New England NPL restructuring???

[Unregistered]

You created leagues that cost a fortune and are surprised that people are staying with local options with good coaching? Kudos to the NEP for giving families an alternative to the madness. You can stick that pyramid where the sun don’t shine!

I agree

I think this is a club issue, they offer their players to many options from the same location, in the middle of rural mass

If DA or ECNL was closer to the city of boston, they would be much stronger

Why not pick one New England NPL, DA or ECNL, that is all the clubs should offer unless
They are so big they can make one central DA and then make a north and south or east and west New England

It is not possible to field two string teams from the same location just look at the clubs with DA all their NPL teams did not do well and we all know the north east NPL teams are terrible, it just does not work

[Unregistered]

I agree

I think this is a club issue, they offer their players to many options from the same location, in the middle of rural mass

If DA or ECNL was closer to the city of boston, they would be much stronger

Why not pick one New England NPL, DA or ECNL, that is all the clubs should offer unless
They are so big they can make one central DA and then make a north and south or east and west New England

It is not possible to field two string teams from the same location just look at the clubs with DA all their NPL teams did not do well and we all know the north east NPL teams are terrible, it just does not work

DA is totally watered down in this area. The product is terrible (for the most part). By “terrible” what I mean is in comparison to what they want it to be or what it should be. That’s not to say that there aren’t great players in DA, but there are not full rosters of great players - no great “teams”. While it isn’t about the teams/records, there is some of that because if you are an amazing player but you look at your options and you see that you are going get beaten every week or you won’t be training with all high quality players every week (the point of DA), then it’s less of a draw. It’s sad to see.

[Unregistered]

DA is totally watered down in this area. The product is terrible (for the most part). By “terrible” what I mean is in comparison to what they want it to be or what it should be. That’s not to say that there aren’t great players in DA, but there are not full rosters of great players - no great “teams”. While it isn’t about the teams/records, there is some of that because if you are an amazing player but you look at your options and you see that you are going get beaten every week or you won’t be training with all high quality players every week (the point of DA), then it’s less of a draw. It’s sad to see.

This is also true of the ECNL teams in this area. The top is watered down because the top talent is split between DA, ECNL and NPL teams. The top talent picks the league/club that suits their needs and wants best, and although it’s reasonable to think more options are better, it completely dilutes the talent pool. Imagine if there was a regional based league (like NPL) only it is where the top clubs in New England had their one top team and all top players were funneled there. We’d have much stronger teams from 1-18 and there would be fewer of them. It won’t happen of course, and there are too many variances among what the top talent wants out of club soccer... some focus on year round training, some want flexibility to play HS or other sports, some want more local travel and cheaper costs, some want far flung showcases, some want prestige, some want only what gets them to college ball, some have NT aspirations. Too many different needs to be met by one league, and thus what you get is many top teams back-filling rosters with much weaker players because they can’t convince enough of the better players to do that particular league or club. Don’t see any of this changing, so my advice is always find the team, coach, club that fits your child’s development best, and your family can manage the travel, schedule and financials without huge sacrifice, and don’t pay attention to the patch on the sleeve.

[Unregistered]

Think about it this way, there are eight team based NPL teams in this area per age group now in the NEP. That's a lot of kids that might be trying out for better leagues that are not. This team based NPL is being sold as a substitute to ECNL, DA, club based NPL leagues and clubs are competing with themselves for better players. You can read it right here in this thread. There are 2 DA with mixed ages, 2 ECNL teams per age and 8 club based NPL teams per age groups. This dilutes the players pools for the stronger leagues dramatically just by creating team based NPL/NEP because players are being retained and sold team based NPL by those coaches. Not a great system. Well intended originally but not sustainable the way its played out.

[Unregistered]

Think about it this way, there are eight team based NPL teams in this area per age group now in the NEP. That's a lot of kids that might be trying out for better leagues that are not. This team based NPL is being sold as a substitute to ECNL, DA, club based NPL leagues and clubs are competing with themselves for better players. You can read it right here in this thread. There are 2 DA with mixed ages, 2 ECNL teams per age and 8 club based NPL teams per age groups. This dilutes the players pools for the stronger leagues dramatically just by creating team based NPL/NEP because players are being retained and sold team based NPL by those coaches. Not a great system. Well intended originally but not sustainable the way its played out.

You seem to be putting most of the blame on NPL/NEP league and their coaches (or so it seems)? The blame should be put on DA and ECNL equally as much. Bad programs, no stand-out coaching, too much money, traveling across the country for showcases when most players will stay more local, etc...

[Unregistered]

You seem to be putting most of the blame on NPL/NEP league and their coaches (or so it seems)? The blame should be put on DA and ECNL equally as much. Bad programs, no stand-out coaching, too much money, traveling across the country for showcases when most players will stay more local, etc...

Too bad those extra hours on the highway and in hotels every weekend weren't used for extra touches. The amount of money spent to play mediocre teams would be better spent on better coaching.

[Unregistered]

Too bad those extra hours on the highway and in hotels every weekend weren't used for extra touches. The amount of money spent to play mediocre teams would be better spent on better coaching.

Plenty if time for touches. Travel time is used for homework, hanging with the parents, and watching TV

If they are mature enough to handle it there’s no problem

[Unregistered]

Too bad those extra hours on the highway and in hotels every weekend weren't used for extra touches. The amount of money spent to play mediocre teams would be better spent on better coaching.

Got it...your kid plays NPL so you feel the need to bash other divisions. If GPS and NEFC had the chance to go DA or ECNL the whole NPL division would end up like MAPLE.

[Unregistered]

Got it...your kid plays NPL so you feel the need to bash other divisions. If GPS and NEFC had the chance to go DA or ECNL the whole NPL division would end up like MAPLE.

Sounds like someone hit a nerve.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like someone hit a nerve.

Oh No...what a witty response.

You know its true and that's what you are upset about.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like someone hit a nerve.

Nope, love DA, have fun in D3.

[Unregistered]

Nope, love DA, have fun in D3.

Good one, is that why you are on the NPL thread? So cool DA.

[Unregistered]

Nope, love DA, have fun in D3.

Yes, right... because we all know that all DA players end up playing at D1 schools. 🙄

[Unregistered]

Yes, right... because we all know that all DA players end up playing at D1 schools. 🙄

Let me clarify, enjoy division 3 of Massachusetts soccer. You know, way down there towards the base of the pyramid. Your kid won't be playing in college. So cute, thinking I meant D3 college soccer.

[Unregistered]

DA is totally watered down in this area. The product is terrible (for the most part). By “terrible” what I mean is in comparison to what they want it to be or what it should be. That’s not to say that there aren’t great players in DA, but there are not full rosters of great players - no great “teams”. While it isn’t about the teams/records, there is some of that because if you are an amazing player but you look at your options and you see that you are going get beaten every week or you won’t be training with all high quality players every week (the point of DA), then it’s less of a draw. It’s sad to see.

DA or ECNL are water down but like any clubs, they are driven by non-soccer parents who constantly move their kids chasing clubs that have winning record. Why do you think the Revs is bad at player development? Because they don’t do Development. They take players from other clubs and hope that the player can adapt to their system of play what ever that is in the past I don’t know. If you truly want development, players must have a system of play they could learn from. All European clubs have a good understanding of development and they don’t focus on winning at the youth level but only work on the fundations at the U16 and under. Yes, if you don’t develop you will be cut but the is only done after the player immersed themselves with training and still can’t master the skills needed to at their age groups. Here, parents moved players from year to year hoping they find a place that will make them a winner. Good luck with that.....