Originally posted by Unregistered
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Hopefully we can all get back to games in the near future. Personally, I’m really excited to see the various teams back at it.
As far as the league situation goes, there will be lots of changes this year from last. GDA is gone and there doesn’t seem to me much left, at least locally, of NPL.
I’ve been trying to follow what going on nationally because I think it will have major implications on post-Covid showcase opportunities, and like it or not, we are heading towards that being a major priority, at least for the kids who want to play in college. Last year ECNL and DA were both attracting college coaches to their showcases. Either was a viable option and the high school choice was up to each individual family. For 20/21 here is how I see it:
ECNL-
For 20/21 ECNL kept its 96 clubs and added 17 DA clubs and currently sits at 113 clubs. From what I can tell it was the power clubs (Surf, Real Colorado, FC Dallas, Real So Cal, NC Courage, etc. ) plus clubs that filled in holes geographically in places like UT, KY, etc. the league should be the strongest it has been since the DA fracture from a few years ago.
ECNL-R-
ECNL Regional league was rolled out last year in just a couple markets, including the north east. This year there will be a nation wide roll out with all the ECNL clubs B teams, plus a few dozen other clubs who are applying to ECNL’s top league. I think the level of play will go up in this league over the next few years, but we shall see. Whether ECNL can deliver showcase opportunities to the regional league teams, similar to regular ECNL, will be the key question.
GA-
The Girls Academy will be in its first year. For us, the teams in the North East are pretty much the same. Will be interesting to see what the league can or can’t become. The league is made up of 45 or so former GDA clubs plus 15 or so clubs who were neither ECNL or DA last year.
Three concerns about GA are:
1. How many players from GA clubs were lost to ECNL?
2. Are coaches coming to the showcases, or, due to $ and travel issues from Covid, are they focusing on ECNL?
3. If ECNL expands by 6-8 clubs next year (as their commissioner has said they will) how does that impact the viability of GA with its strongest clubs gone?
DPL-
The DPL is last year’s NPL back filled with some NEP teams. Not much more to say.
From what I have read, I expect another ECNL expansion next year to absorb the top 8 or so GA clubs go. If so the ECNL 21/22 season will be the best talent consolidation, probably ever. That’s a good thing for our girls entering the recruiting years.
The New England & North Atlantic conferences both have 9 teams. Personally I expect them to go to 10 & 10. That means two more additions from NH to MD. Could be 2 teams in New England, two teams in North Atlantic (with some shuffling) or 1 & 1. There are certainly at least 2 more deserving clubs, but who knows what will happen.
As far as the league situation goes, there will be lots of changes this year from last. GDA is gone and there doesn’t seem to me much left, at least locally, of NPL.
I’ve been trying to follow what going on nationally because I think it will have major implications on post-Covid showcase opportunities, and like it or not, we are heading towards that being a major priority, at least for the kids who want to play in college. Last year ECNL and DA were both attracting college coaches to their showcases. Either was a viable option and the high school choice was up to each individual family. For 20/21 here is how I see it:
ECNL-
For 20/21 ECNL kept its 96 clubs and added 17 DA clubs and currently sits at 113 clubs. From what I can tell it was the power clubs (Surf, Real Colorado, FC Dallas, Real So Cal, NC Courage, etc. ) plus clubs that filled in holes geographically in places like UT, KY, etc. the league should be the strongest it has been since the DA fracture from a few years ago.
ECNL-R-
ECNL Regional league was rolled out last year in just a couple markets, including the north east. This year there will be a nation wide roll out with all the ECNL clubs B teams, plus a few dozen other clubs who are applying to ECNL’s top league. I think the level of play will go up in this league over the next few years, but we shall see. Whether ECNL can deliver showcase opportunities to the regional league teams, similar to regular ECNL, will be the key question.
GA-
The Girls Academy will be in its first year. For us, the teams in the North East are pretty much the same. Will be interesting to see what the league can or can’t become. The league is made up of 45 or so former GDA clubs plus 15 or so clubs who were neither ECNL or DA last year.
Three concerns about GA are:
1. How many players from GA clubs were lost to ECNL?
2. Are coaches coming to the showcases, or, due to $ and travel issues from Covid, are they focusing on ECNL?
3. If ECNL expands by 6-8 clubs next year (as their commissioner has said they will) how does that impact the viability of GA with its strongest clubs gone?
DPL-
The DPL is last year’s NPL back filled with some NEP teams. Not much more to say.
From what I have read, I expect another ECNL expansion next year to absorb the top 8 or so GA clubs go. If so the ECNL 21/22 season will be the best talent consolidation, probably ever. That’s a good thing for our girls entering the recruiting years.
The New England & North Atlantic conferences both have 9 teams. Personally I expect them to go to 10 & 10. That means two more additions from NH to MD. Could be 2 teams in New England, two teams in North Atlantic (with some shuffling) or 1 & 1. There are certainly at least 2 more deserving clubs, but who knows what will happen.
In 527 pages of alot of humorous posts.... this is by far the most thoughtful post by far. GREAT JOB!!! I really enjoyed reading this! You made some FACTUAL points. GREAT POST!!
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