Regional ECNL aka use to be northeast NPL

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Lotta wasted bits spent bitching about a second tier league.
Only benefit is that at the end of the year the top of the ECRL will play the bottom feeders of ECNL at the EOY tourney.

Life will go on. It just does not help the ecnl and imo was not a smart move as it is a net negative for the top tier.

[Unregistered]

More prestigious? By adding more teams with lower level players? That makes no sense.

The teams with lower level players already existed. The top of the pyramid remains The ECNL. Now that NPL is known as ECRL it is still next the 2nd Tier. No confusion.

This makes so much sense for everyone except one group:
Good for ECNLs: Clubs make more money by eliminating NPL fees. ECNL tournaments get bigger, and more efficient. League is happy, and even Anthony Travel is happy. Administration is easier as Team Levels 1 - 4 share same calendar

College Recruiters: Life just got easier. ECNL/ECRL provide one-stop shop and assistants no longer have to travel to NPL finals

Players get better exposure. 2nd Tier players at minimum have perception that they can at least be seen by that coach from Dream School. For a few, it will be reality.

Parents get the badge (same as buying Mercedes C-class) and feeling that the club offers upward mobility - I agree this will rarely happen. B-teamers mostly get labelled as B-teamers, but like the showcases, the few will give hope to the many

And the one for which it makes no sense, yup, the NPL and all the other clubs that got left behind. If you thought college coach attendance was sparse at NPL Finals in CO and IN the past few years, it's going to be D1 tumbleweeds this year

[Unregistered]

Life will go on. It just does not help the ecnl and imo was not a smart move as it is a net negative for the top tier.

Yes life does go on but it does not harm the top tier at all. Everyone understands they are two separate leagues.

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And the one for which it makes no sense, yup, the NPL and all the other clubs that got left behind. If you thought college coach attendance was sparse at NPL Finals in CO and IN the past few years, it's going to be D1 tumbleweeds this year

Seems like an NPL supporter is the only one claiming it was a bad move. Everyone else thinks it's fine, not a big deal whatsoever

[Unregistered]

Yikes. Even Anthony travel is happy? That comment says it all. Anthony travel is not our friend.
What is good for Anthony travel is not good for us.

[Unregistered]

Yes life does go on but it does not harm the top tier at all. Everyone understands they are two separate leagues.

Sure. Particularly the customers if the lower tier league. They clearly are being told that the two leagues are completely separate.

[Unregistered]

Yikes. Even Anthony travel is happy? That comment says it all. Anthony travel is not our friend.
What is good for Anthony travel is not good for us.

Anthony travel can't find a good deal if it bites them in the a**. You can almost always do better with 5 minutes and a smart phone. They need some tougher negotiators over there

[Unregistered]

Anthony travel can't find a good deal if it bites them in the a**. You can almost always do better with 5 minutes and a smart phone. They need some tougher negotiators over there

Dont' even get me started on that racket.

[Unregistered]

If you have the choice between an NPL “A” team and an ECRL “B” team, take the smaller clubs A team. While smaller club will be missing the elite 1-5 player, their going to have more of the 6-15 players. Team B starts at player 23.

[Unregistered]

Yikes. Even Anthony travel is happy? That comment says it all. Anthony travel is not our friend.
What is good for Anthony travel is not good for us.

So a contractual agreement between Anthony Travel and ECNL requiring teams to use them as a third party booking service..... hmmmmmm. I’m sure there is no way anyone’s making an additional booking fee in this deal.

[Unregistered]

If you have the choice between an NPL “A” team and an ECRL “B” team, take the smaller clubs A team. While smaller club will be missing the elite 1-5 player, their going to have more of the 6-15 players. Team B starts at player 23.

This is very good advice until you are 14 or if you have modest college soccer aspirations.

[Unregistered]

This is very good advice until you are 14 or if you have modest college soccer aspirations.

Based on the Stars ECNL A & B rosters at the end of the season last year, ECNL-R starts with player number 50 or thereabouts.

[Unregistered]

Based on the Stars ECNL A & B rosters at the end of the season last year, ECNL-R starts with player number 50 or thereabouts.

um...no.

[Unregistered]

Based on the Stars ECNL A & B rosters at the end of the season last year, ECNL-R starts with player number 50 or thereabouts.

It is under 50 but I get your point. Interesting question for each player/family. Better to have the exposure of the ECNL, but carry the label of a third-level player OR be seen as a diamond from another club's top team, but risk not being seen at all.

[Unregistered]

It is under 50 but I get your point. Interesting question for each player/family. Better to have the exposure of the ECNL, but carry the label of a third-level player OR be seen as a diamond from another club's top team, but risk not being seen at all.

No hard and fast rules - in other words, it depends. Local options can vary a lot. What matters most is where is the best coaching, followed by the quality of competition and how much PT. Being a super stud at a poorly coached club or weak league probably isn't a good thing because you very well may not be the stud you think you are. Not all ECNL clubs have quality coaching either. Most (but not all ECNL clubs) give players good minutes in showcases. Also, many players get serious interest from the on campus ID events, not just showcases. There are ways to get seen. It just takes more effort.