Is Girls ECNL at FC Bucks or FC Delco worth it?

[Unregistered]

It seems from reading this thread and others and from word of mouth - neither Bucks or Delco is worth the money at this point. Apart from college exposure these two clubs don’t provide anything more than a TOP level EDP club provides. The ECNL patch means nothing if the clubs aren’t run like true ECNL clubs. It’s really one giant con job at bucks and delco. Many of their college placements are D3 schools and you can play D3 college ball by being on a top EDP team. It’s amazing the number of parents that buy into it. Logic tells you along with the facts the chance of any kid playing top level D1 soccer are slim and they are next to impossible if you play for Bucks or Delco.

If you have the right club coach that knows the college system and has a history of getting kids to D-I programs, that is all that matters.

[Unregistered]

It seems from reading this thread and others and from word of mouth - neither Bucks or Delco is worth the money at this point. Apart from college exposure these two clubs don’t provide anything more than a TOP level EDP club provides. The ECNL patch means nothing if the clubs aren’t run like true ECNL clubs. It’s really one giant con job at bucks and delco. Many of their college placements are D3 schools and you can play D3 college ball by being on a top EDP team. It’s amazing the number of parents that buy into it. Logic tells you along with the facts the chance of any kid playing top level D1 soccer are slim and they are next to impossible if you play for Bucks or Delco.

The exposure in ECNL and GDA makes a big difference.

[Unregistered]

The exposure in ECNL and GDA makes a big difference.

We’ve already established there is exposure but at these two clubs not much else. And if you aren’t trained/coached properly all the exposure in the world won’t get you a D1 offer. It’s pretty simple.

[Unregistered]

FC Delco 06 and 05 ECNL teams are subpar, they regularly lose to EDP teams just check the results.

[Unregistered]

We’ve already established there is exposure but at these two clubs not much else. And if you aren’t trained/coached properly all the exposure in the world won’t get you a D1 offer. It’s pretty simple.

Truth both clubs colleges commitment lists are littered with D2,D3 schools. Playing on a top EDP team will enable you to play D2,D3. ECNL and all its D1 promises is a con job at Bucks, and Delco. But hey you can brag your kid is on an “ECNL” team - so there’s always that!

[Unregistered]

ECNL = $$$ that’s about it. A lot of money for a badge

[Unregistered]

ECNL = $$$ that’s about it. A lot of money for a badge

Fools gold - add up the money you will spend playing ECNL for six years and then compare it to the money your kid could POSSIBLY get in that coveted D1 scholarship - if they even get a D1 offer. Yep ECNL is a total money grab - fools gold.

[Unregistered]

Fools gold - add up the money you will spend playing ECNL for six years and then compare it to the money your kid could POSSIBLY get in that coveted D1 scholarship - if they even get a D1 offer. Yep ECNL is a total money grab - fools gold.

ECNL, GDA and USYS regional or national leagues cost about the same. USYS ends up costing more because of showcase events. Least bang for your buck is EDP and USYS. Anything less than those leagues cost less and are for kids that don’t plan to play decent college level soccer.

[Unregistered]

ECNL, GDA and USYS regional or national leagues cost about the same. USYS ends up costing more because of showcase events. Least bang for your buck is EDP and USYS. Anything less than those leagues cost less and are for kids that don’t plan to play decent college level soccer.

Decent college soccer exactly - have you seen the college commitments list of these two particular clubs? Take a look at them and then tell me ECNL at these two particular clubs is worth it.


There are some clubs where ECNL is most certainly worth it - at the present point Bucks and Delco are not. Just my opinion.

[Unregistered]

ECNL appears to be losing ground to the Top level EDP teams in this area at the younger ages. Most ECNL teams in these age groups are equivalent to above-average EDP teams, and there are one or two ECNL teams that destroy all the others. It’s really not a very good league in that respect.

[Unregistered]

ECNL appears to be losing ground to the Top level EDP teams in this area at the younger ages. Most ECNL teams in these age groups are equivalent to above-average EDP teams, and there are one or two ECNL teams that destroy all the others. It’s really not a very good league in that respect.

Agree people are starting to catch on that ECNL is not needed at the younger ages.

Bucks and Delco both had “mid-year ID clinics aka tryouts this week. Obviously they need players. The smart consumer would keep their kid on a top, quality EDP or town team until U16 age (for most sophomore year) until after the high school season when they could move to an ECNL club if they really really want to and are good enough to play D1. Supplement the EDP or town team with some good outside technical training and your kid can easily make one of these ECNL teams as both clubs are begging for players .

An argument against the ECNL at the younger ages is the limited substitution rule. There is no way this rule is in the best interests for the development of younger players as the coach can not pull them out and talk to them and put them right back in where they can try to execute what they’ve been told. There is also no need to travel far and wide at a young age - this area has many good soccer teams all within 1.5 hours.

When ECNL started they only had teams at the high school age - they should have stuck with this model as there really is no reason for ages a U13-U15 to play ECNL at least in this area. Bucks does a worse job of training and developing kids than many EDP clubs. The bucks teams are lucky to practice twice a week with most averaging 1.5 and some of the bucks teams have non professional parent coaches . Delco seems to have more trainings and professional coaches but their teams are not real competitive and lose to some EDP teams.

So buyer beware when you are after the patch - it’s really worthless until a certain age when the exposure matters. But the exposure only matters if your kid wants to play D1.

[Unregistered]

Decent college soccer exactly - have you seen the college commitments list of these two particular clubs? Take a look at them and then tell me ECNL at these two particular clubs is worth it.


There are some clubs where ECNL is most certainly worth it - at the present point Bucks and Delco are not. Just my opinion.

Continental Delco had many girls playing high level Division I this season. It looks like the majority of girls that played for Continental FC Delco, players born 1997 to 2001, ended up playing D-I, and are still playing now, do a little research. Not sure FC Delco will be able to do the same going forward, and from the looks of their current teams I doubt it, and they have a staff that has no history of college placement. It will be a struggle. Certainly FC Bucks, has produced lots of D-I players, but their current teams also have problems, and they don't have a staff working hard for the players.

The better players from areas that used to go to FC Delco and FC Bucks are now going to PDA South, SJEB, Penn Fusion and PA Classics, and don't feel the need to leave 1776, YMS, Reading, and Lehigh Valley. There no longer is the need to move on to Delco and Bucks because things are worse playing at these non ECNL clubs and the costs are crazy!

FC Bucks have talent, but don't have a support staff to help the kids meet their goals. That has to change soon. FC Delco just isn't needed anymore and it shows from the number of girls playing ECNL and ECNL R. If FC Delco didn't have ECNL, there would be no more FC Delco girls. If FC Bucks lost ECNL, there is still an FC Bucks because they are a club with large numbers. If FC Delco can't meet the needs of the ECNL they won't be around much longer, and clubs in the ECNL have concerns and that isn't good.

If your child is happy playing soccer and they get good support at their current club, stay, don't move on to these questionable clubs.

[Unregistered]

Agree people are starting to catch on that ECNL is not needed at the younger ages.

Bucks and Delco both had “mid-year ID clinics aka tryouts this week. Obviously they need players. The smart consumer would keep their kid on a top, quality EDP or town team until U16 age (for most sophomore year) until after the high school season when they could move to an ECNL club if they really really want to and are good enough to play D1. Supplement the EDP or town team with some good outside technical training and your kid can easily make one of these ECNL teams as both clubs are begging for players .

An argument against the ECNL at the younger ages is the limited substitution rule. There is no way this rule is in the best interests for the development of younger players as the coach can not pull them out and talk to them and put them right back in where they can try to execute what they’ve been told. There is also no need to travel far and wide at a young age - this area has many good soccer teams all within 1.5 hours.

When ECNL started they only had teams at the high school age - they should have stuck with this model as there really is no reason for ages a U13-U15 to play ECNL at least in this area. Bucks does a worse job of training and developing kids than many EDP clubs. The bucks teams are lucky to practice twice a week with most averaging 1.5 and some of the bucks teams have non professional parent coaches . Delco seems to have more trainings and professional coaches but their teams are not real competitive and lose to some EDP teams.

So buyer beware when you are after the patch - it’s really worthless until a certain age when the exposure matters. But the exposure only matters if your kid wants to play D1.

ECNL is needed from U15 to U17 for recruiting. Girls that are seniors in high school don't need ECNL.

[Unregistered]

In a few years word will get out that ECNL is the inferior league in this region (apart from one or two teams) and that USYS NL players/teams are better. That’s typically what happens when an inferior product is offered, people go elsewhere. It’s already happening at the younger ages.

[Unregistered]

In a few years word will get out that ECNL is the inferior league in this region (apart from one or two teams) and that USYS NL players/teams are better. That’s typically what happens when an inferior product is offered, people go elsewhere. It’s already happening at the younger ages.

Agreed ECNL sounds good on paper but if ECNL doesn’t hold clubs to the standards they advertise than ECNL is no different and definitely more expensive than a top local travel team. It’s already starting to play out as parents wake up and see the patch is nothing more than a patch .