Boys: DAP v ECNL v NPL

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1. If NEFC and GPS....and any other NPL team has 5-6 Div 1 players then that is telling of the quality of play. Along with that, each of these teams....at least NEFC and GPS.....has 5-10 division 2 or 3 players. Essentially, 50-75% of their players are going to college to play ball.

2. Watching the 2001 NEFC-GPS Red match, their speed of play is better than the ECNL teams. The NEFC team beat the Bolts ECNL team 5-0 earlier.

3. The ECNL team attend two not so well known showcases while the NPL teams attend 3-4 well known tournaments during the year.

4. Perhaps in two years when the ECNL league is more developed you can say it is the second tier behind DA, but or now they are third tier behind the top NPL teams.

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;2285780]

Well "Dad", I was there as well and the Bolts were missing a couple, not "plenty" and NEFC was missing their leading goal scorer.

If by couple you mean entire midfield, I agree. And I do have a kid on nefc and spent most of my time talking to the bolts parents. Maybe you can guess who I am now. It was a 1-0 scrimmage, and no one other than you thought the teams were comparable for 89 minutes despite the score.

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OK - so this is just silly. Today’s ECNL MA teams are basically the same as those same clubs’ NPL teams last year. Maybe some new talent brought in - so a mix of new and old, not to be expected to do that much better than their NPL counterparts last year. So yes, NEFC and GPS, you win as to this year. Maybe even next year. But that’s different from saying NPL > ECNL as a generic statement. The ECNL teams across the country are seriously variable and at the top end, could definitely beat the DA teams here (Baltimore Celtic, BRYC, even West Coast and TX second teams behind DA in those clubs). There are a lot of ECNL teams that were top level NPL teams (FSA, East Meadow, World Class), and a lot of ECNL teams that are second behind DA teams in their club that are variable on quality. Those teams aren’t competing in NPL anymore, so how good is your competition in NPL in the long run? Scouts want to see how well your son plays in tough/good matches, not just whether he’s riding the bench on a winning team in a so-so conference.

All of you are just blowing wind out your butts right now because you’re anxious to know if your kid’s landing spot this year is going to produce “results” for him long term.

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Stars and Bolts had their ECNL tryouts at the exact same times this past week.

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OK - so this is just silly. Today’s ECNL MA teams are basically the same as those same clubs’ NPL teams last year. Maybe some new talent brought in - so a mix of new and old, not to be expected to do that much better than their NPL counterparts last year. So yes, NEFC and GPS, you win as to this year. Maybe even next year. But that’s different from saying NPL > ECNL as a generic statement. The ECNL teams across the country are seriously variable and at the top end, could definitely beat the DA teams here (Baltimore Celtic, BRYC, even West Coast and TX second teams behind DA in those clubs). There are a lot of ECNL teams that were top level NPL teams (FSA, East Meadow, World Class), and a lot of ECNL teams that are second behind DA teams in their club that are variable on quality. Those teams aren’t competing in NPL anymore, so how good is your competition in NPL in the long run? Scouts want to see how well your son plays in tough/good matches, not just whether he’s riding the bench on a winning team in a so-so conference.

All of you are just blowing wind out your butts right now because you’re anxious to know if your kid’s landing spot this year is going to produce “results” for him long term.

Actually these ecnl boys teams are all still competing with the npl teams. They will be in the same playoffs—which happen to be in Lancaster this year— at the end of June. So we shall see how the top teams in the leagues compare. Regardless, if you live in New England, it looks like the NEP NPL is the way to go for the best end of year competition outside of DA. The bolts and stars entries in the boys ecnl won’t be playing.

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Actually these ecnl boys teams are all still competing with the npl teams. They will be in the same playoffs—which happen to be in Lancaster this year— at the end of June. So we shall see how the top teams in the leagues compare. Regardless, if you live in New England, it looks like the NEP NPL is the way to go for the best end of year competition outside of DA. The bolts and stars entries in the boys ecnl won’t be playing.

There were many NPL players, including GPS and NEFC, at ECNL tryouts this week who obviously do not agree with you. NPL is destined for 3rd tier whether you like it or not.

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1. If NEFC and GPS....and any other NPL team has 5-6 Div 1 players then that is telling of the quality of play. Along with that, each of these teams....at least NEFC and GPS.....has 5-10 division 2 or 3 players. Essentially, 50-75% of their players are going to college to play ball.

2. Watching the 2001 NEFC-GPS Red match, their speed of play is better than the ECNL teams. The NEFC team beat the Bolts ECNL team 5-0 earlier.

3. The ECNL team attend two not so well known showcases while the NPL teams attend 3-4 well known tournaments during the year.

4. Perhaps in two years when the ECNL league is more developed you can say it is the second tier behind DA, but or now they are third tier behind the top NPL teams.

If you are talking 2000-2001 years then I might agree because most of the kids are committed and would probably like to avoid travel and save money. Other age groups it is different.

I get it...your kid plays NPL. NPL is fine. ECNL is fine. ECNL is not behind top NPL in all cases so stop with the over generalized comments. Bolts beat GPS Elite Red...does that put ECNL behind top NPL?

This conversation is brutal. Let it go and just worry about your kid and avoid ranking youth soccer divisions.

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If you are talking 2000-2001 years then I might agree because most of the kids are committed and would probably like to avoid travel and save money. Other age groups it is different.

I get it...your kid plays NPL. NPL is fine. ECNL is fine. ECNL is not behind top NPL in all cases so stop with the over generalized comments. Bolts beat GPS Elite Red...does that put ECNL behind top NPL?

This conversation is brutal. Let it go and just worry about your kid and avoid ranking youth soccer divisions.

So as long as ECNL is above NPL we can stop ranking divisions? Perfect.

DA is where it's at.

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DA guy is right. If its not DA or Prep, NOBODY CARES. Save your cash... or just enjoy some decent training and games, but nobody cares. Scouts and coaches and whatever really only go to the DA events or Prep schools. ECNL may make a push in the next few years and I hope so (no HS play at DA no fun), but NPL NEP whatever.... nobody cares, please stop...... You have to get out of those leagues by the end of U14. Its just for fun, please understand that...... Nobody cares about the State Cup, too convoluted and the real talent isn't playing in the state cup, its in DA or Prep.

[Unregistered]

DA guy is right. If its not DA or Prep, NOBODY CARES. Save your cash... or just enjoy some decent training and games, but nobody cares. Scouts and coaches and whatever really only go to the DA events or Prep schools. ECNL may make a push in the next few years and I hope so (no HS play at DA no fun), but NPL NEP whatever.... nobody cares, please stop...... You have to get out of those leagues by the end of U14. Its just for fun, please understand that...... Nobody cares about the State Cup, too convoluted and the real talent isn't playing in the state cup, its in DA or Prep.

This is cute. So many of the DA kids are miserable. Toxic environment for so many. Let the kids be kids.... guarantee you many of the DA kids will be on the same exact teams as the NPL kids down the road. Too funny.

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DA guy is right. If its not DA or Prep, NOBODY CARES.. blah, blah, blah, I think I know a lot about college soccer recruitment but I really don't, blah, blah, blah

Fixed it for you. Some of these comments are way beyond ignorant. Check the coaches list at ECNL showcase in PA and then say that.

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This is cute. So many of the DA kids are miserable. Toxic environment for so many. Let the kids be kids.... guarantee you many of the DA kids will be on the same exact teams as the NPL kids down the road. Too funny.

Agreed.

As awesome as all the DA kids are (and their parents will tell you. Until their kid gets cut and then they'll be in the NPL vs ECNL fight)...there aren't enough DA kids to fill all the college ranks. Subtract the kids on the bench because a DA kid on the bench is probably mid-level NPL so colleges don't want them. (Who would travel for 10 months a year to ride the bench). Factor in that the recruiting years are merged U16/U17 and U18/U19...team rosters are only ~25...there aren't enough kids from DA graduating. Unless I'm wrong and all the U18 kids from DA are graduating and are so awesome that they can play against another 11 player team by themselves.

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Agreed.

As awesome as all the DA kids are (and their parents will tell you. Until their kid gets cut and then they'll be in the NPL vs ECNL fight)...there aren't enough DA kids to fill all the college ranks. Subtract the kids on the bench because a DA kid on the bench is probably mid-level NPL so colleges don't want them. (Who would travel for 10 months a year to ride the bench). Factor in that the recruiting years are merged U16/U17 and U18/U19...team rosters are only ~25...there aren't enough kids from DA graduating. Unless I'm wrong and all the U18 kids from DA are graduating and are so awesome that they can play against another 11 player team by themselves.

Someone's kid isn't getting the love they deserve.

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Someone's kid isn't getting the love they deserve.

Your a dope.

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If you want to play professional soccer....and haven't been noticed already, then DAP and Division 1 (or skip college) is the best way to get there. You are more likely, but not exclusively so, to get into a Division 1 soccer school if you are the top 11 DAP player than being the top 11 NPL player.

There are no absolutes.....except that a bench player on DAP (bottom 4) is less likely to division 1 college soccer than the top 11 of an NPL team.

The bell-shaped curve overlaps enough to eliminate any absolute generalizations of either league.

The Boys ECNL league is too young to make any statements about. Their season is short and only attend two showcases and one other tournament....at least for the Bolts.

In the end, college soccer is not what it once was. There are no JV teams so the rosters are 20-30, with some pre-college stars infrequently seeing the field....and only to be replaced by the next recruitment class studs.

Unless you are really division 1-stud material, you are not likely to go pro, you are not going to get a lot of athletic money, so you might as well enjoy the college experience and worry less about whether or not you are playing D1, 2, or 3. Therefore, whether you are DAP or NPL.....or, perhaps after the league has matured, ECNL is not so significant as all will help (ECNL questionable) get you into a soccer school.