ECNL - By the numbers

[Guest]

Objectively better? Why? Because ECNLs best of the best are better than most GA teams? It goes the other way as well, every GA conference has at least 2 if not 3 clubs that would be top half in ECNL. Sure the bottom 3rd of GA is worse or at worst on par with the bottom 3rd of ECNL but that doesn't say much for either league. Honestly, the top half of ECNL needs to add the top 3rd of GA and ditch the bottom 3rd in order to call themselves elite.

The ONLY thing that makes ECNL "better" is the brand recognition it gets from colleges and even that has started to tarnish as year after year ECNL refuses to add the top clubs especially in the north east. ECNL now isn't the only major league that boasts top colleges attending events and the majority of non-ECNL players are coming from GA. I'm not saying the GA is better than ECNL but they are the biggest threat to them. They may not have a majority of the top 1% of clubs across the country but from Maryland to Maine they have just as many.

This is your opinion not supported with any fact. If you’re using college as the level of success then your theory is completely wrong because ECNL not only dominates all 3 divisions of womens soccer but also the top P5 conference teams. GA is not even a close second. As far as streamlining ECNL I agree that there should be a top tier group of the top ECNL Teams in each age group. Those that’s fall below 500 or the bottom third should be put in a lower group. Each year you have promotion and relegation. To think that ECNL would ever consider adding the top third of GA is just your wishful thinking. If top GA Clubs Tophat, FCV & NEFC were given the opportunity to join ECNL it would happen immediately.

[Guest]

This is your opinion not supported with any fact. If you’re using college as the level of success then your theory is completely wrong because ECNL not only dominates all 3 divisions of womens soccer but also the top P5 conference teams. GA is not even a close second. As far as streamlining ECNL I agree that there should be a top tier group of the top ECNL Teams in each age group. Those that’s fall below 500 or the bottom third should be put in a lower group. Each year you have promotion and relegation. To think that ECNL would ever consider adding the top third of GA is just your wishful thinking. If top GA Clubs Tophat, FCV & NEFC were given the opportunity to join ECNL it would happen immediately.

See, your thinking is flawed. GA is in its 4th year so players who graduated the 1st year are still in college so you won't see many if any at the pro levels yet. Every year though, you do see GA having more and more players representing at the upper end of the college level. Again though that all depends on your view of the top. Top 10, top 25, top 100, schools who win their conferences, schools that make the NCAA playoffs regardless of divisional status...etc.

As for your promotion/relegation, all you are asking for is a ton more travel which would further keep good players out of the league. Figure ECNL North Atlantic is all of 10 clubs, 3 of which are PDA, in a 250mi radius - you can't demote teams as ECNL is club v club even so some ages had as few as 4 teams under .500 and as many as 6. If all you did was keep the top few clubs, where are you getting the replacement clubs? Bring up those in RL? You and I and everyone know exactly how that would go. The only option is for ECNL, GA, and a few select other clubs come together. You will always have those clubs that are really good and may never usually win against a PDA Blue or PF team. That doesn't mean the clubs are trash, it just means they are better than most but not the top of the elite. I don't know if top GA clubs would jump now. Sure they did at the start but those that didn't get picked up like FCV, Tophat, and NEFC because of politics may think twice now if asked. Why leave a league that gets the same eyes at events that you are a dominant club, still facing ECNL clubs at inter-league events, and have a say in what happens vs having to look over your shoulder for the jilted board member(s) who may be looking to keep you down?

[Guest]

See, your thinking is flawed. GA is in its 4th year so players who graduated the 1st year are still in college so you won't see many if any at the pro levels yet. Every year though, you do see GA having more and more players representing at the upper end of the college level. Again though that all depends on your view of the top. Top 10, top 25, top 100, schools who win their conferences, schools that make the NCAA playoffs regardless of divisional status...etc.

As for your promotion/relegation, all you are asking for is a ton more travel which would further keep good players out of the league. Figure ECNL North Atlantic is all of 10 clubs, 3 of which are PDA, in a 250mi radius - you can't demote teams as ECNL is club v club even so some ages had as few as 4 teams under .500 and as many as 6. If all you did was keep the top few clubs, where are you getting the replacement clubs? Bring up those in RL? You and I and everyone know exactly how that would go. The only option is for ECNL, GA, and a few select other clubs come together. You will always have those clubs that are really good and may never usually win against a PDA Blue or PF team. That doesn't mean the clubs are trash, it just means they are better than most but not the top of the elite. I don't know if top GA clubs would jump now. Sure they did at the start but those that didn't get picked up like FCV, Tophat, and NEFC because of politics may think twice now if asked. Why leave a league that gets the same eyes at events that you are a dominant club, still facing ECNL clubs at inter-league events, and have a say in what happens vs having to look over your shoulder for the jilted board member(s) who may be looking to keep you down?

To each their own. If you want to believe the same eyes see GA as ECNL then that’s your reality. The factual truth is that ECNL dominates in college commitments. The numbers do not lie. How you want to interpret that is up to you. If you do not think those three GA Clubs would jump at the chance to move to ECNL is again your reality.

[Guest]

Any GA team would burn everything GA to the ground for a chance to be in ECNL. If they say they wouldn’t they are either lying or stupid.

[Guest]

college Coaches recruit from the globe. They don’t care whether you play at ECNL or GA or the Philippine Bats. They care about the drive, ability, love for the sport.

[Guest]

To each their own. If you want to believe the same eyes see GA as ECNL then that’s your reality. The factual truth is that ECNL dominates in college commitments. The numbers do not lie. How you want to interpret that is up to you. If you do not think those three GA Clubs would jump at the chance to move to ECNL is again your reality.

If your kid is real good, they'll find her, whether ga or ecnl.

[Guest]

Colleges will recruit from the globe”
”if you’re good, they’ll find you”.

These statements are no longer true. College recruiters go to majority ECNL showcases, some GA showcases and next to no EDP showcases. If you want to have a chance to be seen by top colleges you HAVE to be at ECNL or GA. And even if you play in those leagues you have to do your own recruiting. You have to put yourself on the coaches radars. Your coach isn’t going to do it for you. They may help but you have to do the leg work.

[Guest]

Colleges will recruit from the globe”
”if you’re good, they’ll find you”.

These statements are no longer true. College recruiters go to majority ECNL showcases, some GA showcases and next to no EDP showcases. If you want to have a chance to be seen by top colleges you HAVE to be at ECNL or GA. And even if you play in those leagues you have to do your own recruiting. You have to put yourself on the coaches radars. Your coach isn’t going to do it for you. They may help but you have to do the leg work.

Didn't the poster respond to the GA vs ecnl debate? I think you're solidifying the point. If kid is real good in GA, colleges will find her

[Guest]

Colleges will recruit from the globe”
”if you’re good, they’ll find you”.

These statements are no longer true. College recruiters go to majority ECNL showcases, some GA showcases and next to no EDP showcases. If you want to have a chance to be seen by top colleges you HAVE to be at ECNL or GA. And even if you play in those leagues you have to do your own recruiting. You have to put yourself on the coaches radars. Your coach isn’t going to do it for you. They may help but you have to do the leg work.

No you don't "have to." Kids from other leagues get recruited. No it won't be an entire roster like with ECNL but a few top players from lower teams. And it will be to lowest level D1, D2 and D3, which is a great fit for many players. What you "have to do" is target carefully, put yourself in front of coaches via ID events and market yourself heavily.

[Guest]

Colleges will recruit from the globe”
”if you’re good, they’ll find you”.

These statements are no longer true. College recruiters go to majority ECNL showcases, some GA showcases and next to no EDP showcases. If you want to have a chance to be seen by top colleges you HAVE to be at ECNL or GA. And even if you play in those leagues you have to do your own recruiting. You have to put yourself on the coaches radars. Your coach isn’t going to do it for you. They may help but you have to do the leg work.

You actually bring up a good point. The problem with the GA and ECNL is they will let hundreds of teams in. They will water down the product to a point where college coaches are frustrated, see some for very little time, can’t get to see everyone,…there is one head coach and typically 2 assistants on a college team. There’s a lot to cover for a small group. Both leagues have done a real disservice to the best players. Interesting where it will go from here,..video, id camps and your coaches relationship. More college coaches are traveling internationally, too.