The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

Guest players? Really? How do they get passcards? (Methinks someone who deosn't really know is writing this)

Technically known as Discovery Player--not guest player. See the ECNL bylaws for full explanation.

[Unregistered]

DYOR you need to DYOR.

How do you know that the new players are good enough to make the team if you don't have your best going against them?

Every player brings a unique set of skill to a team. If I know the standard that I am looking for (ie those possessed by returning players) I don't need to have them there to evaluate prospective players. It's not like they are going to line up and run a 40 - fastest 18 make it. Coaches are judging against subjective criteria - eg touch, judgement, control. They know what standard their team has played at all year.

If there are a handful of players I am considering replacing, it will be because they have some deficiencies in their games that we were unable to bring up to par in the previous season (could be skill, attitude, decision making or athleticism). If I see a player at tryouts who I judge will be able to meet the standards in the other areas and doesn't appear to have the weakness then that player is a good candidate to replace the original player.

DYOR

[Unregistered]

Let's see you can see them play in ECLN, ODP, R1PL, state cup or any number of matches at Lancaster. ECLN level talent is easy to ID.

Actually not so easy. Been at Lancaster at the same times and I they generally blend in and are not different than other players. My guess is they are "special" during game time.

[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?

As a parent of an ECNL player in the Midwest, I have been following this thread and the thread about FC Wisconsin/FC Milwaukee in the Wisconsin forum. As a disclaimer, my daughter is not a player at FC Wisconsin fka FC Milwaukee. There are a lot of misconceptions and half-truths being written here. I don't have the time to get into all of it but I will say that the experience has been great for my kid. The expereince of the kid is reliant on many factors - trainers, club environment, effort level of that the kid puts in, the kids' love & enthusiasm for the game, etc. It doesn't matter if the club is ECNL, a club with teams that play in USYSA leagues, or whatever. There are going to be good and bad situations in all environments and what may a great experience for one kid in one enviorment may be a bad experience for another kid in the exact same enviornment. The key is finding what works best for your kid.

Anyway, back to the ECNL. We have found it to not be a lot more money as others here have stated and, in some instances, things have been less. I have an older daughter that is a junior playing at a DIII school and when she played the majority of her club soccer at the same club her younger sister is now with, the played in the RII USYSA Premier league which is known as the MRL. We have friends that have daughters playing in this league at other clubs and their kids do pay as much as we do. their travel situation is generally a lot more muddled also. For us, we put our kids on a bus for away games. It makes things nice for me because we don't need to attend unless we really want to. The stress levels have been considerably lower.

As far as Lavers and the situation in Milwaukee is concerned; I don't think that there was a lot of "internal club turmoil that caused the breakup.." as the poster above has written. It sounds like there is still a close affiliation with FC Milwaukee and some sort of a collaborative effort with the Eclipse. I am reserving any sort of comment or opinion on all of it until I know more. Here is the web page of the new club. If you look at the left-hand side you will see the logos of both the Eclipse and FC Milwaukee. If there was really internal club turmoil I don't think that FC Milwaukee would be featured on the web page. Additionally, FC Milwaukee's facilities are still being used. Essentially I think it is the same club but is dressed differently. I agree with what others have said in that thread (here is the thread) and that this is probably an effort to increase the size of the player pool. I do agree, however, that it is an interesting devlopment and is one that is worth keeping an eye on.

[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?

As a parent of an ECNL player in the Midwest, I have been following this thread and the thread about FC Wisconsin/FC Milwaukee in the Wisconsin forum. As a disclaimer, my daughter is not a player at FC Wisconsin fka FC Milwaukee. There are a lot of misconceptions and half-truths being written here. I don't have the time to get into all of it but I will say that the experience has been great for my kid. The expereince of the kid is reliant on many factors - trainers, club environment, effort level of that the kid puts in, the kids' love & enthusiasm for the game, etc. It doesn't matter if the club is ECNL, a club with teams that play in USYSA leagues, or whatever. There are going to be good and bad situations in all environments and what may a great experience for one kid in one enviorment may be a bad experience for another kid in the exact same enviornment. The key is finding what works best for your kid.

Anyway, back to the ECNL. We have found it to not be a lot more money as others here have stated and, in some instances, things have been less. I have an older daughter that is a junior playing at a DIII school and when she played the majority of her club soccer at the same club her younger sister is now with, the played in the RII USYSA Premier league which is known as the MRL. We have friends that have daughters playing in this league at other clubs and their kids do pay as much as we do. their travel situation is generally a lot more muddled also. For us, we put our kids on a bus for away games. It makes things nice for me because we don't need to attend unless we really want to. The stress levels have been considerably lower.

As far as Lavers and the situation in Milwaukee is concerned; I don't think that there was a lot of "internal club turmoil that caused the breakup.." as the poster above has written. It sounds like there is still a close affiliation with FC Milwaukee and some sort of a collaborative effort with the Eclipse. I am reserving any sort of comment or opinion on all of it until I know more. Here is the web page of the new club. If you look at the left-hand side you will see the logos of both the Eclipse and FC Milwaukee. If there was really internal club turmoil I don't think that FC Milwaukee would be featured on the web page. Additionally, FC Milwaukee's facilities are still being used. Essentially I think it is the same club but is dressed differently. I agree with what others have said in that thread (here is the thread) and that this is probably an effort to increase the size of the player pool. I do agree, however, that it is an interesting devlopment and is one that is worth keeping an eye on.

[Unregistered]

Every player brings a unique set of skill to a team. If I know the standard that I am looking for (ie those possessed by returning players) I don't need to have them there to evaluate prospective players. It's not like they are going to line up and run a 40 - fastest 18 make it. Coaches are judging against subjective criteria - eg touch, judgement, control. They know what standard their team has played at all year.

If there are a handful of players I am considering replacing, it will be because they have some deficiencies in their games that we were unable to bring up to par in the previous season (could be skill, attitude, decision making or athleticism). If I see a player at tryouts who I judge will be able to meet the standards in the other areas and doesn't appear to have the weakness then that player is a good candidate to replace the original player.

DYOR

If ECNL is so advanced, the other leagues will not be a good measure stick. Don't you want also players showing up to see what they will be part of? I get it. They are trying out for something so out of this world that is invisible.

[Unregistered]

If ECNL is so advanced, the other leagues will not be a good measure stick. Don't you want also players showing up to see what they will be part of? I get it. They are trying out for something so out of this world that is invisible.

lol.

I wasn't debating whether or not having returning players at tryouts was a good policy. I was just arguing that there was minimal benefit to having there for evaluation purposes.

You are right, it is important for returning players to be there to show people trying out where the level is.

BTW, as far as I know for both Stars and Scorps, returning players are required to attend tryouts just like everyone else.

DYOR

[Unregistered]

Quality Coaching

glad you posted up 3)Quality Coaching. The Scorps teams could boast even better teams if Marks could keep a team together for more than a year or not get voted out by his own teams as Head Coach (including Mewis'). Very negative guy. Too bad. Caldwell is leaving too. Says its because he wants to go back to school or something?..think he wants to disassociate without burning a bridge. He seems like a good guy. Too bad they are losing him.
The reason the teams stats are so good for scholarships is because they have no loyalty to A- quality players that help build the program year after year and a lack of other quality+ Clubs in the South Shore area.
He seems to blow up the teams every year to claim any kid they can and promise the scholarships and opportunities like it is Scorps alone that is providing it. The club relation defiantely helps but, then why don't most of the ECNL teams even post their stats? The kids provide their own opportunities through hard work in school, the field, and a love for the game in my eyes. I'm sure Mewis would be well noticed on a NEP team if she decided to play there too. Isn't that what College Showcases and are for ?

[Unregistered]

Just because a player was brought on to ECNL at age 15 or 16 doesn't mean they should be given a pass to have a spot of the squad at 17 or 18. Many girls fade in these later years, and others from non-ECNL clubs deserve a shot. Really wonder if an ECNL team could be stronger if they cull out the bottom two or three and bring on new replacements to keep everyone on their toes. Too much mediocrity is allowed by players given a pass. With all the "great development" offered by the so called ECNL model, no player should be allowed to be less than top of the game....So if they aren't, time to move them down to premier and give other players a chance...get rid of politics.

[Unregistered]

Just because a player was brought on to ECNL at age 15 or 16 doesn't mean they should be given a pass to have a spot of the squad at 17 or 18. Many girls fade in these later years, and others from non-ECNL clubs deserve a shot. Really wonder if an ECNL team could be stronger if they cull out the bottom two or three and bring on new replacements to keep everyone on their toes. Too much mediocrity is allowed by players given a pass. With all the "great development" offered by the so called ECNL model, no player should be allowed to be less than top of the game....So if they aren't, time to move them down to premier and give other players a chance...get rid of politics.

First people were getting on the ECNL teams because they were too cutthroat and there was no loyalty. Now you are upset because they are not cutthroat enough.

Which is it?

[Unregistered]

Fiction

They made a league with great competition but the truth is, kids rostered on ECNL who are given college scholarships would have achieved this without the ECNL label. It makes one stop shopping easier for college recruiting purposes, but I am not convinced that if you followed 10 players of EQUAL club status, caliber, talent, drive and aspirations to play in college that ECNL would have any more or less players committed at the end of the day. The kid still has to do the homework, contact the coach, keep academics a priority, etc. etc. etc.

May not be true for the smaller clubs but for clubs of equal size and ranking -- I'm betting it is a wash.

[Unregistered]

Just because a player was brought on to ECNL at age 15 or 16 doesn't mean they should be given a pass to have a spot of the squad at 17 or 18. Many girls fade in these later years, and others from non-ECNL clubs deserve a shot. Really wonder if an ECNL team could be stronger if they cull out the bottom two or three and bring on new replacements to keep everyone on their toes. Too much mediocrity is allowed by players given a pass. With all the "great development" offered by the so called ECNL model, no player should be allowed to be less than top of the game....So if they aren't, time to move them down to premier and give other players a chance...get rid of politics.

If the coaches want to get rid of someone they will. Replacing the bottom 2 or 3 with someone slightly better isn't going to get you anywhere. Most kids don't want to move clubs at 17 and 18 anyways.

[Unregistered]

They made a league with great competition but the truth is, kids rostered on ECNL who are given college scholarships would have achieved this without the ECNL label. It makes one stop shopping easier for college recruiting purposes, but I am not convinced that if you followed 10 players of EQUAL club status, caliber, talent, drive and aspirations to play in college that ECNL would have any more or less players committed at the end of the day. The kid still has to do the homework, contact the coach, keep academics a priority, etc. etc. etc.

May not be true for the smaller clubs but for clubs of equal size and ranking -- I'm betting it is a wash.

Are the commitments roughly equivalent? That would evidence a wash.

[Unregistered]

First people were getting on the ECNL teams because they were too cutthroat and there was no loyalty. Now you are upset because they are not cutthroat enough.

Which is it?

This comment is really ....stupid. We aren't talking cut-throat...you saying this is what is wrong with the sport of soccer....fairness, no politics, developing skills, nothing else should matter...people like you whoever you are are what people are upset wit. Straight forward fairness communication between players with honesty...this is what is needed in the league....

[Unregistered]

If the coaches want to get rid of someone they will. Replacing the bottom 2 or 3 with someone slightly better isn't going to get you anywhere. Most kids don't want to move clubs at 17 and 18 anyways.

You are missing the point....if ECNL is for the best, then the players that lose interest should be downgraded....their is no guarantee that a player who was good at 14 will stay and improve at 18