Boys ECNL makes no sense (yet)

[Unregistered]

But at least for now, that is not the case in New England. At the high school ages, at least, the strongest non-DA teams from the last few years are still playing in the NPL, not in the boys ECNL. Other than a very few boys who have left those NPL teams to join DA teams, those teams remain largely intact. And the few boys who have left DA in this area over the summer have largely joined the boys NPL teams, not the boys ECNL teams. Which makes sense, as those boys would want to join the stronger teams in the area.

Maybe boys ECNL will eventually catch on, but it doesn't look like it so far. It will be interesting to see how the teams from each league fare in the joint playoffs.

Like girls DA it's still way too early to guage success or failure.

[Unregistered]

Also ECNL knows what it's doing in terms of organization, showcases etc. That's another reason why clubs wanted to join. It's a well oiled machine with a clear structure, unlike NPL which very scattered and requires diagramming to make any sense of it all. ECNL gives clubs a better weapons stockpile to fight DA.

Which area clubs "wanted to join"? The two that were already part of the ECNL through their girls programs, that's who. None of the other area clubs were too eager. And if ECNL is so much better than NPL, why would it merge its playoffs with the NPL at year end?

Face it, its another marketing gimmick. It will be an OK league, and at least by merging playoffs, there will be a consolidated second tier to boys DA. If you think it is somehow going "to fight" DA, you are deluding yourself.

[Unregistered]

Which area clubs "wanted to join"? The two that were already part of the ECNL through their girls programs, that's who. None of the other area clubs were too eager. And if ECNL is so much better than NPL, why would it merge its playoffs with the NPL at year end?

Face it, its another marketing gimmick. It will be an OK league, and at least by merging playoffs, there will be a consolidated second tier to boys DA. If you think it is somehow going "to fight" DA, you are deluding yourself.

NEFC will join ECNL. Then GPS 1 through 9 can battle Valeo for the NPL div 3 crown.

[Unregistered]

Which area clubs "wanted to join"? The two that were already part of the ECNL through their girls programs, that's who. None of the other area clubs were too eager. And if ECNL is so much better than NPL, why would it merge its playoffs with the NPL at year end?

Face it, its another marketing gimmick. It will be an OK league, and at least by merging playoffs, there will be a consolidated second tier to boys DA. If you think it is somehow going "to fight" DA, you are deluding yourself.

Same can be said of GDA - not everyone wanted to join and it's yet another gimmick

[Unregistered]

NEFC will join ECNL. Then GPS 1 through 9 can battle Valeo for the NPL div 3 crown.

For GPS the NEP can become their Super Y league all over again!!!

[Unregistered]

Which area clubs "wanted to join"? The two that were already part of the ECNL through their girls programs, that's who. None of the other area clubs were too eager. And if ECNL is so much better than NPL, why would it merge its playoffs with the NPL at year end?

Face it, its another marketing gimmick. It will be an OK league, and at least by merging playoffs, there will be a consolidated second tier to boys DA. If you think it is somehow going "to fight" DA, you are deluding yourself.

This isn't true. NEFC originally wanted to stay in ECNL and would have picked up boys.

[Unregistered]

This isn't true. NEFC originally wanted to stay in ECNL and would have picked up boys.

So then why are they not in ECNL boys now? By any objective measure, their boys teams' are plainly superior across the board to the Stars' boys teams or the second tier Bolts teams. If they were not allowed in to the league, that only serves to demonstrate that the league is not about quality. of play.

[Unregistered]

So then why are they not in ECNL boys now? By any objective measure, their boys teams' are plainly superior across the board to the Stars' boys teams or the second tier Bolts teams. If they were not allowed in to the league, that only serves to demonstrate that the league is not about quality. of play.

Because they made the choice to go DA. DA on the girls side is bigger than ECNL was, and some of the scores are really lopsided. Someone should have thought all of this through before making the announcements.

[Unregistered]

Also ECNL knows what it's doing in terms of organization, showcases etc. That's another reason why clubs wanted to join. It's a well oiled machine with a clear structure, unlike NPL which very scattered and requires diagramming to make any sense of it all. ECNL gives clubs a better weapons stockpile to fight DA.

Maybe down the road... but certainly not yet.

[Unregistered]

Because they made the choice to go DA. DA on the girls side is bigger than ECNL was, and some of the scores are really lopsided. Someone should have thought all of this through before making the announcements.

Serious question. When was the last time any of these clubs, leagues thought anything through about what is the best way to handle all this? Once you have been around for a number of years, you see the same things over and over. It's really a big money pit. The players never benefit from this system.

[Unregistered]

Serious question. When was the last time any of these clubs, leagues thought anything through about what is the best way to handle all this? Once you have been around for a number of years, you see the same things over and over. It's really a big money pit. The players never benefit from this system.

Stars boys really struggled this weekend.. Younger groups look very weak. What happened?

[Unregistered]

Stars boys really struggled this weekend.. Younger groups look very weak. What happened?

Everyone left for NEFC.

[Unregistered]

too many league and know wonder the USA mens team sucks!

[Unregistered]

There are not enough local teams, and very little difference in quality to NPL to justify the travel and expense. Will it get better?

Dopey. If your kid was on a top NPL team you would know that they travel to multiple tournaments and the expense will be same. Keep living the B team dream of no travel. im
Sure your kid can play in the under 40 league after he gets off the high school bench.

[Unregistered]

Everyone left for NEFC.

Don't let the door hit you on the arse on the way out