Gal

[Unregistered]

Except GAL is not a stand alone league, it is part of USYS...basically the club v club version of the NL.

Wrong, they are carded USYS but it is a league that is run by its clubs not by USYS. That’s just a gimmick to make people feel more “comfortable”, like GPS being part of Bayern Munchen.

[Unregistered]

Any truth to the rumor STA is accepting ECRL with the hopes of getting full ECNL in a year or 2?

That is actually where the real competition between leagues will be. ECNL is not worried about competition from GA (they can pick off clubs/players as they wish). It's the second-place race that they are working on. ECRL vs GA (EDP, etc). ECRL just added national events and ECNL accepted a few ECRL clubs. They are making ECRL a viable path to ECNL and are also making ECRL itself a league that should be taken seriously. Around here, ECRL is still a joke but that might change over the next few years.

[Unregistered]

Any truth to the rumor STA is accepting ECRL with the hopes of getting full ECNL in a year or 2?

Don’t think this is just a rumour, ECNL wants to make sure they make clubs pay their dues and I’m sure STA is tired of constantly losing players to WCFC, PDA, MFA etc so they might bite the bullet.

[Unregistered]

That is actually where the real competition between leagues will be. ECNL is not worried about competition from GA (they can pick off clubs/players as they wish). It's the second-place race that they are working on. ECRL vs GA (EDP, etc). ECRL just added national events and ECNL accepted a few ECRL clubs. They are making ECRL a viable path to ECNL and are also making ECRL itself a league that should be taken seriously. Around here, ECRL is still a joke but that might change over the next few years.

I am not in dispute with your opinion about ECRL but rather the viability of a ECRL Club actually being “promoted” to ECNL. Until that happens with a few clubs then it remains just “hopeful thinking” by parents who will rationalize joining that league over GA. When the pandemic restrictions are lifted and GA could properly have a normal season then let’s see how it goes both regionally and nationally at GA College showcases and events. GA is not competition vs. ECNL or any other league their success will solely be based on competing against themselves and their own league as it should be.

[Unregistered]

I am not in dispute with your opinion about ECRL but rather the viability of a ECRL Club actually being “promoted” to ECNL. Until that happens with a few clubs then it remains just “hopeful thinking” by parents who will rationalize joining that league over GA. When the pandemic restrictions are lifted and GA could properly have a normal season then let’s see how it goes both regionally and nationally at GA College showcases and events. GA is not competition vs. ECNL or any other league their success will solely be based on competing against themselves and their own league as it should be.

Weren't a couple of the newly added ECNL teams coming from ECRL? From the press release "Sporting Blue Valley and Sporting Iowa make the jump after successful campaigns in the ECNL Regional League – Heartland Conference this season, where they were at the top of the division for nearly every age group. "

[Unregistered]

That is actually where the real competition between leagues will be. ECNL is not worried about competition from GA (they can pick off clubs/players as they wish). It's the second-place race that they are working on. ECRL vs GA (EDP, etc). ECRL just added national events and ECNL accepted a few ECRL clubs. They are making ECRL a viable path to ECNL and are also making ECRL itself a league that should be taken seriously. Around here, ECRL is still a joke but that might change over the next few years.

It will be interesting to see if local ECNL clubs will be willing to take their B-teams out of ECRL in order to make ECRL a real viable path for other clubs to make it to ECNL. Right now, those clubs can use ECRL as a marketing tool to attract players to their B-team, but what would they do with those teams if ECRL moves to this club-pathway model?

[Unregistered]

Whaaaaaaat?

It will be interesting to see if local ECNL clubs will be willing to take their B-teams out of ECRL in order to make ECRL a real viable path for other clubs to make it to ECNL. Right now, those clubs can use ECRL as a marketing tool to attract players to their B-team, but what would they do with those teams if ECRL moves to this club-pathway model?

[Unregistered]

Weren't a couple of the newly added ECNL teams coming from ECRL? From the press release "Sporting Blue Valley and Sporting Iowa make the jump after successful campaigns in the ECNL Regional League – Heartland Conference this season, where they were at the top of the division for nearly every age group. "

Yes. They let several clubs in last year under the premise that if they proved themselves they would get moved up. Hopefully in the future they also relegate under-performing clubs down also.

[Unregistered]

Lol, lol

Yes. They let several clubs in last year under the premise that if they proved themselves they would get moved up. Hopefully in the future they also relegate under-performing clubs down also.

[Unregistered]

Whaaaaaaat?

Whaaaaaat wut?

[Unregistered]

It will be interesting to see if local ECNL clubs will be willing to take their B-teams out of ECRL in order to make ECRL a real viable path for other clubs to make it to ECNL. Right now, those clubs can use ECRL as a marketing tool to attract players to their B-team, but what would they do with those teams if ECRL moves to this club-pathway model?

If you are a club doing fairly well in EDP Div 1 (and there are a few both NJ and NY), given the choice, would you move to GA or ECRL (or stay where you are)? It looks like these leagues are going for quantity over quality in order to make the league financially viable. I wouldn't be surprised if a few clubs have to make that decision.

[Unregistered]

If you are a club doing fairly well in EDP Div 1 (and there are a few both NJ and NY), given the choice, would you move to GA or ECRL (or stay where you are)? It looks like these leagues are going for quantity over quality in order to make the league financially viable. I wouldn't be surprised if a few clubs have to make that decision.

If the club wants to join ECNL, then joining ECRL for a year to prove it deserves ECNL sounds like the best path. If ECNL is of no interest, then they should choose the league that best fits their mission and what their families want. GA requires more travel than EDP Div 1, so that is likely the biggest factor.

[Unregistered]

If you are a club doing fairly well in EDP Div 1 (and there are a few both NJ and NY), given the choice, would you move to GA or ECRL (or stay where you are)? It looks like these leagues are going for quantity over quality in order to make the league financially viable. I wouldn't be surprised if a few clubs have to make that decision.

From a business perspective a club would move to the GA and put their second second team in edp division 1. much the way GA teams do it now

[Unregistered]

If the club wants to join ECNL, then joining ECRL for a year to prove it deserves ECNL sounds like the best path. If ECNL is of no interest, then they should choose the league that best fits their mission and what their families want. GA requires more travel than EDP Div 1, so that is likely the biggest factor.

Exactly - some of those families on an EDP team may really balk at driving 3 hours to play one game. If you lose the players, especially the better ones, it is not always easy for these teams to get them back. A smart DOC would get a real feel for what the members generally want before committing.

[Unregistered]

If the club wants to join ECNL, then joining ECRL for a year to prove it deserves ECNL sounds like the best path. If ECNL is of no interest, then they should choose the league that best fits their mission and what their families want. GA requires more travel than EDP Div 1, so that is likely the biggest factor.

If a club has strong younger teams, doing ECRL for a year or two is your best option. Clubs like STA lose their best players by U13-U15 because they can't offer the top league