All Things Related to Washington State ECNL

[Unregistered]

ISC should merge the A team with Eastside ECNL and Reign should merge with Seattle Uniteds ECNL. Win, Win for everyone.

You’re clearly unaware of how the last Seattle United and Reign alliance went. Shall we say it didn’t end well?

[Unregistered]

Is Reign more deserving of ECNL than ISC?

Is this a joke? ISC plays mid to bottom of PSPL. Let that sink in... PSPL!

[Unregistered]

Is this a joke? ISC plays mid to bottom of PSPL. Let that sink in... PSPL!

Sorry, a bit of ignorance on my part. I thought they were rather good at a few ages on the girls side. Might be living in the past.

[Unregistered]

Portland Thornz Asylum isn't even a club. They can't even field JV level players at half the age groups required by ECNL. And, after 5 years of no development and no top tier competition, they no longer have any players either.

I see the usual trolls from the Oregon forum have migrated northwards. Much like some of the local ECNL boosters up here seem eager to keep Reign out, a similar dynamic plays out down there, particularly from one suburban club that for some reason feels it necessary to pay Bernie James money to call themselves "Crossfire".

Thorns have plenty of partnerships with other local youth clubs; I seriously doubt that ECNL is going to exclude an NWSL academy simply because their feeder system is not in-house. Reign and Thorns might get excluded (or told to wait a year) simply because the local incumbent ECNL teams don't want direct competition from pro academies.

But if the two northwest NWSL academy teams do join ECNL--and ECNL would be smart to admit them, as that would pretty much foreclose any competition from arising on the girls' side for a good long while--then the two main advantages ECNL clubs had over the former GDA teams go away: the high school ban, and the horrible travel schedule. And clubs will be able to settle it on the field. Finally.

[Unregistered]

I see the usual trolls from the Oregon forum have migrated northwards. Much like some of the local ECNL boosters up here seem eager to keep Reign out, a similar dynamic plays out down there, particularly from one suburban club that for some reason feels it necessary to pay Bernie James money to call themselves "Crossfire".

Thorns have plenty of partnerships with other local youth clubs; I seriously doubt that ECNL is going to exclude an NWSL academy simply because their feeder system is not in-house. Reign and Thorns might get excluded (or told to wait a year) simply because the local incumbent ECNL teams don't want direct competition from pro academies.

But if the two northwest NWSL academy teams do join ECNL--and ECNL would be smart to admit them, as that would pretty much foreclose any competition from arising on the girls' side for a good long while--then the two main advantages ECNL clubs had over the former GDA teams go away: the high school ban, and the horrible travel schedule. And clubs will be able to settle it on the field. Finally.

Is it plausible that ECNL would turn down Reign and Thorns for a year and then accept? Reason I am asking is that Washington Timbers - that kind of straddles the 2 states - has been applying for Girls ECNL for a couple of years and has not gotten in. Seems like a pretty solid club with infrastructure and boys ECNL.

Just wondering if that possibility (of a wait a year) is coming from ECNL.

Any word on Quakes? That was a good pro academy in bay area and like Thorns and Reign are playing waiting game with ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Is it plausible that ECNL would turn down Reign and Thorns for a year and then accept? Reason I am asking is that Washington Timbers - that kind of straddles the 2 states - has been applying for Girls ECNL for a couple of years and has not gotten in. Seems like a pretty solid club with infrastructure and boys ECNL.

Just wondering if that possibility (of a wait a year) is coming from ECNL.

Any word on Quakes? That was a good pro academy in bay area and like Thorns and Reign are playing waiting game with ECNL.

Getting passed over by ECNL just for one year would be disastrous. If passed over, I can see them dangling the carrot over the kids to tease them that this is only a one year deal and they will get in the following year. Just dont see that working out for them. They would lose to many key players.

What the Reign has working against them is they dont have a proven club with enough members. They struggled to keep full teams at 4 age groups with two year bands. Now they have to split those up to create full teams. Not likely. The other local ECNL teams have at least 2-4 teams at each age group. Also why would ECNL add another team right in the thick of where another 5 teams are. It would dilute those teams even more. If say they lost their key players, 3 to 4 of the ECNL teams would get that much stronger.

Wouldn't it make more sense for OL Reign to get behind all the ECNL teams instead of running their own.

Now if OL Reign decided to offer something radically different like professional academy type training and at no cost, that would be a game changer.

[Unregistered]

Getting passed over by ECNL just for one year would be disastrous. If passed over, I can see them dangling the carrot over the kids to tease them that this is only a one year deal and they will get in the following year. Just dont see that working out for them. They would lose to many key players.

What the Reign has working against them is they dont have a proven club with enough members. They struggled to keep full teams at 4 age groups with two year bands. Now they have to split those up to create full teams. Not likely. The other local ECNL teams have at least 2-4 teams at each age group. Also why would ECNL add another team right in the thick of where another 5 teams are. It would dilute those teams even more. If say they lost their key players, 3 to 4 of the ECNL teams would get that much stronger.

Wouldn't it make more sense for OL Reign to get behind all the ECNL teams instead of running their own.

Now if OL Reign decided to offer something radically different like professional academy type training and at no cost, that would be a game changer.

DA eliminated two year age bands two seasons ago, so the Reign DA teams were single year age groups. Reign disappearing would mean another team’s worth of players in each age group who were playing at a DA/ECNL level looking for new teams (with those Reign players moving clubs displacing current ECNL players and yes making the ECNL teams stronger), while slotting Reign into ECNL would basically preserve the status quo.

SU only got into ECNL in the first place because of its partnership with Reign (they had been rejected for years before then and didn’t have much of a track record to support an application) and it’s unclear whether Eastside would have ever gotten into ECNL without its Reign partnership. A bit ironic that those clubs are now in while Reign are in limbo.

And here’s one from the wayback machine: Just four year ago ECNL President Christian Lavers from ECNL’s April 2016 said this in the press release announcing Reign as a new ECNL member club:

“[T]here will be incredible synergies created through the collaboration between the ECNL and the NWSL clubs. Together we will all be able to grow and promote women’s club soccer across the country at every level, and continue to be on the leading edge of development in the United States.”

https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague...016-17-season/. At the time Reign was starting pretty much from
scratch, albeit with a foundation of support and some players from SU. Not sure why that would be any less true today, with ECNL already having accepted clubs affiliated with four NWSL clubs (Courage, Orlando, Louisville, Cal Thorns), and with Reign Academy now having had a track record of running out competitive teams, placing players with YNT’s, placing kids in college programs, and building connections between the youth game and the pro league.

[Unregistered]

DA eliminated two year age bands two seasons ago, so the Reign DA teams were single year age groups. Reign disappearing would mean another team’s worth of players in each age group who were playing at a DA/ECNL level looking for new teams (with those Reign players moving clubs displacing current ECNL players and yes making the ECNL teams stronger), while slotting Reign into ECNL would basically preserve the status quo.

SU only got into ECNL in the first place because of its partnership with Reign (they had been rejected for years before then and didn’t have much of a track record to support an application) and it’s unclear whether Eastside would have ever gotten into ECNL without its Reign partnership. A bit ironic that those clubs are now in while Reign are in limbo.

And here’s one from the wayback machine: Just four year ago ECNL President Christian Lavers from ECNL’s April 2016 said this in the press release announcing Reign as a new ECNL member club:

“[T]here will be incredible synergies created through the collaboration between the ECNL and the NWSL clubs. Together we will all be able to grow and promote women’s club soccer across the country at every level, and continue to be on the leading edge of development in the United States.”

https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague...016-17-season/. At the time Reign was starting pretty much from
scratch, albeit with a foundation of support and some players from SU. Not sure why that would be any less true today, with ECNL already having accepted clubs affiliated with four NWSL clubs (Courage, Orlando, Louisville, Cal Thorns), and with Reign Academy now having had a track record of running out competitive teams, placing players with YNT’s, placing kids in college programs, and building connections between the youth game and the pro league.

You're probably right that SU & Eastside got into ECNL by claiming they developed the elite players making up Reign. The first roster of 03s at Reign was mostly SU girls who'd been coached multiple years by Zahra Lechak and then by Jason Farrell. Neither of those coaches has been with SU for awhile. Don't know much about the Eastside part of the equation, but seems like Reign is more deserving of an ECNL bid than the either of the clubs that spawned the team based on more recent performance, but I hope they can add Reign to league and everyone in Seattle stays home more and plays a lot of local games.

[Unregistered]

You're probably right that SU & Eastside got into ECNL by claiming they developed the elite players making up Reign. The first roster of 03s at Reign was mostly SU girls who'd been coached multiple years by Zahra Lechak and then by Jason Farrell. Neither of those coaches has been with SU for awhile. Don't know much about the Eastside part of the equation, but seems like Reign is more deserving of an ECNL bid than the either of the clubs that spawned the team based on more recent performance, but I hope they can add Reign to league and everyone in Seattle stays home more and plays a lot of local games.

Prior to Reign SU players would eventually migrate to XF ECNL when there was only 2 ECNL clubs. Reign would not have gotten ECNL without their partnership with SU because they lacked infrastructure. When Reign did not uphold their part of the deal, SU broke off their partnership. To suggest Reign should get ECNL is a joke. Nearly all the girls from Reign in the YNT pools and teams were SU girls who joined Reign as part of the SU partnership. Reign doesn’t have the infrastructure nor stable history not to mention proven sustainability to be operational. Why do you think Reign Reserves were created? Outside the magical 03 team you mentioned that did well in Reign’s inaugural year, the rest of their teams are mediocre. Reign is a business. Unfortunately their offerings have become a lot less attractive now that they lost GDA. Players can have a more stable pathway to college playing for any of the other ECNL clubs.

[Unregistered]

Prior to Reign SU players would eventually migrate to XF ECNL when there was only 2 ECNL clubs. Reign would not have gotten ECNL without their partnership with SU because they lacked infrastructure. When Reign did not uphold their part of the deal, SU broke off their partnership. To suggest Reign should get ECNL is a joke. Nearly all the girls from Reign in the YNT pools and teams were SU girls who joined Reign as part of the SU partnership. Reign doesn’t have the infrastructure nor stable history not to mention proven sustainability to be operational. Why do you think Reign Reserves were created? Outside the magical 03 team you mentioned that did well in Reign’s inaugural year, the rest of their teams are mediocre. Reign is a business. Unfortunately their offerings have become a lot less attractive now that they lost GDA. Players can have a more stable pathway to college playing for any of the other ECNL clubs.

That’s a mishmash of various partial truths and untruths. Yes, SU players went to XF during the year or two before Reign Academy was started as part of a partnership with XF — but that only happened for a year or two because before then SU didn’t have enough good older players to move the needle in a two team ECNL market. ECNL cared so much about what SU brought to the table infrastructure-wise in the initial partnership that they ... didn’t mention SU in their press release or any other materials relating to Reign Academy. ECNL would have been fine with some other partner or probably no partner at all— as their press release makes clear, they wanted the link with NWSL and saw supporting the pro teams as valuable for its league. Not sure what you mean in saying Reign didn’t uphold its agreement within SU— SU brokered the deal adding Eastside to the partnership and then pulled out after less than a year when the ECNL application it submitted on its own was accepted. I’m sure Reign, Eastside and SU all had their share of disagreements with one another, and they ultimately clearly weren’t able to get on the same page, but it wasn’t about anyone not living up to an agreement.

Reign’s teams have generally been solid. With the exception of the 06’s this year (which are not competitive at all) and a couple older teams their first year, all have been in the mix for playoff spots and towards the top end of the division. The 04’s last year were probably better than the 03’s, but both have been strong and included players who started with various clubs, with players coming from as far away as Three Rivers and Bellingham. The club has been one of the top 5 or so in the country in producing ynt players over the past couple years.

With an ECNL slot I think Reign would remain about what they were — usually a bit below XF but always up for a good game, usually better than the Portland and Idaho ECNL teams, and in good shape to consistently put out teams as good or better than most of the other local ECNL clubs in any given age group. The reserve and preacademy programs would help provide the infrastructure and funding needed to remain stable as an independent club and build from there. Without ECNL, and with ECNL taking its sweet time to make a decision, they are in a much tougher spot. And Reign not getting ECNL would certainly make the other local ECNL clubs a bit better.

[Unregistered]

That’s a mishmash of various partial truths and untruths. Yes, SU players went to XF during the year or two before Reign Academy was started as part of a partnership with XF — but that only happened for a year or two because before then SU didn’t have enough good older players to move the needle in a two team ECNL market. ECNL cared so much about what SU brought to the table infrastructure-wise in the initial partnership that they ... didn’t mention SU in their press release or any other materials relating to Reign Academy. ECNL would have been fine with some other partner or probably no partner at all— as their press release makes clear, they wanted the link with NWSL and saw supporting the pro teams as valuable for its league. Not sure what you mean in saying Reign didn’t uphold its agreement within SU— SU brokered the deal adding Eastside to the partnership and then pulled out after less than a year when the ECNL application it submitted on its own was accepted. I’m sure Reign, Eastside and SU all had their share of disagreements with one another, and they ultimately clearly weren’t able to get on the same page, but it wasn’t about anyone not living up to an agreement.

Reign’s teams have generally been solid. With the exception of the 06’s this year (which are not competitive at all) and a couple older teams their first year, all have been in the mix for playoff spots and towards the top end of the division. The 04’s last year were probably better than the 03’s, but both have been strong and included players who started with various clubs, with players coming from as far away as Three Rivers and Bellingham. The club has been one of the top 5 or so in the country in producing ynt players over the past couple years.

With an ECNL slot I think Reign would remain about what they were — usually a bit below XF but always up for a good game, usually better than the Portland and Idaho ECNL teams, and in good shape to consistently put out teams as good or better than most of the other local ECNL clubs in any given age group. The reserve and preacademy programs would help provide the infrastructure and funding needed to remain stable as an independent club and build from there. Without ECNL, and with ECNL taking its sweet time to make a decision, they are in a much tougher spot. And Reign not getting ECNL would certainly make the other local ECNL clubs a bit better.

What is your view on Reign's future if they dont get ECNL this year?

[Unregistered]

What is your view on Reign's future if they dont get ECNL this year?

Depends on how many disillusioned parents they can convince to write check$.

[Unregistered]

Prior to Reign SU players would eventually migrate to XF ECNL when there was only 2 ECNL clubs. Reign would not have gotten ECNL without their partnership with SU because they lacked infrastructure. When Reign did not uphold their part of the deal, SU broke off their partnership. To suggest Reign should get ECNL is a joke. Nearly all the girls from Reign in the YNT pools and teams were SU girls who joined Reign as part of the SU partnership. Reign doesn’t have the infrastructure nor stable history not to mention proven sustainability to be operational. Why do you think Reign Reserves were created? Outside the magical 03 team you mentioned that did well in Reign’s inaugural year, the rest of their teams are mediocre. Reign is a business. Unfortunately their offerings have become a lot less attractive now that they lost GDA. Players can have a more stable pathway to college playing for any of the other ECNL clubs.

Valid point. EFC is probably the least deserving to be in any Elite-ish league. Not trying to bash, if you had to take the top coaches or top developed players from the 4 big clubs, EFC would be dead last. EFC parents, don't get your shorts in a knot, just stating the obvious. XF, SU, Pac... pretty good record on college commits. Not sure if we really need XF, ISC, EFC and limping along Sound in the same vicinity. Consolidation is not a bad thing.

[Unregistered]

Valid point. EFC is probably the least deserving to be in any Elite-ish league. Not trying to bash, if you had to take the top coaches or top developed players from the 4 big clubs, EFC would be dead last. EFC parents, don't get your shorts in a knot, just stating the obvious. XF, SU, Pac... pretty good record on college commits. Not sure if we really need XF, ISC, EFC and limping along Sound in the same vicinity. Consolidation is not a bad thing.

Look at the coaching staff at Eastside. ‘Nice’ people but not soccer coaches you want to pay $$ for.

[Unregistered]

That’s a mishmash of various partial truths and untruths. Yes, SU players went to XF during the year or two before Reign Academy was started as part of a partnership with XF — but that only happened for a year or two because before then SU didn’t have enough good older players to move the needle in a two team ECNL market. ECNL cared so much about what SU brought to the table infrastructure-wise in the initial partnership that they ... didn’t mention SU in their press release or any other materials relating to Reign Academy. ECNL would have been fine with some other partner or probably no partner at all— as their press release makes clear, they wanted the link with NWSL and saw supporting the pro teams as valuable for its league. Not sure what you mean in saying Reign didn’t uphold its agreement within SU— SU brokered the deal adding Eastside to the partnership and then pulled out after less than a year when the ECNL application it submitted on its own was accepted. I’m sure Reign, Eastside and SU all had their share of disagreements with one another, and they ultimately clearly weren’t able to get on the same page, but it wasn’t about anyone not living up to an agreement.

Reign’s teams have generally been solid. With the exception of the 06’s this year (which are not competitive at all) and a couple older teams their first year, all have been in the mix for playoff spots and towards the top end of the division. The 04’s last year were probably better than the 03’s, but both have been strong and included players who started with various clubs, with players coming from as far away as Three Rivers and Bellingham. The club has been one of the top 5 or so in the country in producing ynt players over the past couple years.

With an ECNL slot I think Reign would remain about what they were — usually a bit below XF but always up for a good game, usually better than the Portland and Idaho ECNL teams, and in good shape to consistently put out teams as good or better than most of the other local ECNL clubs in any given age group. The reserve and preacademy programs would help provide the infrastructure and funding needed to remain stable as an independent club and build from there. Without ECNL, and with ECNL taking its sweet time to make a decision, they are in a much tougher spot. And Reign not getting ECNL would certainly make the other local ECNL clubs a bit better.

I think the back/forth replies here are pretty on point. Problem I see for Reign (stated and alluded to earlier) is that their younger teams are NOT in good shape with little history of developing players. The future for Reign doesn't bode well for them in the same regard - already a crowded market of clubs.

IMHO - the ONLY chance Reign would/could have had is if the program stayed in Seattle area and subsidized their top team at each age group. There, you would have seen many interested families in joining Reign.

If Reign doesn't get an invite from ECNL (and I wouldn't bank on it), the program will see its demise this year. And if Reign parents are STILL waiting, firms offers and registration for ECNL teams are occurring today. Just got our offer.

Good luck.