The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

Your logic seems based entirely the notion that a player is not really worthy of their position on their college roster and they are actually at the mercy of their club coach who has to do them a favor to get them there. If that is how you see your player then I guess you are right. One of the big problems in the recruiting process IS over reaching. If you are trying to get your kid to BC but they are actually a HC prospect then you really are at the mercy of your coach and do need favors from them. It is much simpler to cut right to the chase and figure out that you have HC level soccer ability and that you really like the school so you can put all of your effort into meeting the coach at HC. That way the only favor you are asking for is just an introduction.

I'm pretty sure that is what I'm saying By implying that the best fit soccer, Academic and social-wise is a function of The parents proactive engagement in the process. I actually believe that the best fit for your child is only going to come from a parent's active engagement in the process and will never be found by your child's soccer coach.

in fact, I would be very weary of any coach telling my daughter that she has set her sights on holy cross, when she wants to attend BC. In these instances, I will warn you that your select or high school coach may work against your kid in your efforts to get your kid to the school of their choice. For example, if your child is socially, and academically the right fit for Boston College, and capable (or even if they are not) of playing at Boston College, but there is a stud on your daughters select or high school team that wants to attend Boston College, the coaches superstar is likely to be taking your kids spot in the classroom and on the field at Boston College. Yes I understand this is a very simplified example, but I have seen many instances where kids are encouraged to look elsewhere, not because they lack the necessary skills to play at BC, but because a particular Coach is backing another Horse at BC or they have more "suck" or a favor to deliver at HC

yes, being realistic about your athletic and academic credentials is important to the whole process. Accessing the advice and guidance from a high school or select coach (and guidance counselor) is part of the process. However, too much reliance on these sources without recognizing the limitations their own self interests, places not only on their advice, but also their willingness to promote your child's interest, almost ensures that your child winds at the college of her coaches choice, rather than the kids or parents choice. in many instances, far too many in fact, the only person (s) the coaches referral network works for are the coaches themselves,and perhaps the parents who prefer to outsource the responsibility of college selection and fit to others.

[Unregistered]

The parents and kids most susceptible to the arguments about the strength of a Select Teams Network to College coaches, are the same parents/kids who also fall victim along the way to

1) "eliminate or minimize engagement in other sports or activities"
2) "quit ODP"
3) "do not to attend private school or if you do you, make accessing the advantages of Prep School secondary to soccer"

In and among all the hype, parent/kid competition, team marketing and coaches promises, their are some parents who are able to see-through the organizations and the people behind them for the self-interest underlying their advice. These are the same people who maintain an independent and objective outlook and ultimately choose to do the right thing for their child.

As an example only, (for I am not trying to suggest it is right for everyone) a number of parents have chosen to leverage their soon to be 9th graders soccer skills into admittance and a scholarship at a private school. Private school is not the right "fit" or necessary for every child to get where they want to go, but it can prove advantageous to many, particularly those kids who need a broader perspective on life outside of soccer. Rather than narrow and limit their 14 year old's opportunities to a particular sport or team or coach, these parent's have chosen to broaden their child's perspective, educational opportunities and college prospects by attending a private school. In making the choice, these parent exhibit an independence of thought and a more comprehensive view of what is important and likely benefit their kids long term. These parents and kids are unlikely to be influenced by the pressures placed on them (and their kid) to make decisions contrary to their best interest

[Unregistered]

I don't even think I care anymore.

[Unregistered]

I don't even think I care anymore.

Best post this week.

[Unregistered]

I don't even think I care anymore.

I give you credit....you hung in ther longer than me. The Unabomber's manifesto was more succint than this stuff.

[Unregistered]

What is this thread about again????

[Unregistered]

hot fudge sundaes vs. strawberry cheescake
There's both appealing, full of fat, look better than they taste and pack a wallop on your hiney.

[Unregistered]

What is this thread about again????

Exactly. If you can believe it, the thread started by suggesting that a routine email distribution (about 3/4 of a page) from Scorpions with a brief description of ECNL (boilerplate) and a few Scorpions club accomplishments (all true), with nothing derogatory about any other club, really was a sinister and conspiratorial effort to infiltrate the entire youth soccer clientele and brainwash all of them with gross misinformation and hidden codes subliminally denigrating all competitors. As just one example, the email listed colleges that alumni are attending. The email, seemingly a very simple and standard advertisement, actually took months to create and was outsourced to a component of Google that prepares sensitive cyberspace documents for the CIA and the Pentagon. In full disclosure, KC is not really earning a MBA at U Michigan as he has been a secret agent assigned to international espionage with a typical South Shore middle class lifestyle as a cover. There. Now you know.

[Unregistered]

As an example only, (for I am not trying to suggest it is right for everyone) a number of parents have chosen to leverage their soon to be 9th graders soccer skills into admittance and a scholarship at a private school. Private school is not the right "fit" or necessary for every child to get where they want to go, but it can prove advantageous to many, particularly those kids who need a broader perspective on life outside of soccer. Rather than narrow and limit their 14 year old's opportunities to a particular sport or team or coach, these parent's have chosen to broaden their child's perspective, educational opportunities and college prospects by attending a private school. In making the choice, these parent exhibit an independence of thought and a more comprehensive view of what is important and likely benefit their kids long term. These parents and kids are unlikely to be influenced by the pressures placed on them (and their kid) to make decisions contrary to their best interest

Right - this is not for everyone. Yet EVERY ONE who does it is doing it for the right reasons - not to keep their kids away from the lower classes (read with different skin colors and back grounds), those without money, etc. etc. There are as many bad reasons to send your kid to private school as good. I've talked to these people and the school choice is not about education; it's about getting them into college - preferably NESCACs or Ivies where they will meet the right people etc. etc.

As far as I know private schools don't give scholarships for sports (BBN alums were throwing cards at my daughter in junior high and drooling yet the scholarship was all need based). Maybe things are different now but it was not so 8 years ago.


P.S. I went to boarding school, graduated with honors as a national merit scholar, went to a top three grad school and graduated cum laude and am generally considered quite bright. You talk about sales pitches - then you lay this one on us?

[Unregistered]

Right - this is not for everyone. Yet EVERY ONE who does it is doing it for the right reasons - not to keep their kids away from the lower classes (read with different skin colors and back grounds), those without money, etc. etc. There are as many bad reasons to send your kid to private school as good. I've talked to these people and the school choice is not about education; it's about getting them into college - preferably NESCACs or Ivies where they will meet the right people etc. etc.

As far as I know private schools don't give scholarships for sports (BBN alums were throwing cards at my daughter in junior high and drooling yet the scholarship was all need based). Maybe things are different now but it was not so 8 years ago.


P.S. I went to boarding school, graduated with honors as a national merit scholar, went to a top three grad school and graduated cum laude and am generally considered quite bright. You talk about sales pitches - then you lay this one on us?

I'm glad you hit this first. I was hesitant because the poster seems well-intentioned and I agreed with most of the rest of the post. But, yes, while perhaps doing this for some, the idea that private school "broadens" perspective as a general rule seemed suspect. I'll tell you what broadens perspective. Going to a public high school in the South that was 60% African American. Best thing I ever did, and while I might have been a step behind at first in calculus compared to the prep school kids, I found my way to one of the most elite LACs in the country and was fine.

[Unregistered]

Right - this is not for everyone. Yet EVERY ONE who does it is doing it for the right reasons - not to keep their kids away from the lower classes (read with different skin colors and back grounds), those without money, etc. etc. There are as many bad reasons to send your kid to private school as good. I've talked to these people and the school choice is not about education; it's about getting them into college - preferably NESCACs or Ivies where they will meet the right people etc. etc.

As far as I know private schools don't give scholarships for sports (BBN alums were throwing cards at my daughter in junior high and drooling yet the scholarship was all need based). Maybe things are different now but it was not so 8 years ago.


P.S. I went to boarding school, graduated with honors as a national merit scholar, went to a top three grad school and graduated cum laude and am generally considered quite bright. You talk about sales pitches - then you lay this one on us?

That honestly was not who you think is was.

[Unregistered]

Sorry for reading that post too carefully--the one which explicitly drew a backhanded contrast with Scorpions and Stars. In any case, I wasn't trying to "attack" or "discredit" anything, other than strawmen. I have no deeply personal stake in any youth soccer club/business.

There are, as virtually everyone seems to agree, some different viable ways of doing things. I have no idea why some of you are under the fevered impression that this claim is in constant need of defense.

You act like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Flip the mirror around and realize that the constant defense is because of the constant attack. I've watched this thread with amazement. The volume of support for all things ECNL is truly impressive but the way it plays out is very ugly. Every time it comes down to a philosophical debate all it seems supporters like you can do is revert to petty name calling and personal attacks instead of simply agreeing to disagree. After all even Strawman has a right to their perspective yet for some reason you feel the need to take a swipe at them.

[Unregistered]

You act like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Flip the mirror around and realize that the constant defense is because of the constant attack. I've watched this thread with amazement. The volume of support for all things ECNL is truly impressive but the way it plays out is very ugly. Every time it comes down to a philosophical debate all it seems supporters like you can do is revert to petty name calling and personal attacks instead of simply agreeing to disagree. After all even Strawman has a right to their perspective yet for some reason you feel the need to take a swipe at them.

This poster does not understand what a strawman argument is.

[Unregistered]

You act like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Flip the mirror around and realize that the constant defense is because of the constant attack. I've watched this thread with amazement. The volume of support for all things ECNL is truly impressive but the way it plays out is very ugly. Every time it comes down to a philosophical debate all it seems supporters like you can do is revert to petty name calling and personal attacks instead of simply agreeing to disagree. After all even Strawman has a right to their perspective yet for some reason you feel the need to take a swipe at them.

You might want to look up the concept of a "strawman argument," as well as the concept of projection. I am sorry you misconstrued my language. You have every right, of course, to whatever perspective you prefer, for whatever reasons or impressions you have.

[Unregistered]

Right - this is not for everyone. Yet EVERY ONE who does it is doing it for the right reasons - not to keep their kids away from the lower classes (read with different skin colors and back grounds), those without money, etc. etc. There are as many bad reasons to send your kid to private school as good. I've talked to these people and the school choice is not about education; it's about getting them into college - preferably NESCACs or Ivies where they will meet the right people etc. etc.

As far as I know private schools don't give scholarships for sports (BBN alums were throwing cards at my daughter in junior high and drooling yet the scholarship was all need based). Maybe things are different now but it was not so 8 years ago.


P.S. I went to boarding school, graduated with honors as a national merit scholar, went to a top three grad school and graduated cum laude and am generally considered quite bright. You talk about sales pitches - then you lay this one on us?

i think you missed the posters point....whatever "in your opinion" is in the best interest of your child, do it without being influenced by some soccer league, team or coach. unfortunately, far too many are convinced by self interested coaches/teams to make decisions that are not in their overall social, academic and athletic interests. the point is the same even if you substitute the "private school choice example" in the poster's argument with any other decision you and your child might face that could conflict with soccer ( ie study for exams for 3 nights this a week or go to Soccer practice)...however, i know from personal experience why the "private school decision example" is particularly relevant to the posters point.....

PS: in my experience, private schools do give scholarships or financial aid beyond the "need".