The End of US Club

[Unregistered]

Gary Grossman who runs CCSL along with NYCSL and the NPL League in NY has announced he is leaving US Club and now all his leagues will card through USYS. This is another major defection away from US Club. Pretty soon they will only exist as an ECNL organization. Thoughts?

[Unregistered]

Gary Grossman who runs CCSL along with NYCSL and the NPL League in NY has announced he is leaving US Club and now all his leagues will card through USYS. This is another major defection away from US Club. Pretty soon they will only exist as an ECNL organization. Thoughts?

None. Next!

[Unregistered]

This could bring everything full circle for CT. CCSL and EDP combine into one league and have promotion/relegation. You could call this new league CJSA!

[Unregistered]

US Club is now just working for ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Gary Grossman who runs CCSL along with NYCSL and the NPL League in NY has announced he is leaving US Club and now all his leagues will card through USYS. This is another major defection away from US Club. Pretty soon they will only exist as an ECNL organization. Thoughts?

Isn't NYCSL (and presumably CCSL with it) now defunct as of about a week ago?

[Unregistered]

Isn't NYCSL (and presumably CCSL with it) now defunct as of about a week ago?

Its now just part of EDP.\, which doesnt change that it was becoming extremely weak before that.

[Unregistered]

Isn't NYCSL (and presumably CCSL with it) now defunct as of about a week ago?

Technically NYCSL is going to be a "division" within CJSL (Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League - AKA NYC). In reality that means that CSJL is just taking in whatever teams actually want to stick with the NYCSL name for whatever reason.

[Unregistered]

I wish US club never happened. Broke my kids team apart and she didn't really care for the ECNL bullsh.

[Unregistered]

I wish US club never happened. Broke my kids team apart and she didn't really care for the ECNL bullsh.

US Club was a great new alternative at first. They were very good for Premier clubs that needed flexibility and responsiveness. However, they are now a Goliath and no longer were the innovative and nimble new guys. They have become the system. They have caused their own undoing with their single minded focus on ECNL.

[Unregistered]

US Club was a great new alternative at first. They were very good for Premier clubs that needed flexibility and responsiveness. However, they are now a Goliath and no longer were the innovative and nimble new guys. They have become the system. They have caused their own undoing with their single minded focus on ECNL.

Maybe. Or, maybe they just ran into the same problem USYS (CJSA) did: asshat parents with visions of grandeur. That, and U.S. Club saw no shame in bilking families out of thousands and thousands of dollars whilst destroying youth soccer.

[Unregistered]

US Club is now just working for ECNL.

This is a good thing on the girls side. Its part of the natural process of consolidation that is taking place across the landscape. ECNL was and has emerged as the top league in the country after the recent collapse of DA. Further consolidation is happening with the collapse of GPS and many other small clubs across the US. GAL will eventually collapse as well. In the end there will be ECNL (with a couple tiers) and then a number of regional leagues for non-college bound youth soccer enthusiast. It will take time but COVID accelerated this by exposing the weakest links.

[Unregistered]

This is a good thing on the girls side. Its part of the natural process of consolidation that is taking place across the landscape. ECNL was and has emerged as the top league in the country after the recent collapse of DA. Further consolidation is happening with the collapse of GPS and many other small clubs across the US. GAL will eventually collapse as well. In the end there will be ECNL (with a couple tiers) and then a number of regional leagues for non-college bound youth soccer enthusiast. It will take time but COVID accelerated this by exposing the weakest links.

ECNL is the weakest link on the boys side - exposed.

[Unregistered]

This is a good thing on the girls side. Its part of the natural process of consolidation that is taking place across the landscape. ECNL was and has emerged as the top league in the country after the recent collapse of DA. Further consolidation is happening with the collapse of GPS and many other small clubs across the US. GAL will eventually collapse as well. In the end there will be ECNL (with a couple tiers) and then a number of regional leagues for non-college bound youth soccer enthusiast. It will take time but COVID accelerated this by exposing the weakest links.

MLS is the current leader in boys youth development in the USA - and thus the MLS Academy League will likely be top dog. USL is making noises with their own Academy League and will likely become a viable alternative to the MLS league for top players. This leaves USCS/ECNL boys and USYS/EDP boys leagues to fight for 3rd/4th tier status.

On the girls side, NWSL (if they continue to expand) could influence who will emerge the leader on the girls youth side. Currently, it looks like of the 10 NWSL pro clubs - 4 have gone with ECNL, 3 have gone with GA, and 3 without a youth commitment to either platform.

Louisville - ECNL girls
Orlando Pride - ECNL girls
Portland Thorns - ECNL girls
NC Courage - ECNL girls

Utah Royals - GA
OL Reign - GA
Houston Dash - GA

Sky Blue - ? (not sure of affiliation status with NYSC (which is in GA))
Chicago Red Stars - ?
Washington Spirit - ?

[Unregistered]

MLS is the current leader in boys youth development in the USA - and thus the MLS Academy League will likely be top dog. USL is making noises with their own Academy League and will likely become a viable alternative to the MLS league for top players. This leaves USCS/ECNL boys and USYS/EDP boys leagues to fight for 3rd/4th tier status.

On the girls side, NWSL (if they continue to expand) could influence who will emerge the leader on the girls youth side. Currently, it looks like of the 10 NWSL pro clubs - 4 have gone with ECNL, 3 have gone with GA, and 3 without a youth commitment to either platform.

Louisville - ECNL girls
Orlando Pride - ECNL girls
Portland Thorns - ECNL girls
NC Courage - ECNL girls

Utah Royals - GA
OL Reign - GA
Houston Dash - GA

Sky Blue - ? (not sure of affiliation status with NYSC (which is in GA))
Chicago Red Stars - ?
Washington Spirit - ?

Remember NWSL clubs do not run free to play academies and pro-pathway remains insignificant for girl players, who aspire to play in college. The mistake that USSF made, and that everyone should have learned from, is thinking that what works or is a draw on the boys side will also be desired on the girls side.

[Unregistered]

Remember NWSL clubs do not run free to play academies and pro-pathway remains insignificant for girl players, who aspire to play in college. The mistake that USSF made, and that everyone should have learned from, is thinking that what works or is a draw on the boys side will also be desired on the girls side.

or that there's any money to support it, even if NWSL teams wanted it. Teams are trying to remain viable. Spending a nickel on youth soccer isn't in the cards for a long time.