Clearly the West Coast is Ahead

[Unregistered]

ECNL will add clubs in areas where it makes sense. There are less populated areas and low soccer-interest areas where it doesn't make sense, or there aren't enough quality clubs to make it work with traveling etc. Why is it ECNLs responsibility to blanket the country? MLS has similar same coverage issues. Kids can still play soccer in many other leagues out there. They aren't "shut out" Shut out means they're knocking on the door and won't be admitted.

Cool. Why do some clubs have two then?

[Unregistered]

Market is weakened only by PDA:
- 2 teams in 1 location: more travel, obvious A|B tier between clubs
- 2 weekly sessions that are frequently cancelled with no make-up: 3 fields for training for too many teams (boys + girls ecnl, mls next, ECRL) and no indoors facilities
- 22+ players per team with high rotation by recruiting
- practices are 30-50% scrimmage

There is no reason for PDA to change the business model because the top blue team:
- always has a pipeline of fresh players joining, or players moved from white
- blue team players are expected to do 6-8 hours of training on their own because the weak practices
- blue team accomplishments are waved around on social media while no one talks about white as being the feeder tube

Clear way to fix this is to move ECNL white to Shore and to add 2 more ECNL clubs in NJ area and let the better training model win.

The best way to fix ECNL is to make it more competitive as it was intended. “Less is more competitive “ PDA should have 1 team per age group and Matchfit with 1. That’s it! If you are talking about competitive and competition then a team with 25 equal players is better development than adding additional middle tier clubs that have been repeatedly decline. If these other clubs could not bring up the level of play when they joined GDA how do you expect them to be competitive playing ECNL? ECNL was not intended for the masses but rather for the top rated clubs in the country. Parents in NJ compare themselves to States like CA & TX and it’s not even close.

[Unregistered]

Market is weakened only by PDA:
- 2 teams in 1 location: more travel, obvious A|B tier between clubs
- 2 weekly sessions that are frequently cancelled with no make-up: 3 fields for training for too many teams (boys + girls ecnl, mls next, ECRL) and no indoors facilities
- 22+ players per team with high rotation by recruiting
- practices are 30-50% scrimmage

There is no reason for PDA to change the business model because the top blue team:
- always has a pipeline of fresh players joining, or players moved from white
- blue team players are expected to do 6-8 hours of training on their own because the weak practices
- blue team accomplishments are waved around on social media while no one talks about white as being the feeder tube

Clear way to fix this is to move ECNL white to Shore and to add 2 more ECNL clubs in NJ area and let the better training model win.

Wow, this is acceptable? 2 sessions a week that often get cancelled and NO indoor facilities?? Is there really any consistent training in the winter? I don't think we would stay long at a club that put so little effort into training their teams. No wonder there is constant turnover, they probably need to replace players who become stagnate. THIS is why we cant compare NJ to Cali or TX, we accept mediocrity from our limited choices.

[Unregistered]

Market is weakened only by PDA:
- 2 teams in 1 location: more travel, obvious A|B tier between clubs
- 2 weekly sessions that are frequently cancelled with no make-up: 3 fields for training for too many teams (boys + girls ecnl, mls next, ECRL) and no indoors facilities
- 22+ players per team with high rotation by recruiting
- practices are 30-50% scrimmage

There is no reason for PDA to change the business model because the top blue team:
- always has a pipeline of fresh players joining, or players moved from white
- blue team players are expected to do 6-8 hours of training on their own because the weak practices
- blue team accomplishments are waved around on social media while no one talks about white as being the feeder tube

Clear way to fix this is to move ECNL white to Shore and to add 2 more ECNL clubs in NJ area and let the better training model win.

Many great points in here including the mention of White being completely ignored on social media. Our girls joke about it all the time.

[Unregistered]

Wow, this is acceptable? 2 sessions a week that often get cancelled and NO indoor facilities?? Is there really any consistent training in the winter? I don't think we would stay long at a club that put so little effort into training their teams. No wonder there is constant turnover, they probably need to replace players who become stagnate. THIS is why we cant compare NJ to Cali or TX, we accept mediocrity from our limited choices.

You nailed it! It’s really a vicious cycle. Bring new players who are told they are amazing, coach really likes them, top 1/3, starter. Current players move to bench - become stagnant —unless they are internally connected (which many are or pay for private training by coach). New players shiny for a month or two. New Player time starts to decline, coach loses interest, new players to bench. Old and some new leave or get dropped at the end of the season after it’s too late to go to another ECNL club and cycle starts again. Club hold card and refuses to release it so said players does not become the competition—- because obviously they were quite good to make it there to begin with and PDA is afraid to play against them.
Family finds new club and some excel and others stop playing. And no it’s not acceptable that is why this board is blowing up. Stop sending your talented kids there, realize when a coach says I like you— it’s not normal. Do the research, push back and find a way to not get sucked in.

[Unregistered]

PDA got a huge bump when they left the DA. These other clubs got it this year. Wait a few years and let’s see where they are. The Slammers are always exceptional, Solar has become the big dog in Texas. Huge player pools at both clubs. Much bigger than anything we have in NJ.

[Unregistered]

You nailed it! It’s really a vicious cycle. Bring new players who are told they are amazing, coach really likes them, top 1/3, starter. Current players move to bench - become stagnant —unless they are internally connected (which many are or pay for private training by coach). New players shiny for a month or two. New Player time starts to decline, coach loses interest, new players to bench. Old and some new leave or get dropped at the end of the season after it’s too late to go to another ECNL club and cycle starts again. Club hold card and refuses to release it so said players does not become the competition—- because obviously they were quite good to make it there to begin with and PDA is afraid to play against them.
Family finds new club and some excel and others stop playing. And no it’s not acceptable that is why this board is blowing up. Stop sending your talented kids there, realize when a coach says I like you— it’s not normal. Do the research, push back and find a way to not get sucked in.

Yes parents need to do the research but many don't know how. Most never played the sport so aren't good judges or coaching or player talent - and they'll almost always be biased about their own kids. That's why getting your player to some training sessions well before any tryouts happen is important. You can at least watch and see if your kid is in the mix or not. Go watch some games and be honest with yourself - would your kid realistically start off that bench? If they're not going to be a starter most of the time, consider other options. There's plenty of options out there.

[Unregistered]

Yes parents need to do the research but many don't know how. Most never played the sport so aren't good judges or coaching or player talent - and they'll almost always be biased about their own kids. That's why getting your player to some training sessions well before any tryouts happen is important. You can at least watch and see if your kid is in the mix or not. Go watch some games and be honest with yourself - would your kid realistically start off that bench? If they're not going to be a starter most of the time, consider other options. There's plenty of options out there.

Are parents permitted to watch training sessions? I was under the impression from comments on here that it isn't. I mean, I know that no coach WANTS parents watching, but in this situation it would certainly be necessary.

[Unregistered]

Are parents permitted to watch training sessions? I was under the impression from comments on here that it isn't. I mean, I know that no coach WANTS parents watching, but in this situation it would certainly be necessary.

If a prospective parent asked to watch and was refused? That speaks volumes, which is why it's unlikely to happen. Also, ask your kid. They have a pretty good idea where they fit. Go watch a few games. It's a good way to asses team talent (could your kid play there?) and watch the coach in action

It's good to strike up conversations with parents

[Unregistered]

If a prospective parent asked to watch and was refused? That speaks volumes, which is why it's unlikely to happen. Also, ask your kid. They have a pretty good idea where they fit. Go watch a few games. It's a good way to asses team talent (could your kid play there?) and watch the coach in action

It's good to strike up conversations with parents

Not only we were not permitted to watch a practice at PDA, parents that tried were thrown out. And you couldn't see games because they play like 5 games a season and half are out of state and you are asked to commit ASAP. So...no its not that easy to assess things as a parent prior to committing to PDA - you rely on your kid. However, we were able to see the other clubs in the state and that was helpful.

[Unregistered]

If a prospective parent asked to watch and was refused? That speaks volumes, which is why it's unlikely to happen. Also, ask your kid. They have a pretty good idea where they fit. Go watch a few games. It's a good way to asses team talent (could your kid play there?) and watch the coach in action

It's good to strike up conversations with parents

The parents are PDA are psycho. They literally will ignore you if you are an outsider and try to talk to them. So unfortunately you can only rely on what you hear, another family that you know that is willing to tell the truth or have your kid ask the players. Or ask a mentor coach.

[Unregistered]

The parents are PDA are psycho. They literally will ignore you if you are an outsider and try to talk to them. So unfortunately you can only rely on what you hear, another family that you know that is willing to tell the truth or have your kid ask the players. Or ask a mentor coach.

or believe what's posted on talking soccer lol lol lol lol

Really not hard to ask around - every one knows someone that can hook you up with a current family or two. It's a small world.

[Unregistered]

If a prospective parent asked to watch and was refused? That speaks volumes, which is why it's unlikely to happen. Also, ask your kid. They have a pretty good idea where they fit. Go watch a few games. It's a good way to asses team talent (could your kid play there?) and watch the coach in action

It's good to strike up conversations with parents

Our biggest regret was not pushing harder to see a practice or meet the coach before we committed to PDA. We should have just walked away when they were the only ones that did not allow us to watch.

[Unregistered]

BS. I watched practice before committing my kid. This is completely ridiculous anti PDA propaganda. I mean i wouldn't say everything is perfect but this here is just silly.

[Unregistered]

Our biggest regret was not pushing harder to see a practice or meet the coach before we committed to PDA. We should have just walked away when they were the only ones that did not allow us to watch.

I watch mine and watched the tryouts. No issues at all.