The Problem with ECNL, Where to Start!

[Unregistered]

There is a long standing problem with the ECNL and NPL leagues. First of all, there are some strong clubs, but there are also some very weak clubs. While clubs may be particularly strong in certain age groups, their other age groups are failing to thrive. This results in large imbalances within each league. In both leagues, there are teams that you know you're going to beat 5-0 before you even step on the field. Does this make for a good competitive play and balance within the league?

Of course not, and it should be fixed! A club should not just be granted a place in the league because of their location and willingness to pay for entrance fee to the league. The teams that underperform should be dropped to the lower league while the strongest lower league teams should be able to compete in the higher league the next season. Nothing should be automatic! If two teams from the same club are both excelling, then they should each be competing in the ECNL league. Likewise, if a club's two teams are struggling then they should both be competing in the NPL league. Each year a team must earn its place in the respective league. The league has become a joke in this regard and the talent has become watered down.

In addition, consideration should also be given to the smaller clubs who happen to have a strong team or two who could easily compete and even beat ECNL and NPL teams. There is so much talent out there that doesn't get to play or be seen because of their locations or small size of the club. The practice of trying to poach and steal players from other clubs should be outlawed. Many unethical trainers are resorting to dispicable tactics to lure kids away from teams for their own personal gain. Parents need to stand up and demand more accountability from clubs and trainers who seem only to want to destroy youth soccer for their own personal gain. While we know most organizations and trainers don't conduct themselves in this manner, the ones that do are destroying the sport for the kids! If your child's trainer makes unusual or excessive demands on your child, you have to consider if this individual is the wisest choice for your child's future.

Finally, all teams should have to compete successfully for the right to play in these elite leagues. The current practice is obviously flawed and not the best. All teams who'd like to try to excell should be given the opportunity to place themselves in a position to peform at the highest levels possible. Based on the standings at season's end teams should move up or down based upon their performance in league play. Goal differential shouldn't be 5 or more, but under 2 in any given game. From what I've seen in both of these leagues, as well as heard about the DA leagues, the talent is not balanced and teams are given access and places in leagues where they just don't belong.

What are your thoughts?

[Unregistered]

All you need to do it look at how the money flows on youth sports and the whole thing will make sense.

[Unregistered]

The Problem with ECNL, Where to Start!

There is a long standing problem with the ECNL and NPL leagues. First of all, there are some strong clubs, but there are also some very weak clubs. While clubs may be particularly strong in certain age groups, their other age groups are failing to thrive. This results in large imbalances within each league. In both leagues, there are teams that you know you're going to beat 5-0 before you even step on the field. Does this make for a good competitive play and balance within the league?

Of course not, and it should be fixed! A club should not just be granted a place in the league because of their location and willingness to pay for entrance fee to the league. The teams that underperform should be dropped to the lower league while the strongest lower league teams should be able to compete in the higher league the next season. Nothing should be automatic! If two teams from the same club are both excelling, then they should each be competing in the ECNL league. Likewise, if a club's two teams are struggling then they should both be competing in the NPL league. Each year a team must earn its place in the respective league. The league has become a joke in this regard and the talent has become watered down.

In addition, consideration should also be given to the smaller clubs who happen to have a strong team or two who could easily compete and even beat ECNL and NPL teams. There is so much talent out there that doesn't get to play or be seen because of their locations or small size of the club. The practice of trying to poach and steal players from other clubs should be outlawed. Many unethical trainers are resorting to dispicable tactics to lure kids away from teams for their own personal gain. Parents need to stand up and demand more accountability from clubs and trainers who seem only to want to destroy youth soccer for their own personal gain. While we know most organizations and trainers don't conduct themselves in this manner, the ones that do are destroying the sport for the kids! If your child's trainer makes unusual or excessive demands on your child, you have to consider if this individual is the wisest choice for your child's future.

Finally, all teams should have to compete successfully for the right to play in these elite leagues. The current practice is obviously flawed and not the best. All teams who'd like to try to excell should be given the opportunity to place themselves in a position to peform at the highest levels possible. Based on the standings at season's end teams should move up or down based upon their performance in league play. Goal differential shouldn't be 5 or more, but under 2 in any given game. From what I've seen in both of these leagues, as well as heard about the DA leagues, the talent is not balanced and teams are given access and places in leagues where they just don't belong.

What are your thoughts?

It certainly is a problem

[Unregistered]

There is a long standing problem with the ECNL and NPL leagues. First of all, there are some strong clubs, but there are also some very weak clubs. While clubs may be particularly strong in certain age groups, their other age groups are failing to thrive. This results in large imbalances within each league. In both leagues, there are teams that you know you're going to beat 5-0 before you even step on the field. Does this make for a good competitive play and balance within the league?

Of course not, and it should be fixed! A club should not just be granted a place in the league because of their location and willingness to pay for entrance fee to the league. The teams that underperform should be dropped to the lower league while the strongest lower league teams should be able to compete in the higher league the next season. Nothing should be automatic! If two teams from the same club are both excelling, then they should each be competing in the ECNL league. Likewise, if a club's two teams are struggling then they should both be competing in the NPL league. Each year a team must earn its place in the respective league. The league has become a joke in this regard and the talent has become watered down.

In addition, consideration should also be given to the smaller clubs who happen to have a strong team or two who could easily compete and even beat ECNL and NPL teams. There is so much talent out there that doesn't get to play or be seen because of their locations or small size of the club. The practice of trying to poach and steal players from other clubs should be outlawed. Many unethical trainers are resorting to dispicable tactics to lure kids away from teams for their own personal gain. Parents need to stand up and demand more accountability from clubs and trainers who seem only to want to destroy youth soccer for their own personal gain. While we know most organizations and trainers don't conduct themselves in this manner, the ones that do are destroying the sport for the kids! If your child's trainer makes unusual or excessive demands on your child, you have to consider if this individual is the wisest choice for your child's future.

Finally, all teams should have to compete successfully for the right to play in these elite leagues. The current practice is obviously flawed and not the best. All teams who'd like to try to excell should be given the opportunity to place themselves in a position to peform at the highest levels possible. Based on the standings at season's end teams should move up or down based upon their performance in league play. Goal differential shouldn't be 5 or more, but under 2 in any given game. From what I've seen in both of these leagues, as well as heard about the DA leagues, the talent is not balanced and teams are given access and places in leagues where they just don't belong.

What are your thoughts?

You just described USYS EDP...if that's what you are looking for, encourage your child to play there.
GDA and ECNL are club based leagues for a reason. Having had kids play in both types of leagues, there is a clear distinction in the level of talent. There are some clubs who probably should've been granted admission to GDA or ECNL earlier than they were (SSS, SJEB come to mind) but even those clubs don't have high success rates across the board in the lower leagues. The club as a whole has to show that they are capable of competing in most age groups, some of it is political, but what isn't? I, and more importantly my kid, enjoy the full slate of club games, the comraderie within the league and knowing that she is not ever going to play in the back of some middle school on a "pitch" that doubles as a baseball field!

[Unregistered]

All you need to do it look at how the money flows on youth sports and the whole thing will make sense.

Yes it's a total mess and there's too many leagues and clubs all battling over the same pie (players and their parent's money). Problem is, I can't do a freaking thing about it. All I can do is find the best clubs/coaching/fit for my kids (who are different and need different things). I can't solve all the issue that ail US soccer and I can't find the youth soccer industry. One is finishing and the other is done next year, thank god. While I think the risk of the women's NT slipping is very real, I have no faith in USSF fixing it based on how poorly they've managed both BDA and GDA.

[Unregistered]

You just described USYS EDP...if that's what you are looking for, encourage your child to play there.
GDA and ECNL are club based leagues for a reason. Having had kids play in both types of leagues, there is a clear distinction in the level of talent. There are some clubs who probably should've been granted admission to GDA or ECNL earlier than they were (SSS, SJEB come to mind) but even those clubs don't have high success rates across the board in the lower leagues. The club as a whole has to show that they are capable of competing in most age groups, some of it is political, but what isn't? I, and more importantly my kid, enjoy the full slate of club games, the comraderie within the league and knowing that she is not ever going to play in the back of some middle school on a "pitch" that doubles as a baseball field!

You hit the nail on the head with the difference in talent level. A team that's awesome in NPL or EDP NL isn't necessarily going to be competitive on a GDA or ECNL level. In my daughter's age group, a top NL team is ranked #1 on GS, was a finalist at NL league National Championship, won the Region, the USYS State Cup and carries a bunch of other accolades. They played a mediocre (on their best day) ECNL team at a recent tournament and lost by a whopping 8-0.
Granted there are some teams that have decent games with GDA and ECNL teams at mixed tournaments but I see mostly 1 or 2 goal losses and maybe some draws, certainly no dominating Ws. But these aren't games against the top teams in the leagues and most of the time the teams are giving all the players even time, which rarely happens in league competition.

[Unregistered]

You just described USYS EDP...if that's what you are looking for, encourage your child to play there.
GDA and ECNL are club based leagues for a reason. Having had kids play in both types of leagues, there is a clear distinction in the level of talent. There are some clubs who probably should've been granted admission to GDA or ECNL earlier than they were (SSS, SJEB come to mind) but even those clubs don't have high success rates across the board in the lower leagues. The club as a whole has to show that they are capable of competing in most age groups, some of it is political, but what isn't? I, and more importantly my kid, enjoy the full slate of club games, the comraderie within the league and knowing that she is not ever going to play in the back of some middle school on a "pitch" that doubles as a baseball field!

There are a ton of clubs that have no business in ECNL. FC Bucks, Continental, FSA are just a few. There is no perfect league.

[Unregistered]

The Problem with ECNL, Where to Start!

There are a ton of clubs that have no business in ECNL. FC Bucks, Continental, FSA are just a few. There is no perfect league.

Yeah, and this new ECRL League seems to just be an attempt to disquise NPL which has become a recreational league now.

[Unregistered]

There are a ton of clubs that have no business in ECNL. FC Bucks, Continental, FSA are just a few. There is no perfect league.

You have to look at the club as a whole, Continental is mid-level in most age groups, FC Bucks are very strong in the younger age groups and have some decent teams as they go up in age, FSA does struggle. Agreed no league is perfect, but no need to take digs at clubs that don't deserve it just to prove a point.

[Unregistered]

There is a long standing problem with the ECNL and NPL leagues. First of all, there are some strong clubs, but there are also some very weak clubs. While clubs may be particularly strong in certain age groups, their other age groups are failing to thrive. This results in large imbalances within each league. In both leagues, there are teams that you know you're going to beat 5-0 before you even step on the field. Does this make for a good competitive play and balance within the league?

Of course not, and it should be fixed! A club should not just be granted a place in the league because of their location and willingness to pay for entrance fee to the league. The teams that underperform should be dropped to the lower league while the strongest lower league teams should be able to compete in the higher league the next season. Nothing should be automatic! If two teams from the same club are both excelling, then they should each be competing in the ECNL league. Likewise, if a club's two teams are struggling then they should both be competing in the NPL league. Each year a team must earn its place in the respective league. The league has become a joke in this regard and the talent has become watered down.

In addition, consideration should also be given to the smaller clubs who happen to have a strong team or two who could easily compete and even beat ECNL and NPL teams. There is so much talent out there that doesn't get to play or be seen because of their locations or small size of the club. The practice of trying to poach and steal players from other clubs should be outlawed. Many unethical trainers are resorting to dispicable tactics to lure kids away from teams for their own personal gain. Parents need to stand up and demand more accountability from clubs and trainers who seem only to want to destroy youth soccer for their own personal gain. While we know most organizations and trainers don't conduct themselves in this manner, the ones that do are destroying the sport for the kids! If your child's trainer makes unusual or excessive demands on your child, you have to consider if this individual is the wisest choice for your child's future.

Finally, all teams should have to compete successfully for the right to play in these elite leagues. The current practice is obviously flawed and not the best. All teams who'd like to try to excell should be given the opportunity to place themselves in a position to peform at the highest levels possible. Based on the standings at season's end teams should move up or down based upon their performance in league play. Goal differential shouldn't be 5 or more, but under 2 in any given game. From what I've seen in both of these leagues, as well as heard about the DA leagues, the talent is not balanced and teams are given access and places in leagues where they just don't belong.

What are your thoughts?

Playing 1 or 2 lousy games a season isn't worth scrapping the entire system. My guess is if they played the other supposed top teams in other leagues, the results would be just as drastic.

[Unregistered]

Playing 1 or 2 lousy games a season isn't worth scrapping the entire system. My guess is if they played the other supposed top teams in other leagues, the results would be just as drastic.

and it's not like there aren't blowouts and wasted games in GDA either.

[Unregistered]

The point of the ecnl is for the best players in a certain area to go to these clubs so they can have the best kids in the age group.
Same as the DA.
But that’s in a perfect world.
On Long Island we have political issues.
Money, kissasses and hate for clubs.
With the new announcement from east meadow to take the ecnl-rl away from Smithtown and give it to famindale.
I’m still scratching my head??
Why don’t they just keep it for their own club?
When you have 25 plus on a roster that with the addition of a couple more would be two teams.
Long Island soccer is a disease.
And parents are sheep

[Unregistered]

and it's not like there aren't blowouts and wasted games in GDA either.

Or every single other league for that matter. Me thinks OP has an overinflated view of their little Mia's team and is frustrated that nobody else sees it. Probably the same parent who screams "UNLUCKY!" every time their kid gets the ball stripped or shoots 10 feet off goal, lol.

[Unregistered]

The Problem with ECNL, Where to Start!

Or every single other league for that matter. Me thinks OP has an overinflated view of their little Mia's team and is frustrated that nobody else sees it. Probably the same parent who screams "UNLUCKY!" every time their kid gets the ball stripped or shoots 10 feet off goal, lol.

Well, Long Island soccer is certainly funny. When your kid's team in very competitive already and the DA or ECNL options are twice as expensive and rostering 24, who wants to travel an hour or more to and from a practice then sit through 1 and a half hours of practice for soccer that's really not much better with trainers were aren't better than the one your kid already plays for. It's almost 4 hours of time after school and really just not worth it with most kids busy schedules as it is, who wants to sit in traffic for two hours a day?

[Unregistered]

Well, Long Island soccer is certainly funny. When your kid's team in very competitive already and the DA or ECNL options are twice as expensive and rostering 24, who wants to travel an hour or more to and from a practice then sit through 1 and a half hours of practice for soccer that's really not much better with trainers were aren't better than the one your kid already plays for. It's almost 4 hours of time after school and really just not worth it with most kids busy schedules as it is, who wants to sit in traffic for two hours a day?

Agreed, but then what's the issue? If you and your kid are happy with her team, level of competitiveness, size of the roster, time committment, training and price point, why come on here and complain about ECNL?

PS-Unless you live in a Montauk lighthouse, there are certainly GDA and/or ECNL options less than an hour away...