ECNL Plans

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Email from HAWKS:

The ECNL's holistic approach to the development of the entire player was one of the biggest reasons for our decision. We believe that we can provide a better overall experience for each of our players and families within the programming of the ECNL. Another important factor in this decision was our ability to include our first two teams into the ECNL for the 2018-2019 season. They have decided that based on the performance of our teams in the league this year, we will be able to have two teams participate moving forward. This gives us the ability to provide 30-40 kids in each age group the opportunity to compete at this elite level.

So, what does that mean? What will next year look like?

The club's plan in 2018-2019 for the 2005s will be to offer 2 ECNL teams to players. Both teams will be on a 10-month program, that will include conference games, ECNL Showcases and friendly weekends vs top clubs spread over the entire year.

The club's plan for the 2001s-2004s will be to offer 2 different team options to our players. The first will be a 10-month ECNL program, that will include conference games, ECNL Showcases and friendly weekends vs top clubs spread over the entire year. This team will be selected based on ability first and then the willingness of the player to commit to the 10-month calendar. Players on this team will be allowed to participate in other high school sports, just not soccer. This year round program has been a formula for success for our elite players for the last 5 years.

The Michigan Hawks will also offer 6-month ECNL programming for players, for those players that would like to play high school. The only difference for this group will be that they will play their conference schedule and showcases in the fall and winter, finishing up in early March, before high school starts. There will be an option for a spring showcase team for these players on the 6-month team that choose not to play in high school.

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So they are copying the GDA rules with their old GDA team but putting it in ECNL??? Ok so basically this is a huge FU to USSF, saying we can do what are doing, but better. This will then be like what would have happened if GDA & ECNL had worked in conjunction to begin with. Crazy.

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So they are copying the GDA rules with their old GDA team but putting it in ECNL??? Ok so basically this is a huge FU to USSF, saying we can do what are doing, but better. This will then be like what would have happened if GDA & ECNL had worked in conjunction to begin with. Crazy.

No, they are doing what they've done, evening before DA was created - training for 10 months and allowing kids to play other sports at the same time.

For the 10 month program: "Players on this team will be allowed to participate in other high school sports, just not soccer. This year round program has been a formula for success for our elite players for the last 5 years."

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No, they are doing what they've done, evening before DA was created - training for 10 months and allowing kids to play other sports at the same time.

For the 10 month program: "Players on this team will be allowed to participate in other high school sports, just not soccer. This year round program has been a formula for success for our elite players for the last 5 years."

I think Stars is doing something similar with a ten month program for players who don’t want to play HS soccer.

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Adding GDA has shown that there simply aren't enough players out there to sustain all these "top teams." Now 2 ECNL teams? Is this an ECNL-wide thing of something Hawks are crafting. I know Stars plans on having two teams but will it be the same idea? Nor am I sure there's enough interest. Will there be enough teams to run a league? Doing club and HS is brutal. Some states have restrictions on club + HS soccer at the same time

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Adding GDA has shown that there simply aren't enough players out there to sustain all these "top teams." Now 2 ECNL teams? Is this an ECNL-wide thing of something Hawks are crafting. I know Stars plans on having two teams but will it be the same idea? Nor am I sure there's enough interest. Will there be enough teams to run a league? Doing club and HS is brutal. Some states have restrictions on club + HS soccer at the same time

I don't see either club proposing Club and HS at.same time

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Adding GDA has shown that there simply aren't enough players out there to sustain all these "top teams." Now 2 ECNL teams? Is this an ECNL-wide thing of something Hawks are crafting. I know Stars plans on having two teams but will it be the same idea? Nor am I sure there's enough interest. Will there be enough teams to run a league? Doing club and HS is brutal. Some states have restrictions on club + HS soccer at the same time

Stars are struggling in both ECNL and DA. Middle or bottom of NE DA or ECNL is mediocre at national level. They can't field more than 1 top team. But it is up to parents to buy this BS and believe that his/her kid is an elite player.

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Stars are struggling in both ECNL and DA. Middle or bottom of NE DA or ECNL is mediocre at national level. They can't field more than 1 top team. But it is up to parents to buy this BS and believe that his/her kid is an elite player.

Are they proposing more than one top team? I thought the idea was for the second team to have the same opportunities to compete as the first, but I didn’t think the proposal was to have two top teams.

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A and B teams works out well.Dbl the payout,gained monetarily but what a mess.

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Are they proposing more than one top team? I thought the idea was for the second team to have the same opportunities to compete as the first, but I didn’t think the proposal was to have two top teams.

Then how will they have two teams in the same age group and league if they are not at the same level?

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One will be more competitive and in less. Sounds great.

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Then how will they have two teams in the same age group and league if they are not at the same level?

That brings up a bigger picture question - league rules and is this an ECNL sanctioned idea? Is ECNL creating B league? Isn't that basically what the ECNL club NPL teams are - B teams? Are NPL teams now C teams?

They really should have figured this out well before tryout times. So much gossip and missing information as families are trying to make choices.

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That brings up a bigger picture question - league rules and is this an ECNL sanctioned idea? Is ECNL creating B league? Isn't that basically what the ECNL club NPL teams are - B teams? Are NPL teams now C teams?

They really should have figured this out well before tryout times. So much gossip and missing information as families are trying to make choices.

I don't think this model will exist in the Northeast Division in terms of league structure. U15 and above will not have any league games until after the HS season is complete.

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There is no missing information. I asked the club director of Stars because my daughter is interested in a move. It was explained to me. If you have a question about how it will work, just ask. You won’t get good information here. The best posts are the college placements and the news clips.

[Unregistered]

Adding GDA has shown that there simply aren't enough players out there to sustain all these "top teams." Now 2 ECNL teams? Is this an ECNL-wide thing of something Hawks are crafting. I know Stars plans on having two teams but will it be the same idea? Nor am I sure there's enough interest. Will there be enough teams to run a league? Doing club and HS is brutal. Some states have restrictions on club + HS soccer at the same time

Not enough talent to sustain was never a consideration, never will be. The only consideration is demand. Stars had players who were not ECNL caliber fill out their GDA rosters, they're obviously going to need to do that again to double the number of ECNL teams. USSF launched GDA as the proxy for non-ECNL clubs to compete for relevancy with USCS. A handful of clubs had the standing and leverage where USSF needed them to participate. USSF were fools to think their loyalties were up for grabs. None of this is about making soccer better, it's just business.