ECRL v ECNL

[Guest]

My d's been playing club since K. I want her to play college. She's very good. She made the preECNL team. But she doesn't get pt. What's better in the eyes of scouts? Starter on ECRL or bench on ECNL?
I don't see her pt increase as coach keeps adding more players instead of cutting. So I am wondering if I should request placement on Regional team for 24-25 season (i.e. turn down ECNL offer). Mistake? Also the R coach is nicer than the N coach.
If she drops to ECRL for u13 can she make national team again later? I am afraid of giving up her spot

[Guest]

I’m not sure which club you are with but I’ll give you my experience and opinion based on our time at Stars (blue). Sounds like your kid is a bubble player meaning she could play on either team but closer to the top, a starter for regional and closer to the bottom on the bench for national. In the you d years ages 12-15 we saw players move back and forth between blue ECNL and ECRL.. Everyone says it’s white national to blue but we exchange players with the ECRL team. I’ve seen the benefits of a bubble player playing ECRL and then getting invited to practice and guest with national blue team. I think that’s better than being on national waiting to get cut.

[Guest]

Op's d is on White. That's why they're so sure they'll make roster next year even though she's the bench.
That's why White sucks. But that's a different thread..

My advice to Op..
Any good ECNL coach wants to make playoffs. And so he wants to win league games. In order to win, he can't play your d. So you need to move her to regional so that she can play and DEVELOP. ECNL is not the place to develop weak players. ECRL is the place for that. ECNL coach and team will thank you for quitting.
But question is, after you've been bragging about your ulittle player making "national" team (lolol), can you and your d swallow their pride and join ECRL team? If not, just go to Surf or NEFC. But good luck making those teams. White players rarely make the cut anywhere else.

[Guest]

Definitely R. She needs to play. Competition for PT will only intensify once N teams form. She could even get cut.

Also a word to the wise: this isn't about what you want. It's her path nor yours. Check yourself on the "I want her to play in college. "

[Guest]

I’m actually the opposite. Keep playing on the N team, you’ll get better at practice playing against other higher skilled players. Being a big fish on ECNL r isn’t useful unless SHE is not thinking D1. If she just wants to play past high school then keep it fun and play ECNLR where she may be stagnant but her experience might be better. In the end she should tell you what she’s looking for and adjust accordingly. If she serious about the sport and really wants to play next level then consider what she’s doing at home, away from practice. Is she putting in extra time on the ball, fitness, strengths, etc…If she’s just a try hard at practice kid (and that’s fine) she may not want to what you want her to want.

[Guest]

D1 schools don't recruit the bench

[Guest]

D1 schools don't recruit the bench

Generally agree, but at pre-ECNL age, depends on why she's on the bench. If it's mostly because she hasn't had her growth spurt yet and the other players on the roster have, then I'd say stick with ECNL until it's certain that she won't move up on the roster.

[Guest]

D1 schools don't recruit the bench

Unless you are an absolute stud or play for a top notch program (read not MA)…. No one gets recruited. It’s leg work… creating videos, showing up to ID camps, etc.

what is most important at this age is a competitive environment where you get the most playing time. Sounds like what ever the club the OP’s daughter is at is not providing either.

[Guest]

Unless you are an absolute stud or play for a top notch program (read not MA)…. No one gets recruited. It’s leg work… creating videos, showing up to ID camps, etc.

what is most important at this age is a competitive environment where you get the most playing time. Sounds like what ever the club the OP’s daughter is at is not providing either.

Really? Isn't Blue mostly 100% recruited? And a good number on NEFC and Scorpions?

[Guest]

Generally agree, but at pre-ECNL age, depends on why she's on the bench. If it's mostly because she hasn't had her growth spurt yet and the other players on the roster have, then I'd say stick with ECNL until it's certain that she won't move up on the roster.

The kid needs to spend as much time on the ball as possible against the best competition possible. And needs to put in twice as much work away from team trainings as they do in team trainings. If that’s too much, give up ECNL because that’s what all the kids do. At the pre ECNL age you still have time but don’t waste it. Ask your coach if you can be on the ECRL team and attend the ECNL practices. You would get the best of both worlds. Practice with the better kids and get playing time in the Regional games.

[Guest]

The kid needs to spend as much time on the ball as possible against the best competition possible. And needs to put in twice as much work away from team trainings as they do in team trainings. If that’s too much, give up ECNL because that’s what all the kids do. At the pre ECNL age you still have time but don’t waste it. Ask your coach if you can be on the ECRL team and attend the ECNL practices. You would get the best of both worlds. Practice with the better kids and get playing time in the Regional games.

Great advice

[Guest]

Really? Isn't Blue mostly 100% recruited? And a good number on NEFC and Scorpions?

You misunderstood the poster. Very few will have coaches falling over themselves to recruit them. Nearly all will get recruited via their own hard work. Most clubs don't do much either other than offer some advice and make or receive some phone calls. If your player won't put in the work now, give up on playing in college. They won't make it.

[Guest]

My d's been playing club since K. I want her to play college. She's very good. She made the preECNL team. But she doesn't get pt. What's better in the eyes of scouts? Starter on ECRL or bench on ECNL?
I don't see her pt increase as coach keeps adding more players instead of cutting. So I am wondering if I should request placement on Regional team for 24-25 season (i.e. turn down ECNL offer). Mistake? Also the R coach is nicer than the N coach.
If she drops to ECRL for u13 can she make national team again later? I am afraid of giving up her spot

I'd wait and play out the rest of the season as is. You can see if she still struggles with PT or makes progress. She will keep being challenged. The decision very well could be made for her when teams are formed late spring, but you're giving her more time to make progress. A lot changes U12-U14.

[Guest]

The kid needs to spend as much time on the ball as possible against the best competition possible. And needs to put in twice as much work away from team trainings as they do in team trainings. If that’s too much, give up ECNL because that’s what all the kids do. At the pre ECNL age you still have time but don’t waste it. Ask your coach if you can be on the ECRL team and attend the ECNL practices. You would get the best of both worlds. Practice with the better kids and get playing time in the Regional games.

Yes, and the kid would get that at practice with the ECNL team. If they were to drop to the ECRL team, they would not be practicing or playing against the best competition. The solution is to remain on the ECNL team, but on game-days, play down with the ECRL team whenever possible. Once you lose that ECNL spot, it is nearly impossible to get it back.

[Guest]

My d's been playing club since K. I want her to play college. She's very good. She made the preECNL team. But she doesn't get pt. What's better in the eyes of scouts? Starter on ECRL or bench on ECNL?
I don't see her pt increase as coach keeps adding more players instead of cutting. So I am wondering if I should request placement on Regional team for 24-25 season (i.e. turn down ECNL offer). Mistake? Also the R coach is nicer than the N coach.
If she drops to ECRL for u13 can she make national team again later? I am afraid of giving up her spot

be very real with yourself.

does your kid go outside with a soccer ball? Alot?

in winter, does she ask you to take her to the gym or use the garage instead?

does she talk about nutrition and her fitness goals?

was the top of her Christmas list soccer oriented?

Does she have a trainer? Working out 3-5 times /week off season?

does she watch premiere every weekend? does she have a favorite team and player that she follows?

if not, you should consider ECRL. just bear in mind that the girls on ECNL against whom your daughter would compete are ticking all the above boxes.