Originally posted by Unregistered
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Can someone explain the league alphabet soup?
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Unregistered
There are two sanctioning bodies in youth soccer USYS and USCS.
US Youth Soccer (USYS) has a clear hierarchy in their leagues:
National League
Regional Premier Leagues (in our case R1P)
Sub Regional Premier (in our case NERP)
below this are state and regional USYS leagues that are relatively autonomous and manage their own promotion and relegation for us that would be MAPLE and NEP.
USYS also runs the National Championship Series (aka State Cup), these are essential season long tournaments.
In order to play in State Cup you must play in one of the qualifying leagues (eg the 5 listed above)
State Cup winners move on to Regionals and face other Region 1 state winners (eg ME, NH, NY, RI, NJ, VA, MD, VT). Winners move on to Nationals.
A teams performance in the National Championship Series is used to place teams in the various USYS leagues. Teams can also qualify by their previous performance in the USYS leagues.
USYS also runs an identification program called ODP which is one of the pipelines to the various age group National Teams.
US Club Soccer (USCS) also sanctions various leagues.
The top leagues they sanction are various NPLs and the ECNL.
The ECNL was formed several years ago when many of the best clubs in the country decided that USYS wasn't being responsive to their needs. The top teams at these clubs (mostly) left USYS competitions (although some clubs do still participate in some USYS leagues/events).
The clubs that left were truly some (not all) of the countries best clubs (representing the majority of the Regional and National Champions from the previous year across all age groups.
ECNL is divided into 7 regional leagues. Teams will typically play about 16 regional games and 12 showcase games (against other regions ECNL teams). For many clubs, these showcase games take the place of the tournaments that teams typically used to fill out the rest of their schedules.
The defection of these clubs weakened many of the USYS leagues and this, combined with the factors that initially lead to the ECNL clubs leaving caused many of the remaining USYS clubs to form regional NPLs.
The various NPLs are autonomous leagues that all send teams to a National Finals each year. The NPLs in our area are the New England Premier League, the Northeast NPL and NY Club Soccer League.
USCS has not declared a hierarchy for their leagues and his is where most of the long running vitriol on TS comes from. The ECNL teams argue that they were the best clubs and they still are the best clubs. The NPL clubs will argue that the lack of a relegation program (coupled with the natural ebb and flow of clubs) and the expansion of ECNL to ensure geographic diversity obliterates the ECNLs claim on superiority.
USCS also runs identification programs including id2 and PDPs.
USCS has also run a National Championship series that has never generated much interest. Recently, they have started running State Cups, in direct competition with USYS. NYs has been very successful and rumor has it they will be running something similar in MA next year.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSo the answers advising the OP to not worry about leagues, and focus on club and team fit were nihilistic brat responses? I've got several kids playing club, and I've always trusted that the club and coach would place the team in the appropriate league. It's worked very well for us. How is that nihilistic?
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Unregistered
The term "alphabet soup" has been code in some of the most vicious discussions on TS. Seems remarkable that a newbie would start a new thread to ask about this and use that exact terminology. Call me a cynic.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThere are two sanctioning bodies in youth soccer USYS and USCS.
US Youth Soccer (USYS) has a clear hierarchy in their leagues:
National League
Regional Premier Leagues (in our case R1P)
Sub Regional Premier (in our case NERP)
below this are state and regional USYS leagues that are relatively autonomous and manage their own promotion and relegation for us that would be MAPLE and NEP.
USYS also runs the National Championship Series (aka State Cup), these are essential season long tournaments.
In order to play in State Cup you must play in one of the qualifying leagues (eg the 5 listed above)
State Cup winners move on to Regionals and face other Region 1 state winners (eg ME, NH, NY, RI, NJ, VA, MD, VT). Winners move on to Nationals.
A teams performance in the National Championship Series is used to place teams in the various USYS leagues. Teams can also qualify by their previous performance in the USYS leagues.
USYS also runs an identification program called ODP which is one of the pipelines to the various age group National Teams.
US Club Soccer (USCS) also sanctions various leagues.
The top leagues they sanction are various NPLs and the ECNL.
The ECNL was formed several years ago when many of the best clubs in the country decided that USYS wasn't being responsive to their needs. The top teams at these clubs (mostly) left USYS competitions (although some clubs do still participate in some USYS leagues/events).
The clubs that left were truly some (not all) of the countries best clubs (representing the majority of the Regional and National Champions from the previous year across all age groups.
ECNL is divided into 7 regional leagues. Teams will typically play about 16 regional games and 12 showcase games (against other regions ECNL teams). For many clubs, these showcase games take the place of the tournaments that teams typically used to fill out the rest of their schedules.
The defection of these clubs weakened many of the USYS leagues and this, combined with the factors that initially lead to the ECNL clubs leaving caused many of the remaining USYS clubs to form regional NPLs.
The various NPLs are autonomous leagues that all send teams to a National Finals each year. The NPLs in our area are the New England Premier League, the Northeast NPL and NY Club Soccer League.
USCS has not declared a hierarchy for their leagues and his is where most of the long running vitriol on TS comes from. The ECNL teams argue that they were the best clubs and they still are the best clubs. The NPL clubs will argue that the lack of a relegation program (coupled with the natural ebb and flow of clubs) and the expansion of ECNL to ensure geographic diversity obliterates the ECNLs claim on superiority.
USCS also runs identification programs including id2 and PDPs.
USCS has also run a National Championship series that has never generated much interest. Recently, they have started running State Cups, in direct competition with USYS. NYs has been very successful and rumor has it they will be running something similar in MA next year.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThere are two sanctioning bodies in youth soccer USYS and USCS.
US Youth Soccer (USYS) has a clear hierarchy in their leagues:
National League
Regional Premier Leagues (in our case R1P)
Sub Regional Premier (in our case NERP)
below this are state and regional USYS leagues that are relatively autonomous and manage their own promotion and relegation for us that would be MAPLE and NEP.
USYS also runs the National Championship Series (aka State Cup), these are essential season long tournaments.
In order to play in State Cup you must play in one of the qualifying leagues (eg the 5 listed above)
State Cup winners move on to Regionals and face other Region 1 state winners (eg ME, NH, NY, RI, NJ, VA, MD, VT). Winners move on to Nationals.
A teams performance in the National Championship Series is used to place teams in the various USYS leagues. Teams can also qualify by their previous performance in the USYS leagues.
USYS also runs an identification program called ODP which is one of the pipelines to the various age group National Teams.
US Club Soccer (USCS) also sanctions various leagues.
The top leagues they sanction are various NPLs and the ECNL.
The ECNL was formed several years ago when many of the best clubs in the country decided that USYS wasn't being responsive to their needs. The top teams at these clubs (mostly) left USYS competitions (although some clubs do still participate in some USYS leagues/events).
The clubs that left were truly some (not all) of the countries best clubs (representing the majority of the Regional and National Champions from the previous year across all age groups.
ECNL is divided into 7 regional leagues. Teams will typically play about 16 regional games and 12 showcase games (against other regions ECNL teams). For many clubs, these showcase games take the place of the tournaments that teams typically used to fill out the rest of their schedules.
The defection of these clubs weakened many of the USYS leagues and this, combined with the factors that initially lead to the ECNL clubs leaving caused many of the remaining USYS clubs to form regional NPLs.
The various NPLs are autonomous leagues that all send teams to a National Finals each year. The NPLs in our area are the New England Premier League, the Northeast NPL and NY Club Soccer League.
USCS has not declared a hierarchy for their leagues and his is where most of the long running vitriol on TS comes from. The ECNL teams argue that they were the best clubs and they still are the best clubs. The NPL clubs will argue that the lack of a relegation program (coupled with the natural ebb and flow of clubs) and the expansion of ECNL to ensure geographic diversity obliterates the ECNLs claim on superiority.
USCS also runs identification programs including id2 and PDPs.
USCS has also run a National Championship series that has never generated much interest. Recently, they have started running State Cups, in direct competition with USYS. NYs has been very successful and rumor has it they will be running something similar in MA next year.
Good breakdown! Just to clarify for the OP, this is the landscape for the girls side of things. On the Boys side its a little different at the top as it includes DAP which is considered the top program. But this is a good detailed and objective run-down of the alphabet soup. I wish I had the guts to ask the question when I first found TS, as it took me a few months to figure it all out on my own, especially since I arrived here a few years ago when things were really just starting to change and take off with USCS. So if you are fairly new to the club soccer world and TS, this is very helpful IMO.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThe term "alphabet soup" has been code in some of the most vicious discussions on TS. Seems remarkable that a newbie would start a new thread to ask about this and use that exact terminology. Call me a cynic.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSome would argue that USCS actually pulled the rug out from the ECNL clubs. They sanctioned the ECNL to pull the monster clubs in the country away from USYS and then once those clubs switched over they created the NPL and are putting all of their efforts into making it their top league.
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Unregistered
OP,
I would take post #11 as a general hierarchy and add in post #17 info/details and note the footnote of #21.
If you are looking into U14 then High School and ISL come into play but that might muddy the waters for your answer.
Lastly -- the club discussion and how they relate to each league becomes very important and in no ways meant to "dictate" your direction.
Good luck sorting it out. Like the other posters noted, this takes some time to sort out and just when you do, it can change on you.
-- Pathfinder
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostAnd many would argue there is absolutely no evidence for the last part of your statement.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostSome would argue that USCS actually pulled the rug out from the ECNL clubs. They sanctioned the ECNL to pull the monster clubs in the country away from USYS and then once those clubs switched over they created the NPL and are putting all of their efforts into making it their top league.
Everyone knows that the majority of the top clubs have their best teams in ECNL at the present time, but things will evolve as they always do.
Bottom line: find a team that will develop your kid, and that plays in a league that will challenge her. Most likely, that will take her as far as her talent warrants.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostIf you're right, then ECNL will become less important over time, and the clubs will simply put their top teams into whatever league is highest at the time. No worries. USCS isn't going to screw the top teams from some of the biggest and most successful clubs.
Everyone knows that the majority of the top clubs have their best teams in ECNL at the present time, but things will evolve as they always do.
Bottom line: find a team that will develop your kid, and that plays in a league that will challenge her. Most likely, that will take her as far as her talent warrants.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostCompletely agree. My bet is the ECNL morphs into something small like the USYSA National League where entry is earned. I think what they will end up doing is merging the various ECNL/NPL regions under the NPL banner. In the end that will result in a much better competitive environment for all of the clubs.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThe one thing I've learned is that whatever the landscape is this year ... it may look entirely different next year.
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Unregistered
Originally posted by Unregistered View PostThe one thing I've learned is that whatever the landscape is this year ... it may look entirely different next year.
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