I have to run, so you can have your fun after, but I'll explain before I do....
Player A is on an ECNL Club's 2nd team, is player #18 on a roster of 20. Gets, maybe, 35 minutes a game. Travels between 1 and 4 hours for an approximate 30-game season.
Player B is on what the majority opinion considers a secondary league, plays 90% of minutes with a roster of 16. Travels beetween 1 and 4 hours for an approximate 30-game season.
Both players are interested in playing in college. College coaches are in contact with both players, and comes to games (or showcases, or tournaments, are has them attend ID Camps) and tracks their development. However, there is more material for Player B since they play 3X more. Even with the acknowledgement that the best teams are in Player B's "league", there are more than two dozen games of equal competition in which to grade a player.
Both players pay the same tuition.
No, the league doesn't matter...at least for the vast majority of players.
Okay enough with the bickering. ECNL won the battle not the war. They have decided to play favorites to their current members (which is perfectly fine) and leave worthy teams (for a long time now) hanging in waiting. They have decided not to put the stake in the heart of the DA league and let it re-brand and give it hope. What will happen in the future is anyone's guess. It is what it is - but if the GAL folds next year, that doesn't mean the teams fold or the clubs fold. There is always some player maneuvering year to year but a quality club will keep quality players regardless of what league they play in...
I have to run, so you can have your fun after, but I'll explain before I do....
Player A is on an ECNL Club's 2nd team, is player #18 on a roster of 20. Gets, maybe, 35 minutes a game. Travels between 1 and 4 hours for an approximate 30-game season.
Player B is on what the majority opinion considers a secondary league, plays 90% of minutes with a roster of 16. Travels beetween 1 and 4 hours for an approximate 30-game season.
Both players are interested in playing in college. College coaches are in contact with both players, and comes to games (or showcases, or tournaments, are has them attend ID Camps) and tracks their development. However, there is more material for Player B since they play 3X more. Even with the acknowledgement that the best teams are in Player B's "league", there are more than two dozen games of equal competition in which to grade a player.
Both players pay the same tuition.
No, the league doesn't matter...at least for the vast majority of players.
Don't really want to continue this league vs league thread but I'm curious about one point. You've compared a fringe regional ECNL player to a starting player in a "secondary" league. In your example what if Player B were capable of starting on the ECNL club's first team? Would you still suggest they stick with the secondary league?
Don't really want to continue this league vs league thread but I'm curious about one point. You've compared a fringe regional ECNL player to a starting player in a "secondary" league. In your example what if Player B were capable of starting on the ECNL club's first team? Would you still suggest they stick with the secondary league?
Not the poster but if you can be a starter or first sub (#1-15) in a top league, most times you should stay put. Exceptions would be if the team itself or coaching isn't very good. Certainly not all ECNL teams are great. It's players #16-22 where there may be diminishing returns, even more so if the coaching isn't good.
It also very much depends on what your other options are. It's very locally driven.
Don't really want to continue this league vs league thread but I'm curious about one point. You've compared a fringe regional ECNL player to a starting player in a "secondary" league. In your example what if Player B were capable of starting on the ECNL club's first team? Would you still suggest they stick with the secondary league?
No, I didn't compare a fringe Regional ECNL player. I compared a fringe ECNL player. Don't make it about Regional teams.
In my example, Player B is perfectly capable of playing on club's ECNL 2nd team based on said team offering her a position on that team. Starting? Likely, but there's a lot that goes into that decision so it would be presumptuous to say "yes".
If they were able to start on their first team, it would be a more difficult decision. I'd say...maybe. If the college programs say "no need to move", which they have, and if player B likes the club and teammates, I'd still lean toward 'no'.
For 10% of the players, being in ECNL is the likely the best move. For the rest...no...it's doesn't matter.
Not the poster but if you can be a starter or first sub (#1-15) in a top league, most times you should stay put. Exceptions would be if the team itself or coaching isn't very good. Certainly not all ECNL teams are great. It's players #16-22 where there may be diminishing returns, even more so if the coaching isn't good.
It also very much depends on what your other options are. It's very locally driven.
Exactly. Taking out the variables (location, coaching, teammates, etc.) for the non-starters it really doesn't matter.
Top-level starters on top ECNL teams are in a different class, for the most part, and are looking at future playing situations a vast majority do not need to worry about.
No, I didn't compare a fringe Regional ECNL player. I compared a fringe ECNL player. Don't make it about Regional teams.
In my example, Player B is perfectly capable of playing on club's ECNL 2nd team based on said team offering her a position on that team. Starting? Likely, but there's a lot that goes into that decision so it would be presumptuous to say "yes".
If they were able to start on their first team, it would be a more difficult decision. I'd say...maybe. If the college programs say "no need to move", which they have, and if player B likes the club and teammates, I'd still lean toward 'no'.
For 10% of the players, being in ECNL is the likely the best move. For the rest...no...it's doesn't matter.
Just a point of clarification because you seem to be accusing me of "making it about regional teams" - whatever that means. You said player A was on an ECNL club's second team. For all but a handful of ECNL teams THAT IS their ECNL-Regional team. Scorpions, for example, has one ECNL team and one ECNL regional team. That's the norm. Which is one of the reasons I wondered why you chose that comparison. But, I don't really care about that I was more interested in your thoughts on a player who can play on the ECNL team and you answered that.
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