Straight ECNL Answers

[Unregistered]

There have been posters from other regions so perhaps that came from one of them.

We have heard that roster composition/playing time is a big issue. We have seen what seems to be a hoarding of talent at positions and then because of the substitution rules the players end up playing far less minutes than they expected. Is this widespread?

I have 2 child in ecnl, and yes I do see significant less play time for some girls. This is extremely competitive and coaches want to win. In some reg season games that do not impact standing of your team ( they want to be in top 16 at the end of season for national tournament ) it does not appear to be a big issue, however in tournaments and especially nationals it does. I will also admit that I didnt notice it as much when my child played a lot, however I have one that plays more then the other...this was new this year and I say this openly , I never really noticed before who did not play...I always assumed everyone played the same or close to the same... I guess I was one of the parents who only noticed my own child! Anyway they don't and that is a fact !

[Unregistered]

I have 2 child in ecnl, and yes I do see significant less play time for some girls. This is extremely competitive and coaches want to win. In some reg season games that do not impact standing of your team ( they want to be in top 16 at the end of season for national tournament ) it does not appear to be a big issue, however in tournaments and especially nationals it does. I will also admit that I didnt notice it as much when my child played a lot, however I have one that plays more then the other...this was new this year and I say this openly , I never really noticed before who did not play...I always assumed everyone played the same or close to the same... I guess I was one of the parents who only noticed my own child! Anyway they don't and that is a fact !

Unfortunatly, for those families who flocked to the ecnl teams, it may take a season to figure this out and see it for themselves. Unless they are happy with it and don't mind the reduced playing time, or being told to sit out an event. But I believe you. There will absolutley be diminished playing time for players on teams that carry large rosters, let alone being told not to worry about attending this game or that event. How can it not happen? This was something we looked at when my daughter was being recruited.

[Unregistered]

For those of us in New England, you do not have to go far to find an ECNL club that rosters as many as 26 players. CFC has at least 2 ECNL teams with 26 players on the roster and I think they have more than 20 on all their ECNL teams.

CFC apparently learned its lesson. All its 2012-13 ECNL rosters have only 20-22.

[Unregistered]

CFC apparently learned its lesson. All its 2012-13 ECNL rosters have only 20-22.

If players 19-22 or 26 or whatever were taken on as practice players, then I wouldn't have to much of a problem. But if the extra players were actual team players, all expecting to play and attend all events, then I think it becomes an issue.

[Unregistered]

Scorpions u13 will be rostering 19 to their ECNL team. The team was told that only 15 will be traveling and bottom 4 will be left at home. At least everyone will know where they stand pretty quickly.

[Unregistered]

Scorpions u13 will be rostering 19 to their ECNL team. The team was told that only 15 will be traveling and bottom 4 will be left at home. At least everyone will know where they stand pretty quickly.

Good con men never answer their critics, they just keep feeding what their marks want to hear.

Leaving players at home is really developing the players for the future ? It is obvious that the players aren't being served, just the club , the league and the brand.

[Unregistered]

Scorpions u13 will be rostering 19 to their ECNL team. The team was told that only 15 will be traveling and bottom 4 will be left at home. At least everyone will know where they stand pretty quickly.

Serious questions. How many of those 15 U13's are actually on track to play at some level in D1 in college? Why are they travelling at this point? What do the parents of the players on the bench believe they will get by participating in the team and the travel it will undertake?

A couple of broader questions. How many of the older ECNL parent honestly feel that participating in the ECNL ALTERED the path that their daughter was on? Do many parents feel as though participating in the ECNL was the one thing that enabled their daughter to make it to the college level if they were not already heading in that direction? Is there anyone who feels that the level of college that their daughter ultimately landed at was somehow improved by playing in the ECNL all by itself without any other outside influences?

[Unregistered]

If players 19-22 or 26 or whatever were taken on as practice players, then I wouldn't have to much of a problem. But if the extra players were actual team players, all expecting to play and attend all events, then I think it becomes an issue.

All this talk of roster numbers becomes moot rather quickly after the high school season when injuries abound and affect roster sizes for the winter and spring seasons. Injuries continue throughout the year and I saw many teams with extremely small benches throughout the season. This happens quickly with rosters of 19-20. Of course rosters of 26 probably did not have that issue.

[Unregistered]

Scorpions u13 will be rostering 19 to their ECNL team. The team was told that only 15 will be traveling and bottom 4 will be left at home. At least everyone will know where they stand pretty quickly.

I would guess that the "bottom 4" are not left at home for each event, but rather that the 4 that are left home will change for each event.

[Unregistered]

One issue that parents don't necessarily understand until it is too late is the heavy recruiting model doesn't actually benefit the players much. In college at the end of the year there is always a number of players that graduate so there are holes to fill. At this level all heavy recruiting does is create more competition for playing time. It stinks to get injured in that sort of environment because you have to rehab and fight to get your minutes back.

[Unregistered]

The biggest problem we saw on our ECNL with a roster of twenty is the stress among the girls in talking about who might have to sit out and wear bluejeans on the sidelines, even tho they paid the airfare etc...and worse, invited some college coaches, not knowing if they'd play or not. This is the biggest disservice. If a ECNL team is rostering more than they can play at 18, they need to be upfront with the girls and not make them pay the cost of travel. College even do this well ahead with their traveling teams. So be cautious of this in teen years already tough enough at this level.

What kind of idiot would fly to Chicago with their family only to have their kid sit on the sidelines? Oh wait. Sorry, I know the answer.

You people get the wrong results from your kid's soccer experience because you are in it for the wrong reasons.

[Unregistered]

I would guess that the "bottom 4" are not left at home for each event, but rather that the 4 that are left home will change for each event.

From what I'm told the talent drops off dramatically after 8-10 top players. The back end of the roster is interchangeable and can lead to weekly changes on who is on the bottom. I certainly can see a scenario where players rotate as to who goes and who stays home. Doesn't do much for team chemistry however. If your going to limit your roster size then only take that amount and let others develop on a second team full time. Jmo

[Unregistered]

The biggest problem we saw on our ECNL with a roster of twenty is the stress among the girls in talking about who might have to sit out and wear bluejeans on the sidelines, even tho they paid the airfare etc...and worse, invited some college coaches, not knowing if they'd play or not.

Seriously? Only a very poorly managed team would handle things that way. Players should be told well in advance whether they are going to be on the 18-player game roster. If the same players are going to be "off roster" for all games of an event, they should be told sufficiently in advance so they don't have to make travel arrangements. I think at most ECNL clubs, if they have more than 18 healthy players, they only take 18 to the event and the players who don't make the roster are rotated for each event.

[Unregistered]

rosters are a touchy subject, ecnl or not. high school age kids get injured, and teams quickly find themselves scrambling for players. the larger clubs have an advantage of a second team to pull players up, although in my experience few teams utilize this option much.

[Unregistered]

The problem with threads like these is that the minute someone disagrees with someone else bashing begins. If you look at roster size and substitution rules you know playing time will not be equal. You also should know if 18 is the max roster size for a game and there are more than 18 on the team, some kids won't play. This is top level competitive soccer-clubs, teams, players want to win. That's what they are selling. Families with realistic expectations and an understanding of their players place on the team from the onset are more likely to have a positive experience that those pdsmilies with unrealistic expectations. Like anything else you will find satisfied and dissatisfied CuSTOMERS.