ECNL - Is it worth it?

[Unregistered]

I was reading through the ODP is it worth it thread and it appears to have been hijacked by ECNL thoughts so i am starting this thread.

One of the things that I noticed on the other thread is the level of misinformation. Posters are warring over the best exposure and cost but with out taking into account one simple fact:

There is no "one size fits all" approach to exposure.

For some, a good local team is sufficient to give everything that is needed in the way of challenge and exposure. There is little doubt that some Oregon teams are getting immense exposure and compete very well. For others, this may not be as desirable. Some players truly prefer variety. They enjoy playing with other very good players and the more the merrier. They also enjoy playing against teams who they know little about rather than continually playing the same 3-4 teams over and over while getting a little variety at showcases.

Cost : ECNL cost are no higher than a traveling club team for those participating as primary players (ie non Discover players). Crossfire at $5500 and WPFC at $4500 including all travel cost is a bargain in comparison to most traveling club teams. For the discovery player the club fee is nominal and the player pays their own travel cost which is no different than playing ODP or club travel.

Level of Play: For some of the ECNL age groups the competition is incredible allowing the players to go up against teams ranked at the very top of every ranking system for their age group. There are players that thrive on this. So while a club teams commonly enter tournaments to go up against these types of teams, it is rare that they actually get to go up against no. 1 and 2 etc. Most of the top ranked teams are ECNL these days which puts them in a different bracket all together.

Exposure - A high level club team will get much exposure as will a ECNL team. There is an upside to that and a downside. If the player is not as good as the average team member then they are unlikely to get much college attention. On the other hand, if the player is good then they will have college coaches come look at them anywhere. So, I don't think this is the best reason to participate in ECNL.

Why play ECNL? - The very best reason for a Oregon player to want to play as a Discovery player for a ECNL team is probably for the sheer thrill of it. You have tournament games with 50+ college coaches in attendance just as you do at the Surf's and Disney an so forth. Similar to ODP regional and above you get to play with other really talented athletes.

If it is fun for the player and the parent can swing it then I would say Yes, it is worth it.

[Unregistered]

I was reading through the ODP is it worth it thread and it appears to have been hijacked by ECNL thoughts so i am starting this thread.

One of the things that I noticed on the other thread is the level of misinformation. Posters are warring over the best exposure and cost but with out taking into account one simple fact:

There is no "one size fits all" approach to exposure.

For some, a good local team is sufficient to give everything that is needed in the way of challenge and exposure. There is little doubt that some Oregon teams are getting immense exposure and compete very well. For others, this may not be as desirable. Some players truly prefer variety. They enjoy playing with other very good players and the more the merrier. They also enjoy playing against teams who they know little about rather than continually playing the same 3-4 teams over and over while getting a little variety at showcases.

Cost : ECNL cost are no higher than a traveling club team for those participating as primary players (ie non Discover players). Crossfire at $5500 and WPFC at $4500 including all travel cost is a bargain in comparison to most traveling club teams. For the discovery player the club fee is nominal and the player pays their own travel cost which is no different than playing ODP or club travel.

Level of Play: For some of the ECNL age groups the competition is incredible allowing the players to go up against teams ranked at the very top of every ranking system for their age group. There are players that thrive on this. So while a club teams commonly enter tournaments to go up against these types of teams, it is rare that they actually get to go up against no. 1 and 2 etc. Most of the top ranked teams are ECNL these days which puts them in a different bracket all together.

Exposure - A high level club team will get much exposure as will a ECNL team. There is an upside to that and a downside. If the player is not as good as the average team member then they are unlikely to get much college attention. On the other hand, if the player is good then they will have college coaches come look at them anywhere. So, I don't think this is the best reason to participate in ECNL.

Why play ECNL? - The very best reason for a Oregon player to want to play as a Discovery player for a ECNL team is probably for the sheer thrill of it. You have tournament games with 50+ college coaches in attendance just as you do at the Surf's and Disney an so forth. Similar to ODP regional and above you get to play with other really talented athletes.

If it is fun for the player and the parent can swing it then I would say Yes, it is worth it.

Talk about misinformation from the gullible crazy above. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Unregistered]

Talk about misinformation from the gullible crazy above. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ECNL crazy parents having to go to extra cost and time Surf's and Vegas while they are promoting their ECNL tournaments are the only thing worthy is ridiculous.

Reality is that there will be a good portion of kids on a crossfire ECNL team that are not as good as a local team here. Parents seem to think the team you are associated with will make coaches put money into them before actually finding out if they are a good player.

Shows when a good number of THUSC, FC's, Timbers, Eugene and a few Eastside kids go to top schools while in a comparison............NW Nationals, Eastside, and Pac NW will have more kids go to top schools than both the ECNL teams combined.

I would even put out that FC has more kids going to school than Crossfire this year or THUSC Eugene and Timbers have twice the number Crossfire has this year......

Those kids got to stay local, not drive 2-6 hours round trip, fly everywhere in league play ON TOP of going to Surf and Vegas and didn't have to put up with cool aid facts.


There is no magic bullet and as much as someone wants to sell you on it.....and trying to say ECNL gets better training is completely ridiculous shown by the above fact. There is no substitute for being a good player regardless of the team you are on.

[Unregistered]

ECNL crazy parents having to go to extra cost and time Surf's and Vegas while they are promoting their ECNL tournaments are the only thing worthy is ridiculous.

Reality is that there will be a good portion of kids on a crossfire ECNL team that are not as good as a local team here. Parents seem to think the team you are associated with will make coaches put money into them before actually finding out if they are a good player.

Shows when a good number of THUSC, FC's, Timbers, Eugene and a few Eastside kids go to top schools while in a comparison............NW Nationals, Eastside, and Pac NW will have more kids go to top schools than both the ECNL teams combined.

I would even put out that FC has more kids going to school than Crossfire this year or THUSC Eugene and Timbers have twice the number Crossfire has this year......

Those kids got to stay local, not drive 2-6 hours round trip, fly everywhere in league play ON TOP of going to Surf and Vegas and didn't have to put up with cool aid facts.


There is no magic bullet and as much as someone wants to sell you on it.....and trying to say ECNL gets better training is completely ridiculous shown by the above fact. There is no substitute for being a good player regardless of the team you are on.

Wow you are really a gullible. Those Crossfire Coaches must really like you. Did you also believe your kid would be a national team play too?

Your first challenge about tournaments....Vegas is the number one most attended showcase by college coaches...Surf is number 2.....your not only are wrong but also an idiot. Vegas and Surf > ECNL Combined.

How does it feel to be wrong and justify it by lying?

And your eyeball idea is again showing your lack of intelligence. Coaches don't go looking for players randomly. They are on their radar already or they go looking for players who contact them.

Another ECNL parent who seems to think that they are going to trick a coach into thinking their kid is a good player because they are on an ok team with ECNL on it?

The above poster pointed something out which is laughable. How many FC and Ireland players are going D1 while Crossfire ECNL team can't get more than a handful verbals...

But they didn't travel to ECNL????? They must have got in on their good looks?

Eyeball time doesn't work for you....they only need 15 seconds to realize its not going to work out.

I don't think convincing others to join your overloaded roster to in a few years wonder why you even started....if your kid was good enough you wouldn't think you would need a magic bullet.

[Unregistered]

The starter of this thread fails to mention the simple fact that they are a crazy parent who literally thinks hauling there kid to WA is going to make them a better player.

If you ignore the moronic opinions of them and look at the facts you will see that MORE kids go to D1 schools from surrounding clubs in WA that are not ECNL. On top of the fact that FC Portland has more kids committed to schools in theirs graduating year than Crossfire who has only a handful.

Should point out that FC/THUSC/TIMBERS/EASTSIDE have more committed than WPFC and Crossfire Combined.

Its so laughable how a crazy like the one who posted this is trying so hard to make sure they aren't on their own island.

[Unregistered]

ECNL crazy parents having to go to extra cost and time Surf's and Vegas while they are promoting their ECNL tournaments are the only thing worthy is ridiculous.

Reality is that there will be a good portion of kids on a crossfire ECNL team that are not as good as a local team here. Parents seem to think the team you are associated with will make coaches put money into them before actually finding out if they are a good player.

Shows when a good number of THUSC, FC's, Timbers, Eugene and a few Eastside kids go to top schools while in a comparison............NW Nationals, Eastside, and Pac NW will have more kids go to top schools than both the ECNL teams combined.

I would even put out that FC has more kids going to school than Crossfire this year or THUSC Eugene and Timbers have twice the number Crossfire has this year......

Those kids got to stay local, not drive 2-6 hours round trip, fly everywhere in league play ON TOP of going to Surf and Vegas and didn't have to put up with cool aid facts.


There is no magic bullet and as much as someone wants to sell you on it.....and trying to say ECNL gets better training is completely ridiculous shown by the above fact. There is no substitute for being a good player regardless of the team you are on.

There is no misinformation there. We don't do Surf we do Sanford Florida, Frisco Texas and then hopefully the national championship series. I am not ridiculing your thoughts about how wonderful your team is but what does the rest of the soccer community do? You should be delighted that there are choices.

Also, we don't drive any more than you do. Very very angry person you are but what I don't understand is why.

[Unregistered]

Wow that person is lying.

5500 is NOT how much you have to pay. Its way more. Considering that is the standalone DUES for the CLUB NOT including air, gas, food, travel, if they do decide to do other tournaments like Vegas and Surf..

Even an idiot can see how your math doesn't add up.

[Unregistered]

I was reading through the ODP is it worth it thread and it appears to have been hijacked by ECNL thoughts so i am starting this thread.

One of the things that I noticed on the other thread is the level of misinformation. Posters are warring over the best exposure and cost but with out taking into account one simple fact:

There is no "one size fits all" approach to exposure.

For some, a good local team is sufficient to give everything that is needed in the way of challenge and exposure. There is little doubt that some Oregon teams are getting immense exposure and compete very well. For others, this may not be as desirable. Some players truly prefer variety. They enjoy playing with other very good players and the more the merrier. They also enjoy playing against teams who they know little about rather than continually playing the same 3-4 teams over and over while getting a little variety at showcases.

Cost : ECNL cost are no higher than a traveling club team for those participating as primary players (ie non Discover players). Crossfire at $5500 and WPFC at $4500 including all travel cost is a bargain in comparison to most traveling club teams. For the discovery player the club fee is nominal and the player pays their own travel cost which is no different than playing ODP or club travel.

Level of Play: For some of the ECNL age groups the competition is incredible allowing the players to go up against teams ranked at the very top of every ranking system for their age group. There are players that thrive on this. So while a club teams commonly enter tournaments to go up against these types of teams, it is rare that they actually get to go up against no. 1 and 2 etc. Most of the top ranked teams are ECNL these days which puts them in a different bracket all together.

Exposure - A high level club team will get much exposure as will a ECNL team. There is an upside to that and a downside. If the player is not as good as the average team member then they are unlikely to get much college attention. On the other hand, if the player is good then they will have college coaches come look at them anywhere. So, I don't think this is the best reason to participate in ECNL.

Why play ECNL? - The very best reason for a Oregon player to want to play as a Discovery player for a ECNL team is probably for the sheer thrill of it. You have tournament games with 50+ college coaches in attendance just as you do at the Surf's and Disney an so forth. Similar to ODP regional and above you get to play with other really talented athletes.

If it is fun for the player and the parent can swing it then I would say Yes, it is worth it.

Are you serious with this post?

ECNL teams in general are not that good. There are GREAT ECNL teams and their are some pretty bad ones.

The difference is, you have to fly down to California to play a weak Cali team that Onyx already beat this year...... Sounds like a great plan to me

[Unregistered]

I was reading through the ODP is it worth it thread and it appears to have been hijacked by ECNL thoughts so i am starting this thread.

One of the things that I noticed on the other thread is the level of misinformation. Posters are warring over the best exposure and cost but with out taking into account one simple fact:

There is no "one size fits all" approach to exposure.

For some, a good local team is sufficient to give everything that is needed in the way of challenge and exposure. There is little doubt that some Oregon teams are getting immense exposure and compete very well. For others, this may not be as desirable. Some players truly prefer variety. They enjoy playing with other very good players and the more the merrier. They also enjoy playing against teams who they know little about rather than continually playing the same 3-4 teams over and over while getting a little variety at showcases.

Cost : ECNL cost are no higher than a traveling club team for those participating as primary players (ie non Discover players). Crossfire at $5500 and WPFC at $4500 including all travel cost is a bargain in comparison to most traveling club teams. For the discovery player the club fee is nominal and the player pays their own travel cost which is no different than playing ODP or club travel.

Level of Play: For some of the ECNL age groups the competition is incredible allowing the players to go up against teams ranked at the very top of every ranking system for their age group. There are players that thrive on this. So while a club teams commonly enter tournaments to go up against these types of teams, it is rare that they actually get to go up against no. 1 and 2 etc. Most of the top ranked teams are ECNL these days which puts them in a different bracket all together.

Exposure - A high level club team will get much exposure as will a ECNL team. There is an upside to that and a downside. If the player is not as good as the average team member then they are unlikely to get much college attention. On the other hand, if the player is good then they will have college coaches come look at them anywhere. So, I don't think this is the best reason to participate in ECNL.

Why play ECNL? - The very best reason for a Oregon player to want to play as a Discovery player for a ECNL team is probably for the sheer thrill of it. You have tournament games with 50+ college coaches in attendance just as you do at the Surf's and Disney an so forth. Similar to ODP regional and above you get to play with other really talented athletes.

If it is fun for the player and the parent can swing it then I would say Yes, it is worth it.

HA! College exposure?

Check out the PHX ECNL tournament. Not only are you flying down there to play teams that aren't that great....your supposed 50 coaches doesn't even crack 10 good ones...

I guess you are really shooting for that Montana Billings position.

[OrSoccerMom]

Different Strokes for Different Folks

I agree with the original poster that it depends on what you want to get out of it. If you are doing it to play with amazing players against teams you don't know and you enjoy a variety of coaching and challenge then maybe it is for you. Frankly, we don't drive up to Seattle every week or even every other week. We also are not going to Surf and Vegas this year. ECNL took the place of those tournaments and ODP this year.

As far as team dynamics and level of play go the Crossfire experience has been top notch and we have no regrets. I would never suggest that this is something that everyone should try or that they are severely lacking in common sense if they don't try it. It is simply another choice on the road to soccer development.

It has been no more expensive or time consuming than ODP while providing a similar experience to ODP regional. They say that variety is the spice of life and I see nothing wrong with participating or not participating as the player and parents see fit.

[Unregistered]

Your level of play point is ridiculous. ECNL teams aren't the best in their state of "every" top ranking system.

WA most importantly.


1. Noone can argue with your variety of teams point. OPL is a joke.

2. Level of play is actually not that great or even better in comparison to other states besides oregon and even then with Onyx playing up, they don't have to fly to play league games and they are playing teams that would wipe the floor with U-14 ECNL teams as even Onyx beats the ECNL teams.

3. Level of exposure is no more than a top club team and LESS for a player who isn't d1 ability

[Unregistered]

I agree with the original poster that it depends on what you want to get out of it. If you are doing it to play with amazing players against teams you don't know and you enjoy a variety of coaching and challenge then maybe it is for you. Frankly, we don't drive up to Seattle every week or even every other week. We also are not going to Surf and Vegas this year. ECNL took the place of those tournaments and ODP this year.

As far as team dynamics and level of play go the Crossfire experience has been top notch and we have no regrets. I would never suggest that this is something that everyone should try or that they are severely lacking in common sense if they don't try it. It is simply another choice on the road to soccer development.

It has been no more expensive or time consuming than ODP while providing a similar experience to ODP regional. They say that variety is the spice of life and I see nothing wrong with participating or not participating as the player and parents see fit.

1/21/2013 ADDED 2014 verbal commitment for Z. H. (F - Oregon Rush) - OREGON

Congrats to ORSoccerMom and her DD!

[OrSoccerMom]

HA! College exposure?

Check out the PHX ECNL tournament. Not only are you flying down there to play teams that aren't that great....your supposed 50 coaches doesn't even crack 10 good ones...

I guess you are really shooting for that Montana Billings position.

I agree with the original poster and I find your comments somewhat offensive. All the Discovery players we know have already committed or are in the final stages of commitment to the colleges that they desire.

How many ECNL tournaments have you been to? Does it really matter if it not surf? There are only a couple of teams in Oregon that even compete well at Surf and Vegas and not all players in our state are or even want to be on those teams.

The Sanford ECNL tournament did have 50 college coaches in attendance at games. It was crazy. I am not familiar with the aforementioned Phoenix tournament but we will be in Frisco Texas in February and get to play some of the top rated teams in our age group that the country has to offer.

It is simply a different avenue not the only avenue.

[Unregistered]

Are you serious with this post?

ECNL teams in general are not that good. There are GREAT ECNL teams and their are some pretty bad ones.

The difference is, you have to fly down to California to play a weak Cali team that Onyx already beat this year...... Sounds like a great plan to me

What if your kid isn't Onyx's age? The whole "Onyx is better than ECNL" is really just the exception that proves the rule in Oregon. There is only enough talent to field 1 top team in each age group. If that talent doesn't consolidate in one place then there are no invites to the top divisions of the the big tourneys for your "club team".

[OrSoccerMom]

Wow that person is lying.

5500 is NOT how much you have to pay. Its way more. Considering that is the standalone DUES for the CLUB NOT including air, gas, food, travel, if they do decide to do other tournaments like Vegas and Surf..

Even an idiot can see how your math doesn't add up.

Actually the dues are posted on both WPFC and Crossfire websites and they are all inclusive of travel. You must have a bone to pick with someone. Strange that you would argue about something that is easily verifiable.