ECNL Reviewing clubs..interesting

[Unregistered]

If anything you said was based in reality the club would not of applied to the DA. It's a much simpler solution to NOT APPLY TO THE GDA and makes perfect sense if HS play were really an issue.

These Top clubs will send their top players onto GDA teams in 2017-18.

A top club coach could care less about the players HS Season, most have always wished they didn't have to deal with the damage it does to their players. Just ask a Top club coach. (note: you will have to ask a coach in another state, not Oregon, we have no Top clubs or coaches currently)

I think there is zero chance that Crossfire and FC are going to send their top players to Thorns. Whether Thorns can recruit them away get the top alliance players starting at u14 is what remains to be seen.

We will see an entirely different scenario unfold than what occurred on the boys' side because:

Timbers and Thorns development track record is there for us all to see now - neither academy has been strong the last 2 years;
girls DA is going to be very expensive (boys DA is close to free); and
frankly Timbers/Thorns don't have the good will in youth soccer they might have had 5 years when MLS came to town.

Those are the local issues. Nationally, will let others argue about HS v. non-HS and other mandates coming down that are more of a question of whether a club wants to live with what USSDA dictates or like ECNL better, not sure they resonate with families one way or another.

[Unregistered]

I think there is zero chance that Crossfire and FC are going to send their top players to Thorns. Whether Thorns can recruit them away get the top alliance players starting at u14 is what remains to be seen.

We will see an entirely different scenario unfold than what occurred on the boys' side because:

Timbers and Thorns development track record is there for us all to see now - neither academy has been strong the last 2 years;
girls DA is going to be very expensive (boys DA is close to free); and
frankly Timbers/Thorns don't have the good will in youth soccer they might have had 5 years when MLS came to town.

Those are the local issues. Nationally, will let others argue about HS v. non-HS and other mandates coming down that are more of a question of whether a club wants to live with what USSDA dictates or like ECNL better, not sure they resonate with families one way or another.

You raise a very good point about goodwill. Thorns academy has burned many bridges with local clubs. By stealing their players and then putting them right back into OYSA and rec tournaments, and by telling out of area players they can be practice players only, then forcing them to play against their hometown clubs when the stakes are high (ask Bend if you don't believe me).

If the best the DA can do is create a product similar to ECNL in cost and travel (and I see nothing that indicates they will be able to do it better/cheaper), I don't see too many local clubs encouraging players to choose DA over ECNL. This is where your chickens come home to roost, EL. Charging $100 for a tryout and inviting every player who is gullible enough to go to your preview nights, when some are obviously barely club B or C players, is a clear money grab. And it shows that your priorities are not identifying and developing the best...but instead are about taking in as much cash as possible.

It is really remarkable how the Thorns Academy squandered the enormous goodwill generated by the NWSL Thorns. Time will tell what players their DA platform will attract. But for now they have zero trust and credibility among most clubs in the state. And news flash to Thorns leaders - putting your stacked teams in silver/bronze tournaments like Beaverton just reinforces every negative belief out there about you.

[Unregistered]

It's only a matter of time before CU loses their ECNL status. The money being made from them isn't worth the negative baggage.

[Unregistered]

These clubs are going to the USSDA in 2017-18, did they renounce a spot in the GDA recently?

Have no clue what the ECNL is trying to show regarding those clubs, maybe those clubs are not sending their non-GDA players back to the state leagues but are opting to have the girls not selected for the GDA team form teams in the ECNL. If so, they should of just said so vs. the nonsense they aren't going anywhere, when indeed many of the teams are going to the GDA.

This has nothing to do with club choice. Read the release carefully. The ECNL knows those 11 clubs have the depth to field competitive teams in two elite leagues. The remaining clubs that think they can do both GDA and ECNL may not have that option. Look at some of the clubs on that list. They can barely compete year to year across ECNL age groups. ECNL is putting the other clubs offered GDAP on notice that they may have to choose. If they choose GDAP membership that is fine but they will no longer be in ECNL. So many of those clubs are easily replaced. Just to avoid local politics, look at West Florida Flames for instance What a disaster. Why is GDA taking that club? Look at their goal differentials. No way that club can field competitive teams in both GDAP and ECNL. The business model of some of those clubs would be crippled by giving up ECNL. Serving fewer players with GDAP and at probably overall reduced cost.

[Unregistered]

ECNL.ANNOUNCING IT WILL CEASE AFTER NEXT SEASON

On ECNL website, Twitter, and Facebook today.

[Unregistered]

ECNL.ANNOUNCING IT WILL CEASE AFTER NEXT SEASON

On ECNL website, Twitter, and Facebook today.

made you look ( :

[Unregistered]

ECNL.ANNOUNCING IT WILL CEASE AFTER NEXT SEASON

On ECNL website, Twitter, and Facebook today.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. WAIT FOR IT -

I will still detest the Timbers 2 years from now.

[Unregistered]

Second girls DA expansion worrying for ECNL

What the ECNL is clearly stating is that those 11 top clubs have committed to field teams in all 5 age groups of ECNL for the next 2 years. Those clubs are doing this because they KNOW that only a small fraction of their players have any interest in the DA. Sure they'll find enough parents willing to pay to have their "B" and "C" teams pine riders added to the DA rosters, but in many clubs the ECNL teams will be as strong, if not stronger, than the DA teams. And that's OK, they serve different purposes. DA is only for the 0.001% that might actually make the national team someday. ECNL is dedicated to getting girls ready for college ball and will attract a huge percentage of the remaining 99.999% of players.

Article Written by Will Parchman
Published: July 12, 2016

There was never much of a chance the ECNL would be able to throw a velvet rope of exclusivity around its biggest, most prestigious clubs. As the girls Development Academy elbowed itself into the discussion about who develops the best and brightest in the country, there would always be some bleed-over.

For the ECNL, the task was always about limiting the damage and continuing to prop up the tenets of development that got them here. The latter is unassailable, buttressed by a massive number of U.S. YNT players and a seven-year history that’s given them unique perspective. Whatever U.S. Soccer does with its academy, it will never be able to usurp those hard-won lessons.

But the former is suddenly on shaky ground. Damage limitation in the form of defecting clubs is suddenly more untenable than ever.

The U.S. Soccer-led girls Development Academy made waves in early July by announcing 25 clubs had agreed to join for the 2017 season. It was the first wave of additions, and while it was an important stepping stone it didn’t tell us everything. PDA led the charge, and 60 percent of the NWSL was represented, but there were still some huge clubs left out of the mix. Were they abstaining, or were they simply biding their time?

After the first jab, U.S. Soccer came across with a haymaker on July 9. It announced it added 28 more clubs for the 2017-18 season, bringing the total to 53. And it emphatically answered the question as to whether the ECNL had something to worry about in its new club competition.

After this second wave of additions, the answer, emphatically, is yes. The ECNL has something to worry about.

[Unregistered]

Second girls DA expansion worrying for ECNL

You raise a very good point about goodwill. Thorns academy has burned many bridges with local clubs. By stealing their players and then putting them right back into OYSA and rec tournaments, and by telling out of area players they can be practice players only, then forcing them to play against their hometown clubs when the stakes are high (ask Bend if you don't believe me).

If the best the DA can do is create a product similar to ECNL in cost and travel (and I see nothing that indicates they will be able to do it better/cheaper), I don't see too many local clubs encouraging players to choose DA over ECNL. This is where your chickens come home to roost, EL. Charging $100 for a tryout and inviting every player who is gullible enough to go to your preview nights, when some are obviously barely club B or C players, is a clear money grab. And it shows that your priorities are not identifying and developing the best...but instead are about taking in as much cash as possible.

It is really remarkable how the Thorns Academy squandered the enormous goodwill generated by the NWSL Thorns. Time will tell what players their DA platform will attract. But for now they have zero trust and credibility among most clubs in the state. And news flash to Thorns leaders - putting your stacked teams in silver/bronze tournaments like Beaverton just reinforces every negative belief out there about you.

Second girls DA expansion worrying for ECNL
Article Written by Will Parchman
Published: July 12, 2016
1 Comment
There was never much of a chance the ECNL would be able to throw a velvet rope of exclusivity around its biggest, most prestigious clubs. As the girls Development Academy elbowed itself into the discussion about who develops the best and brightest in the country, there would always be some bleed-over.

For the ECNL, the task was always about limiting the damage and continuing to prop up the tenets of development that got them here. The latter is unassailable, buttressed by a massive number of U.S. YNT players and a seven-year history that’s given them unique perspective. Whatever U.S. Soccer does with its academy, it will never be able to usurp those hard-won lessons.

But the former is suddenly on shaky ground. Damage limitation in the form of defecting clubs is suddenly more untenable than ever.

The U.S. Soccer-led girls Development Academy made waves in early July by announcing 25 clubs had agreed to join for the 2017 season. It was the first wave of additions, and while it was an important stepping stone it didn’t tell us everything. PDA led the charge, and 60 percent of the NWSL was represented, but there were still some huge clubs left out of the mix. Were they abstaining, or were they simply biding their time?

After the first jab, U.S. Soccer came across with a haymaker on July 9. It announced it added 28 more clubs for the 2017-18 season, bringing the total to 53. And it emphatically answered the question as to whether the ECNL had something to worry about in its new club competition.

After this second wave of additions, the answer, emphatically, is yes. The ECNL has something to worry about. Here’s what we learned after the girls DA’s second significant round of expansion.

[Unregistered]

This has nothing to do with club choice. Read the release carefully. The ECNL knows those 11 clubs have the depth to field competitive teams in two elite leagues. The remaining clubs that think they can do both GDA and ECNL may not have that option. Look at some of the clubs on that list. They can barely compete year to year across ECNL age groups. ECNL is putting the other clubs offered GDAP on notice that they may have to choose. If they choose GDAP membership that is fine but they will no longer be in ECNL. So many of those clubs are easily replaced. Just to avoid local politics, look at West Florida Flames for instance What a disaster. Why is GDA taking that club? Look at their goal differentials. No way that club can field competitive teams in both GDAP and ECNL. The business model of some of those clubs would be crippled by giving up ECNL. Serving fewer players with GDAP and at probably overall reduced cost.

Article Written by Will Parchman
Published: July 12, 2016
1 Comment
There was never much of a chance the ECNL would be able to throw a velvet rope of exclusivity around its biggest, most prestigious clubs. As the girls Development Academy elbowed itself into the discussion about who develops the best and brightest in the country, there would always be some bleed-over.

For the ECNL, the task was always about limiting the damage and continuing to prop up the tenets of development that got them here. The latter is unassailable, buttressed by a massive number of U.S. YNT players and a seven-year history that’s given them unique perspective. Whatever U.S. Soccer does with its academy, it will never be able to usurp those hard-won lessons.

But the former is suddenly on shaky ground. Damage limitation in the form of defecting clubs is suddenly more untenable than ever.

The U.S. Soccer-led girls Development Academy made waves in early July by announcing 25 clubs had agreed to join for the 2017 season. It was the first wave of additions, and while it was an important stepping stone it didn’t tell us everything. PDA led the charge, and 60 percent of the NWSL was represented, but there were still some huge clubs left out of the mix. Were they abstaining, or were they simply biding their time?

After the first jab, U.S. Soccer came across with a haymaker on July 9. It announced it added 28 more clubs for the 2017-18 season, bringing the total to 53. And it emphatically answered the question as to whether the ECNL had something to worry about in its new club competition.

After this second wave of additions, the answer, emphatically, is yes. The ECNL has something to worry about. Here’s what we learned after the girls DA’s second significant round of expansion.

[Unregistered]

Some really likes Parchman's article, which predates top ECNL clubs reupping their commitment to ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Some really likes Parchman's article, which predates top ECNL clubs reupping their commitment to ECNL.

Actually the article came out after the meaningless ECNL message of yes the top girls at the top clubs are joining the GDA for 2017-18, but they still love us enough to have those not selected for the GDA committed to playing in the ECNL.

Perhaps the clearer and succint message should of been: The following clubs are eating steak at the Ritz, those not invited to the Ritz for steak will have bread crumbs at the ECNL diner for at least 2017-18. Maybe? Will get back to you on that.

[Unregistered]

Actually the article came out after the meaningless ECNL message of yes the top girls at the top clubs are joining the GDA for 2017-18, but they still love us enough to have those not selected for the GDA committed to playing in the ECNL.

Perhaps the clearer and succint message should of been: The following clubs are eating steak at the Ritz, those not invited to the Ritz for steak will have bread crumbs at the ECNL diner for at least 2017-18. Maybe? Will get back to you on that.

Parchman's article has been out for a bit (not all places post it at the same time). Some of the Florida teams ussda is taking aren't the Ritz.

[Unregistered]

Parchman's article has been out for a bit (not all places post it at the same time). Some of the Florida teams ussda is taking aren't the Ritz.

With that said, leading up to the current rapture by the GDA of the top players from the ECNL top clubs. The ECNL has always maintained since late last year that many of those Top clubs who join the GDA will also form other teams in the ECNL of non GDA players. Not really a story worth mention. Until it happened. It's happening. But is irrelevant in the bigger context of the cataclysmic shift of talent to the GDA.

The real story of merit would of been every top club in the country turns down a spot in the GDA and stays put in the ENCL.

Now that's called Dreaming.

[Unregistered]

With that said, leading up to the current rapture by the GDA of the top players from the ECNL top clubs. The ECNL has always maintained since late last year that many of those Top clubs who join the GDA will also form other teams in the ECNL of non GDA players. Not really a story worth mention. Until it happened. It's happening. But is irrelevant in the bigger context of the cataclysmic shift of talent to the GDA.
***.

Catholic school taught me to be distrustful of those who proclaim the end is near - they are usually trying to sell you something.

I am sure it is a good idea to do so in a chat room.