The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

even nt level kids need to be coached and have the right buttons pushed, especially during the dreaded teen years. the coach can suck up a bit to an elite player, but not so much it hurts the rest of the team, and the player themself. coaches that deal with this level player regularly, learn real quick to set some clear boundaries with both player and often, more importantly, the parents, or they end up "killed" as you suggest.

[Unregistered]

this is great in theory, but very difficult to accomplish. there are typically only a few players even close to ready to make the jump to the A team, and if the a team carries a full roster, these players are unlikely to be moved up anyway.

the only situation where i see this sort of work is when geography is the factor that keeps a player on a b squad. players train with their area stars west, scorps west or nefc regional team, and move to the a team for games.

I disagree that there is that much disparity in talent in every case which is why destination club Second teams should be marketed as a separate path (region1,etc) versus a significantly inferior path. Otherwise talented players (and there are some despite the B team status) will defect to nonECNL clubs simply because they can play on those clubs A teams immediately. (NEFC etc). Stars does a good job of keeping a few (but not all B teams competitive and provides them with the incentive to stay where they are despite the fact that they may never be called up. Scorpions, not do much. It would be interesting to hear how other states top contenders (PDA) handle their B teams. In order to truly grow a club you have to consistently produce top teams at every level so that each dominates their respective competitive venue and so that the negative connotation associated with being on the B team in these clubs is nearly nonexistent. This means college recruiting, coaching, etc are proven at these levels as well. When was the last time Stars or Scorpions or any of the top 3 for that matter put their second team names on the college commitment list. If the answer is never---that is sad, because there are likely a few in the ranks who have the talent to be there but are overlooked because of team label OR because the club is so caught up in the ECNL propaganda that they don't feel it necessary to highlight the achievements of those who do not play ECNL. Not every ECNL kid will get into D1 or D2 colleges and conversely not every B teamer will be denied the opportunity despite the team label.

[Unregistered]

.... The problem many of you don't seem to see is that actual high level players are not all that common in this youth environment so when a coach does have one they can't really afford to just take a "my way or the highway" attitude with them because they know that they have plenty of options and there are no contractural obligations to bind them to a team. They will just leave. If you are in such an austere environment what they says is the coach doesn't care if you leave and that means your kid just aint that good.

Actually, I know for a fact that this isn't necessarily true. There are some baffling irrationalities out there--at least at some (top) clubs, with some (top) coaches.

[Unregistered]

Actually, I know for a fact that this isn't necessarily true. There are some baffling irrationalities out there--at least at some (top) clubs, with some (top) coaches.

What is not true.. that there are not really a lot of impact players out there or that coaches don't have to keep them happy or they leave?

[Unregistered]

team names on the college commitment list. If the answer is never---that is sad, because there are likely a few in the ranks who have the talent to be there but are overlooked because of team label OR because the club is so caught up in the ECNL propaganda that they don't feel it necessary to highlight the achievements of those who do not play ECNL. Not every ECNL kid will get into D1 or D2 colleges and conversely not every B teamer will be denied the opportunity despite the team label.

Stars label every commit. Current U19 ECNL, Rovers, and United players all were listed on their commitment page.

You make a very good point about how teams should market their B and C teams. It isn't enough just to coach them well and have them playing at the proper competitive level. Club's need to sell them as diligently, if not more so, than their A team offering.

[Unregistered]

E - Ever
C - Changing
N – Never
L - Leading

Thats AWESOME!!!!

[Unregistered]

What is not true.. that there are not really a lot of impact players out there or that coaches don't have to keep them happy or they leave?

No, all that is true. I was rejecting the claim that when a coach adopts a "my way" approach to a girl/family, the girl must not be an impact player and the coach doesn't care if she leaves. That is what I know isn't necessarily true.

[Unregistered]

Stars label every commit. Current U19 ECNL, Rovers, and United players all were listed on their commitment page.

You make a very good point about how teams should market their B and C teams. It isn't enough just to coach them well and have them playing at the proper competitive level. Club's need to sell them as diligently, if not more so, than their A team offering.

Your sarcasm is not lost on me. If you go to their webpage, no U19s are currently listed. Maybe they were at one point in time. You're right though. They (B teams) don't need to be sold more than their A team offering. My comment on another thread is that my daughter and I have regrets that she did not accept an offer at a B team that is currently doing very well. I wish the club had marketed more at the time, what the B team was up to. We did not do our homework. If the website was filled with commitments at all levels like it was apparently several years ago, we may have made a different decision. Daughter decided to drop club soccer altogether and I am in withdrawl trying to get her to give it one more year. Apologies.

[Unregistered]

Your sarcasm is not lost on me. If you go to their webpage, no U19s are currently listed. Maybe they were at one point in time. You're right though. They (B teams) don't need to be sold more than their A team offering. My comment on another thread is that my daughter and I have regrets that she did not accept an offer at a B team that is currently doing very well. I wish the club had marketed more at the time, what the B team was up to. We did not do our homework. If the website was filled with commitments at all levels like it was apparently several years ago, we may have made a different decision. Daughter decided to drop club soccer altogether and I am in withdrawl trying to get her to give it one more year. Apologies.

You are complaining the current stars u15s didn't publicize their B team enough? The won state cup at u13 (maybe u12 too?). They went to regionals and were playing in the highest regional league available at the time.

Not doing your homework is one thing but you didn't even look at their schedule from the previous season.

[Unregistered]

No, all that is true. I was rejecting the claim that when a coach adopts a "my way" approach to a girl/family, the girl must not be an impact player and the coach doesn't care if she leaves. That is what I know isn't necessarily true.

Anyone who accepts a my way or the highway attitude who actually has the ability to play elsewhere is just too dumb and fearful to realize they have options and don't need to take crap just to advance their career.

[Unregistered]

Anyone who accepts a my way or the highway attitude who actually has the ability to play elsewhere is just too dumb and fearful to realize they have options and don't need to take crap just to advance their career.

Or they happen to like what the "my way" entails.

[Unregistered]

Your sarcasm is not lost on me. If you go to their webpage, no U19s are currently listed. Maybe they were at one point in time. You're right though. They (B teams) don't need to be sold more than their A team offering. My comment on another thread is that my daughter and I have regrets that she did not accept an offer at a B team that is currently doing very well. I wish the club had marketed more at the time, what the B team was up to. We did not do our homework. If the website was filled with commitments at all levels like it was apparently several years ago, we may have made a different decision. Daughter decided to drop club soccer altogether and I am in withdrawl trying to get her to give it one more year. Apologies.

It wasn't sarcasm. The U19 Rovers and United players were all listed previously, but are no longer. No idea why.

The 2012 class is listed with 26 commitments from 3 different teams though. Link;

http://starsofma.org/College/Commitments/index_E.html

[Unregistered]

It wasn't sarcasm. The U19 Rovers and United players were all listed previously, but are no longer. No idea why.

The 2012 class is listed with 26 commitments from 3 different teams though. Link;

http://starsofma.org/College/Commitments/index_E.html

Because it is a list of commitments. Once they are in college they are no longer commitments.

[Unregistered]

It wasn't sarcasm. The U19 Rovers and United players were all listed previously, but are no longer. No idea why.

Well it could be some really suspicious reason (because they have all transferred or flunked out because they are somehow morally bankrupt and without team spirit as has been frantically posted as fact recently)

or maybe - just maybe - they feel commitments are prior to signing the letter or intent and attending college so once the kids are in school they have a Stars alumni page like this one

http://www.starsofma.org/College/Sta...i/index_E.html

and even a Stars in College 2011 section-

http://www.starsofma.org/College/Sta...1/index_E.html

for news tidbits?

This was sarcastic. (wink)

[Unregistered]

You are complaining the current stars u15s didn't publicize their B team enough? The won state cup at u13 (maybe u12 too?). They went to regionals and were playing in the highest regional league available at the time.

Not doing your homework is one thing but you didn't even look at their schedule from the previous season.

The year that mattered to us at the time was the year she tried out. No doubt we erred in judgement. We saw the "B" team label and said forget it. That's been my whole point. Obviously we know how well they are doing now, and wish (at least I do) a different decision was made. That's all I'm saying. And perhaps wanting to blame Stars for not selling it better to us at the time. We coulda been somebody.