STA ECNL for boys?

[Guest]

I’m looking to potentially pull my son from his MLS next team and enquire at STA to tryout at their ECNL side. Does anyone have a deep info on how well their program runs?

[Guest]

Many of the same positives and negatives as any other large/popular club. I don’t think they’re the club they used to be, but still competitive and good training. Oversized rosters and limited field space for practice are some of the issues that are commonly discussed, but that’s the norm at many other clubs as well.

[Guest]

At that level, it’s all the same. Which club closer? At least with ECNL your son can play high school!

[Guest]

my son made the MLSn to ECNL switch
big fan of the ECNL system for college recruiting and he can play with his HS friends for a few months a year during the fall
also on the plus side there seems to be more parity in the league - fewer situations where you drive a couple hours for a 7-0 blowout

[Guest]

What age? Is this a midseason switch? Does that really work?

[Guest]

This would only make sense if playing time is limited on such MLSn then a transition would make sense player pool seems to be the common trend even at ECNL

[Guest]

MLS definitely trumps ECNL. Where does your kid fit on the team? If he’s bottom end of MLS Nxt, ECNL he may be a starter and more opportunities

[Guest]

MLS definitely trumps ECNL. Where does your kid fit on the team? If he’s bottom end of MLS Nxt, ECNL he may be a starter and more opportunities

That’s not true in NJ. The ECNL NJ teams are better than some of the MLS Next teams. Strictly NJ speaking here.

STA and Match Fit are very good teams. Red Bull and CSA Bergen are stronger, but TSF, Ironbound, Real, PDA, CSA Monmouth are all probably at best the same level as the ECNL teams.

[Guest]

That’s not true in NJ. The ECNL NJ teams are better than some of the MLS Next teams. Strictly NJ speaking here.

STA and Match Fit are very good teams. Red Bull and CSA Bergen are stronger, but TSF, Ironbound, Real, PDA, CSA Monmouth are all probably at best the same level as the ECNL teams.

I was noticing same and know families with boys on 2 of the MLSN group you mentioned who would agree with that assessment. I have son approaching this age, not currently playing with MLSN pre-academy but was in mix for RB pre-academy and has done showcase team stuff with them… if not making RB academy and not wanting to drive from southern/central (ocean/monmouth) to CSA Bergen would CSA Monmouth be best option to investigate? Anyone think ECNL expansion in central/southern NJ likely on boys side. Seems more MLsN teams in state

[Guest]

Match Fit in Mercer is probably just as good of an option as CSA Monmouth. Depends on your kid and how they like the coach at each of the spots. Go to the coach / team that best fits your kid, not the league.

[Guest]

I was noticing same and know families with boys on 2 of the MLSN group you mentioned who would agree with that assessment. I have son approaching this age, not currently playing with MLSN pre-academy but was in mix for RB pre-academy and has done showcase team stuff with them… if not making RB academy and not wanting to drive from southern/central (ocean/monmouth) to CSA Bergen would CSA Monmouth be best option to investigate? Anyone think ECNL expansion in central/southern NJ likely on boys side. Seems more MLsN teams in state

CSA Monmouth is a farce. ECNL clubs in NJ have better teams than them at 90% of age groups

[Guest]

STA has had a really strong last 18 months. Seem to be strong at most age groups and have good coaches

[Guest]

How big are their player pools typically - what happens to the boys on the bubble who don't get rostered in the ECNL match week-to-week - do they get rostered in lower level games on a week-to-week basis?

[Guest]

How big are their player pools typically - what happens to the boys on the bubble who don't get rostered in the ECNL match week-to-week - do they get rostered in lower level games on a week-to-week basis?

This is a good question. I have no first hand knowledge of STA but lots of these clubs with big rosters will also have big rosters for the second team. If they do push kids down from the first team to the second team, that means even more kids on the second team who can't play. Crazy.

[Guest]

That’s not true in NJ. The ECNL NJ teams are better than some of the MLS Next teams. Strictly NJ speaking here.

STA and Match Fit are very good teams. Red Bull and CSA Bergen are stronger, but TSF, Ironbound, Real, PDA, CSA Monmouth are all probably at best the same level as the ECNL teams.

This is not true for all age groups. U13, for example, STA or any ECNL team are below any of the teams in that group other than CSA Monmouth who are weak. CSA Bergen also not the top team at this age.