The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

Looks pretty pro NEFC and anti ECNL to me. Also I guess I missed the NEFC bashing in the post you quoted - another spin represented as fact. It said quite clearly there was more than one way to get "there" depedning on your players needs. I guess if one doesn't agree with everything you posdt they are bashing your preferred clubs.

What was bashed was the frantic nonsensical posting of opinion pretending to be fact. I agree it is tiresome and insulting to the reader. I don't care if you feel attacked and now pretend the attack was on NEFC - I can read just fine and it wasn't an attack on NEFC. You are not NEFC.

Any contrasting example is out of bounds for the ECNL crowd. Clearly they never looked at case studies or learned how to use other organizations for process improvement. The mere notion that a competitor might have the right idea on something is seen as outright blasphemy.

[Unregistered]

I don't know BTDT but I am glad to hear that someone else shares my opinion. Another person dares to chalenge ECNL supporters. There is A and B teams in all clubs. But what doesn't exist is A team and its supporters acting like they are from another galaxy. By hyper-selling ECNL, you hurt the rest of your club. The consequence is evident. Within your club, the non-ecn players think that you and your daughter are arrogant and they can't stand folks like you. Drool and salivate all you want and convince others out there that these replies are coming from one source.

My apologies, and very interesti since btdt has posted about 20 times already today. Thanks for correcting me. Did not realize there was another party out there who would ironically have the exact same view and ironically have a kid that played MASC, Maple D (and MPS) and happened to land big money at a D1. Small world indeed.

[Unregistered]

Any contrasting example is out of bounds for the ECNL crowd. Clearly they never looked at case studies or learned how to use other organizations for process improvement. The mere notion that a competitor might have the right idea on something is seen as outright blasphemy.

Btdt, I have a "notion" that you are trying to break a personal posting record today. Why not just come right out and tell us what's really on your mind?

[Unregistered]

What ECNL folks don't want to see or hear is their hype is creating animosity within the club. If they preach ECNL the end of it all, how can they explain to the B team players that they are there for nothing and to parents that they are just paying to support the club? Soon enough the B teams will get weaker and then the financial health of those clubs will deteriorate. Inevitably the pinnacle will drop a notch once the base is gone. PDA was already stabilished but most of the clubs in our area will be follow Albertson fury. We just don't have enough pool of players to have another PDA in our area.

The anomosity is being intentionally created by those who are attacking the ECNL.

The constant attacks on the ECNL, the ECNL schedule, the ECNL travel, the ECNL timeline, the ECNL flights, the ECNL logo, etc. being about the inevitable responses in defense.

After the tit for tat has gone on for a while the anti Stars/Scorpion folks will eventually come on a say how the Stars/Scorps are only pushing ECNL and not their other teams.

This line of debate is once again a thinly vailed SHG attack.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone else get the sense that the frantic poster is stressing himself out to the point of break down? There was a poster on the old Touchline that had a nervous breakdown and the ferocity and intensity of this new spatter of posting reminds me of his (and he was a him).

This has nothing to do with his ideas but merely his style. Don't feed the trolls as it might make them sick.

[Unregistered]

There is no doubt that there are more than few completely delusional parents out there that create the market but the clubs set the market pace. You don't need to go galavanting all over the country at 12-13 like some of these clubs are. The clubs build that expectation and the delusional parents do suck it all up. That is where everything starts to get crazy. It begins with the club. Sadly any experienced coach knows just how futile that pace really is because only a couple of players end up benefitting.

Clubs like NEFC were galavanting all across the country at U12. It's not exclusive to ECNL ...it's across the board.

[Unregistered]

One of the things that is madden about this forum is so many posters only hear about one view of youth soccer. That of the ECNL crowd.

Uh oh. Guess we'll hear the other view now......again.

Sadly there are other approaches that get completely torn apart by them because they don't want to understand their way isn't the only way. This whole A/B thing is a prime example. In their clubs going to the "B" is perceived as an insult and it often seems like anyone who is on one of those teams has no shot at all. They could not be more wrong.

Not true. And the fact Stars placed over 40 2011 players from 3 girls and 1 boys team proves that the club and coaches places importance on all their teams.

There are other options that do work.

Ditto. See above.

If you follow what some other clubs like NEFC (god forbid) are doing organizationally you will see that they use their satelite programs like a farm system and actually do move players up and down. That is quite different from the A/B approach talked about here. The other evil empire, MPS, does some similar things with their SOE. Both of those clubs get soundly bashed here by the ECNL crowd essentially for their patience and their attempts to set realistic expectations with their familes. As families go through all of this they start to find out the hard way that their ways are actually way more humane and family friendly than the approach taken by the ECNL clubs. The truth is there is not a pot of gold waiting for every player at the end of the rainbow and many of the families racing down the ECNL road are just on a fools errand.

How are MPS and NEFC more humane? Do they explain to their 100 kids spread over 5 U-Little teams that only 15 of them will eventually play in college with less than a handful receiving any $?

One of the problems the ECNL crowd is causing with their constant sales pitch is forcing major life decisions much too early so players and teams seem as though they are done before they have hardly started.

The recruiting process is doing this, not the ECNL "crowd", whomever they are.

There are so many factors that are off tilt with what they are selling it is not really funny.

I keep reading ECNL parents explain the path isn't for everyone. It is competitive and expectations are high. They admit there is pressure to perform in games and practices. They've written that their kids are expected to work diligently away from formal practices and improve to retain their roster spot. That doesn't sound like much of a puppies and ice cream sales pitch to me.

They start pushing the competitive envelope before the kids are fully developed physically and technically so they blaze through players trying to be the most competitive in the area just so they can market themselves as the front runner.

It is not true Stars or Scorps "blaze through" players. The rosters are tough to crack. Not many are added. Kids drop, but when we looked at this closely last year it was at the same, or even a lesser rate than most other club teams, including your favored NEFC and MPS squads.

Think about this, why in the world would anyone be lining their child up to play on a U13 ECNL team? Most those players have no idea what they will want from their life at that point and a substantial number of them won't even be playing soccer by the time any of this becomes truly relevant. The people jumping in at that point are just wasting precious money that if their player really does belong on that path they will need to pay the massive bills down the road. The problem is we are letting this crowd dictate the environment and turn it into almost an arms race.

Agreed. Which is why ECNL clubs don't have younger ECNL teams doing extensive travel. This is a huge change, especially for Scorps that pre-ECNL tended to send their U-Little teams to far flung tournaments to make a name for themselves.

One reality that gets completely over looked by what these folks paint is that a player with talent and drive will get to the college level if they just stay their course and actually finish the race. What hopefully everyone will start to see is they don't really need any special environment to do that because there are more kids that don't finish the race than people really believe.

I agree a player needs to work hard and finish the race, no matter the club environment.

I don't agree the teammates, competition and coaching don't matter. I've seen extremely talented players languish and not fulfill their potential in less competitive environments where they were not challenged. I've also seen less talented players that are challenged really step up and squeeze every ounce of ability out of themselves....because they had to, to keep up. I'm not sure whether you consider this "special", but the "right" environment, the proper fit, whether it be an ECNL or other club, depending on the talent, drive, and motivation of the individual, is what makes the difference.

There are spots in the college game but you have to work to get there. You can't just buy it.

Agreed. Nor can you write your child's ticket here online. ;)

[Unregistered]

Does anyone else get the sense that the frantic poster is stressing himself out to the point of break down? There was a poster on the old Touchline that had a nervous breakdown and the ferocity and intensity of this new spatter of posting reminds me of his (and he was a him).

This has nothing to do with his ideas but merely his style. Don't feed the trolls as it might make them sick.

Hmmmm......and what poster who is so invested in all of this would have a thought about "the old Touchline" come to mind??? Quite frankly, what many of you fail to realize...

[Unregistered]

You can take your meds now. We get your point. You don't want anyone to disagree with the ECNL way. You can calm down and go back to bed now. Everyone will all behave and leave your club alone. :)

[Unregistered]

Just imagine how different this topic, as well the entire Mass forum at that, would be had NEFC been accepted.

[Unregistered]

Just imagine how different this topic, as well the entire Mass forum at that, would be had NEFC been accepted.

Just imagine how much this forum wouldn't exist without the constant bashing on them. I just can't wait until MPS bashing heats up with the SC wins. It looks like folks tried to start it up but it never grabbed hold because the parents tend to be much more glad for their kids than out on the streets marketing them. It's most likely because most of the parents have a real life and no this stay at home mom approach. better start cleaning the house before your hunny gets home.

[Unregistered]

You can take your meds now. We get your point. You don't want anyone to disagree with the ECNL way. You can calm down and go back to bed now. Everyone will all behave and leave your club alone. :)

I'm still confused. Please compare and contrast the "ECNL" with the "non ECNL" way.

I contend there are 5-10 different ways that are each apporopriate for different subsets of the youth soccer community. I have yet to see anyone say the ECNL way is right for everyone - no one way is right for everyone.

ECNL proponents are advocating it is a very good way for some and they are arguing against those who seem to be arguing it is wrong for all.

DYOR

[Unregistered]

MPS parents learned their lesson a few years back when they touted the current MPSR U18 as the soon to be best team ever after they picked up a nt player. That left a mark.

BTDT and crew thrust NEFC firmly into the spotlight last year, after they did that old MPS team one better by winning SC. Their hyper excitement, blatant recruiting efforts, and bad blood with Scorps pretty much assured the last year's worth of T-S entertainment.

Stars bashing will continue. They're top dog, and it's fun to tease such easy targets. NEFC bashing may fade, just as MPS bashing did. Time will tell.

Any guesses which parents will boast and oversell themselves next?

[Unregistered]

I'm still confused. Please compare and contrast the "ECNL" with the "non ECNL" way.

I contend there are 5-10 different ways that are each apporopriate for different subsets of the youth soccer community. I have yet to see anyone say the ECNL way is right for everyone - no one way is right for everyone.

ECNL proponents are advocating it is a very good way for some and they are arguing against those who seem to be arguing it is wrong for all.

DYOR

Just give up, there's no point. Just leave the thread and it will die. The poster will think he has converted everyone to his way of thinking, his grammar and spelling will improve and all will be good in the world.

[Unregistered]

I'm still confused. Please compare and contrast the "ECNL" with the "non ECNL" way.

I contend there are 5-10 different ways that are each apporopriate for different subsets of the youth soccer community. I have yet to see anyone say the ECNL way is right for everyone - no one way is right for everyone.

ECNL proponents are advocating it is a very good way for some and they are arguing against those who seem to be arguing it is wrong for all.

DYOR

You got it wrong. The moment someone says that the ECNL is not the only cup of tea out there, there is "shooting stars" all over the universe.