Gal vs. ECNL Regional

[Unregistered]

thinking that ECNL regional may be a better option than GA. I know all of the GA folks are saying how well run the Florida event was but quick reminder DA fell apart after a few years. GA and DA are the same except GA has no where near talent DA had.

[Unregistered]

... except GA has already been around for a few years while DA was an experiment with US Soccer. And who really cares about leagues? Good for Christian to sell the idea of a league for 2nd teams to play in since ECNL is a commercial enterprise. Think I'd focus more on club and coaching staff than what league they played in.

[Unregistered]

thinking that ECNL regional may be a better option than GA. I know all of the GA folks are saying how well run the Florida event was but quick reminder DA fell apart after a few years. GA and DA are the same except GA has no where near talent DA had.

DA fell apart because the organization running it, US Soccer, never listened to its constituents, made bad decisions from day 1, and then pulled the plug on the whole thing without any prior notice. Despite all that, it managed to attract most of the best clubs and players away from ECNL while it lasted. The least bit of competence and pragmatism in the part of US Soccer (allowing hs and not blowing up teams with two year age groups probably would have done it). GA is, like ECNL and unlike DA, run by the clubs, and those clubs’ continued existence and success depends on finding a way to make it work (whether they can or not is an open question.

ECNL-R is by design second fiddle league for second fiddle teams within their own clubs, and generally will not get the best coaches, fields, or players within their clubs or be the top priority for leadership within either the league or the clubs. All of the best players will be hoping to move to the higher level ECNL team within their clubs ASAP. In the oldest age group it’s even below the composite league, which already had the same issues. The ECNL showcases are already massive events that don’t draw that many coaches to the games between lower ranked teams, and that will be all the more so for the ECNL-R showcases tacked on to the main ECNL showcases. For players in the younger age groups in clubs that actually evaluate and try to develop their entire player pool it may provide a path to ECNL.

[Unregistered]

DA fell apart because the organization running it, US Soccer, never listened to its constituents, made bad decisions from day 1, and then pulled the plug on the whole thing without any prior notice. Despite all that, it managed to attract most of the best clubs and players away from ECNL while it lasted. The least bit of competence and pragmatism in the part of US Soccer (allowing hs and not blowing up teams with two year age groups probably would have done it). GA is, like ECNL and unlike DA, run by the clubs, and those clubs’ continued existence and success depends on finding a way to make it work (whether they can or not is an open question.

ECNL-R is by design second fiddle league for second fiddle teams within their own clubs, and generally will not get the best coaches, fields, or players within their clubs or be the top priority for leadership within either the league or the clubs. All of the best players will be hoping to move to the higher level ECNL team within their clubs ASAP. In the oldest age group it’s even below the composite league, which already had the same issues. The ECNL showcases are already massive events that don’t draw that many coaches to the games between lower ranked teams, and that will be all the more so for the ECNL-R showcases tacked on to the main ECNL showcases. For players in the younger age groups in clubs that actually evaluate and try to develop their entire player pool it may provide a path to ECNL.

GA will be gone within a year or two. Too bad though as the more options that are out there, the better. They should probably just take the GA and convert those teams to ENCL-R.

[Unregistered]

GA will be gone within a year or two. Too bad though as the more options that are out there, the better. They should probably just take the GA and convert those teams to ENCL-R.

This is such baloney. Fear and Uncertainty Campaign.

Who put you up to this?

GA is a great choice, and competition and a range of choices is a GREAT thing. Go do something positive with your life.

[Unregistered]

thinking that ECNL regional may be a better option than GA. I know all of the GA folks are saying how well run the Florida event was but quick reminder DA fell apart after a few years. GA and DA are the same except GA has no where near talent DA had.

the DA "fell apart" because MLS wanted to take control of boy's soccer and US Soccer agreed. Also, US Soccer didn't give a rat's patootie about what would happen to the girls in the DA. GAL is a different beast -- not saying it's viable or not, just that the collapse of the DA falls squarely on the shoulders of inept US Soccer leadership