The Walls are Coming Down

[Guest]

Yet this same thread was posted on the MA thread where there's always a lot of Stars bashing and a local GAL club dying to get into ECNL.

Besides

- There is not real governing body over the entire landscape. It would be ideal if there was, with a real pyramid and promotion. relegation, but it won't every happen. And some would argue that's a monopoly.
- ECNL does not have a monopoly. Clubs and players have options
- Agree with above that this is more a coach abuse problem not the leagues

This is only about a coach/club abuse problem. It has nothing to do with which league is better or worse. That is irrelevant. The issue is the coaching abuse and bad environment for players.
A recent report came out that 40% of Gen Z - 13-23 year olds don't watch sports and that youth sports is on a major decline.
We are all on here because we share one common thing ---our kids are serious athletes + we support them --but if we don't make it a good place for them, more and more will quit and not watch sports. If this generation doesn't watch by age 18 then there will be a big financial implications across all sports in our country.
There is a bigger picture here - which is why this is coming up now.

[Guest]

Correct we are all not seeing that a rising tide lifts all boats. Fiefdoms and money has made everyone shirt sighted but the reality is we need a great experience for everyone and lower costs. We all understand the concept of a pyramid but right now we have two pyramids sitting right next to each other for no reason other than to separate parents from their money.

[Guest]

Be serious, if it is not a monopoly it is an oligopoly on the girls side with ECNL and GAL. The entire promo for ECNL clubs is "we have ECNL, you have to play for us." Same with GAL to a lesser extent. Like the OP said, it is a matter of time. Both leagues will have to open up for this one reason, they do not act in the best interest of the game or the players.

It's called tryouts. Get over it if your DC does not make a team. ECNL and GA is not made to give out participation trophies. This is the dumbest thread I have seen in quite some time. Nothing but a bunch of Cancel Culture Antifa Soccer Club wannabees.

[Guest]

This is only about a coach/club abuse problem. It has nothing to do with which league is better or worse. That is irrelevant. The issue is the coaching abuse and bad environment for players.
A recent report came out that 40% of Gen Z - 13-23 year olds don't watch sports and that youth sports is on a major decline.
We are all on here because we share one common thing ---our kids are serious athletes + we support them --but if we don't make it a good place for them, more and more will quit and not watch sports. If this generation doesn't watch by age 18 then there will be a big financial implications across all sports in our country.
There is a bigger picture here - which is why this is coming up now.

Grouping youth ECNL soccer coaches together with Pro coaches is another stupid opinion. If you want to believe what you are posting, college coaches would be next, not ECNL/GA coaches.

OP is part of cancel culture and will likely have kids that don't know how to take criticism of any type. Parents like this will ruin our country and in about 10 to 20 years, we'll just have a bunch of young adults running around complaining to everyone about how somebody was mean to them. Thank God I choose not to deal with people like OP. I bet you OP probably complains to Coach about what position their kid plays and tells them not to pass either. Sheesh.

[Guest]

This is hilarious. If USSF with all it's firepower couldn't unseat ECNL with GDA what makes you think it's going to happen now? Parents and clubs aren't held at gunpoint to chose a certain league or club. They have options, many in fact. But when you offer a superior product - even it it's only perceived - people will chose what they think is the better product. It's not a monopoly but consumer choice. If GAL clubs and the league had better coaching and competition then more would chose that - but they don't

GAL is basically EDP 2.0

[Guest]

Grouping youth ECNL soccer coaches together with Pro coaches is another stupid opinion. If you want to believe what you are posting, college coaches would be next, not ECNL/GA coaches.

OP is part of cancel culture and will likely have kids that don't know how to take criticism of any type. Parents like this will ruin our country and in about 10 to 20 years, we'll just have a bunch of young adults running around complaining to everyone about how somebody was mean to them. Thank God I choose not to deal with people like OP. I bet you OP probably complains to Coach about what position their kid plays and tells them not to pass either. Sheesh.

Sheesh - glad you believe criticism is important: Your post and attitude sucks. It is a poorly written rant that didn't deliver and is unrelated to the discussion.

More importantly, you are giving incorrect information. ECNL & GA coaches in our state are college coaches - we have two ECNL clubs - one is PDA who has a coach named Mike O'Neill who is also the DOC for the club (girls) and the Head Coach for Rutgers. There is also another coach at PDA who is the assistant coach at Columbia U. STA GA has a coach who is the pro coach for Gotham FC. Those are few examples just in our state but there are many more across the country. Most coaches have multiple coaching jobs many include either pro teams, college teams or private/public HS schools.

[Guest]

Be serious, if it is not a monopoly it is an oligopoly on the girls side with ECNL and GAL. The entire promo for ECNL clubs is "we have ECNL, you have to play for us." Same with GAL to a lesser extent. Like the OP said, it is a matter of time. Both leagues will have to open up for this one reason, they do not act in the best interest of the game or the players.

My kid plays on a GA team. The biggest problem isn't coaching. Coaching and development within the club are great. It's why we're still there.

The biggest problem is the lack of quality competition. This fall we played seven GA league games. One opponent (maybe two if I'm being generous) played real soccer. The rest were great athletes playing tough, physical kickball. Honestly, most belong in the Top Flight of EDP, not GA let alone ECNL.

And you want to open it up? Bring in even more low quality play? Are you really that delusional you think there are that many top talents? I promise you, there aren't.

[Guest]

My kid plays on a GA team. The biggest problem isn't coaching. Coaching and development within the club are great. It's why we're still there.

The biggest problem is the lack of quality competition. This fall we played seven GA league games. One opponent (maybe two if I'm being generous) played real soccer. The rest were great athletes playing tough, physical kickball. Honestly, most belong in the Top Flight of EDP, not GA let alone ECNL.

And you want to open it up? Bring in even more low quality play? Are you really that delusional you think there are that many top talents? I promise you, there aren't.

This is our experience as well. GDA had issues but it at least had the top teams at the top clubs participating.

[Guest]

Opening up competition would make the leagues better, because now you would have the best of the best competing against each other. When everyone is under one umbrella, then the best teams end up in the best league and it flows down from there. It wouldn't matter what club they are affiliated with. If there is a small club that can put together a great team and they deserve to be in the top league, then they are in. Right now you have to be part of a club that was magically selected, usually because they had connections, so small or medium size clubs that are willing to work harder and train better are shut out forever. Everyone knows there are ECNL or GA teams that have no business in that league. Under one umbrella the best teams compete in one league. That would also lower ridiculous travel. Because the top league would have a better concentration of good teams. Everyone should play under one banner, US Soccer, or USYS or ENCL or GAL, doesn't matter, but the different tier leagues are based on MERIT, not on what club you are affiliated with. Team based leagues based on MERIT. With no guarantee that you are in that league the next year, you can move up or down based on performance. And entry into the league should be based on something like YouthSoccerRankings or an independent committee.

[Guest]

It's called tryouts. Get over it if your DC does not make a team. ECNL and GA is not made to give out participation trophies. This is the dumbest thread I have seen in quite some time. Nothing but a bunch of Cancel Culture Antifa Soccer Club wannabees.

Sorry, but you actually have it backwards. Cancel culture is when someone, is thrust out of a professional circle. In the current environment, if you are not an ECNL club, you have effectively been canceled out, you cannot compete at the highest levels. What is being proposed is an inclusive culture, where everyone gets to compete and the best rise to the top.

[Guest]

There is competition across leagues - for paying customers (clubs and ultimately families). Clubs can leave leagues if it isn't delivering on what they want or their families want. Not a monopoly nor is it controlled by any one entity.

The leagues can play outside teams by invitation or certain tournaments. Even MLS allows it now. Many clubs opt not to but its not banned.

[Guest]

Sorry, but you actually have it backwards. Cancel culture is when someone, is thrust out of a professional circle. In the current environment, if you are not an ECNL club, you have effectively been canceled out, you cannot compete at the highest levels. What is being proposed is an inclusive culture, where everyone gets to compete and the best rise to the top.

You're not entitled to be in any league. You can apply but the league can turn you down because they think you don't meet their qualifications or they determine a market is saturated already. Now, should a few clubs be dropped for bad performance? Definitely that would be ideal. It's probably coming soon too. That will open up some spots, but some clubs trying will still have geographic issues.

Above applies to ECNL and MLSN

[Guest]

Opening up competition would make the leagues better, because now you would have the best of the best competing against each other. When everyone is under one umbrella, then the best teams end up in the best league and it flows down from there. It wouldn't matter what club they are affiliated with. If there is a small club that can put together a great team and they deserve to be in the top league, then they are in. Right now you have to be part of a club that was magically selected, usually because they had connections, so small or medium size clubs that are willing to work harder and train better are shut out forever. Everyone knows there are ECNL or GA teams that have no business in that league. Under one umbrella the best teams compete in one league. That would also lower ridiculous travel. Because the top league would have a better concentration of good teams. Everyone should play under one banner, US Soccer, or USYS or ENCL or GAL, doesn't matter, but the different tier leagues are based on MERIT, not on what club you are affiliated with. Team based leagues based on MERIT. With no guarantee that you are in that league the next year, you can move up or down based on performance. And entry into the league should be based on something like YouthSoccerRankings or an independent committee.

Funny that anyone thinks 1) all the current leagues will want to operate under one umbrella 2) that any governing body (current or created) will be able to capture the horse that left the barn a long time ago.

Besides, forcing everyone under one umbrella is a monopoly

[Guest]

You're not entitled to be in any league. You can apply but the league can turn you down because they think you don't meet their qualifications or they determine a market is saturated already. Now, should a few clubs be dropped for bad performance? Definitely that would be ideal. It's probably coming soon too. That will open up some spots, but some clubs trying will still have geographic issues.

Above applies to ECNL and MLSN

Lets break it down:

ECNL in NJ - Has 4 teams - if it was done by USYS rules - 2 would be dropped after this season @ certain ages and would play ECRL next season. If they did well in ECRL in spring they could move back up next fall
GA - NJ has 4 teams - 2 would be dropped @ certain ages - would be out of the GA - as there is no alternative

When teams in USYS fall to the bottom of their bracket they get pushed down a flight. The same should apply to GA ad ECNL. It would make for consistent of the moment competition. Players change dramatically between U13 and HS ages and therefore so does the team.
If every single year the same teams are at the bottom ---doesn't that beg the question - do they belong? Prior to ECNL and GA the answer was no. They were pushed down a flight.

[Guest]

Cosby is out of jail sucking on pudding tits
He ain’t worried about us youth soccer po po