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**Guest** · 05-07-2024, 11:49 AM

IIRC both DPL and NAL are picking up teams.

Originally posted by Guest View Post

Disagree. DPL, NAL, ECRL (1 and 2) is a fractured landscape on the second tier. Depending on your view, GA might be here too now. None of them is that much better or worse than the other. Each of these leagues has a couple 2-3 teams that are solid and plenty that aren't. None of them is great. I don't see NAL as any worse than the others. As has been said many times, it's too bad all those teams aren't in one 2d tier league. It would be an outstanding 2nd tier. Sadly, it's never going to happen so families pick the team that works for them. Some have closer locations, some have less league travel, some have better coaches. Got to just decide what works for you. Don't kid yourself that any of them is the perfect option. And posts on here that pick one or the other to trash have ulterior motives.

This is pretty much accurate. It's a matter of choosing between a set of options that could all be better than they are, if the leagues were set up with the interests of players as the first priority.

Originally posted by Guest View Post

And posts on here that pick one or the other to trash have ulterior motives.

This part, not so accurate. There's only one league, ECRL2, asking players and parents to commit to overnight travel for mostly 3rd tier teams and matches, but trying to pretend it's something it is not. It's just silly to pretend otherwise. It isn't diplomatic, it's disingenuous.

But if you think there is a case to be made for ECRL2, let's hear it.

And use an example other than Surf, they are an exception. For them, it is a long term project to deal with their league issue, and steer clear of the DPL/NEFC/GA axis. In the short term, Surf teams and coaches will likely want to stay together, as teams do, even though for HS age players it's the same competition as DPL with much worse travel.

**Guest** · 05-07-2024, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by Guest View Post

IIRC both DPL and NAL are picking up teams.
This is pretty much accurate. It's a matter of choosing between a set of options that could all be better than they are, if the leagues were set up with the interests of players as the first priority.

This part, not so accurate. There's only one league, ECRL2, asking players and parents to commit to overnight travel for mostly 3rd tier teams and matches, but trying to pretend it's something it is not. It's just silly to pretend otherwise. It isn't diplomatic, it's disingenuous.

But if you think there is a case to be made for ECRL2, let's hear it.

And use an example other than Surf, they are an exception. For them, it is a long term project to deal with their league issue, and steer clear of the DPL/NEFC/GA axis. In the short term, Surf teams and coaches will likely want to stay together, as teams do, even though for HS age players it's the same competition as DPL with much worse travel.

I actually agree with you. It's entirely fair to point out that ECRL2 has a higher level of travel. It's also fair to point out practice and game locations, opinions on coaching, style of play, cost and any other factors that might be relevant to the decision. When I said trashing, I meant trashing the level of play in the various leagues. They're all in a similar place in that regard.

**Guest** · 05-07-2024, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by Guest View Post

I actually agree with you. It's entirely fair to point out that ECRL2 has a higher level of travel. It's also fair to point out practice and game locations, opinions on coaching, style of play, cost and any other factors that might be relevant to the decision.

Yes, all of those. I’d add in whether there’s anyone nearby to set up a carpool to training, that has been a lifesaver for us.

When I said trashing, I meant trashing the level of play in the various leagues. They're all in a similar place in that regard.

Though implied in this whole discussion is that there’s a much too wide range of level of play within each league. There are better and worse teams in each league. So it comes back to the specifics of each team.

**Guest** · 05-07-2024, 03:06 PM

Actually, DPL is worse. The others are on par as 2nd tier leagues.

**Guest** · 05-07-2024, 03:37 PM

People predicting the death of DPL have a very New England centric view of things…which I guess makes sense on a MA forum. The thing that DPL offers HS age players that NAL doesn’t is multiple national events hosted by the league. No the Duke and UNC coaches won’t be there but there is still good representation from lower D1 - D3. NAL Girls doesn’t exist outside of the East Coast, DPL is an existing National league.