ECNL adds 6 top GAL clubs for 2021-22 season

[Unregistered]

Hence you are the only one reading the writing on the wall.

Next NJ team in ECNL is PDA Shore. They are the REAL shore.

LOL, PDA Shore Regional isn't even a real ECRL team. How can they become ECNL?

[Unregistered]

PDA has a lot of power but the league will not be letting them add even more teams. No chance there. The NE and NA conferences are not expanding.

[Unregistered]

LOL, PDA Shore Regional isn't even a real ECRL team. How can they become ECNL?

That’s true, even within PDA circles they get no respect. If you want to have fun and hang with friends PDA Shore is a good place but if you have real college aspirations PDA North (Blue team) is the one you have to go for. If you can make it great sign. Otherwise focus on academics and D3 because D1 is a bit of a pipe dream.

[Unregistered]

Regardless of the league/club/team your daughter plays you cannot ignore the metrics. Between 1-2% of all the players participating in a given year will continue to play soccer in college. While the vast majority will choose a college for academics the small minority who will pick college depending on where they can play soccer. Even with the best clubs/teams go look at the commits. The vast majority will not get commits to their top choice/dream soccer programs. There are so many factors/variables involved that both parents/players do not understand regardless of the team you play on. With such a small percentage playing college soccer and then an even smaller percentage who will get to play P5 the arguments/insults people who think they know it all really have no comprehension of how college coaches identify players. There is no set formula and every college coach (depending on the level of their program) know what type of players they want and can attract. PDA attracts the best players because of their history and amount of college commits but if you look in a given year very few get committed to a P5 (other than Rutgers) and that is with teams with 25 plus players over a few teams. A lot of players do not get their top choices. That’s a fact. What type of players get picked in these top programs? Here is a hint, if you look at the top 20 programs in the country you could look at every player on the pitch and they can be interchangeable and they can play every position on the field. ECNL will remain the top league because of their visibility with college coaches but it takes a lot more than a Jersey to be identified.

[Unregistered]

regardless of the league/club/team your daughter plays you cannot ignore the metrics. Between 1-2% of all the players participating in a given year will continue to play soccer in college. While the vast majority will choose a college for academics the small minority who will pick college depending on where they can play soccer. Even with the best clubs/teams go look at the commits. The vast majority will not get commits to their top choice/dream soccer programs. There are so many factors/variables involved that both parents/players do not understand regardless of the team you play on. With such a small percentage playing college soccer and then an even smaller percentage who will get to play p5 the arguments/insults people who think they know it all really have no comprehension of how college coaches identify players. There is no set formula and every college coach (depending on the level of their program) know what type of players they want and can attract. Pda attracts the best players because of their history and amount of college commits but if you look in a given year very few get committed to a p5 (other than rutgers) and that is with teams with 25 plus players over a few teams. A lot of players do not get their top choices. That’s a fact. What type of players get picked in these top programs? Here is a hint, if you look at the top 20 programs in the country you could look at every player on the pitch and they can be interchangeable and they can play every position on the field. Ecnl will remain the top league because of their visibility with college coaches but it takes a lot more than a jersey to be identified.

amen^^^

[Unregistered]

Well, just to be exact - that 1-2% is among all HS players and includes the huge # of players for whom HS is the only soccer they play. When you look at club soccer that % should jump considerably.

[Unregistered]

Well, just to be exact - that 1-2% is among all HS players and includes the huge # of players for whom HS is the only soccer they play. When you look at club soccer that % should jump considerably.

... and when you look at PDA Blue, the number jumps to 90% for kids that go to school of their choice and 100% for commitments.

[Unregistered]

GA has only had 3 months. Everyone calls it a huge let down which makes no sense since it hasn't had a chance to do anything.

I initially was one of the parents that said give GAL a chance. And I still think more time is needed for GAL to come together but I just could not take the chance so my kid went ECNL. Obviously there are many clubs that would take ENCL in a heartbeat but we wont see anymore in NJ. It is going to be very disappointing for NE GAL when NEFC FCV, and Tophat move over. It doesn't really leave much left worth traveling out of state to play

[Unregistered]

Last year before DA fell apart many parents were caught up in the DA vs ECNL debate. It was pretty stressful especially with the no HS we werent sure if she should stay DA. Now my D is in GAL and even though she can play HS I have never been more uncertain of what to do. Seeing more news of other clubs getting in ECNL and knowing my Ds Club never will is really concerning.

[Unregistered]

Last year before DA fell apart many parents were caught up in the DA vs ECNL debate. It was pretty stressful especially with the no HS we werent sure if she should stay DA. Now my D is in GAL and even though she can play HS I have never been more uncertain of what to do. Seeing more news of other clubs getting in ECNL and knowing my Ds Club never will is really concerning.

If you're in a GAL club at a younger age group - you are already well ahead of the curve, more training, and proper coaching. Your choice if you'll ever need to make a move going forward.

If your kid is U14 or older and are on the fence:
- compare the long term travel/payment/games between clubs - that accounts a couple of $K
- compare target club [i assume ECNL] performance and showcasing ability (how many coaches come vs what are your target schools) vs your own club's ability to draw in coaches
- finally talk to your DOC/College Liaison if needed to make the the right contact with college coaches if you are missing those "target schools" in showcases and follow up with a video/camp etc for the coach

Unless your kid can make the top 8 on PDA Blue team, chances are, your "college showcasing" prospects at a good GAL team are very similar to a crappy ECNL team.

Finally - the HS question. If you are coming from a big school, playing with great players, its probably smart and good for your kids to go HS. If you're at a smaller school, or not surrounded by super talent, you are better practicing with your club.

[Unregistered]

Regardless of the league/club/team your daughter plays you cannot ignore the metrics. Between 1-2% of all the players participating in a given year will continue to play soccer in college. While the vast majority will choose a college for academics the small minority who will pick college depending on where they can play soccer. Even with the best clubs/teams go look at the commits. The vast majority will not get commits to their top choice/dream soccer programs. There are so many factors/variables involved that both parents/players do not understand regardless of the team you play on. With such a small percentage playing college soccer and then an even smaller percentage who will get to play P5 the arguments/insults people who think they know it all really have no comprehension of how college coaches identify players. There is no set formula and every college coach (depending on the level of their program) know what type of players they want and can attract. PDA attracts the best players because of their history and amount of college commits but if you look in a given year very few get committed to a P5 (other than Rutgers) and that is with teams with 25 plus players over a few teams. A lot of players do not get their top choices. That’s a fact. What type of players get picked in these top programs? Here is a hint, if you look at the top 20 programs in the country you could look at every player on the pitch and they can be interchangeable and they can play every position on the field. ECNL will remain the top league because of their visibility with college coaches but it takes a lot more than a Jersey to be identified.

Very well said and ECNL gives you the best chance, for GAL the %s for D1 are way way lower than even 1-2%. Like ECRL, GAL is a good option for D3, just look at D1 rosters, ECNL dominates! No wonder GAL clubs are jumping ship and others are literally begging to get out.

[Unregistered]

very well said and ecnl gives you the best chance, for gal the %s for d1 are way way lower than even 1-2%. Like ecrl, gal is a good option for d3, just look at d1 rosters, ecnl dominates! No wonder gal clubs are jumping ship and others are literally begging to get out.

eye roll

[Unregistered]

Very well said and ECNL gives you the best chance, for GAL the %s for D1 are way way lower than even 1-2%. Like ECRL, GAL is a good option for D3, just look at D1 rosters, ECNL dominates! No wonder GAL clubs are jumping ship and others are literally begging to get out.

Bingo

[Unregistered]

Last year before DA fell apart many parents were caught up in the DA vs ECNL debate. It was pretty stressful especially with the no HS we werent sure if she should stay DA. Now my D is in GAL and even though she can play HS I have never been more uncertain of what to do. Seeing more news of other clubs getting in ECNL and knowing my Ds Club never will is really concerning.

Same here very confusing if we should stay the course....feel like we’re being misled, like DA 2.0 What do these clubs that are bailing know that we do not know or are being told?

[Unregistered]

eye roll

Why the eye roll?

So which GAL teams in the NY/NJ area have a high % D1 Commit rate. Even when those clubs were DA what was their D1 commit rate?