ECNL Schedules Out

[Unregistered]

There are some bad teams they used to fill this league. Well played ECNL, well played.

Portland teams will NOT be last. I thought that's why we entered this league, to face teams that are currently better and league that is more challenging. Not to just face 1-3 teams as strong or stronger. Wasted money. The average of quality game just went down. All the team's past results are posted. This will be one of the weakest ECNL leagues in the nation. It won't take much for either OR team to do well. At least they put 2 of the Nor Cal teams in the league and CO Rush. There are your opponents. Every once in awhile Crossfire Premier will give you a run. The others might as well be OYSA teams. These are not new teams for those that travel and are not exciting.

Hope this year goes fast!

[Unregistered]

Portland will be doing the minimum then.

When does the Thorns Academy schedule come out? Or are the Timbers too ashamed to show that the highlight of the year will be winning the OYSA Rec+ league?

[Unregistered]

There are some bad teams they used to fill this league. Well played ECNL, well played.

Portland teams will NOT be last. I thought that's why we entered this league, to face teams that are currently better and league that is more challenging. Not to just face 1-3 teams as strong or stronger. Wasted money. The average of quality game just went down. All the team's past results are posted. This will be one of the weakest ECNL leagues in the nation. It won't take much for either OR team to do well. At least they put 2 of the Nor Cal teams in the league and CO Rush. There are your opponents. Every once in awhile Crossfire Premier will give you a run. The others might as well be OYSA teams. These are not new teams for those that travel and are not exciting.

Hope this year goes fast!

You don't know what you're talking about. You will say anything to put down the ECNL. You're desperate and it's obvious.

[Unregistered]

There are some bad teams they used to fill this league. Well played ECNL, well played.

Portland teams will NOT be last. I thought that's why we entered this league, to face teams that are currently better and league that is more challenging. Not to just face 1-3 teams as strong or stronger. Wasted money. The average of quality game just went down. All the team's past results are posted. This will be one of the weakest ECNL leagues in the nation. It won't take much for either OR team to do well. At least they put 2 of the Nor Cal teams in the league and CO Rush. There are your opponents. Every once in awhile Crossfire Premier will give you a run. The others might as well be OYSA teams. These are not new teams for those that travel and are not exciting.

Hope this year goes fast!

So $10K to play average teams that won't make you better. I tell you, ECNL is getting better and better. It is clear now why the tryouts were sparsely attended.

[Unregistered]

So $10K to play average teams that won't make you better. I tell you, ECNL is getting better and better. It is clear now why the tryouts were sparsely attended.

Or $5K to play nobody and get worse -> pretty clear why so few good players bothered with the Thorns Academy...

[Unregistered]

Or $5K to play nobody and get worse -> pretty clear why so few good players bothered with the Thorns Academy...

Only the top players at U17.

[Unregistered]

Those are the league games. The schedule for the ECNL National Events is not out yet. That typically will be Florida, Phoenix, San Diego, Texas, and NJ. A team generally will do 3 or 4 of the 5. Depending on how well the team does and the ages, that will be followed by the national tourney, which will be in two stages at various locations around the country, ranging from VA to WA.

I don't think U14 will do many of those bigger tourneys, maybe one. At the U15, U16 ages they will do more for recruitment opps. then taper off at U17/18.

[Unregistered]

I don't think U14 will do many of those bigger tourneys, maybe one. At the U15, U16 ages they will do more for recruitment opps. then taper off at U17/18.

Which I still don't understand. So doing these tournaments for recruitment gets you seen by a lot of coaches, but many of them are from schools that a lot of girls won't be that interested in. And furthermore, sure the top colleges go to those events, but how many girls do we really send to those schools? ECNL isn't going to turn D2 level athletes into D1 level athletes. It's as if people think that ECNL is going to suddenly unlock the potential of all of these Oregon girls. It's like saying "you were decent when playing OPL, but now you are going to be great because you are playing ECNL." Do people really think that?

[Unregistered]

?

Which I still don't understand. So doing these tournaments for recruitment gets you seen by a lot of coaches, but many of them are from schools that a lot of girls won't be that interested in. And furthermore, sure the top colleges go to those events, but how many girls do we really send to those schools? ECNL isn't going to turn D2 level athletes into D1 level athletes. It's as if people think that ECNL is going to suddenly unlock the potential of all of these Oregon girls. It's like saying "you were decent when playing OPL, but now you are going to be great because you are playing ECNL." Do people really think that?

Crazy question: no people don't think that. What alot of us want is for our kids to play with top girls in the area. Ones that can identify what the correct thing to do in a given tactical situation is and complete the play. Playing local and watching outside backs dribble through the end line missing player unmarked in middle as an example has gotten old.

Get best players together who are on same page tactically and athletically and let's see what happens. That is why we as a family decided to let our dd do ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Crazy question: no people don't think that. What alot of us want is for our kids to play with top girls in the area. Ones that can identify what the correct thing to do in a given tactical situation is and complete the play. Playing local and watching outside backs dribble through the end line missing player unmarked in middle as an example has gotten old.

Get best players together who are on same page tactically and athletically and let's see what happens. That is why we as a family decided to let our dd do ECNL.

Do you think that happened? You have two ECNL teams and the Academy (for U17 and U16) so the top talent is dispersed which means there are likely some inferior players on your team. Is everyone above average in skillls? How about in athleticism?

[Unregistered]

I don't think U14 will do many of those bigger tourneys, maybe one. At the U15, U16 ages they will do more for recruitment opps. then taper off at U17/18.

U14 = One Showcase + National Playoff
U15 = Two Showcases + National Playoff
U16 = Three Showcases + National Playoff
U17 = Three showcases + National Playoff
U18 = One Showcase + National Playoff

In addition all CU age groups will compete in the NWCL.

[Unregistered]

You don't know what you're talking about. You will say anything to put down the ECNL. You're desperate and it's obvious.

I have accepted and made first payment for my DD in the ECNL. She wanted to do, I allowed it. I'm not willing to "say anything to put down the ECNL". If anything, I hope it works so I get my moneys worth! What is wrong with you?

Do I have to be a coach to understand what it means to see a team at the bottom of a table/tournament/league? How drastically do teams change from year to year. I've personally seen a couple of these ECNL teams play.

Why are you so quick to judge?

Doesn't matter if it's ECNL or non ECNL, a good team is a good team and a bad team is a bad team.

[Unregistered]

Do you think that happened? You have two ECNL teams and the Academy (for U17 and U16) so the top talent is dispersed which means there are likely some inferior players on your team. Is everyone above average in skillls? How about in athleticism?

In reality the only age group that is diluted is U17 with 12 girls on the Academy team that if not for the money would be on one or another of the ECNL teams. (yeah I know some say it was coaching but for the same money I guarantee you they would be on an ECNL team)

The question I have for you what is the alternative out side the ECNL for the better 14's, 15's & 16's or even the 18's?

If you want to play with the best you now know where you are going to find them without having to drive 3 hours North!

[Unregistered]

I have accepted and made first payment for my DD in the ECNL. She wanted to do, I allowed it. I'm not willing to "say anything to put down the ECNL". If anything, I hope it works so I get my moneys worth! What is wrong with you?

Do I have to be a coach to understand what it means to see a team at the bottom of a table/tournament/league? How drastically do teams change from year to year. I've personally seen a couple of these ECNL teams play.

Why are you so quick to judge?

Doesn't matter if it's ECNL or non ECNL, a good team is a good team and a bad team is a bad team.

Great post. I hope it works for you and your dd.

If anything, she will practice more (although if she isn't with one of the better coaches, I'm not sure practicing more is actually better), and she will play good teams and she will get exposure. I don't know if that is going to be worth the money invested, but it will be worth something.

I think your last sentence was very good. There are a lot of great ECNL teams and some pretty poor ones. And there are some great non ECNL teams. And there are some great players in both, and also some poor players. Everyone thinks that because their DD is on ECNL, then she is going to be able to keep up with the players she is going to compete against. Well, that simply isn't true.

[Unregistered]

Great post. I hope it works for you and your dd.

Everyone thinks that because their DD is on ECNL, then she is going to be able to keep up with the players she is going to compete against. Well, that simply isn't true.

You are the only one saying this. In 8 years of watching my DD play with the best on the west coast I have never heard a parent say anything remotely that stupid.

Yes I have seen parents come to good teams with expectations based upon their previous experience but never have I heard them say because she made the team (ODP or ECNL) did that mean she was automatically good. In fact more often than not they would be saying "I hope she is willing to work hard enough to get playing time and or start" because THAT is the mentality of top players and their parents!

I doubt you can find a single ECNL parent in the Metro area who thinks their DD is going to be anything more than what she earns and that includes Onyx parents.