Connecticut ECNL

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Not the OP, but I think the point is that if the team's not that good then no one's shopping for the "talent"

That is not at all how college coaches look for talent. Being in a better league can get your foot in the door faster, but if you've got something they're interested in then not even the league really matters (especially with the programs FSA players get in to). Within leagues the coaches could care less where your team stands in the rankings and, again, if you have something they want to see they will come watch you. If you yourself can't impress on the field while they're watching? Then that's on you.

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Really? What if you have a kid who plays on a CFC branch team, like CFC valley, or an FSA npl team and he/she..lets say he thinks hes a stud but never plays ecnl. Never plays at that speed or against that competition yet stands out in that lower league. ISnt the coach going to say why didn't you play at a higher level? and then think it is to big of a jump to play college?

[Unregistered]

Really? What if you have a kid who plays on a CFC branch team, like CFC valley, or an FSA npl team and he/she..lets say he thinks hes a stud but never plays ecnl. Never plays at that speed or against that competition yet stands out in that lower league. ISnt the coach going to say why didn't you play at a higher level? and then think it is to big of a jump to play college?

Or maybe the coach will have said player that they’re potentially interested in come be evaluated at an ID camp?

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Really? What if you have a kid who plays on a CFC branch team, like CFC valley, or an FSA npl team and he/she..lets say he thinks hes a stud but never plays ecnl. Never plays at that speed or against that competition yet stands out in that lower league. ISnt the coach going to say why didn't you play at a higher level? and then think it is to big of a jump to play college?

No one is talking about lowly branch level kids or other lower level teams and leagues. We're talking NPL+ levels. The few kids that find a spot from lower level teams will be at programs that can't get higher level kids and thus won't be pushing much for better competition. If you're looking at top D1 then yes you should be in ECNL or DA. It will be hard to get looks without it but you don't have to be on a top ECNL or DA team to get looks. But if you're mid to low level D1, D2 or D3 - which the vast majority of CT players from the top clubs will be - then the league matters less as long as it's NPL+. If coaches don't come to watch it's because they're not interested in YOU, not because of where your team is in the rankings (BS U19 team last year was terrible yet most of their players landed somewhere). Also if your club has a strong reputation with coaches, as CFC's does, that ups the likelihood they'll come watch you even if your team isn't very good.

[Unregistered]

No one is talking about lowly branch level kids or other lower level teams and leagues. We're talking NPL+ levels. The few kids that find a spot from lower level teams will be at programs that can't get higher level kids and thus won't be pushing much for better competition. If you're looking at top D1 then yes you should be in ECNL or DA. It will be hard to get looks without it but you don't have to be on a top ECNL or DA team to get looks. But if you're mid to low level D1, D2 or D3 - which the vast majority of CT players from the top clubs will be - then the league matters less as long as it's NPL+. If coaches don't come to watch it's because they're not interested in YOU, not because of where your team is in the rankings (BS U19 team last year was terrible yet most of their players landed somewhere). Also if your club has a strong reputation with coaches, as CFC's does, that ups the likelihood they'll come watch you even if your team isn't very good.

NPL is awful. No matter what you call it, they are kids that accepted being on a B team and their play and skills generally show that in CT.

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NPL is awful. No matter what you call it, they are kids that accepted being on a B team and their play and skills generally show that in CT.

It's definitely the # 3 by a long mile, but many CT players are still landing college spots there. How much they play depends on them (how hard they work) and the level of program. It's mostly D3 and some low level D1s

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Well, hard to tell if my princess's team is any better. But doubt it could be worse. And I pay a lot less. Who's paying to have their kid be on a bottom feeding ECNL team? Good luck with that.

Is that why a kid plays ECNL? To win these leagues? That's the primary objective?

If you think this and use that to value your investment, you are clueless.

Club soccer is and always should be about just one thing. Player development and growth.

If the barometer of success for you is winning games, then prepare to be disappointed on a grand scale. That, along with playing time, are the worst measures I know to judge a club by.

[Unregistered]

Is that why a kid plays ECNL? To win these leagues? That's the primary objective?

If you think this and use that to value your investment, you are clueless.

Club soccer is and always should be about just one thing. Player development and growth.

If the barometer of success for you is winning games, then prepare to be disappointed on a grand scale. That, along with playing time, are the worst measures I know to judge a club by.

I agree on player development and growth being the primary objective here...until the kid is 14 years old.

Then if a kid wants to play in college, there needs to be a realistic mix of continued development/growth AND winning.

I'm telling you from personal experience that the number of coaches standing on the sideline watching an ECNL team at the ECNL championships > than the number standing on the sidelines at the lesser events. It's just the way it is. As a general matter, good teams have better players than bad teams. Is it possible a bad team has some studs on it? Sure, of course, no one would argue otherwise. What we're talking about here is how to get exposure.

[Unregistered]

I agree on player development and growth being the primary objective here...until the kid is 14 years old.

Then if a kid wants to play in college, there needs to be a realistic mix of continued development/growth AND winning.

I'm telling you from personal experience that the number of coaches standing on the sideline watching an ECNL team at the ECNL championships > than the number standing on the sidelines at the lesser events. It's just the way it is. As a general matter, good teams have better players than bad teams. Is it possible a bad team has some studs on it? Sure, of course, no one would argue otherwise. What we're talking about here is how to get exposure.

You really are thick.

[Unregistered]

I agree on player development and growth being the primary objective here...until the kid is 14 years old.

Then if a kid wants to play in college, there needs to be a realistic mix of continued development/growth AND winning.

I'm telling you from personal experience that the number of coaches standing on the sideline watching an ECNL team at the ECNL championships > than the number standing on the sidelines at the lesser events. It's just the way it is. As a general matter, good teams have better players than bad teams. Is it possible a bad team has some studs on it? Sure, of course, no one would argue otherwise. What we're talking about here is how to get exposure.

So what are the statistics of kids who get offered college roster spots simply from a coach standing on the sideline watching the game? Come on, these guys are not standing there hoping to catch a good one. This isn't like picking the best apple in the bin at the grocery store.

If you are relying on that to get notice, then prepare for more disappointment. Getting a college coach's focus on you requires a well executed plan of activities in advance of any showcase game.

[Unregistered]

So what are the statistics of kids who get offered college roster spots simply from a coach standing on the sideline watching the game? Come on, these guys are not standing there hoping to catch a good one. This isn't like picking the best apple in the bin at the grocery store.

If you are relying on that to get notice, then prepare for more disappointment. Getting a college coach's focus on you requires a well executed plan of activities in advance of any showcase game.

In addition CT doesn't have many top teams, certainly none in recent memory vying for a national title. Yet kids are landing college spots and playing in college. if the poster thinks being on a "top" team is a must he better move out of state then.

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It's definitely the # 3 by a long mile, but many CT players are still landing college spots there. How much they play depends on them (how hard they work) and the level of program. It's mostly D3 and some low level D1s

It's not the #3 in CT, plenty of non-NPL teams beat these teams regularly and badly.

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It's not the #3 in CT, plenty of non-NPL teams beat these teams regularly and badly.

I meant overall. CT is a pimple on the US soccer azz. That's what so many don't seem to realize or admit. Who hoo you're number one in CT! In the grand scheme of things it means little. We have few top teams and few top players.

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I’ve seen somewhere online that CFC ECNL finished #18 in the nation as a club last year. That’s pretty good considering CT is such a small state having 2 ECNL teams in the state as well. The club had great success with 3 teams U14,16,17’s all making the Champions League grouping at the national event.

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I’ve seen somewhere online that CFC ECNL finished #18 in the nation as a club last year. That’s pretty good considering CT is such a small state having 2 ECNL teams in the state as well. The club had great success with 3 teams U14,16,17’s all making the Champions League grouping at the national event.

Did you read it in the comics section next Garfield?