ECNL wants to switch back to school year from birth year

[Guest]

you are year to year with any ECNL team. It sucks, but there are only so many teams and so many roster spots. It’s the same situation as if a handful of players (or a player) moved into the state or moved from a different club. Kids have to make the roster each year and they have to earn playing time. I don't think it’s fair to displace kids en masse for the spring, but next fall is fair game. Kids get pushed down to RL all of the time. Sometimes it’s better to move down to RL to get playing time. It’s better than sitting on the bench. Perceptions of "fairness" have nothing to do with soccer at the top levels unfortunately.

Friend of mine said it this way - the teams change so much year to year already. It will just be for a different reason this time.

[Guest]

It’s not fair!

Is it fair to keep an undeserving kid on a team. Is it fair to keep a deserving kid off a team because you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. You’re in the wrong spot if you feel that way.

also to the poster above- there are 4 ECNL teams in MA, not 3.

[Guest]

Its not fair!

Then play on your town team where Daddy is coach or Daddy's drinking buddy is coach

[Guest]

There are 3 ECNL teams in Mass. Do all 3 ECNL teams completely change their roster for Spring to include the new Q1 (Aug - Dec) players? When they add the new Q1 players do they move players who were on the NL team down to RL and so on down the line?

How can a coach look a player in the eye and say "yes you made the NL team for the 24-25 season but opps the ECNL changed their mind mid season and now you are on RL". How can that player, family etc. trust that coach/organization after all the money and time that has been put in.

Yes it is a business that we are ALL paying for but for a player who got that NL early offer to now be told that a new Q4 player is pushing you out sucks. Yes you are at the mercy of the club and coach but with upcoming tournaments , hotel stays, flights etc to have that happen mid year is horrible.

All the ones who are "All for it" do you feel bad for the players that are moved down or are you all for it?

FSA abruptly drops players down annually and thinks nothing of it, so don’t think other clubs in MA won’t do the same thing even if it’s just this one time. End of the day no one gives a ish in youth sports other than the parents.

[Guest]

FSA abruptly drops players down annually and thinks nothing of it, so don’t think other clubs in MA won’t do the same thing even if it’s just this one time. End of the day no one gives a ish in youth sports other than the parents.

* FSA does mid-season moves all the time. Multiple times per year.

[Guest]

Then play on your town team where Daddy is coach or Daddy's drinking buddy is coach

Yes there is certainly no politics or favoritism at the higher levels, only town. For sure.

[Guest]

* FSA does mid-season moves all the time. Multiple times per year.

SM of Stars does too though sometimes politics/ favoritism is involved. It's SM after all.

[Guest]

Everyone is calling for a Free for all! Good luck to all your sons and daughters and may the best team win.

[Guest]

SM of Stars does too though sometimes politics/ favoritism is involved. It's SM after all.

SM has no longer has power to do anything but say ‘yes sir’.

[Guest]

How can a coach look a player in the eye and say "yes you made the NL team for the 24-25 season but opps the ECNL changed their mind mid season and now you are on RL".

You can always be moved down at any time, regardless of these big league changes. Obviously the coaches shouldn't make such big changes lightly, but there's no guarantee.

[Guest]

There are 3 ECNL teams in Mass. Do all 3 ECNL teams completely change their roster for Spring to include the new Q1 (Aug - Dec) players? When they add the new Q1 players do they move players who were on the NL team down to RL and so on down the line?

How can a coach look a player in the eye and say "yes you made the NL team for the 24-25 season but opps the ECNL changed their mind mid season and now you are on RL". How can that player, family etc. trust that coach/organization after all the money and time that has been put in.

Yes it is a business that we are ALL paying for but for a player who got that NL early offer to now be told that a new Q4 player is pushing you out sucks. Yes you are at the mercy of the club and coach but with upcoming tournaments , hotel stays, flights etc to have that happen mid year is horrible.

All the ones who are "All for it" do you feel bad for the players that are moved down or are you all for it?

Even without the incoming new change, a lot of ECNL clubs are continuing add new players. Ex. DMCV Sharks (in San Diego), get bought by Legend, their 06/07 ECNL team has 30 players! So for those boys' last youth soccer season, you will not be rostered half the games. While you are rostered, you play 15 minutes. That is on top of the $4K club fee. I call it legal robbery.

[Guest]

Hypothetical "trapped" issue aside, I am curious what parents of girls who are current Q4 and top players on their current teams are planning to do. Do you willingly move down and play with mostly younger players at her grade which will in all likelihood be lesser competition, or try to stay with the older girls even though she will not be playing with her grade? If you stay with older girls, what about showcases? Do you play with the younger group for showcases so she is looked at with other girls in her recruiting class?

It wasn't too long ago that SY was the norm, anyone know how this issue worked then?

They are not moving down. They are playing grade appropriate and with other players born within a 12 month period. There was no issue back in the day when school year was used. Players should play age appropriate. If a coach sees a player needs to be challenged it up to them to find that challenge. If they are truly that strong, head over to the boys team for a bit. After ulittle, ‘playing up’ has little benefit with regards to the overall recruiting picture.

[Guest]

There are 3 ECNL teams in Mass. Do all 3 ECNL teams completely change their roster for Spring to include the new Q1 (Aug - Dec) players? When they add the new Q1 players do they move players who were on the NL team down to RL and so on down the line?

How can a coach look a player in the eye and say "yes you made the NL team for the 24-25 season but opps the ECNL changed their mind mid season and now you are on RL". How can that player, family etc. trust that coach/organization after all the money and time that has been put in.

Yes it is a business that we are ALL paying for but for a player who got that NL early offer to now be told that a new Q4 player is pushing you out sucks. Yes you are at the mercy of the club and coach but with upcoming tournaments , hotel stays, flights etc to have that happen mid year is horrible.

All the ones who are "All for it" do you feel bad for the players that are moved down or are you all for it?

All rosters will shift, so the numbers will likely be fairly even across ages. It may take some figuring out, but if your kid is a bubble player, they were always in danger

[Guest]

You can always be moved down at any time, regardless of these big league changes. Obviously the coaches shouldn't make such big changes lightly, but there's no guarantee.

Here’s the thing. Just being on the team doesn’t guarantee play time. A NL player with 10 minutes per game is not developing any better then an RL player that may be playing at a somwhat slower speed of play but gets 60 minutes. So many scenarios. Being on that top team is not always best scenario. Kids have flown to showcases for 20 minutes of p,ay across thee games. Crazy.

[Guest]

Even without the incoming new change, a lot of ECNL clubs are continuing add new players. Ex. DMCV Sharks (in San Diego), get bought by Legend, their 06/07 ECNL team has 30 players! So for those boys' last youth soccer season, you will not be rostered half the games. While you are rostered, you play 15 minutes. That is on top of the $4K club fee. I call it legal robbery.

Ironically DMCV Sharks now called LegendsSD players are on the 30 person roster because they can't get on CitySCs (a girls GA club) MLSN team. Also they can't get on Surf San Diegos Boys ECNL teams.

I doubt they're paying full price. But you never know RSF is an expensive part of town.