u-20 WWC

[Unregistered]

I am on the soccer bandwagon. Something that people in these debates seem to think does not exist. The entire structure is flawed. There is no such thing as a GDA player yet - just kids who have played one yer in that system. Most are still ECNL (&other) trained and developed.

My daughter IS a YNT player so i can say that your comments about " These players are managed by the NT medical staff, and are given strict training, recovery guidelines to follow" is either done on a player by player basis or not true.

I dont like the ACL argument, but either way, neither league as constructed is the solution. To see people debating which is the lesser of 2 evils is a sad indictment of where parents hard earned cash goes.

for me its very simple

1. The ECNL was not achieving the goals the USSF wanted
2. as a privately held group, the ECNL was/is under nbo obligation to do so
3. the culture of soccer in teh USA does not demand excellence
4. USSF decided to address the fact that players were not meeting their goals/standards
5. for a variety of reasons, they chose to address it by building a big league on the back of the existing Club infrastructure
6. Year one was a mixed bag
7. The game is now a political football that will be kicked back and forth
8. the kids lose out in the end - how much they really lose out is again back to culture. Im not talking about pro contracts etc. Just getting the most out of their talents in the game. Given the limited pro opportunities, the drive to get better is personal.

To me, there is no winner in this GDA ECNL thing - looking at results or quality of Clubs on both sides is pointless. All it says is that we are in a fragmented world that serves no common good and there is no single party with enough credibility to day - "come on guys' lets sit done and figure this out together "

Personally, I think this is largely a BBA/Stars thing. People are loyal to the clubs because they like what they are getting. My daughter would be at Stars whether it was in DA or ECNL or NPL because she likes the training, she likes the way the coaches get a lot out of her, she loves her teammates and the kids on other Stars teams (not all but most), and she feels like she is working toward her goals. The same exact thing can be said for her best friend on BBA. We had two boys go through DA, and we liked the program but more than what people think is a specific training regimen, etc., it had all the best competition and they worked hard.

[Unregistered]

Personally, I think this is largely a BBA/Stars thing. People are loyal to the clubs because they like what they are getting. My daughter would be at Stars whether it was in DA or ECNL or NPL because she likes the training, she likes the way the coaches get a lot out of her, she loves her teammates and the kids on other Stars teams (not all but most), and she feels like she is working toward her goals. The same exact thing can be said for her best friend on BBA. We had two boys go through DA, and we liked the program but more than what people think is a specific training regimen, etc., it had all the best competition and they worked hard.

what is a Stars /BBA thing and how is that relevant to the post ?

[Unregistered]

There are things to like and dislike about both the DA. and ECNL. The worst is both leagues won't be what the ECNL was with the split in talent. You can argue that all day long, but before you jump on the DA bandwagon look at this.
This past year 6 u17 NT players (all DA ) tore their ACLs. At the last U17 world cup 4 players from the then U15 NT were called up to play with the U17s. ALL FOUR, tore their ACLs this year in NON contact incidents, which points to over use. These players are managed by the NT medical staff, and are given strict training, recovery guidelines to follow. You can say what you want, but that isn't a coincidence. If you trust that these clowns, and I mean ECNL or DA Know or do what's best for your kid, you are sadly mistaken.

Just a thought, but these girls are COMPLETELY focused on soccer. They do not play ANY other sports, and we are seeing a really high number of ACL injuries. Fifteen or twenty years ago NT players played other sports in addition to soccer, and I may be wrong but it didn't seem like the whole ACL issue was a factor like it is now. I think sports specialization at such an early age is a real issue with over-use injuries.

[Unregistered]

what argument? Unless you are confusing me with someone else, I have not made one. I gave my PoV @ 1144 @1145 told you that the boys have nothing to do with the girls. Pointless trying to compare 2 games at completely different points on the evolutionary cycle

Its about a governing body becoming responsible for another national league system and clubs. They were not successful in their firat venture so why would expect to be more successful with the same resources but spread twice as thin?

[Unregistered]

Its about a governing body becoming responsible for another national league system and clubs. They were not successful in their firat venture so why would expect to be more successful with the same resources but spread twice as thin?

Dont believe I said they would be ...

[Unregistered]

What does either league have to do with "elite" players. They are both about elite players WITH elite bank accounts.

One league positioned itself as the way to get to college soccer, through showcases, etc.

A new league arrived talking about NT development, and having the best pathway to the NT.

Both assume that they will get the top players in the league, so as to deliver on the promise. However, by definition the GDA should have a few dozen players in their system, since that's all that's necessary to feed the various national teams. ECNL should have thousands, since they are feeding all of the collegiate programs.

From my POV, one league is honest about its goals (but overestimates its success in delivering against them), while the other league is completely fraudulent.

[Unregistered]

One league positioned itself as the way to get to college soccer, through showcases, etc.

A new league arrived talking about NT development, and having the best pathway to the NT.

Both assume that they will get the top players in the league, so as to deliver on the promise. However, by definition the GDA should have a few dozen players in their system, since that's all that's necessary to feed the various national teams. ECNL should have thousands, since they are feeding all of the collegiate programs.

From my POV, one league is honest about its goals (but overestimates its success in delivering against them), while the other league is completely fraudulent.

your POV is tough, since you may not be able to see out of your azz....

You can't put a program together finding all the NT gems in all corners of the country unless you have club participation. So, as an off-shoot of that, they push college as well.

ECNL's goal is to line the club's who run ECNL's pockets.

Must stink from your POV

[Unregistered]

your POV is tough, since you may not be able to see out of your azz....

You can't put a program together finding all the NT gems in all corners of the country unless you have club participation. So, as an off-shoot of that, they push college as well.

ECNL's goal is to line the club's who run ECNL's pockets.

Must stink from your POV

I agree, save for the nastiness...

ECNL clubs were essentially asked to take a back seat and feed USSF. They chose not to.

[Unregistered]

your POV is tough, since you may not be able to see out of your azz....

You can't put a program together finding all the NT gems in all corners of the country unless you have club participation. So, as an off-shoot of that, they push college as well.

ECNL's goal is to line the club's who run ECNL's pockets.

Must stink from your POV

Yes, ECNL's goal is to make $ for the businesses that offer the service. Too many people buy the service who don't really need it (i.e., their kids aren't really great college prospects), much like too many people buy 4wd vehicles that never go off-road.

So why do people keep paying the fees and doing the travel for something like ECNL? While some are keeping up with the Joneses, and others are naive/delusional, many are getting their kids into a college they want to play at. If that wasn't happening, there would be no $ flowing into ECNL clubs' pockets. I'm sorry if you're not swift enough to understand that basic principle.

[Unregistered]

Yes, ECNL's goal is to make $ for the businesses that offer the service. Too many people buy the service who don't really need it (i.e., their kids aren't really great college prospects), much like too many people buy 4wd vehicles that never go off-road.

So why do people keep paying the fees and doing the travel for something like ECNL? While some are keeping up with the Joneses, and others are naive/delusional, many are getting their kids into a college they want to play at. If that wasn't happening, there would be no $ flowing into ECNL clubs' pockets. I'm sorry if you're not swift enough to understand that basic principle.

All this talk of lining pockets. Where do people get that? It's a serious question.

[Unregistered]

Yes, ECNL's goal is to make $ for the businesses that offer the service. Too many people buy the service who don't really need it (i.e., their kids aren't really great college prospects), much like too many people buy 4wd vehicles that never go off-road.

So why do people keep paying the fees and doing the travel for something like ECNL? While some are keeping up with the Joneses, and others are naive/delusional, many are getting their kids into a college they want to play at. If that wasn't happening, there would be no $ flowing into ECNL clubs' pockets. I'm sorry if you're not swift enough to understand that basic principle.

OH, I completely understand that principle. I'm not even disagreeing with it. It was stated one was honest about their goals, and maybe I didn't get which one you meant...but ECNLs goal is to make money. Good for them.

[Unregistered]

All this talk of lining pockets. Where do people get that? It's a serious question.

I just looked at the 990. I think it is urban myth.

[Unregistered]

All this talk of lining pockets. Where do people get that? It's a serious question.

Simple principle. ECNL are owned by clubs that are in it (same with NEP for that matter). So, take for example, Stars. They put a team into ECNL and it really doesn't cost them anything since they are still getting it on the back end. Put a team into DA, and it does cost them.

Don't let the other things about training and results and what have you confuse the message. In the Stars example, and in other clubs as well, this is a money play.

Like I said earlier, I don't blame them one bit. Just let's be real about it is all.

[Unregistered]

One league positioned itself as the way to get to college soccer, through showcases, etc.

A new league arrived talking about NT development, and having the best pathway to the NT.

Both assume that they will get the top players in the league, so as to deliver on the promise. However, by definition the GDA should have a few dozen players in their system, since that's all that's necessary to feed the various national teams. ECNL should have thousands, since they are feeding all of the collegiate programs.

From my POV, one league is honest about its goals (but overestimates its success in delivering against them), while the other league is completely fraudulent.

You need to separate marketing from reality and not over analyze this. They are both soccer businesses. Pick one and play the game.

[Unregistered]

Simple principle. ECNL are owned by clubs that are in it (same with NEP for that matter). So, take for example, Stars. They put a team into ECNL and it really doesn't cost them anything since they are still getting it on the back end. Put a team into DA, and it does cost them.

Don't let the other things about training and results and what have you confuse the message. In the Stars example, and in other clubs as well, this is a money play.

Like I said earlier, I don't blame them one bit. Just let's be real about it is all.

Where does it say the non-profit organization is owned by the clubs? That’s a non sequitur. And the 990 doesn’t show anyone except those running it getting paid.