The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

ELITE CLUBS NATIONAL LEAGUE (ECNL)

The Elite Clubs National League is the highest level of girls youth soccer that exists in the United States. The top 60 girls clubs in the United States were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process based on coaching staff, history of team success at the national level, and history of development of elite/national level players. More info on the league is available here: www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com

Scorpions is one of two Massachusetts clubs in the league, with the other being Stars of Mass. The U13-U18 teams play a regional schedule against the other ECNL clubs from the Northeast region. At the U15 and older age groups, this regional schedule is supplemented by several ECNL Showcase events.

3 areas are crucial for 'ELITE' player development:

1) playing on a great team so each player is pushed to the max every training session
2) playing against the best competition in the country
3) quality coaching.

With the ECNL, our teams are playing against the best competition in the United States and at Scorpions, we have a proven track record of taking players to the next level!

Since we joined, the Elite Clubs National League has just been an incredible experience. In addition to playing against the top competition in the country, the opportunities for player identification are endless. Every ECNL showcase event features US National Team Staff on hand to evaluate players.

McKenzie Meehan from the U17 ECNL team was just called into the United States Under 18 Womens National Team based solely on her performance in the league (see article here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-...opped_aid24340.

The majority of college recruiting takes place at the ECNL showcases (300+ college coaches at the NJ showcase over Memorial Day weekend alone!!!!). Because of the extraordinary opportunities presented through the ECNL, of the 55 players rostered on our current U17-U19 teams, 46 are or will be playing Division 1 soccer, 3 will be playing in Division 2, and 6 in Division 3. A partial list of matriculations:

Boston College (3)
UCLA
Maryland (2)
Georgetown
Harvard (2)
Yale (2)
Princeton
Brown
Providence (5)
UConn
UMass
And about 25 others!

Here is a copy of the Scorpions sales pitch inviting players to their tryouts. It is like many other such emails clubs send out at this time of year. In it the Scorpions make several statements that I believe should be challenged as quite misleading. Specifically:

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

2- The idea that the ECNL represents the highest level of competition in the country and that simply partaking in that competition will elevate a player to "the next level". The assumption clearly is that the ECNL is the only place where competitive games get played.

3- The idea that the ECNL represents some unique opportunity to be included in the US National team. The notion being sold is that the ECNL will give a player a better shot at making it to the US National team than all of the other venues out there.

4- The idea the the majority of college recruiting takes place at ECNL events. The inference is that showcases are the only place where college coaches recruit and that the ECNL showcases are the only showcases that they actually attend.

5- The idea that the club deserves more credit for a player earning a soccer scholarship than the player themselves. The claim that obviously is being made is the Scorpions created the player's success and can replicate that success for another player.

When you read this sort of email it is quite easy to understand why there is so much division between the ECNL and Non clubs. At the very least these statements have to be looked upon as controversial. Many would argue that they really stretch the boundaries of truth. What say you?

[Unregistered]

Here is a copy of the Scorpions sales pitch inviting players to their tryouts. It is like many other such emails clubs send out at this time of year. In it the Scorpions make several statements that I believe should be challenged as quite misleading. Specifically:

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

2- The idea that the ECNL represents the highest level of competition in the country and that simply partaking in that competition will elevate a player to "the next level". The assumption clearly is that the ECNL is the only place where competitive games get played.

3- The idea that the ECNL represents some unique opportunity to be included in the US National team. The notion being sold is that the ECNL will give a player a better shot at making it to the US National team than all of the other venues out there.

4- The idea the the majority of college recruiting takes place at ECNL events. The inference is that showcases are the only place where college coaches recruit and that the ECNL showcases are the only showcases that they actually attend.

5- The idea that the club deserves more credit for a player earning a soccer scholarship than the player themselves. The claim that obviously is being made is the Scorpions created the player's success and can replicate that success for another player.

When you read this sort of email it is quite easy to understand why there is so much division between the ECNL and Non clubs. At the very least these statements have to be looked upon as controversial. Many would argue that they really stretch the boundaries of truth. What say you?

All a bunch of crap!!! $$$$ is what it is all about and if you have the $$$ your kid can play ECNL!

[Unregistered]

Here is a copy of the Scorpions sales pitch inviting players to their tryouts. It is like many other such emails clubs send out at this time of year. In it the Scorpions make several statements that I believe should be challenged as quite misleading. Specifically:

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

2- The idea that the ECNL represents the highest level of competition in the country and that simply partaking in that competition will elevate a player to "the next level". The assumption clearly is that the ECNL is the only place where competitive games get played.

3- The idea that the ECNL represents some unique opportunity to be included in the US National team. The notion being sold is that the ECNL will give a player a better shot at making it to the US National team than all of the other venues out there.

4- The idea the the majority of college recruiting takes place at ECNL events. The inference is that showcases are the only place where college coaches recruit and that the ECNL showcases are the only showcases that they actually attend.

5- The idea that the club deserves more credit for a player earning a soccer scholarship than the player themselves. The claim that obviously is being made is the Scorpions created the player's success and can replicate that success for another player.

When you read this sort of email it is quite easy to understand why there is so much division between the ECNL and Non clubs. At the very least these statements have to be looked upon as controversial. Many would argue that they really stretch the boundaries of truth. What say you?

You need some reading comprehension work. 3 and 4 are not accurate representations of what was said. Majority does not equal only for example.

[Unregistered]

My child is playing D1 and all the coaches I spoke with during recruiting spoke of how ECNL was the venue of choice.

If you child is playing D1, than that would mean Your daughter is a freshman/rising sophomore or older. ECNL hasn't been around long enough for players this age to get that information from coaches. The youngest of these college players would have been doing both USYSA and ECNL and the tournaments they were attending were open to teams in both the ECNL and USYSA. In fact, they would have been competing against one another, so unless you are speaking of a younger player in your family who will be playing D1 in the future I don't think you would have been getting that kind of information from college coaches when these classes were being recruited. The league was just getting started then.

These two posts from the ECNL Priveiw thread illustrate the issue quite well. Posters make blanket statements like this one to sell the ECNL point of view but the reality behind the statement seldom actually supports its validity.

[Unregistered]

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

You really think they need to say that? You really think that there are parents really dumb enough to believe that a slow, unskilled unmotivated kid will suddenly become an elite player - really?

So which of the three things do you think an elite player doesn't need?

[Unregistered]

You need some reading comprehension work. 3 and 4 are not accurate representations of what was said. Majority does not equal only for example.

so basically you are saying that 60% of what they are saying is spot on..

[Unregistered]

Here is a copy of the Scorpions sales pitch inviting players to their tryouts. It is like many other such emails clubs send out at this time of year. In it the Scorpions make several statements that I believe should be challenged as quite misleading. Specifically:

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

2- The idea that the ECNL represents the highest level of competition in the country and that simply partaking in that competition will elevate a player to "the next level". The assumption clearly is that the ECNL is the only place where competitive games get played.

3- The idea that the ECNL represents some unique opportunity to be included in the US National team. The notion being sold is that the ECNL will give a player a better shot at making it to the US National team than all of the other venues out there.

4- The idea the the majority of college recruiting takes place at ECNL events. The inference is that showcases are the only place where college coaches recruit and that the ECNL showcases are the only showcases that they actually attend.

5- The idea that the club deserves more credit for a player earning a soccer scholarship than the player themselves. The claim that obviously is being made is the Scorpions created the player's success and can replicate that success for another player.

When you read this sort of email it is quite easy to understand why there is so much division between the ECNL and Non clubs. At the very least these statements have to be looked upon as controversial. Many would argue that they really stretch the boundaries of truth. What say you?

Non ECNL parent here....It is hard to argue with the data. 46 D1 recruits, 6 D2 and 3 D3? Pretty impressive. I think some of this is chicken/egg. You have some very driven, very talented young women playing for this club. Many of them were drawn by the ECNL and the success of the Scorps. The fact that Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Brown are mentioned as schools these kids are going to proves that they have talents outside of soccer (soccer surely did not hurt). This is definitely a sales pitch. Not untrue but it is not intended to show the other side of the argument. I don't think one can reasonably disagree with anything that was presented. ECNL is the top level of competition, one may argue that there are other avenues that rival it but it is certainly a plausible statement.

ECNL is not for everyone. It is great for some, undesirable for some and honestly unattainable for most (either talent or money).

[Unregistered]

You really think they need to say that? You really think that there are parents really dumb enough to believe that a slow, unskilled unmotivated kid will suddenly become an elite player - really?

So which of the three things do you think an elite player doesn't need?

Outside of the 17's how many ELITE level players do the Scorpions actually have? They do seem to be playing somewhat fast and furious with the definition of ELITE.

[Unregistered]

Here is a copy of the Scorpions sales pitch inviting players to their tryouts. It is like many other such emails clubs send out at this time of year. In it the Scorpions make several statements that I believe should be challenged as quite misleading. Specifically:

1-The 3 areas they say are crucial for 'ELITE' player development - The assumption seems to be that simply playing on one of their teams qualifies the player as "ELITE" and nowhere do they seem to suggest that actual talent is needed or that hard work is required.

2- The idea that the ECNL represents the highest level of competition in the country and that simply partaking in that competition will elevate a player to "the next level". The assumption clearly is that the ECNL is the only place where competitive games get played.

3- The idea that the ECNL represents some unique opportunity to be included in the US National team. The notion being sold is that the ECNL will give a player a better shot at making it to the US National team than all of the other venues out there.

4- The idea the the majority of college recruiting takes place at ECNL events. The inference is that showcases are the only place where college coaches recruit and that the ECNL showcases are the only showcases that they actually attend.

5- The idea that the club deserves more credit for a player earning a soccer scholarship than the player themselves. The claim that obviously is being made is the Scorpions created the player's success and can replicate that success for another player.

When you read this sort of email it is quite easy to understand why there is so much division between the ECNL and Non clubs. At the very least these statements have to be looked upon as controversial. Many would argue that they really stretch the boundaries of truth. What say you?

You nailed it! These clubs need to start giving credit to the kids.

[Unregistered]

Non ECNL parent here....It is hard to argue with the data. 46 D1 recruits, 6 D2 and 3 D3? Pretty impressive. I think some of this is chicken/egg. You have some very driven, very talented young women playing for this club. Many of them were drawn by the ECNL and the success of the Scorps. The fact that Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Brown are mentioned as schools these kids are going to proves that they have talents outside of soccer (soccer surely did not hurt). This is definitely a sales pitch. Not untrue but it is not intended to show the other side of the argument. I don't think one can reasonably disagree with anything that was presented. ECNL is the top level of competition, one may argue that there are other avenues that rival it but it is certainly a plausible statement.

ECNL is not for everyone. It is great for some, undesirable for some and honestly unattainable for most (either talent or money).

Stop right there, the ECNL most certainly is not the highest level of competition in the country. Way too many weak teams and blow outs to be the highest level.

[Unregistered]

so basically you are saying that 60% of what they are saying is spot on..

No actually - those were just the most obvious strawmen arguments. As was said it's hard to argue with the stats. Based on those stats Scorps (and Stars) are Elite clubs in terms of college placement. This takes nothing from the individuals. And having a daughter playing in college (not from Scorps) I know her coaches make it to every ECNL event which makes it a safe choice for those that want D1.

Please don't mischaracterize this response by saying I said ECNL is the only venue (the usual strawman approach). There are others. If my daughter were playing now she'd be going ECNL. That's not an option for my son.

[Unregistered]

Stop right there, the ECNL most certainly is not the highest level of competition in the country. Way too many weak teams and blow outs to be the highest level.

3 of 4 last years National Champions (u15-18) are now in ECNL
16 of 20 Regional Champions (u14-18) are now in ECNL

Seems like the highest level to me.

[Unregistered]

3 of 4 last years National Champions (u15-18) are now in ECNL
16 of 20 Regional Champions (u14-18) are now in ECNL

Seems like the highest level to me.

Stop with the facts!

[Unregistered]

Bull

"McKenzie Meehan from the U17 ECNL team was just called into the United States Under 18 Womens National Team based solely on her performance in the league (see article here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-...opped_aid24340."

Soley on her performance in the league? Bunch of bull. Guess no one noticed she led the nation in scoring as a HS senior! She is the reason Scorpions are even ECNL not the other way around!

[Unregistered]

More sales pitch

We are proud to be one of the largest and strongest clubs in New England, boasting a professional coaching staff and state of the art facilities.

Our club prides itself by being committed to the premier player. The focus is to individually develop at an accelerated rate those players who have the desire and ability to take their game to the next level. The club recognizes the value of development first, knowing that the sole mission of the premier youth coach is to develop individuals first. With a strong coaching staff and a structured development plan, we provide the "ultimate soccer experience".

As players mature, grow stronger in their technical and tactical abilities, and possess that desire to continue to raise their development, we have established a program with the area's top college and professional coaches who are ready to lead and train these players. Having these coaches in place provides players with top level coaching, a challenging training regimen, and an opportunity for maximum exposure.

Ours is a non-profit organization run by a Board of Directors with extensive soccer experience as it relates to playing, developing, coaching and administrating. We are focused on creating the Premier club of choice for New England and the premier player.