Girls Soccer

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Younger ages it doesn't matter what league you are in. Just need the training.

As they get older who they train with (coach and talent around them), who they play against and receiving as much exposure as possible are very important. Not sure playing EDP/NL when they get older really is the best to maximize these items for a potential D1 future player. Could happen but stats will tell you to lean to a good DA or ECNL program (not a matchfit or CSA bergen) for talented kids. Probably see the higher talent leave NL/EDP starting u15. Making it even harder as they get older in that league.

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The landscape has changed with intro of GDA where the competition has somewhat equalized among these 3 leagues to a large extent. It’s already been discussed on here the watering down of ECNL talent since the intro of GDA. You can’t rely on What happened in past since GDA brand new.

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The landscape has changed with intro of GDA where the competition has somewhat equalized among these 3 leagues to a large extent. It’s already been discussed on here the watering down of ECNL talent since the intro of GDA. You can’t rely on What happened in past since GDA brand new.

All water down yes. Equalized no. GDA has the more talented kids across the country. ECNL close second and the others it is not even close at the older ages. Could change for ECNL as more talent leaves for GDA in the coming years. At that point if you want to play HS why pay so much to ECNL and just do NL.

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All water down yes. Equalized no. GDA has the more talented kids across the country. ECNL close second and the others it is not even close at the older ages. Could change for ECNL as more talent leaves for GDA in the coming years. At that point if you want to play HS why pay so much to ECNL and just do NL.

I dont really think this is an accurate statement. No clue about "across the country" but in the NY metro area, there is strength and weakness in both these leagues to go around. Look at the club and team specific to your child, not the league or you may be very disappointed.

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From another state but this thread interested me.

My daughter played on a bottom feeder ECNL team for 2 years and since has moved to a NL team that is currently in the top 50 according to youthsoccerrankings.com. Her former team is ranked around 250 on the same rating scale and I would say that is accurate.

The top 5% of NL teams can keep up with anyone but I would sat the top 25% of ECNL and DA overall is better than 95% of NL. NL also doesn't have the worst teams there though either because you sort of have to "earn your way" up to NL. So I would say that if you took away the top 25% of ECNL and the bottom 15% or so that is where the NL teams would reside.

The overall showcasing of teams is miles ahead in the ECNL however. Even on the bottom feeder ECNL team she was on, they would get close to 120 coaches to visit over the course of the weekend and the age group below, which was really good, had almost twice as many. Our NL showcase we had about half as many visit our fields and we have the better team and some really good players as well.

Having said that, her coach has put in some work on her behalf (sophomore) and she is getting a ton more traction on this NL team than on ECNL and actually is having fun winning most of her games. We are going to more local showcases and still having a decent turnout (maybe 40 local coaches 20 D1s, 10 D2s, 10 D3s and NAIA) which is even more beneficial than 100 far out of state coaches, even if there are more of them and more D1s.

There is a great fit for everyone but the NL has been good for us only because the team she is on is better than the last one, pretty good overall, and the coach puts in the work for his girls. ECNL and DA have way better exposure but you also have to either have a great coach on your behalf or really stand out to get the most looks.

Just a perspective of someone who has seen both.

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no one should give a rat's ass about how the choice that works for their player "reflects" on anything be it soccer ability or academic ability. All these players have different combinations of both in addition to desiring an urban locale, or a rural locale, or a certain religious affiliation, or a stem focus, or north or south, or east , or west, etc. etc. et.

Judging a players commitment is a complete waste of time unless you know the individual and what they are looking for.

So why do Clubs advertise it?

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Everyone stating "Across the country" - Sure across the country DA and ECNL have the best teams BUT we live in NJ, DE, MD, PA or NY. Around HERE DA and ECNL isn't any better overall than NL teams. Issues are not all DA and ECNL teams are good, with the exception of a few clubs. Also each age group from u13 to u18/19 have TEAMS (NOT CLUBS) that are better than what is being produced at these overall bottom and mid academies for DA and ECNL.

If these 2 leagues, in this area, were the "best" then they should never lose to a small time club or township team. If/When DA and ECNL apply a relegation for clubs and allow individual teams to join then they can consider themselves the best.

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I dont really think this is an accurate statement. No clue about "across the country" but in the NY metro area, there is strength and weakness in both these leagues to go around. Look at the club and team specific to your child, not the league or you may be very disappointed.

So, the poster says "across the country", you reply it's not an accurate statement and then say you have no clue about "across the country".

Thank you for such an informative post Ms Wishy-Washy.

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The demographic in these types of league near me are fairly well-off, talented soccer crazy kids from educated families.

Many are eyeing college with a career path and the right college fit in mind and trying to find a good soccer fit or use soccer to aid in admission opportunity. Some are only focused on the soccer but that is a minority. Some dont want to play in college at all believe it or not.

i dont think this make-up is unusual at all is these high level, very expensive type leagues.

i dont think you can call a kid soccer crazy who does not want to continue playing at the next level. Thats part of the problem with all these leagues. They are catering for a BROAD range of soccer talent and ambition. There is no way any league can do that on the scale these leagues are.

Its why the GDA and ECNL slogans, especially the ECNL ones ring so hollow. Every one is not a champion or leader or an amazing young woman.

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Ninety percent are choosing a club based on location, level of play, cost of time and travel that fits budget. The other ten percent look at the commit list and choose a club based on that so I guess it is for that ten percent of customers.

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So, the poster says "across the country", you reply it's not an accurate statement and then say you have no clue about "across the country".

Thank you for such an informative post Ms Wishy-Washy.

The point is, these kids play in NY metro area. Texas may kill it in ecnl.or gda...good for texas but who cares? What idiot is going to pick a local option for their kids based on Texas?

Is there some idiot in Texas choosing a team based on NY metro area? I sure hope not.

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Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t most parents who have their kid play in ECNL /DA expecting to have their kid play D1? Or are parents/kids playing ECNL with the idea their Suzies will play D2,D3 soccer? Maybe my kids team is the exception but I would say almost all of the parents have their kid playing ECNL because they think it will lead to a D1 college soccer program. Am I missing something? Hard to believe D2, D3 soccer is the desired outcome with all the time, money and travel ECNL/DA requires. And to me the bottom line is you don’t need ECNL to play at the D2, D3 college soccer level. So if ECNL continues to get watered down and is not giving the D1 return people want they will go back to EDP. Water cooler bragging rights can only take you so far.

You keep saying D1.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer...ens-soccer-rpi

ND #31 lost 3-0 to UNC 2x and 3-0 to UVA

All D1 obviously and most people would be happy to go to ND. Lets not pretend they are in the same level soccer wise. They aren't.

Parents/Kids aspirations are different and need to be based on personal stuff. I think people look at this the wrong way. You need a good training environment to maximize whatever ability you have. If you are good, trust me, coaches will come and see you. Given the up selling that has gone on over the years, the "better" clubs - facilities, network etc have gravitated to 2 leagues ECNL and GDA. That does not mean you cant find good coaching and environments else where. You can, but the trend has been Clubs moving to those 2 leagues so they can charge more.

So when you say parents expect D1, they really should decide IF they want to maximize soccer ability, then pick the place that does that. The numbers of doors soccer will open will be a function of just how good that player becomes and thats many factors - instruction, yes, but mostly its on the player to challenge themselves. Coaching is more about game results and those are overrated. The PDAs of this world do not have more elite commits than other clubs do. They have a very similar profile adjusted for numbers because life is a bell curve - a Few elites- a lot of middle and a few not so good

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Why would you say most woul be happy with ND? Absolute crap statement. For starters, it is a catholic college which would be a terrible fit for some kids. Stop making useless generalizations

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The point is, these kids play in NY metro area. Texas may kill it in ecnl.or gda...good for texas but who cares? What idiot is going to pick a local option for their kids based on Texas?

Is there some idiot in Texas choosing a team based on NY metro area? I sure hope not.

If your child is U15 or older and can potentially play for D1 school what NL team locally are you putting her on over PDA, WC, STA or CSA Monmouth? Stop already!

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Any top club that’s closest to me. I’m not driving to any of those clubs.