The ECNL Sales Pitch - Fact or Fiction

[Unregistered]

Wonder how many of these are like the UConn commitment. Not in press release. What do we think that means?

Yep, you're right. These clubs like to list players that aren't even playing or going to be playing soccer at their colleges. Like Mewis #1, Mewis #2, Brock, McCaffery, Gavin, Ryan, Andrew, Clinton, Williams, Berman, Dowd, Persson....

[Unregistered]

LMAO.. All of this chatter all these years and they got to show for it is four kids going to top 20 programs. The way their parents have gone on you would have thought they were sending their entire line up to UNC instead of a bunch of low level programs without money.

[Unregistered]

LMAO.. All of this chatter all these years and they got to show for it is four kids going to top 20 programs. The way their parents have gone on you would have thought they were sending their entire line up to UNC instead of a bunch of low level programs without money.

You must have very high standards. Your kid playing at Stanford? Distorting again. 4 in ONE YEAR. 6 in ONE YEAR in top 50, 9 in ONE YEAR in top 100. 16 out of 19 in ONE YEAR to D1 programs. And for those that say it is only the 2011 or this case the 2012 year, feel free to check out their commitments already for 2013 and 2014. A little more than 4, but why stop yourself from being a liar?

[Unregistered]

Stars Class of 2012 * From Stars Website

Penn State U18G ECNL - D1 - #9 - All League, All-Scholastic, All State, All Region, All American - Top Drawer - NR - 4 Stars
Boston College U18G ECNL - D1 - #13 - All League, All-Scholastic, All State, All Region, ODP RP - Top Drawer - NR - 4 Stars
Maryland U18G ECNL - D1 - #16 - All League, League MVP, All-Scholastic, All State, All Region, ODP RP & RT - Top Drawer - NR - 4 Stars
Maryland U18G ECNL - D1 - #16 - All League, All Section, ODP RP - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Boston University U18G West - D1 - #31 MVP, All Section - Top Drawer - NR - 0 Stars
Georgetown U18G ECNL - D1 - #44 - All League, All State - Top Drawer - NR - 0 Stars
Michigan State U18G ECNL - D1 - #54 - Team MVP, League All Star, All State, ODP RP, ECNL All Event - Top Drawer - NR - 0 Stars
University of Connecticut U18G ECNL - D1 - #85 - Not in press release - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
St. John’s University U18G ECNL - D1 - #93 - HM All Conference - Top Drawer - No record
Rutgers U18G ECNL - D1 - #121 - Team MVP, All League, All-Scholastic, All State - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Monmouth University U18G ECNL - D1 - #146 - All League, All-Scholastic, All State, All Region, ECNL MVP - Top Drawer - No record
Northeastern U18G ECNL - D1 - #150 - All League, All State, ODP - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Northeastern University U18G ECNL - D1 - #150 - All League, League MVP, All-Scholastic - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Northwestern University U18G ECNL - D1 - #202 - All League, League MVP, All State, All Region, ECNL All Event - Top Drawer - NR - 0 Stars
University of New Hampshire U18G ECNL - D1 - #258 - ID2 - Top Drawer - NR - 0 Stars
College of St. Rose U18G ECNL - D2 - #1 - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Southern New Hampshire U18G West - D2 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Southern New Hampshire U18G West - D2 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
American International College U18G West - D2 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Assumption College U18G Utd - D2 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Williams College U18G ECNL - D3 - #11 - Top Drawer - NR - 3 Stars
Vassar College U18G Utd - D3 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Hamilton College U18G Utd - D3 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Dickinson College U18G Utd - D3 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Hamilton College U18G Utd - D3 - NR - Top Drawer - No record
Westfield State U18G Utd - D3 - NR - Top Drawer - No record

** Accolades based upon information contained in write up from each college's recruiting class press release

[b]Top Drawer Star Ratings[b]

5 - Stars - Best of the Best - A player who ranks in the highest percentile of his peers and is coveted by coaches and scouts, pro and college alike. Such a player has command of the technical, tactical, mental and physical elements of the game, including the emotional maturity to handle success and be a good team member. These players also possess all the intangibles that make them the best of the best.

4 - Stars - Very Strong - Some of the strongest players who are always among the most exceptional footballers on the field. These players may be progressing toward a 5-star designation, and are still attracting a lot of attention for their considerable abilities on the field. 4-star players are still major difference-makers on the pitch.

3 - Stars - Strong - Very good players who, while not as talented as their 4 and 5-star teammates, can make a difference in a match and tend to stand out on the field These players may be less developed in one of the 4 key areas (technical, tactical, physical, mental) however they will still be fairly strong in most of them.

2 - Star - Good - Talented players who need further development in key areas of the game. 2-star players are often those who are still defining their game. These players can still fulfill specific needs for a team and help provide the glue that every team needs. A 2-star players needs to be scouted further by TopDrawerSoccer.com.

1 - Star - Fair - These players are often just beginning to make their mark. A 1-star player has unrealized potential still being tapped into that could lead to good things down the line. These players may still have a valuable role, both as a developing player and as an established team member. A 1-star players needs to scouted further by TopDrawerSoccer.com


Analysis

4 Star prospects 3 - 12%
3 Star prospects 7 - 27%
0 Star prospects 5 - 19%
Unrated prospects 12 - 46%

26 commitments over 3 teams (50 2012's on rosters) - 52% (after adjusting for 3:1 turnover ratio - 17%)
15 D1 - 58%
5 D2 - 19%
6 D3 - 23%

15 D1 commitments
Top 10 - 1 - 7%
Top 11- 25 - 3 - 20%
Top 26- 50 - 2 - 13%
Top 51-100 - 3 - 20%
Top 101-200- 4 - 27%
Topt 200+ - 2 - 13%

ECNL - 19 2012's - 16 College Commitments - 84%
UTD - 17 2012's - 6 College Commitments - 35%
West - 14 2012's - 4 College Commitments - 28%

I'm still thinking about the turnover. I wonder if they ONLY went through 150 players. Wouldn't be surprised if the ratio was actually more like 4 or 5 to 1. Makes those commitment percentage look awfully small when you think they may have gone through as many as 250 players to find the 4 players they are sending to top programs. Think about if the cost only averaged out to $10K a player over the whole group. The numbers are stagging for such a little return.

[Unregistered]

I will start this post with one unarguable fact--data can be used to support any conclusion.

My conclusion from reading all these posts.

1. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think its the best route, and do not seem to mind the associated costs.

2. Those not involved with ECNL and posting on this board think ECNL is a waste of time and money, and that non-ECNL route is much cheaper while admitting that the ECNL people drive nicer cars.

3. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think anyone in disagreement with point 1 must not have a kid skilled enough to make an ECNL team.

4. A poster called BTDT posts logged in or not, and the ECNL folks that post on this board do not agree with his opinions/points of view even if he makes a valid point.

[Unregistered]

I will start this post with one unarguable fact--data can be used to support any conclusion.

My conclusion from reading all these posts.

1. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think its the best route, and do not seem to mind the associated costs.

2. Those not involved with ECNL and posting on this board think ECNL is a waste of time and money, and that non-ECNL route is much cheaper while admitting that the ECNL people drive nicer cars.

3. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think anyone in disagreement with point 1 must not have a kid skilled enough to make an ECNL team.

4. A poster called BTDT posts logged in or not, and the ECNL folks that post on this board do not agree with his opinions/points of view even if he makes a valid point.

2. is not a fact. where there are cheaper non-ECNL routes there are also equivalent and/or more expensive non-ECNL routes.

[Unregistered]

I'm still thinking about the turnover. I wonder if they ONLY went through 150 players. Wouldn't be surprised if the ratio was actually more like 4 or 5 to 1. Makes those commitment percentage look awfully small when you think they may have gone through as many as 250 players to find the 4 players they are sending to top programs. Think about if the cost only averaged out to $10K a player over the whole group. The numbers are stagging for such a little return.

Here's a strategy. Ignore all of the posts that counter your opinion, and then distort the crap out of the numbers. Only 4 players now? 16 out of 19 to D1 with more than half in top 100? In ONE YEAR. And the turnover thing is very misleading. Do you think any kids who left might still have played college soccer somewhere, but you're only going to use those numbers to try to dilute the overall percentage? Is your club that apparently is free have results anywhere even near the ballpark of these results you decry? Simple solution. Avoid these clubs at all costs. They'll be just fine.

[Unregistered]

I will start this post with one unarguable fact--data can be used to support any conclusion.

My conclusion from reading all these posts.

1. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think its the best route, and do not seem to mind the associated costs.

2. Those not involved with ECNL and posting on this board think ECNL is a waste of time and money, and that non-ECNL route is much cheaper while admitting that the ECNL people drive nicer cars.

3. Those involved with ECNL and posting on this board think anyone in disagreement with point 1 must not have a kid skilled enough to make an ECNL team.

4. A poster called BTDT posts logged in or not, and the ECNL folks that post on this board do not agree with his opinions/points of view even if he makes a valid point.

#4 -- Please direct us to one of his points that is valid, meaning one that makes a point not used to then draw some completely distorted and illogical conclusion. Take your time. I'll give you until Xmas.

[Unregistered]

What you are implying is that only 3 out of the 50 players got any significant athletic money. My travel budget for the ECNL team came out to close to $25K and only 3 kids cashed in. That IS a scam.

It is important to know that many players that attend top 10 schools are thankful for a roster spot and many see no money at all. Mid majors give out a lot of money for 3-4 star players. These are the schools that give full rides for top players.

[Unregistered]

#4 -- Please direct us to one of his points that is valid, meaning one that makes a point not used to then draw some completely distorted and illogical conclusion. Take your time. I'll give you until Xmas.

Here is one, his daughter has already made national team and she didn't need ecnl. Talent is talent but at any given moment the fire can go out so enjoy it while you can. Local news interviews say she has aspirations for a d1 school but she has to keep working hard to get there. Btdt has said it time and time again to enjoy the ride as you never know where it will take you. A good approach he even said in the interview is to not to put to much pressure on the kids as they are still young and they need to figure out how to improve on there own.

[Unregistered]

I'm still thinking about the turnover. I wonder if they ONLY went through 150 players. Wouldn't be surprised if the ratio was actually more like 4 or 5 to 1. Makes those commitment percentage look awfully small when you think they may have gone through as many as 250 players to find the 4 players they are sending to top programs. Think about if the cost only averaged out to $10K a player over the whole group. The numbers are stagging for such a little return.

How many did they RECRUIT to play for them.. after they were studs..
Glory Glory Hullabaloo All to make a buck.. jump on

[Unregistered]

Here is one, his daughter has already made national team and she didn't need ecnl. Talent is talent but at any given moment the fire can go out so enjoy it while you can. Local news interviews say she has aspirations for a d1 school but she has to keep working hard to get there. Btdt has said it time and time again to enjoy the ride as you never know where it will take you. A good approach he even said in the interview is to not to put to much pressure on the kids as they are still young and they need to figure out how to improve on there own.

"has said time and time again to enjoy the ride" and "not too much pressure"? I guess that's why he told his first daughter she couldn't play and wouldn't have his support unless she went D1 or D2 and got soccer money and that D3, even at a great school, was unacceptable if she wanted to play soccer. So he cornered her into FDU and now she apparently is at the lowest level of D3 maybe as a backup.

This is where you and he are wrong. It's not about NEEDING ECNL. Kids and families at that level don't go in being duped. They want to play at that level. No one, and I mean no one in the last 50 pages on this thread and all of the other similar threads has downed NEFC or said players shouldn't play there. The obsession with Stars and Scorps has become an actual sickness.

[Unregistered]

BTW, what does an "elite" team at NEFC cost, when you include all the tournaments, all the travel, airfare, hotels, food, at least one parent, tolls, tolls again (because someone really seems to be on to the tolls thing), private training, ODP, gifts for the coaches, snacks at Lancaster, the BB and PM slush fund, and fireside chats with btdt??? What is the grand total?

And how many top 10, top 25, top 50, and top 100 players has NEFC produced (and of course only full rides count)???

[Unregistered]

Wonder how many of these are like the UConn commitment. Not in press release. What do we think that means?

I'm friends with the family. Parents and prep school wanted a small D3 school. Daughter ignored the recruiting process, wanting to play D1. She attended a prospect camp late senior year, after Feb signing date, and commitment happened quickly thereafter. Kid has played U17 + U18 at a high level since her freshman year, playing any position on the pitch. Wouldn't surprise me if she plays lacrosse at UConn as well as soccer

If you really want to know ask her father. He'll likely give you the entire story in full detail.

[Unregistered]

Do you really think any of the girls or boys going to the Ivy League school would get in without soccer help? You are clueless!!!!!

That is the ONLY way they got in.