The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

we talk so much on this site about "capitalizing" or "leveraging" soccer skills/teams/coaches into scholarship money and a college education, but when it comes to doing the same for a private school education, the poster gets scoffed at

Interesting...it appears that some of the parents who do believe in the Select Soccer Team/League/Coach strategy that "soccer done well translates into a free education (scholarship)" may have missed out on their first opportunity to apply the strategy

look around at the kids entering 9th grade who have chosen to take advantage of their skills now to pursue an excellent education...many are the top players in the age group, and not necessarily from the wealthiest backgrounds.

bet in 2 to 3 years these are the same kids earning the scholarships and gaining admissions to the schools of their choice..... with or without soccer....

just something to think about....the women you chastise for pursuing private school and ECNL soccer is likely to have the last laugh

The...ECNL...thread...ECNL...that...ECNL...just... ECNL...won't...ECNL...die...ECNL.
There. Found a way to include ECNL reference in my response too... ooh, i did it again!

[Unregistered]

we talk so much on this site about "capitalizing" or "leveraging" soccer skills/teams/coaches into scholarship money and a college education, but when it comes to doing the same for a private school education, the poster gets scoffed at

Interesting...it appears that some of the parents who do believe in the Select Soccer Team/League/Coach strategy that "soccer done well translates into a free education (scholarship)" may have missed out on their first opportunity to apply the strategy

look around at the kids entering 9th grade who have chosen to take advantage of their skills now to pursue an excellent education...many are the top players in the age group, and not necessarily from the wealthiest backgrounds.

bet in 2 to 3 years these are the same kids earning the scholarships and gaining admissions to the schools of their choice..... with or without soccer....

just something to think about....the women you chastise for pursuing private school and ECNL soccer is likely to have the last laugh

Thank you for your honesty. At least you are admitting that your primary interest is in leveraging, just like the folks who use DAP to leverage into a good D3 college.

But the "last laugh?" Really? Are you kidding? Last laugh about what. Hardly anyone will know and even less will care if your kid is playing soccer at a good D3, for an Ivy, or for UNC nor will they care if your kid gets a job with Google, gets in UPenn med school, or lives in the nicest home in the nicest neighborhood in Weston.

And guess what? The really talented kids can do all that without private school and without athletics.

[Unregistered]

Thank you for your honesty. At least you are admitting that your primary interest is in leveraging, just like the folks who use DAP to leverage into a good D3 college.


But the "last laugh?" Really? Are you kidding? Last laugh about what. Hardly anyone will know and even less will care if your kid is playing soccer at a good D3, for an Ivy, or for UNC nor will they care if your kid gets a job with Google, gets in UPenn med school, or lives in the nicest home in the nicest neighborhood in Weston.

And guess what? The really talented kids can do all that without private school and without athletics. Adjunct Professor of Cannabis Sciences

?....is this a soccer site? i did not realize we were to discuss all the talented kids, including those who blow the flute or study all day for class & SATS? Truly talented kids come in all shapes and sizes, but they ALL are not talked about on TALKING-SOCCER.COM

[Unregistered]

Interesting from region 2. As discussed earlier it will be hard for clubs to sell ECNL as the end of it all and still have strong B teams and provide the necessary for everyone.

http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.co...Soccer+Central)

[Unregistered]

we talk so much on this site about "capitalizing" or "leveraging" soccer skills/teams/coaches into scholarship money and a college education, but when it comes to doing the same for a private school education, the poster gets scoffed at

Interesting...it appears that some of the parents who do believe in the Select Soccer Team/League/Coach strategy that "soccer done well translates into a free education (scholarship)" may have missed out on their first opportunity to apply the strategy

look around at the kids entering 9th grade who have chosen to take advantage of their skills now to pursue an excellent education...many are the top players in the age group, and not necessarily from the wealthiest backgrounds.

bet in 2 to 3 years these are the same kids earning the scholarships and gaining admissions to the schools of their choice..... with or without soccer....

just something to think about....the women you chastise for pursuing private school and ECNL soccer is likely to have the last laugh

are you implying that the 9th graders who don't "take advantage of their soccer skills" aren't pursuing an excellent education? I hope the anyone who has complained here about the uselessness or high price of showcasing isn't sending their kids to private school. unless , of course, they get a full ride....

[Unregistered]

For us the decision which may have started out to be about soccer, has turned into so much more. This may sound a little mushy, but it truly is what we have gained out of the overall experience. As we near the end of the entire process, here are some of my take aways.

I have watched our daughter work hard to achieve a high goal she set for herself and learn that she can do it. Those lessons will transfer into non soccer related goals and that confidence will her believe in herself off the field as well.

I have watched our daughter conduct interviews with coaches and sitting college players. She has looked men and women, who she should have found intimidating, in the eye and answered questions about herself. She has composed her own questions and conducted her own interview back. This I know has readied her for those much more important interviews to come later.

I have watched her suffer setbacks and have to come back from them. She had to work harder than she ever imagined in order to bring herself mentally and physically from a place that she almost felt she couldn't recover. This is how life will work for her in the future and I know that this experience will remind her she can overcome anything and be better and stronger for it in the long run.

I have watched her learn to be responsible enough to travel on her own, be independent and time manage like I never could at her age.

I know that there is so much talk on this site about ROI and scholarships. The scholarship is great, but if she never put a pair of cleats on another time we would not regret one thing we have supported her in her choice to do. She has gained skills that most kids do not develop until a much later age. I believe strongly that our job was to teach her she could do anything and support her in anything that helped build her into a wonderful, confident, successful young woman. Participating in soccer at this level has helped her achieve that.

No family should take the commitment lightly and not everyone can, but I just thought that it might be an idea to post a little something about the non soccer benefits we have seen. The crazy back and forth about ECNL vs NON ECNL is a bit silly. These ECNL teams do the same commitment they always did.. the league name is different, that's all.

Determine the game level that makes sense for your daughter and then determine the commitment level that fits for you as a family. That's where the great experience will be.

[Unregistered]

For us the decision which may have started out to be about soccer, has turned into so much more. This may sound a little mushy, but it truly is what we have gained out of the overall experience. As we near the end of the entire process, here are some of my take aways.

I have watched our daughter work hard to achieve a high goal she set for herself and learn that she can do it. Those lessons will transfer into non soccer related goals and that confidence will her believe in herself off the field as well.

I have watched our daughter conduct interviews with coaches and sitting college players. She has looked men and women, who she should have found intimidating, in the eye and answered questions about herself. She has composed her own questions and conducted her own interview back. This I know has readied her for those much more important interviews to come later.

I have watched her suffer setbacks and have to come back from them. She had to work harder than she ever imagined in order to bring herself mentally and physically from a place that she almost felt she couldn't recover. This is how life will work for her in the future and I know that this experience will remind her she can overcome anything and be better and stronger for it in the long run.

I have watched her learn to be responsible enough to travel on her own, be independent and time manage like I never could at her age.

I know that there is so much talk on this site about ROI and scholarships. The scholarship is great, but if she never put a pair of cleats on another time we would not regret one thing we have supported her in her choice to do. She has gained skills that most kids do not develop until a much later age. I believe strongly that our job was to teach her she could do anything and support her in anything that helped build her into a wonderful, confident, successful young woman. Participating in soccer at this level has helped her achieve that.

No family should take the commitment lightly and not everyone can, but I just thought that it might be an idea to post a little something about the non soccer benefits we have seen. The crazy back and forth about ECNL vs NON ECNL is a bit silly. These ECNL teams do the same commitment they always did.. the league name is different, that's all.

Determine the game level that makes sense for your daughter and then determine the commitment level that fits for you as a family. That's where the great experience will be.

Great post. You nailed it. Regardless of the level that your kid is at.....hopefully this ride (club soccer) that we all have been on will pay dividends off the field. I believe strongly in sports (or other activities) being a metaphor for life. Overcoming challenges, self-assessment, commitment, sacrifice, being team oriented etc. etc. etc. These are the lessons that will stay and will help them as they make their way in the world.

[Unregistered]

Learn as much as you can about the process, the pros and cons and then just trust your gut.

It doesn't fail you. We spend so much time as adults pondering these decisions when the truth is the majority of best decisions we've made for our children have had less to do with what we see on paper and more to do with what we feel in our hearts and in our guts...and teaching our children to trust their guts as well. All the analysis in the world can't get passed what basic instinct and 'gut' can illuminate.

[Unregistered]

For us the decision which may have started out to be about soccer, has turned into so much more. This may sound a little mushy, but it truly is what we have gained out of the overall experience. As we near the end of the entire process, here are some of my take aways.

I have watched our daughter work hard to achieve a high goal she set for herself and learn that she can do it. Those lessons will transfer into non soccer related goals and that confidence will her believe in herself off the field as well.

I have watched our daughter conduct interviews with coaches and sitting college players. She has looked men and women, who she should have found intimidating, in the eye and answered questions about herself. She has composed her own questions and conducted her own interview back. This I know has readied her for those much more important interviews to come later.

I have watched her suffer setbacks and have to come back from them. She had to work harder than she ever imagined in order to bring herself mentally and physically from a place that she almost felt she couldn't recover. This is how life will work for her in the future and I know that this experience will remind her she can overcome anything and be better and stronger for it in the long run.

I have watched her learn to be responsible enough to travel on her own, be independent and time manage like I never could at her age.

I know that there is so much talk on this site about ROI and scholarships. The scholarship is great, but if she never put a pair of cleats on another time we would not regret one thing we have supported her in her choice to do. She has gained skills that most kids do not develop until a much later age. I believe strongly that our job was to teach her she could do anything and support her in anything that helped build her into a wonderful, confident, successful young woman. Participating in soccer at this level has helped her achieve that.

No family should take the commitment lightly and not everyone can, but I just thought that it might be an idea to post a little something about the non soccer benefits we have seen. The crazy back and forth about ECNL vs NON ECNL is a bit silly. These ECNL teams do the same commitment they always did.. the league name is different, that's all.

Determine the game level that makes sense for your daughter and then determine the commitment level that fits for you as a family. That's where the great experience will be.

Thank you. That perfectly describes our family's experience through the process and eloquently put into words, my feelings about our journey.

[Unregistered]

Interesting from region 2. As discussed earlier it will be hard for clubs to sell ECNL as the end of it all and still have strong B teams and provide the necessary for everyone.

http://www.wisconsinsoccercentral.co...Soccer+Central)

Isn't this Lavers ECNL program (aka President of ECNL and founder) so it is interesting that it didn't work with FC Milwaukee. It sounds like there was a lot of internal club turmoil that caused the breakup..will be interesting if the old club can really align with the ECNL teams spin off. This has a lot more importance to the overall future of ECNL....if the pioneer of the ECNl couldn't make it work within an established club, what lies ahead?

[Unregistered]

Isn't this Lavers ECNL program (aka President of ECNL and founder) so it is interesting that it didn't work with FC Milwaukee. It sounds like there was a lot of internal club turmoil that caused the breakup..will be interesting if the old club can really align with the ECNL teams spin off. This has a lot more importance to the overall future of ECNL....if the pioneer of the ECNl couldn't make it work within an established club, what lies ahead?

FC Wisconsin doesn't exist, but here's the info from another thread:

FC Milwaukee and FC Wisconsin Eclipse Joint Statement Regarding ECNL

"FC Milwaukee Nationals, Inc. and Wisconsin Elite Athlete Development, LLC (“WEAD”) are pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2012, the FC Milwaukee ECNL program will be transferred to and operated by WEAD under the name FC Wisconsin Eclipse. FC Wisconsin Eclipse and FC Milwaukee are affiliating with each other and will be working together cooperatively to insure the success of both organizations and to provide opportunities and platforms for players at all ability and interest levels. The transfer and affiliation was done to provide new opportunity and resources for the ECNL players and to increase the chances of success of the players in the ECNL.


Reflecting this close affiliation, the FC Milwaukee name shall be placed on FC Wisconsin Eclipse uniforms and on the FC Wisconsin Eclipse website. Both parties have worked diligently through this process and with the long term success of the players and organizations foremost in mind."

This all sounds a bit strange and vague to me and I am sure that there is more "behind the scenes" goings on that may not be revealed. There is more information at the website found here.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like the parents weren't too happy with under .500 records. Winning is a strong lure.

Unless Stars and Scorps can uprade their respective "B" teams to SC winners they might suffer a similar decline in prestige and profits.

[Unregistered]

If you have the $$ your kid can play!! Bull$%&!!

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

If YOUR KID IS VERY GOOD THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY!! Someone will pick them up and take care of them!! See it all the time.

[Unregistered]

If YOUR KID IS VERY GOOD THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY!! Someone will pick them up and take care of them!! See it all the time.

Yeah, but were is the revenue coming from? Other parents pockets!! Let's just be clear on that..

[Unregistered]

If YOUR KID IS VERY GOOD THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY!! Someone will pick them up and take care of them!! See it all the time.

Yes and we all are aware that in order to this you need a B team or you will not be able to support the real talent. Why do you think the Stars has so many teams. They have to be able to pay for the ECNL and A team costs.

Do they still have an A team? I thought that was the ECNL team and everything else is B C D