ECNL v. GA

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Beastmode's Dave settles the debate:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cinm55wdR4A

[Unregistered]

Beastmode's Dave settles the debate:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cinm55wdR4A

This is too rational of a take for this board.

But, what does he know?

[Unregistered]

Common sense is not that common...this is all really simple.

If you are having fun and progressing stay where you are.
If teams are recruiting players, they are not that good and they don't care about player development.
If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world.
Leagues and team colors don't matter.

[Unregistered]

Common sense is not that common...this is all really simple.

If you are having fun and progressing stay where you are.
If teams are recruiting players, they are not that good and they don't care about player development.
If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world.
Leagues and team colors don't matter.

"If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world."


This is the biggest myth ever. Yes, if you are in the top 0.5% of the top 10% of all top level players you will of course be known. But most girls aren't which is why they need the exposure. And the top level exposure is now going to be at ECNL. That's not to say that other leagues below ECNL won't be seen by coaches that need to fill rosters but if you are aiming for a top school (such as Princeton, Duke Georgetown, Notre Dame, Stanford etc etc) or top soccer program (FSU, UCLA, UNC, Wakeforest USC, UCSB etc etc) and think that you will miraculously be known you've never done this before.

Local coaches will go to local clubs but top coaches will not. They will go to national events and national showcases especially with new tighter budgets. Maybe if you're lucky you can be noticed at KASL or Jeffeson but don't count on it. For too long parents of below average kids have justified their club choice by saying playing for the top league doesn't make a difference. Don't believe it. Talent is only half the equation. Exposure and actually getting that talent noticed by someone who matters is the other half. And the people who matter will be at ECNL events.

[Unregistered]

"If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world."


This is the biggest myth ever. Yes, if you are in the top 0.5% of the top 10% of all top level players you will of course be known. But most girls aren't which is why they need the exposure. And the top level exposure is now going to be at ECNL. That's not to say that other leagues below ECNL won't be seen by coaches that need to fill rosters but if you are aiming for a top school (such as Princeton, Duke Georgetown, Notre Dame, Stanford etc etc) or top soccer program (FSU, UCLA, UNC, Wakeforest USC, UCSB etc etc) and think that you will miraculously be known you've never done this before.

Local coaches will go to local clubs but top coaches will not. They will go to national events and national showcases especially with new tighter budgets. Maybe if you're lucky you can be noticed at KASL or Jeffeson but don't count on it. For too long parents of below average kids have justified their club choice by saying playing for the top league doesn't make a difference. Don't believe it. Talent is only half the equation. Exposure and actually getting that talent noticed by someone who matters is the other half. And the people who matter will be at ECNL events.

The drinks must be flowing tonight. First of all, the DA had more signings to the schools you mentioned than the ECNL did last year. They also produced more national team players.

Only 6 of 66 DA teams went to the ENCL, and the rest are now in the GA. Do you really think college coaches are not going to scout the GA just as hard as they scouted the DA?

The reason the DA produced more national team players and more power 5 signings twas due to the style of play in the league. It's what coaches prefer, and its why the top club in the country, TopHat, wanted to preserve that.

College coaches will certainly be at ECNL as well, but we've already been told by multiple D1 coaches that they will still be attending GA events just as if it were the DA.

I do agree that to have a shot at a top school, you do have to be in one of the two leagues, either GA or ECNL - just as you would have been the last three years (and I think that's what Dave meant). If you're hoping to get noticed by Duke playing NPL, or ECNL-R, or your rec club, it's just not going to happen.

[Unregistered]

"If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world."


This is the biggest myth ever. Yes, if you are in the top 0.5% of the top 10% of all top level players you will of course be known. But most girls aren't which is why they need the exposure. And the top level exposure is now going to be at ECNL. That's not to say that other leagues below ECNL won't be seen by coaches that need to fill rosters but if you are aiming for a top school (such as Princeton, Duke Georgetown, Notre Dame, Stanford etc etc) or top soccer program (FSU, UCLA, UNC, Wakeforest USC, UCSB etc etc) and think that you will miraculously be known you've never done this before.

Local coaches will go to local clubs but top coaches will not. They will go to national events and national showcases especially with new tighter budgets. Maybe if you're lucky you can be noticed at KASL or Jeffeson but don't count on it. For too long parents of below average kids have justified their club choice by saying playing for the top league doesn't make a difference. Don't believe it. Talent is only half the equation. Exposure and actually getting that talent noticed by someone who matters is the other half. And the people who matter will be at ECNL events.

Thank you ecnl club director. If you are relying on ecnl to get your child into Stanford, princeton, and duke. Chances are they will never make it there. The poster fail to mention the number of full scholarship vs partial scholarship given per college. Spending 7 to 10k per year for the next 7 years only to receive a scholarship worth 50k is not a great investment. Ask your ecnl club 1 question about the committed players. 1. How much does the scholarship cover. Club will never advertise this.

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Thank you ecnl club director. If you are relying on ecnl to get your child into Stanford, princeton, and duke. Chances are they will never make it there. The poster fail to mention the number of full scholarship vs partial scholarship given per college. Spending 7 to 10k per year for the next 7 years only to receive a scholarship worth 50k is not a great investment. Ask your ecnl club 1 question about the committed players. 1. How much does the scholarship cover. Club will never advertise this.

There we go again with the money. No one mentioned money or investment. Just the opportunity to play in college ideally at a great school. If money is your main motivation look elsewhere. That's no secret and definitely not one that club directors are trying to hide from anyone.

PS. You're not "relying" on ECNL but rather using it as that extra boost when the grades are very good but not extraordinary.

[Unregistered]

The drinks must be flowing tonight. First of all, the DA had more signings to the schools you mentioned than the ECNL did last year. They also produced more national team players.

Only 6 of 66 DA teams went to the ENCL, and the rest are now in the GA. Do you really think college coaches are not going to scout the GA just as hard as they scouted the DA?

The reason the DA produced more national team players and more power 5 signings twas due to the style of play in the league. It's what coaches prefer, and its why the top club in the country, TopHat, wanted to preserve that.

College coaches will certainly be at ECNL as well, but we've already been told by multiple D1 coaches that they will still be attending GA events just as if it were the DA.

I do agree that to have a shot at a top school, you do have to be in one of the two leagues, either GA or ECNL - just as you would have been the last three years (and I think that's what Dave meant). If you're hoping to get noticed by Duke playing NPL, or ECNL-R, or your rec club, it's just not going to happen.

All the national team and power 5 players just left TH to play ECNL at Concorde, UFA and GSA. 6 clubs left the DA for ECNL I think you need a math lesson. I’ll name just a few for you
Real Colorado
San Diego Surf
Real Sol Cal
NC Courage
UFA
Charlotte
Dallas Texas
FC Dallas
Portland Thorns
California Thorns
San Jose
Crossfire
La Roca
Sol Cal Blues

[Unregistered]

"If you are good enough, it does not matter where you play, you will get noticed by someone in today's connected world."


This is the biggest myth ever. Yes, if you are in the top 0.5% of the top 10% of all top level players you will of course be known. But most girls aren't which is why they need the exposure. And the top level exposure is now going to be at ECNL. That's not to say that other leagues below ECNL won't be seen by coaches that need to fill rosters but if you are aiming for a top school (such as Princeton, Duke Georgetown, Notre Dame, Stanford etc etc) or top soccer program (FSU, UCLA, UNC, Wakeforest USC, UCSB etc etc) and think that you will miraculously be known you've never done this before.

Local coaches will go to local clubs but top coaches will not. They will go to national events and national showcases especially with new tighter budgets. Maybe if you're lucky you can be noticed at KASL or Jeffeson but don't count on it. For too long parents of below average kids have justified their club choice by saying playing for the top league doesn't make a difference. Don't believe it. Talent is only half the equation. Exposure and actually getting that talent noticed by someone who matters is the other half. And the people who matter will be at ECNL events.

Your post is full of FAiL.

First off, the way you describe the college programs is terrible.

Duke, Stanford, Georgetown, USC ARE national soccer powers AND great schools. They have all been to the final four of the NCAA tournament very recently. Stanford just won a title. Notre Dame has fallen off, but won a Championship 10 years ago. Wake doesn’t play great soccer. Good school, bad soccer.

The rest of your top programs I agree with.

As far exposure....sure, it is important. SOME ECNL teams will have good exposure, but if you think that you are going to have Duke, Stanford, Georgetown, or USC drop by your games just because you are one of 100 teams at an ECNL showcase....well, you’ve never done this before.

GA will most likely have very similar exposure as far as coaches attendance with many less teams at each event. You CAN’T say who will or won’t be there because the reality is you have no fvcking idea. No one does. So, stop making statements like you are an authority; you are not.

Further, if one of those teams show up to watch you play and all they see is players lump it forward and chase after the ball, fight for a 50-50 ball, lump it forward, fight for a 50-50 ball, chase after it again.....what exactly are you showcasing? Those clubs aren’t recruiting that type of player and if you’ve watched them play, you would know that.

Development and coaching matter. If your player is maxed out right now and they aren’t getting any better...they aren’t playing at the next level anyway, so none of the patches matter.

Is your coach developing and improving you? That’s an important question and that’s what I took away from the video.

[Unregistered]

Your post is full of FAiL.

First off, the way you describe the college programs is terrible.

Duke, Stanford, Georgetown, USC ARE national soccer powers AND great schools. They have all been to the final four of the NCAA tournament very recently. Stanford just won a title. Notre Dame has fallen off, but won a Championship 10 years ago. Wake doesn’t play great soccer. Good school, bad soccer.

The rest of your top programs I agree with.

As far exposure....sure, it is important. SOME ECNL teams will have good exposure, but if you think that you are going to have Duke, Stanford, Georgetown, or USC drop by your games just because you are one of 100 teams at an ECNL showcase....well, you’ve never done this before.

GA will most likely have very similar exposure as far as coaches attendance with many less teams at each event. You CAN’T say who will or won’t be there because the reality is you have no fvcking idea. No one does. So, stop making statements like you are an authority; you are not.

Further, if one of those teams show up to watch you play and all they see is players lump it forward and chase after the ball, fight for a 50-50 ball, lump it forward, fight for a 50-50 ball, chase after it again.....what exactly are you showcasing? Those clubs aren’t recruiting that type of player and if you’ve watched them play, you would know that.

Development and coaching matter. If your player is maxed out right now and they aren’t getting any better...they aren’t playing at the next level anyway, so none of the patches matter.

Is your coach developing and improving you? That’s an important question and that’s what I took away from the video.

You missed the point completely. There are way too many schools and combinations to be able to mention. He was only giving examples.

What the guy was saying is that NONE of the schools he mentioned (highly in demand great academic schools or highly in demand and competitive soccer schools or a combination of both which is obvious) will ever show up to a less than top showcase event. They won't be cruising CDL events looking for talent. And most importantly the point he was responding to was the fantasy that "if you're good enough, regardless of where you play, the best schools will find you". Sure someone might find you and you'll probably end up playing in college somewhere but it won't be the best schools. If you are good enough (but not an absolute superstar) and have the potential to possibly attend a top academic and/or soccer school then you have to play in the best league to get noticed. And now with GDA gone that is ECNL.

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You missed the point completely. There are way too many schools and combinations to be able to mention. He was only giving examples.

What the guy was saying is that NONE of the schools he mentioned (highly in demand great academic schools or highly in demand and competitive soccer schools or a combination of both which is obvious) will ever show up to a less than top showcase event. They won't be cruising CDL events looking for talent. And most importantly the point he was responding to was the fantasy that "if you're good enough, regardless of where you play, the best schools will find you". Sure someone might find you and you'll probably end up playing in college somewhere but it won't be the best schools. If you are good enough (but not an absolute superstar) and have the potential to possibly attend a top academic and/or soccer school then you have to play in the best league to get noticed. And now with GDA gone that is ECNL.

No, I didn’t miss the point. I just pointed out that almost nothing he posted was correct and used his lack of understanding of women’s college soccer to illustrate how the poster thinks he knows everything, but doesn’t.

The video wasn’t about ECNL v. CDL or ECNL v. YMCA. Dave addresses ECNL v. GA. And in that context he says...if you can play coaches will hear about you, and and want to come see you play. This is true.

GA will have adequate exposure and some GA TEAMS will have more exposure then some ECNL teams. Disagree?

[Unregistered]

No, I didn’t miss the point. I just pointed out that almost nothing he posted was correct and used his lack of understanding of women’s college soccer to illustrate how the poster thinks he knows everything, but doesn’t.

The video wasn’t about ECNL v. CDL or ECNL v. YMCA. Dave addresses ECNL v. GA. And in that context he says...if you can play coaches will hear about you, and and want to come see you play. This is true.

GA will have adequate exposure and some GA TEAMS will have more exposure then some ECNL teams. Disagree?

Sure SOME GA Teams might (I don't know all of them) but as the other poster showed most of the biggest clubs have already returned to ECNL. Given the tighter travel budgets that will inevitably be put in place and the tight window (about 2 years) to get really noticed if given the option and opportunity I would not want to risk not being in ECNL. That's where you will be improving your odds to be seen by as many schools as possible. Now if you know of a certain GA club that is able to stand out and beat the trend great, but your path of least resistance will be ECNL.

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It’s funny how the ones stuck at the already infamous GA have resourced to the “less is more” concept. Oh yes! Coaches attendance will be similar in GA and ECNL, but your kid will have a better chance of exposure in the GA showcase because “is less teams” . Do you think college coaches are dumb?!
GA is less teams because every GDA team that had the chance to leave to ECNL did, some poster above mentioned a few of the names that belong in the “100 best clubs of 2019” now ECNL clubs. So GA ended having to accept some of those clubs 2nd and 3rd teams and they even have non-GDA clubs that recently joined, just to fill up social media space.
Plenty top players also migrated away from GA to join ECNL. Do you think coaches are not aware of that? This has improve exposure chances for other ECNL girls
Keep drinking the “less is more” koolaid that your DOC serves you every week, With limited budget, coaches will much rather be present at the reputable showcases: Vegas, WAGS, Surf, Jeff, Dallas etc. where the attendance is high and they will be able to go and watch more than a few of their chosen players.
And PLEASE STOP using the TOp Hat name as consolation prize, it is getting old. Understand that TH regrets their involvement in GAleague and they are making their best effort into moving to ECNL at their first chance and hopefully recuperate some of their top NT players now gone. As far as your DOC? He’s desperately seeking the way out into an ECNL club, I can’t blame him for wanting something better for himself
ECNL is a 11+ years solid institution, bigger, stronger, better. GAL at best an experimental league with a few good teams and players, but most definitely a shadow of what the GDA used to be, when supported by USSoccer.

[Unregistered]

It’s funny how the ones stuck at the already infamous GA have resourced to the “less is more” concept. Oh yes! Coaches attendance will be similar in GA and ECNL, but your kid will have a better chance of exposure in the GA showcase because “is less teams” . Do you think college coaches are dumb?!
GA is less teams because every GDA team that had the chance to leave to ECNL did, some poster above mentioned a few of the names that belong in the “100 best clubs of 2019” now ECNL clubs. So GA ended having to accept some of those clubs 2nd and 3rd teams and they even have non-GDA clubs that recently joined, just to fill up social media space.
Plenty top players also migrated away from GA to join ECNL. Do you think coaches are not aware of that? This has improve exposure chances for other ECNL girls
Keep drinking the “less is more” koolaid that your DOC serves you every week, With limited budget, coaches will much rather be present at the reputable showcases: Vegas, WAGS, Surf, Jeff, Dallas etc. where the attendance is high and they will be able to go and watch more than a few of their chosen players.
And PLEASE STOP using the TOp Hat name as consolation prize, it is getting old. Understand that TH regrets their involvement in GAleague and they are making their best effort into moving to ECNL at their first chance and hopefully recuperate some of their top NT players now gone. As far as your DOC? He’s desperately seeking the way out into an ECNL club, I can’t blame him for wanting something better for himself
ECNL is a 11+ years solid institution, bigger, stronger, better. GAL at best an experimental league with a few good teams and players, but most definitely a shadow of what the GDA used to be, when supported by USSoccer.

You two idiots debate ga vs ecnl that is funny. These so call top colleges coming to recruit your kids are in the sunshine conference. It's also funny, parents always justify soccer with getting a scholarship. If I had a penny every time I heard that, I could pay for every players scholarship.

[Unregistered]

You two idiots debate ga vs ecnl that is funny. These so call top colleges coming to recruit your kids are in the sunshine conference. It's also funny, parents always justify soccer with getting a scholarship. If I had a penny every time I heard that, I could pay for every players scholarship.

No actually. It's the parents that failed that are quick to point out there is no scholarship money anyways so it was all a waste of time and especially money. The parents that succeeded are fully aware that there is limited to no money and have accepted that. For the ones in the know it was never about the money. Rather it's about playing soccer at the next level and also hopefully using soccer as a tool to get into a better school than would have otherwise been possible.