Is it really play GA or ECNL or nothing?

[Guest]

From reading posts over past 6 months the theme seems to be centered around playing on the best national team with a pathway to most exposure. My kid 8th grade plays well. Strong defender for a club not in ECNL or GA we have DPL. We are told move kid to a better club as some teammates have because our kid wants to play on a college team one day.The thing is our kid might go to a school like Bridgewater or a school like Holy Cross. We don’t know. Too early but want to have options later. Do we really need to switch clubs to give better opportunities later? Miss the days kids were recruited through high schools like football.

[Guest]

There was a recent thread or a dozen on this very subject.

In short, plausible but not likely to get into a good soccer school without that exposure.

[Guest]

Take a look the yourself:

ECNL and GA
https://www.starsofma.org/alumni-commitments
https://nefc.us/alumni/
https://selectma.com/college-bound/
https://www.scorpionssoccer.org/college-corner

DPL and former Impact
https://newenglandsurf.com/college-alumni/
https://rhodeislandsurfsoccer.com/college-commitments/
https://www.aztecsoccer.com/alumni (mixed genders)
Juventus/Ifa: na
Liverpool: na
Spirit of Liverpool : na
Best fc: na
Etc.

[Guest]

The most important thing is to play on a complete team of strong players, against other similar teams. That’s the only way to learn to play the game well. Soccer is a team sport, it can’t be played well, and at pace, unless every position has a strong player.

Another way to put that is - your player should get on the best team they can, where they are still getting a reasonable amount of playing time in games.

That will keep your options open.

Coaches will want to see your player face strong opponents. That can be in major tournaments like Jeff Cup and PDA, so your club needs to go to them.

A few DPL, NAL and EDP teams offer this, many don’t. Some are better than the MA ECRL1 teams.

ID camps are another part of the process. Usually starting the summer after 9th grade. There are threads here on it.

Academics matter.

Often the recruiting process varies a little in different positions. You should seek specific advice about defenders if college is a possibility.

If your player wants to play as well as they can, and play in college, they should be putting in extra training. 2-3 days a week is not enough. It’s often helpful if they can find a friend or two to train with.

[Guest]

OP, Maybe it’s obvious to you, but speed is a huge asset to defenders. Especially on the outside, but center as well. Your player will often be up against the fastest and best players on the other team, speed can make the difference in a game.

Many people think of size as a positive for defenders, I’m not sure whether all appreciate speed.

Something to consider in training.

[Guest]

The most important thing is to play on a complete team of strong players, against other similar teams. That’s the only way to learn to play the game well. Soccer is a team sport, it can’t be played well, and at pace, unless every position has a strong player.

Another way to put that is - your player should get on the best team they can, where they are still getting a reasonable amount of playing time in games.

That will keep your options open.

Coaches will want to see your player face strong opponents. That can be in major tournaments like Jeff Cup and PDA, so your club needs to go to them.

A few DPL, NAL and EDP teams offer this, many don’t. Some are better than the MA ECRL1 teams.

ID camps are another part of the process. Usually starting the summer after 9th grade. There are threads here on it.

Academics matter.

Often the recruiting process varies a little in different positions. You should seek specific advice about defenders if college is a possibility.

If your player wants to play as well as they can, and play in college, they should be putting in extra training. 2-3 days a week is not enough. It’s often helpful if they can find a friend or two to train with.

Just don’t be fooled by clubs that go to Jeff cup, and play in the seventh bracket down.

Scouts will scout the top couple brackets. And lo and behold, those top brackets are filled with ECNL and GA teams.

See for yourself...

https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/15319

[Guest]

Miss the days kids were recruited through high schools like football.

College football staffs are huge compared to soccer staffs so they can get around much more. Add in that there aren't any other real options in football like HS, that's the path. On the flip side, the play of soccer has increased tremendously over the last few decades since the game has got out of the hands of the HS coach. Football coaches have always been past players; can't often say that about HS soccer coaches.

[Guest]

Just don’t be fooled by clubs that go to Jeff cup, and play in the seventh bracket down.

Scouts will scout the top couple brackets. And lo and behold, those top brackets are filled with ECNL and GA teams.

See for yourself...

https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/15319

And lo and behold, the ECNL and GA teams in the top brackets lose to Mass DPL and NAL teams. We already settled that in another thread. Jeff Cup in the first two links below, PDA at the link.

Jeff Cup:

Surf Navy, Elite Orange 2d bracket, 4-0-0, +16 GD
https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...s?team=1124660

Aztec, Elite Black 3rd bracket 3-1-0, +8 GD, all ECNL teams
https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...s?team=1120059

Blue RL Superior White 6th bracket goes 0-3-0 with a -10 GD
https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...s?team=1131148

White RL Classic Black 10th bracket 2-0-1 +4 GD
https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...s?team=1105544

Scorpions RL didn't go to Jeff Cup, but would be well below Blue or White.

At PDA, NEFC DPL beats World Class FC, one of the top two teams in ECRL1.
https://public.totalglobalsports.com...am/321/77410/9

World Class is tied for 1st in ECRL1 on W/L record, 2nd on tiebreakers:
https://public.totalglobalsports.com...eam/52/35318/9

Here's PDA
https://public.totalglobalsports.com...ules-standings

[Guest]

Just don’t be fooled by clubs that go to Jeff cup, and play in the seventh bracket down.

Yes, don't be fooled by those ECRL teams.

[Guest]

It's complete nonsense. They only people that will tell you it's true, including people on this thread, are coaches/directors that know the run a crappy club but happen to be grandfatherd I'm to 'the pathway'. DPL and ECRL are good enough platform's to recruit from, the main thing when playing at all levels is that the player puts in the work themselves. Contacting coaches, ID camps, etc.

[Guest]

And lo and behold, the ECNL and GA teams in the top brackets lose to Mass DPL and NAL teams. We already settled that in another thread. Jeff Cup in the first two links below, PDA at the link.

How many 6th and 10th bracket wins are you going to reference?

Are you just going to ignore the fact that the top 2 brackets are ECNL and GA only??

Your uLittle mindset about winning is funny. Scouts don't care. They watch players. And they only watch players in the top brackets.

[Guest]

To the OP -

Twice I've posted links to actual data.

The others are offering only emotion. They are either: 1) coaches of lower tier clubs whose financial livelihood depends on your check, 2) parents who are too cowardly to ask the tough question that you are asking. Click the links and look at the data. Ignore the noise. Do what is right for your player.

[Guest]

It's complete nonsense. They only people that will tell you it's true, including people on this thread, are coaches/directors that know the run a crappy club but happen to be grandfatherd I'm to 'the pathway'. DPL and ECRL are good enough platform's to recruit from, the main thing when playing at all levels is that the player puts in the work themselves. Contacting coaches, ID camps, etc.

They may be fantastic players out there....but they aren't showing up on rosters. Coaches can't be everywhere at once, so they go where they have the most bang for the buck. Facts matter.

[Guest]

To the OP -

Twice I've posted links to actual data.

The others are offering only emotion. They are either: 1) coaches of lower tier clubs whose financial livelihood depends on your check, 2) parents who are too cowardly to ask the tough question that you are asking. Click the links and look at the data. Ignore the noise. Do what is right for your player.

Conveniently left out certain clubs to fit your narrative. How about run a good program from top to bottom and you want have to worry about recruiting kids from 'lower tier clubs' because you need them to fill out your underdeveloped teams.

[Guest]

Conveniently left out certain clubs to fit your narrative. How about run a good program from top to bottom and you want have to worry about recruiting kids from 'lower tier clubs' because you need them to fill out your underdeveloped teams.

This is the way of the world. Smaller organizations give up their resources to larger when they come calling. You think this is isolated to US Club soccer?

Get a grip.