soccer in Washington should control what they can control, and not have a closed league. Regardless of club size, if you can field teams at most age levels, pay bills, and follow rules, RCL should let them in. There's no reason why some of the larger/stronger non RCL clubs should be on the outside looking in. I think that goes back to the monopoly/collusion aspect of youth sports OP was trying to argue. If it's quality of play (which is pretty much a BS excuse for younger age groups), use the different division tiers to slot teams appropriately. The lager ECNL clubs will still get theirs, and talented kids will logically move when they hit ECNL age (WYS and the club coaches should work together to identify top level kids and encourage them to move/try out for local ECNL clubs, but again, it's all about the $s).

This is probably in the best interest of most kids in the area, and a more diverse league would be more fun. Playing the same handful of teams during league can be boring.

[QUOTE=I like the idea of promotion relegation, but guess what, all these clubs would still be tier 2 clubs. Crossfire doesnt care who joins, they will still dominate.[/QUOTE]

I agree, but so what? Open league w/relegation is still the way to go.

Crossfire is the most impressive club in the area top to bottom, I don't think that will change anytime soon regardless of the count of teams in the league.

So doing something about it beyond being a victim and complaining in a message board.

Good luck dumb a55

Hahaha, the jokes on you! It works for my family. Sorry you are on the outside looking in.

Cry me a river... you must be from Seattle and your kid cant make SU Copa/ECNL

ECNL is top players


If you are a top player for girls you play ECNL. There even are players who have financial struggles that are able to play ECNL. I get that there may be players that get missed due to financial hardships but that will be an issue with your burn it down and rebuild nirvana idea. "Closed league" sounds like sour grapes to me. To answer your question- they cannot compete due to lack of talent. Kids regardless of the sport want to play with and against the best. That is how they get better. ECNL is closed for a reason. Diluted talent is not a draw.

For years people have been arguing this.

If you care so much, build a league- shoot there are a dozen of them. Make it open. Good luck.

The fact is you are ignorant. How is PSPL doing? EAL? GAL? Take your money, your time, and your resources and do something about it. At least Joe Campos at Eagleclaw is doing just that, but he will never win in the end. He has built a great little club in the shadow of PACNW, but that all it will be.

For the majority of parents and kids, this is a hobby, and the current landscape works for them. If you are on the fringes, it does not. Im sorry, not sorry.

Life isnt fair.

You might say im an elitist, i come from a middle class family and make middle class wages. In the nw that puts me likely just below middle class. Soccer is expensive.

But we have choices, my children (3) could play rec, select- we choose to play for one of the big clubs.

Stop complaining