EDP New England States League Is Unveiled

[Unregistered]

What has NEP given its clubs? Why say EDP gives nothing?

What does EDP give?

[Unregistered]

Why would an NEP club play EDP?


A new badge, new ownership group that is the same as NEPs?

A NEP club would play EDP because...

1. EDP would be a neutral decision maker rather than 6 NEP clubs making decisions on behalf of 24. Ownership group nothing like NEP.

2. They allow teams to move up and down based on results instead of politics. That would actually allow for appropriate games all over.

3. At the very top, the USYS pathway is stronger than US Club (not including DA or ECNL of course but even boys National League looks stronger in some areas than Boys ECNL)

4. Proven track record of running successful leagues all over the region.

[Unregistered]

What does EDP give?

To the owners and directors? It gives the opportunity to influence the league they’re playing in.

To the coaches and players? It gives the opportunity to advance up divisions and play into regionals and nationals.

[Unregistered]

-Good competition within reasonable travel
-Opportunities for participation in US Club Soccer’s National Championships, not as strong as strong as USYS, but a pathway that clubs desire
-opportunity for club growth

I agree with you on points one and two but point three is inaccurate.

NEP allows the opportunity for only certain clubs to grow. Can’t get into NEP? Come be part of GPS, NEFC etc.

Even when in NEP some can’t get NPL status. Can’t get into NPL? Come be part of GPS, NEFC etc.

If you think that’s okay then you’re part of the problem.

[Unregistered]

Sorry. EDP is the worst run league ever. Moving the NE because they are calling g apart in NJ

[Unregistered]

If you think an NEP club is leaving to join this group of clubs then they shouldn’t be in the NEP to begin with

Right, the only clubs that will be leaving NEP will be the smaller, weaker clubs who have the majority of their teams in the lower divisions. Almost all of the teams playing in the highest divisions have a say in the league. They are not going to want to move to EDP and give up that power. The NEP will remain the stronger league and smaller clubs that want to attract players by saying they are in the better league will most likely stay.

[Unregistered]

Sorry. EDP is the worst run league ever. Moving the NE because they are calling g apart in NJ

Based on what exactly? They had over 4000 teams this year.

[Unregistered]

A NEP club would play EDP because...

1. EDP would be a neutral decision maker rather than 6 NEP clubs making decisions on behalf of 24. Ownership group nothing like NEP.

2. They allow teams to move up and down based on results instead of politics. That would actually allow for appropriate games all over.

3. At the very top, the USYS pathway is stronger than US Club (not including DA or ECNL of course but even boys National League looks stronger in some areas than Boys ECNL)

4. Proven track record of running successful leagues all over the region.

Not sure about your 2nd point here. Youth soccer teams have way too much player movement, especially in this club saturated environment, so that basing a team's placement on results the previous season is folly. NEP has it right here. Most of the coaches honestly try to do right by their teams and put them at the appropriate level. If they miss the target and have a blow out season, either on the winning or losing side, parents are looking elsewhere. Yes, we all know here on TS about the few clubs that are consistently misplacing their teams in a higher division to attract families looking for a certain status. But, for the most part, coaches do a pretty good job looking at the roster they have compiled after tryouts and placing them in a competitive division.

[Unregistered]

Right, the only clubs that will be leaving NEP will be the smaller, weaker clubs who have the majority of their teams in the lower divisions. Almost all of the teams playing in the highest divisions have a say in the league. They are not going to want to move to EDP and give up that power. The NEP will remain the stronger league and smaller clubs that want to attract players by saying they are in the better league will most likely stay.

So the smaller clubs leave, have access to a stronger pathway to regionals and nationals and over time they start to attract better players. Then the so called smaller clubs start to take back some of the control.

If the bigger clubs see a shift and start to lose players, what makes you think they stay in NEP? They'd be crazy not to want access to that pathway. Once parents and players start to see that NEP isn't all it's cracked up to be they'll start putting the pressure on the clubs too. Currently NEP is a league that is run by 6-7 clubs. If NEP wants to become a league with only those 6-7 clubs then they're going the right way about it.

[Unregistered]

So the smaller clubs leave, have access to a stronger pathway to regionals and nationals and over time they start to attract better players. Then the so called smaller clubs start to take back some of the control.

If the bigger clubs see a shift and start to lose players, what makes you think they stay in NEP? They'd be crazy not to want access to that pathway. Once parents and players start to see that NEP isn't all it's cracked up to be they'll start putting the pressure on the clubs too. Currently NEP is a league that is run by 6-7 clubs. If NEP wants to become a league with only those 6-7 clubs then they're going the right way about it.

Maybe, but right now, all the clubs offering the highest level of play (DA/ECNL) have their next level teams in the NEP. The focus of those clubs is largely on their DA/ECNL teams in those leagues. Do you think they really care if their 2nd and 3rd level teams make it to US Club Nationals, USYS Nationals, Name That Nationals. No, and parents don't know the difference, either. A couple pictures on Instagram and Twitter with the one or two teams under a banner that has the word Nationals is all that is needed to attract parents. What attracts parents even more is that little pyramid picture showing DA or ECNL at the top, so they know their 7 year old can reach maximum potential through that club. I don't think you'll see the shift you are expecting to see.

[Unregistered]

Not sure about your 2nd point here. Youth soccer teams have way too much player movement, especially in this club saturated environment, so that basing a team's placement on results the previous season is folly. NEP has it right here. Most of the coaches honestly try to do right by their teams and put them at the appropriate level. If they miss the target and have a blow out season, either on the winning or losing side, parents are looking elsewhere. Yes, we all know here on TS about the few clubs that are consistently misplacing their teams in a higher division to attract families looking for a certain status. But, for the most part, coaches do a pretty good job looking at the roster they have compiled after tryouts and placing them in a competitive division.

Okay, point taken but I think you may be missing mine. NEP is essentially a locked league. Only so many clubs can access and the random club doing a great job in NSL or State League cannot have access to NEP. It's not that NEP can't have above a certain number of teams rather it won't allow for above a certain number of clubs. That caters to the likes of GPS, NEFC etc because in order for the random club to have access to the platform, they have to become an affiliate of an existing club.

When actually in NEP the same thing happens with NPL. Even if you're winning the top division consistently you don't get to move up to NPL so guess what? If you want to play in NPL, NEP has a solution for you. You can become an affiliate of one of the NPL clubs.

Regardless of coaches doing the right thing in terms of placement, you are never going to limit politics in a league setup like NEP. Those politics mean that even with the best of intentions, coaches cannot possibly place all teams in the best division for those particular players.

[Unregistered]

Maybe, but right now, all the clubs offering the highest level of play (DA/ECNL) have their next level teams in the NEP. The focus of those clubs is largely on their DA/ECNL teams in those leagues. Do you think they really care if their 2nd and 3rd level teams make it to US Club Nationals, USYS Nationals, Name That Nationals. No, and parents don't know the difference, either. A couple pictures on Instagram and Twitter with the one or two teams under a banner that has the word Nationals is all that is needed to attract parents. What attracts parents even more is that little pyramid picture showing DA or ECNL at the top, so they know their 7 year old can reach maximum potential through that club. I don't think you'll see the shift you are expecting to see.

So if that is indeed the case, and I don't disagree by the way, why wouldn't clubs look to find the best pathway for their 2nd and 3rd teams. Your first team is only as strong as the players feeding into it, assuming you want to base a program on development rather than recruitment. Offering strong pathways to your b team is a great way of improving the depth of your club.

And there lies another problem. Some NEP clubs are basically told they are not allowed to do EDP and they'll be kicked out if they even place one team. So if NEP feels that way about other leagues, why are some clubs allowed to play in NEP while having teams in DA and ECNL?

[Unregistered]

Based on what exactly? They had over 4000 teams this year.

In NJ they have clubs 3rd or 4th teams playing other clubs top teams. No regard towards a teams status before putting them in NL. Basically if you ask for NL and pay the registration fee you get in. Scores of 10-0 are very common in NL games. Lots of frustration and clubs forming their own leagues, hence the birth of the Alliance league, NE Development League, NYCFC ADL league, all these leagues formed this year alone out of frustration with EDP

[Unregistered]

In NJ they have clubs 3rd or 4th teams playing other clubs top teams. No regard towards a teams status before putting them in NL. Basically if you ask for NL and pay the registration fee you get in. Scores of 10-0 are very common in NL games. Lots of frustration and clubs forming their own leagues, hence the birth of the Alliance league, NE Development League, NYCFC ADL league, all these leagues formed this year alone out of frustration with EDP

My word. You can't simply ask for NL and pay the fee. You can apply but acceptance is based on quality.

If you look at National League brackets you'll see the truth. Club v Club there is greater goal difference but frankly you can expect that in any club v club model. Even the clubs that initially wanted that format are starting to lean towards team v team. Team vs team is good quality top to bottom.

Alliance League created so that some DA and ECNL clubs could play each other and recruit from anyone foolish enough to join them.

NYCFC league idea had been in the pipeline for a while. Free to play in. Invitational only.

NE Girls Dev. League started by NEFC. NJ clubs doing this one are playing on both platforms. Insane travel for younger ages and only serves to massage egos. Basic premise is they don't want to play, and potentially lose, against clubs they look down on.

Atlantic Dev. League is actually administered by EDP.

[Unregistered]

So if that is indeed the case, and I don't disagree by the way, why wouldn't clubs look to find the best pathway for their 2nd and 3rd teams. Your first team is only as strong as the players feeding into it, assuming you want to base a program on development rather than recruitment. Offering strong pathways to your b team is a great way of improving the depth of your club.

And there lies another problem. Some NEP clubs are basically told they are not allowed to do EDP and they'll be kicked out if they even place one team. So if NEP feels that way about other leagues, why are some clubs allowed to play in NEP while having teams in DA and ECNL?

You keep mentioning this pathway. Pathway to what? Looking back a few posts, I think you're referring just one of many National Tournaments each year, namely USYS, correct? If so, hate to break it to you, but it's not the goal of every club to travel to the USYS National tournament every year. Many clubs might do the regional tournament, but decide not to waste the money traveling across the country to the National tournament, especially when it's really just one of many and lots of the regional winners don't actually go. In other words, the crowned champions are hardly the best teams in the country (leagues like DA can't even play in this). How does EDP offer a better pathway?