ECRL2 - Looking at the list of clubs

[Guest]

Two teams in same league, that’s the level
It should make no difference that one team is a lesser club’s top team and the other is a higher club’s 5th team.

It should make no difference, but every now and then it does. The higher club has way better connections and every now and then they get a “who else you got?” call. Not often, but better then never

[Guest]

Two teams in same league, that’s the level
It should make no difference that one team is a lesser club’s top team and the other is a higher club’s 5th team.

It should make no difference, but every now and then it does. The higher club has way better connections and every now and then they get a “who else you got?” call. Not often, but better then never

What can happen is they say “how about xyz on our other team?” - because those in charge of the top teams do in fact look out for the 2nd teams. Experienced it.

[Guest]

Still selling the “you kid can play in college” scam.

Stars White RL had 3 commits this year.

[Guest]

Stars Regional teams always have college commits.
You may not think the college or team is impressive but they do have commits.
The regional teams coming up will also be stronger with the impending demise of DPL and Impact. D1 players will be on National teams at Stars, Select, Scorpions, NEFC. D2 and D3 players will be Stars regional teams.

GA2 and ECRL 2 will be watered down crap.
Don’t confuse GA2 and ECRL2 teams with Stars regional teams.

[Guest]

Stars Regional teams always have college commits.
You may not think the college or team is impressive but they do have commits.
The regional teams coming up will also be stronger with the impending demise of DPL and Impact. D1 players will be on National teams at Stars, Select, Scorpions, NEFC. D2 and D3 players will be Stars regional teams.

GA2 and ECRL 2 will be watered down crap.
Don’t confuse GA2 and ECRL2 teams with Stars regional teams.

If you can play R at a stronger club like Stars or PDA that makes sense for the right level player. Like you said it won't be top soccer programs for recruiting but still.some good schools. if families are happy with the outcome well that is the end goal. Playing R at a weak club like FSA? May as well set your cash on fire.

[Guest]

Still selling the “you kid can play in college” scam.

Stars White RL had 3 commits this year.

How many do Stars Blue R have?

[Guest]

From another thread here:

Have a look at the list at this page, scroll down to see the list of 2023 FC Stars commits. It is already sorted by team and shows the colleges. Is it what you expected, from talking to other parents and/or from reading this forum?
https://www.starsofma.org/alumni-commitments

ECNL Blue - 16
ECNL White - 9
ECNL Boys - 3
Regional Blue - 10
Regional White - 3
Regional Boys - 2
Impact - 8
Other - 2
NH EDP Blue - 11

[Guest]

ECNL regional blue (except for 07) is the best path for kids development and competition for kids who want to plays soccer in college not D1.

Stars Blue national best of the best
Nefc Ga national second best
(sometimes) Select GA
^^^^ above for the D1 hopefuls

Select GA
Scorpions National
Star blue regional
nefc DPL (or GA2? )
^^^^^ above best for D2 and d3 commits

everything else waste of money

[Guest]

It's only a waste of money if your expectations are off. Anyone can play college soccer somewhere, and any club could boast they have a kid playing soccer at... <whatever program you disdain>.
As long as they are having fun, and parents are getting what they want (convenience, play another sport, etc) .

Many club soccer families are seeking some type of college boost - financial or admission.
If that's the expectation or goal, then yes, paying clubs outside the below list is a giant waste of money.

[Guest]

We aren’t hoping for D1, D2 though is our target because yes they do offer partial scholarships. We are not ECNL regional 1 or 2, we are with a strong impact team. Is this possible?

[Guest]

We aren’t hoping for D1, D2 though is our target because yes they do offer partial scholarships. We are not ECNL regional 1 or 2, we are with a strong impact team. Is this possible?

Yes. You and your player will want to have a good understanding of the process and put in a significant amount of consistent effort.
- contacting coaches
- ID camps
- what it's like to play soccer at that level in college

Get advice from someone you trust on your player's specifics.

Also, GK recruiting vs field players has another level of complexity.

[Guest]

If your kid is on a top Impact team for their age group, top as in top 4 going to playoffs and your kid is not a bench warmer then they are likely at the same level as many ECRL teams and probably better than the new ECRL Northeast teams that will be coming out.
if so I would think about having them try out for the ECRL teams as they will get more opportunities and looks as they get older than impact or DPL. Even if their impact team is ranked higher than the ECRL team the ECRL team if they are in top 4 of their league get more opportunities and looks at their events than top 4 DPL or impact teams.

[Guest]

Yes. You and your player will want to have a good understanding of the process and put in a significant amount of consistent effort.
- contacting coaches
- ID camps
- what it's like to play soccer at that level in college

Get advice from someone you trust on your player's specifics.

Also, GK recruiting vs field players has another level of complexity.

In terms of the GK piece, is this something you have experience with yourself? My daughter is a GK and it’s her goal (no pun) to play in college…she’d love D1 but would be just as happy with D2. If you have any advice, I’d love to hear it.

[Guest]

In terms of the GK piece, is this something you have experience with yourself? My daughter is a GK and it’s her goal (no pun) to play in college…she’d love D1 but would be just as happy with D2. If you have any advice, I’d love to hear it.

Different poster with one GK in college. Here's the cold hard realties:

- Each team will be looking to add at most one GK per year. They might even already have too may/enough that they don't need one for her graduating year. In contrast, each team will be looking to add anywhere from 5-10 field players a year. Yes there's more field players trying to land those spots but your odds are still better than getting the one GK spot. For any position a program will have 15+ players they are hot on/are tracking

- Being a GK is college is not club. For the most part a coach has his starting GK and the others get token minutes at best. Say goodbye to the 2 GKs each getting a half a game o every other game. You're battling for the starting position with at least 2-3 others. Just baseed on observation, no data poer s, the drop out/transfer rate for GKs seems to be much higher than field players.

- Many coaches will promise the moon when recruiting - you're their top pick, for sure you'll be playing blah blah blah. They're part used car salesmen

- Because of the above, the importance of targeting well for a GK is greater than ever. She will have to cast a very wide net in terms of soccer fit. You two can start just by looking at some rosters of teams she might want to target later. Many will include where they players was before college. If their players have loads of accolades and came from top national clubs but your D isn't? Keep looking.


I've no idea or your D's academics but don't rule out D3. They need GKs also. Sure there's no athletic money but most D3s are pretty generous with merit $ if you're a good academic target for them. The advantage of merit $ is it sticks all four years if you maintain your GPA. Athletic money can disappear because it's annually renewed - only the top P5 conferences have guarantees. Also if she quits or is pushed out the $ goes away (technically a scholarship athlete can't be cut, but coaches will make it clear when you're not wanted). D3 sports also offer a more balanced experience or more time for study abroad and internships


hope that helps

[Guest]

Different poster with one GK in college. Here's the cold hard realties:

- Each team will be looking to add at most one GK per year. They might even already have too may/enough that they don't need one for her graduating year. In contrast, each team will be looking to add anywhere from 5-10 field players a year. Yes there's more field players trying to land those spots but your odds are still better than getting the one GK spot. For any position a program will have 15+ players they are hot on/are tracking

- Being a GK is college is not club. For the most part a coach has his starting GK and the others get token minutes at best. Say goodbye to the 2 GKs each getting a half a game o every other game. You're battling for the starting position with at least 2-3 others. Just baseed on observation, no data poer s, the drop out/transfer rate for GKs seems to be much higher than field players.

- Many coaches will promise the moon when recruiting - you're their top pick, for sure you'll be playing blah blah blah. They're part used car salesmen

- Because of the above, the importance of targeting well for a GK is greater than ever. She will have to cast a very wide net in terms of soccer fit. You two can start just by looking at some rosters of teams she might want to target later. Many will include where they players was before college. If their players have loads of accolades and came from top national clubs but your D isn't? Keep looking.


I've no idea or your D's academics but don't rule out D3. They need GKs also. Sure there's no athletic money but most D3s are pretty generous with merit $ if you're a good academic target for them. The advantage of merit $ is it sticks all four years if you maintain your GPA. Athletic money can disappear because it's annually renewed - only the top P5 conferences have guarantees. Also if she quits or is pushed out the $ goes away (technically a scholarship athlete can't be cut, but coaches will make it clear when you're not wanted). D3 sports also offer a more balanced experience or more time for study abroad and internships


hope that helps

My daughter has been the only GK on her club team for the past 3 years; she's has only split the time in net with town soccer.
I don't doubt for a minute that recruiters and coaches will tell me all the things I want to hear.
That is a good idea to look at rosters...I think she'd be fairly open to any option, so browsing a bit might help her get a feel for where might be a good fit.
She is very good academically, so yes, in the terms you describe D3 could be a viable option.
Thank you!