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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 1, 2020 14:34:30 GMT -5
This might be a pre-cursor to the Florida having a stand-alone division in the next year or two. So we're physically sandwiched between the Florida League and the Carolina League. Hopefully, this time next year Georgia is given one of our own. Is it to early to start the debate on who all will potentially be in the Georgia version 🤔🤔🤔
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Post by greenmonkey on May 1, 2020 14:38:55 GMT -5
Maybe still room for a GA,AL,TN region?
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 1, 2020 15:26:11 GMT -5
Nice! Looks like they simply took the Florida NPL and cast out Pinecrest, West Florida Flames and GPS Orlando (which I think are all DPL clubs).
The hope is alive for the GA/TN/AL for next year I think. I think we would have heard rumblings of a league for GA already.
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 1, 2020 15:39:56 GMT -5
Nice! Looks like they simply took the Florida NPL and cast out Pinecrest, West Florida Flames and GPS Orlando (which I think are all DPL clubs).
The hope is alive for the GA/TN/AL for next year I think. I think we would have heard rumblings of a league for GA already.
I think we should be pushing for this year. If the states around us are doing it and it appears to be a good experience with a chance to play at the ECNL open Cup why are we not doing this? As for Tennessee, for girls the ECNL clubs are in a different conference (Ohio Valley) because they play HS in the fall. FC Alliance and Tennessee Soccer Club I think did not play in ECRL last year. Maybe it was too far for them and we would be closer! |
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Post by greenmonkey on May 1, 2020 15:46:34 GMT -5
Nice! Looks like they simply took the Florida NPL and cast out Pinecrest, West Florida Flames and GPS Orlando (which I think are all DPL clubs).
The hope is alive for the GA/TN/AL for next year I think. I think we would have heard rumblings of a league for GA already.
I’m hearing all kinds of rumblings off forum FWIW |
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 1, 2020 15:52:06 GMT -5
I don't know about TN SC (distance, conference, etc). Would be nice to have this: UFA (from NPL/ECNL club) SSA (from NPL) AFU (from SCCL/ECNL club) GSA (from SCCL/ECNL club) Concorde (from SCCL/ECNL club) BUSA (from SCCL/ECNL club) VHSC (from SCCL/USYS NL) FC Alliance (?? ECNL/OVC) Chattanooga Red Wolves (from NPL) AFC (from NPL) 10 clubs, 18 games. Make it happen.  |
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 1, 2020 15:56:02 GMT -5
I don't know about TN SC (distance, conference, etc). Would be nice to have this: UFA (from NPL/ECNL club) SSA (from NPL) AFU (from SCCL/ECNL club) GSA (from SCCL/ECNL club) Concorde (from SCCL/ECNL club) BUSA (from SCCL/ECNL club) VHSC (from SCCL/USYS NL) FC Alliance (?? ECNL/OVC) Chattanooga Red Wolves (from NPL) AFC (from NPL) 10 clubs, 18 games. Make it happen. Hey! Nashville is a great town though!! I wouldn't mind going there for a weekend! 11 clubs 20 games. Perfect and I am with you...let's make it happen this year! |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 1, 2020 16:00:27 GMT -5
Nice! Looks like they simply took the Florida NPL and cast out Pinecrest, West Florida Flames and GPS Orlando (which I think are all DPL clubs).
The hope is alive for the GA/TN/AL for next year I think. I think we would have heard rumblings of a league for GA already.
I’m hearing all kinds of rumblings off forum FWIW I'm hearing the same rumblings too, but I think their issue is the fear of making it a defacto "Atlanta" ECRL league as opposed to a Georgia Region one. Also atlfutboldad I'm liking your line-up of teams. I did notice that a certain local club that has been in the headlines is not on your list. Do you think the snub would trickle down to the ECRL too? Either way, you may be on to something there... |
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 1, 2020 16:04:06 GMT -5
Oh, I think NTH would absolutely be snubbed similar to West Florida and Palm Beach Gardens were from ECRL (although perhaps they elected to join the GAL/DPL pyramid).
I think ECNL will be a little lenient with the clubs who are ONLY moving to ECRL in allowing them to play in GAL/DPL. Once they're in ECNL, I think they'll "recommend against" having your club in both leagues.
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Post by atv on May 2, 2020 6:30:23 GMT -5
The ECRL is a little more complicated in Georgia because of NTH at the SCCL but I have no doubt clubs will do what’s best for the players and make it happen.
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Post by putmeincoach on May 2, 2020 6:57:51 GMT -5
I'm confused about why everyone wants to play in ECRL vs SCCL. Its essentially the same teams (minus TH) with a different patch. There is no access to ECNL Showcase events so what makes this league better than SCCL? Is it not just the same teams with a different patch? It sounds like the old Athena A after the RPL teams were out without promotion or relegation.
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Post by atv on May 2, 2020 7:33:24 GMT -5
My thoughts ...
- Format claims to be used for evaluation of new clubs/ 2nd teams (possibly large clubs with disconnected branch locations) for future promotion into ECNL. ECNL leadership has mentioned club based pro/ rel and the regional league is probably needed to do this. I think this is needed in ECNL. Not to mention I think it would be good for top performing area clubs currently being excluded, such as SSA, AFC, etc.
- Top performing teams earn a spot in the Open Cup Division of ECNL Right now SCCL is a disconnected league. This basically gives higher performing teams more to play for.
- The ECNL regional league is also frankly more marketable than SCCL. This increases retention and depth at clubs.
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 2, 2020 7:44:41 GMT -5
I'm confused about why everyone wants to play in ECRL vs SCCL. Its essentially the same teams (minus TH) with a different patch. There is no access to ECNL Showcase events so what makes this league better than SCCL? Is it not just the same teams with a different patch? It sounds like the old Athena A after the RPL teams were out without promotion or relegation. What ATV said. 1) Since the winner of each division can go to the ECNL Open Cup against ECNL teams you are wrong about access to ECNL showcase events. 2) When it comes to colleges, the patch matters. SCCL is an unknown to many colleges. It is new and needs time to develop any credibility. 3) The chance for promotion into ECNL for clubs like AFC, SSA or Santos (locally) and Beach and others on the west coast who did not get it this year. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 2, 2020 9:24:18 GMT -5
In addition to what both atv and oraclesfriend said, I'd also like to add that, this would be a great opportunity to normalize the soccer landscape and get us closer to one uniform system for youth soccer on the girls side. There are so many fractured leagues around the country. With each higher division your travel budget grows and your area of travel reduces as you go down in division. I wish it was simply the following: Nationally : ECNL (Top Division) Nationally : ERCL (2nd Division) Regionally : SCCL, DPL, FPL, NPL (Psuedo 3rd/Alternate Division) Locally : Everything else - Athena, Friendlies, Rec, etc.(State Soccer Division) Yes, I intentionally omitted the GAL because quite frankly I've not seen it in action and find it hard to quantify as of today. This is especially true of the SE division since IMO none of the teams NTH would normally have to play are worthy or on the same level with NTH. Additionally, I'm skeptical about it because I will almost bet that should any of the teams be offered a spot in ECNL, they'd jump ship in a NY minute. Maybe even to the lower level ERCL. I think the role of the USSF would then be to offer support and collaboration in items such as coach training, reduction or even elimination of exorbitant coaching courses, one of two national showcases or events for the nations elite players(residency) and of course the still political YNT scouting and team selection... |
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Post by lsagoalie on May 2, 2020 11:03:44 GMT -5
In addition to what both atv and oraclesfriend said, I'd also like to add that, this would be a great opportunity to normalize the soccer landscape and get us closer to one uniform system for youth soccer on the girls side. There are so many fractured leagues around the country. With each higher division your travel budget grows and your area of travel reduces as you go down in division. I wish it was simply the following: Nationally : ECNL (Top Division) Nationally : ERCL (2nd Division) Regionally : SCCL, DPL, FPL, NPL (Psuedo 3rd/Alternate Division) Locally : Everything else - Athena, Friendlies, Rec, etc.(State Soccer Division) Yes, I intentionally omitted the GAL because quite frankly I've not seen it in action and find it hard to quantify as of today. This is especially true of the SE division since IMO none of the teams NTH would normally have to play are worthy or on the same level with NTH. Additionally, I'm skeptical about it because I will almost bet that should any of the teams be offered a spot in ECNL, they'd jump ship in a NY minute. Maybe even to the lower level ERCL. I think the role of the USSF would then be to offer support and collaboration in items such as coach training, reduction or even elimination of exorbitant coaching courses, one of two national showcases or events for the nations elite players(residency) and of course the still political YNT scouting and team selection... So, you’re just going to totally disregard UYSY NL and it’s regional leagues? |
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Post by dadofthree on May 2, 2020 12:00:42 GMT -5
After thinking about this through this upheaval (and I know many will disagree with this), I think having multiple leagues and multiple governing bodies is good for youth soccer. The main reason I am saying this is at least it makes all the leagues do their best because competetion breads the best in any organization. From what I have seen and this part I think most will agree with is that all the organizations in youth soccer are disfunctional at least in some aspects. I have seen posts saying ECNL has won the war and are the greatest business folks but they beat another disfunctional organization who happened to be more disfunctional than themselves. If ECNL were truely great they would have figured out a way to keep the 50 odd DA clubs and before anyone says it would be too much too quick to add them there are a number of ways to do it for example they could have used a model like the NFL (and for that matter MLB) where the AFC and NFC play each other in a national "championship" and kept the DA clubs as their own division. But instead they have tried to make winners and losers based on problably nothing more than egos. Business never works well when you are driven by egos. Egos have driven soccer folks away from their customers because we as parents have let them. This won't change because all of us are only looking for the best for our kids and most of us on this forum are fortunate enough to be able to afford paying for what is percieved of as best for our kids. So having at least multiple places where our kids can go at least makes the clubs and leagues at least try and cater to what is best for the kids because if not then we will leave and go somewhere else. If there was no somewhere else what does that do for our kids.
Plus on a lighter note what else other than which league is better would we talk about on the forum.
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Post by footyfan on May 2, 2020 12:52:47 GMT -5
After thinking about this through this upheaval (and I know many will disagree with this), I think having multiple leagues and multiple governing bodies is good for youth soccer. The main reason I am saying this is at least it makes all the leagues do their best because competetion breads the best in any organization. From what I have seen and this part I think most will agree with is that all the organizations in youth soccer are disfunctional at least in some aspects. I have seen posts saying ECNL has won the war and are the greatest business folks but they beat another disfunctional organization who happened to be more disfunctional than themselves. If ECNL were truely great they would have figured out a way to keep the 50 odd DA clubs and before anyone says it would be too much too quick to add them there are a number of ways to do it for example they could have used a model like the NFL (and for that matter MLB) where the AFC and NFC play each other in a national "championship" and kept the DA clubs as their own division. But instead they have tried to make winners and losers based on problably nothing more than egos. Business never works well when you are driven by egos. Egos have driven soccer folks away from their customers because we as parents have let them. This won't change because all of us are only looking for the best for our kids and most of us on this forum are fortunate enough to be able to afford paying for what is percieved of as best for our kids. So having at least multiple places where our kids can go at least makes the clubs and leagues at least try and cater to what is best for the kids because if not then we will leave and go somewhere else. If there was no somewhere else what does that do for our kids. Plus on a lighter note what else other than which league is better would we talk about on the forum. This is a stretch and pure projection when it comes to those who are to blame, if there is blame to spread around *edit- I should say at least you seem to have gone through all the phases of grief with the passing of the DA, so congrats on that. |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 2, 2020 12:57:16 GMT -5
In addition to what both atv and oraclesfriend said, I'd also like to add that, this would be a great opportunity to normalize the soccer landscape and get us closer to one uniform system for youth soccer on the girls side. There are so many fractured leagues around the country. With each higher division your travel budget grows and your area of travel reduces as you go down in division. I wish it was simply the following: Nationally : ECNL (Top Division) Nationally : ERCL (2nd Division) Regionally : SCCL, DPL, FPL, NPL (Psuedo 3rd/Alternate Division) Locally : Everything else - Athena, Friendlies, Rec, etc.(State Soccer Division) Yes, I intentionally omitted the GAL because quite frankly I've not seen it in action and find it hard to quantify as of today. This is especially true of the SE division since IMO none of the teams NTH would normally have to play are worthy or on the same level with NTH. Additionally, I'm skeptical about it because I will almost bet that should any of the teams be offered a spot in ECNL, they'd jump ship in a NY minute. Maybe even to the lower level ERCL. I think the role of the USSF would then be to offer support and collaboration in items such as coach training, reduction or even elimination of exorbitant coaching courses, one of two national showcases or events for the nations elite players(residency) and of course the still political YNT scouting and team selection... So, you’re just going to totally disregard UYSY NL and it’s regional leagues? That was not done out of disrespect, that was more of a cautious oversight, so forgive me 🙏 I honestly don't know much other than the Frontier Development League, which is what friends at FCD are telling me will be the league for their 2nd teams. I have mad respect for the NL, I just don't know where to place them. Right now I would edit my Master Plan and say they are somewhere in the 2nd Division with the ERCL. Again, I know others will try to crucify me, but I don't know enough about the league to confidently place them anywhere else. Again my apologies for the cautious oversight 😘 |
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 2, 2020 13:17:39 GMT -5
After thinking about this through this upheaval (and I know many will disagree with this), I think having multiple leagues and multiple governing bodies is good for youth soccer. The main reason I am saying this is at least it makes all the leagues do their best because competetion breads the best in any organization. From what I have seen and this part I think most will agree with is that all the organizations in youth soccer are disfunctional at least in some aspects. I have seen posts saying ECNL has won the war and are the greatest business folks but they beat another disfunctional organization who happened to be more disfunctional than themselves. If ECNL were truely great they would have figured out a way to keep the 50 odd DA clubs and before anyone says it would be too much too quick to add them there are a number of ways to do it for example they could have used a model like the NFL (and for that matter MLB) where the AFC and NFC play each other in a national "championship" and kept the DA clubs as their own division. But instead they have tried to make winners and losers based on problably nothing more than egos. Business never works well when you are driven by egos. Egos have driven soccer folks away from their customers because we as parents have let them. This won't change because all of us are only looking for the best for our kids and most of us on this forum are fortunate enough to be able to afford paying for what is percieved of as best for our kids. So having at least multiple places where our kids can go at least makes the clubs and leagues at least try and cater to what is best for the kids because if not then we will leave and go somewhere else. If there was no somewhere else what does that do for our kids. Plus on a lighter note what else other than which league is better would we talk about on the forum. One can never fault a parent(s) for trying to put their kids in the best possible scenario that works for them, breeds success and fosters the enjoyment of the beautiful game. So on that, I can acquiesce to some of your points, yes. However, IMO, there are two glaring omissions from your well intention-ed statement. Skill-set and Loyalty... First, you have to have a league that is the clear-cut top of the food chain. This serves as an environment for the best of the best to showcase and thrive. Sadly, not all kids are equal and for those who are not the best, a top flight league also serves as a means to motivate and push players to be better and to work harder at attaining that goal. There are many parents who I've spoken to and have posted on here about how their kid is on the 2nd team and has been working their tail off to make a run at getting on the top team... Secondly, loyalty. Like it or not, there were battle lines between ECNL and DA. Clubs chose based on alliances, egos, greed or in a few cases based on what their families and players wanted. They kept ECNL afloat when all indications were US Soccer would crush them. You have to reward that. Loyalty counts, sometimes in the short run only but it matters. Plus it's never wise to blow up the proverbial bridge on your way out when you've won the battle but not the war(cue the current NTH dilemma)... But, by every metric, the USSF is to blame for almost all the ills of youth soccer. I could bring up the age mandate, bio-banding, costs, travel, etc. How do you dissolve a thriving league in less than a week's notice(rumors really) with a month to go in the season. So multiple leagues I don't have a problem with, multiple leagues vying for the top talent, only dilutes and confuses everything... |
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Post by GameOfThrow-ins on May 2, 2020 13:43:52 GMT -5
In addition to what both atv and oraclesfriend said, I'd also like to add that, this would be a great opportunity to normalize the soccer landscape and get us closer to one uniform system for youth soccer on the girls side. There are so many fractured leagues around the country. With each higher division your travel budget grows and your area of travel reduces as you go down in division. I wish it was simply the following: Nationally : ECNL (Top Division) Nationally : ERCL (2nd Division) Regionally : SCCL, DPL, FPL, NPL (Psuedo 3rd/Alternate Division) Locally : Everything else - Athena, Friendlies, Rec, etc.(State Soccer Division) Yes, I intentionally omitted the GAL because quite frankly I've not seen it in action and find it hard to quantify as of today. This is especially true of the SE division since IMO none of the teams NTH would normally have to play are worthy or on the same level with NTH. Additionally, I'm skeptical about it because I will almost bet that should any of the teams be offered a spot in ECNL, they'd jump ship in a NY minute. Maybe even to the lower level ERCL. I think the role of the USSF would then be to offer support and collaboration in items such as coach training, reduction or even elimination of exorbitant coaching courses, one of two national showcases or events for the nations elite players(residency) and of course the still political YNT scouting and team selection... So, you’re just going to totally disregard UYSY NL and it’s regional leagues? YES, of course! Did you just fall off the truck? USYS can’t even do ODP right. They should focus on rec and play60 initiatives. (Sorry, it had to be said. I’m so done with this poster pimping USYS garbage). |
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Post by footyfan on May 2, 2020 14:08:04 GMT -5
So, you’re just going to totally disregard UYSY NL and it’s regional leagues? YES, of course! Did you just fall off the truck? USYS can’t even do ODP right. They should focus on rec and play60 initiatives. (Sorry, it had to be said. I’m so done with this poster pimping USYS garbage). I agree that GA ODP, like GA Soccer has not been run well and those in charge of it should be put out on their ears. In other parts of the country, state associations and ODP are fine. Same with the USYS regional conferences. The question I would ask is why was it so bad in Georgia? Was it that a few club leaders running it for their own benefit and not listening? Once a majority of the Atlanta/Georgia clubs are let in to SCCL pyramid, will it happen again? What controls are in place to keep that from happening again? |
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Post by dadofthree on May 2, 2020 14:17:44 GMT -5
After thinking about this through this upheaval (and I know many will disagree with this), I think having multiple leagues and multiple governing bodies is good for youth soccer. The main reason I am saying this is at least it makes all the leagues do their best because competetion breads the best in any organization. From what I have seen and this part I think most will agree with is that all the organizations in youth soccer are disfunctional at least in some aspects. I have seen posts saying ECNL has won the war and are the greatest business folks but they beat another disfunctional organization who happened to be more disfunctional than themselves. If ECNL were truely great they would have figured out a way to keep the 50 odd DA clubs and before anyone says it would be too much too quick to add them there are a number of ways to do it for example they could have used a model like the NFL (and for that matter MLB) where the AFC and NFC play each other in a national "championship" and kept the DA clubs as their own division. But instead they have tried to make winners and losers based on problably nothing more than egos. Business never works well when you are driven by egos. Egos have driven soccer folks away from their customers because we as parents have let them. This won't change because all of us are only looking for the best for our kids and most of us on this forum are fortunate enough to be able to afford paying for what is percieved of as best for our kids. So having at least multiple places where our kids can go at least makes the clubs and leagues at least try and cater to what is best for the kids because if not then we will leave and go somewhere else. If there was no somewhere else what does that do for our kids. Plus on a lighter note what else other than which league is better would we talk about on the forum. One can never fault a parent(s) for trying to put their kids in the best possible scenario that works for them, breeds success and fosters the enjoyment of the beautiful game. So on that, I can acquiesce to some of your points, yes. However, IMO, there are two glaring omissions from your well intention-ed statement. Skill-set and Loyalty... First, you have to have a league that is the clear-cut top of the food chain. This serves as an environment for the best of the best to showcase and thrive. Sadly, not all kids are equal and for those who are not the best, a top flight league also serves as a means to motivate and push players to be better and to work harder at attaining that goal. There are many parents who I've spoken to and have posted on here about how their kid is on the 2nd team and has been working their tail off to make a run at getting on the top team... Secondly, loyalty. Like it or not, there were battle lines between ECNL and DA. Clubs chose based on alliances, egos, greed or in a few cases based on what their families and players wanted. They kept ECNL afloat when all indications were US Soccer would crush them. You have to reward that. Loyalty counts, sometimes in the short run only but it matters. Plus it's never wise to blow up the proverbial bridge on your way out when you've won the battle but not the war(cue the current NTH dilemma)... But, by every metric, the USSF is to blame for almost all the ills of youth soccer. I could bring up the age mandate, bio-banding, costs, travel, etc. How do you dissolve a thriving league in less than a week's notice(rumors really) with a month to go in the season. So multiple leagues I don't have a problem with, multiple leagues vying for the top talent, only dilutes and confuses everything... First I think these discussion on what and where soccer should go are more of what is needed - so thank you for your thoughtful response. I think your points are valid in a perfect world. I have been a parent for a combined 15 academy/select years and while some of the teams truely were the best girls for that given team many of them were fraught with political appointees and friends of the coach. As you have rightfully pointed out having that top team to strive for is something that makes girls work hard. My daughter inparticular is one of those. But the system we have also entitles some of the girls to not work as hard because of the other issues I just listed. If we are encouraging competition between the girls and it is good for them why shouldnt a league aspire for the same things. Why does one have to always be on top? It allows for the 2nd league to get better and the top league to not get complacent. Right now based on the discussions on the forum it is pretty clear which today is the top league - ECNL (btw I agree with this). If they want to stay on top when the GA gets up and running they will do the right things from a business standpoint and keep trying to innovate and bring the best to their customers (the players). If they don't then they will faulter period. Without this second option ECNL (and they may not I dont know but in business too many times this is the case) has the ability to say we dont need to satisfy market forces (ie competition) because we have no competition. As for the loyality issue (and I realize alot bridges were burned and egos brusied), but this basically makes the point that I just said above. If you dont think there is any competetion you can do whatever you want regardless of it making sense or not. Loyality should only go as far as the point where it hurts the league and the desire to make the best league possible. I would argue that the league has this feduciary responsibilty. If you truely wanted the best league and thats the stated goal then they should have figured out a way to make it work, period regardless of past issues. We have all in our lives had to hold our nose about something that we didnt like but we knew was right. I would argue that is the case here. |
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 2, 2020 16:32:37 GMT -5
I wonder if the club directors in ATL even know about ECRL. Or realize that it would be a selling point come tryout time.
I could see a pro/rel between ECRL and SCCL at the club level. We know that many clubs 3rd teams would have difficulty competing in SCCL (AFU Main, GSA, BUSA). Comcorde 3rd and Tophat 4th would be solid teams in SCCL. But would all these clubs get stronger overall with a pyramid and a nationally known 2nd team travel league? Roswell could likely work their way up in one year. Their former NL teams would likely wipe the floors of the bottom half the SCCL as it is today.
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Post by collegesoccer on May 2, 2020 23:18:53 GMT -5
After thinking about this through this upheaval (and I know many will disagree with this), I think having multiple leagues and multiple governing bodies is good for youth soccer. The main reason I am saying this is at least it makes all the leagues do their best because competetion breads the best in any organization. From what I have seen and this part I think most will agree with is that all the organizations in youth soccer are disfunctional at least in some aspects. I have seen posts saying ECNL has won the war and are the greatest business folks but they beat another disfunctional organization who happened to be more disfunctional than themselves. If ECNL were truely great they would have figured out a way to keep the 50 odd DA clubs and before anyone says it would be too much too quick to add them there are a number of ways to do it for example they could have used a model like the NFL (and for that matter MLB) where the AFC and NFC play each other in a national "championship" and kept the DA clubs as their own division. But instead they have tried to make winners and losers based on problably nothing more than egos. Business never works well when you are driven by egos. Egos have driven soccer folks away from their customers because we as parents have let them. This won't change because all of us are only looking for the best for our kids and most of us on this forum are fortunate enough to be able to afford paying for what is percieved of as best for our kids. So having at least multiple places where our kids can go at least makes the clubs and leagues at least try and cater to what is best for the kids because if not then we will leave and go somewhere else. If there was no somewhere else what does that do for our kids. Plus on a lighter note what else other than which league is better would we talk about on the forum. I’ve thought this all along. For the players and families, nothing makes more sense. |
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Post by atv on May 3, 2020 7:52:50 GMT -5
Look it’s this simple. This is a free market society. People and organizations have choices. There is likely not one organization that is the right fit for everyone. All have different programming structures, organizational goals, values, and beliefs on youth soccer. Clubs and members should join and go play in the one that is the best fit for them.
ECNL has developed a good product that a large number of clubs and parents have identified with. Some identify more with the NL, DPL, GAL, etc. for other reasons.
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Post by honeybadger on May 3, 2020 10:33:42 GMT -5
In addition to what both atv and oraclesfriend said, I'd also like to add that, this would be a great opportunity to normalize the soccer landscape and get us closer to one uniform system for youth soccer on the girls side. There are so many fractured leagues around the country. With each higher division your travel budget grows and your area of travel reduces as you go down in division. I wish it was simply the following: Nationally : ECNL (Top Division) Nationally : ERCL (2nd Division) Regionally : SCCL, DPL, FPL, NPL (Psuedo 3rd/Alternate Division) Locally : Everything else - Athena, Friendlies, Rec, etc.(State Soccer Division) Yes, I intentionally omitted the GAL because quite frankly I've not seen it in action and find it hard to quantify as of today. This is especially true of the SE division since IMO none of the teams NTH would normally have to play are worthy or on the same level with NTH. Additionally, I'm skeptical about it because I will almost bet that should any of the teams be offered a spot in ECNL, they'd jump ship in a NY minute. Maybe even to the lower level ERCL. I think the role of the USSF would then be to offer support and collaboration in items such as coach training, reduction or even elimination of exorbitant coaching courses, one of two national showcases or events for the nations elite players(residency) and of course the still political YNT scouting and team selection... As usual FutsalGawdess, you make very clear points that are easy for me to visualize! I enjoy your opinions/facts. |
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Post by ball2futbol on May 3, 2020 13:25:47 GMT -5
After listening to the podcast posted on another thread, "Interview with Lavers". It actually lends to this conversation. As much as i found the Q&A to be canned and pre-packaged, he did not elude from the fact that it would be nearly impossible for one umbrella league to govern all youth soccer at this level. I tend to side with him in that respect, as much as it would make the world of youth soccer a bit easier to navigate, its also not realistic. I agree with an earlier post, that competition only brings out the best in organizations which ultimately benefits the consumer in this instance the players/parents. So you have to credit ECNL for not trying to be something its not, which is the end all be all for every club. Who wants a monopoly? Just imagine what type of oversight mechanisms that would have to be in place and the sacrifices that causes to other aspects of the game. Given the timing of all this, GA has done a remarkable job of providing players/parents across the country with an option. IMO they deserve alot more credit than whats been given. Another take away from that podcast interview was the potential to align those top leagues (in this scenario: GA/ECNL) at the end of each season to declare an "American" champion of each age level. Not as easy to execute as it sounds but the potential and desire to do so is there which is the first step. I'm excited even at the thought of this happening!
So this doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. Why does one league have to be crowned the loser and the other a winner. BOTH leagues can WIN and succeed unilaterally and meet at the end, with a little inter-league play here and there along the way (friendlies and large showcases). The way I see it, WE are the true winners in this, we have options which means our kids have options to compete at the highest levels.
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 3, 2020 13:50:47 GMT -5
Lavers did make a point about showcases and only having so much field space. Said they like to keep the games all in one area to simplify things for the staff and the scouts. Add 75% more teams all of the sudden because they "deserve it" creates logistical issues, outside the conferences and scheduling. I don't think ECNL has a huge say in the day-to-day running of the conferences, where they as an organization come in is the showcases and relationships with the colleges and scouting. So add all the clubs but say "you won't be able to come to the showcases?"
Regardless, NTH should have to wait a year (possibly more). They publicly said "ECNL is a 2nd tier league" to the rest of soccer in the US...just last year.
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Post by liverpoolfc on May 3, 2020 15:39:47 GMT -5
@altfutboldad just stop the bitterness about NTH. This thread is about Florida ECNL league, there is no need to drag NTH to this. We all get it, NTH is not playing ECNL and not willing to. So just stop this nonsense... And NTH will always be NTH and will always produce top players regardless of what league they participate in.
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Post by atlfutboldad on May 3, 2020 16:11:46 GMT -5
I was indirectly responding to the poster talking about ECNL egos and ECNL winning/losing, why won't anyone think of the children, blah blah blah. USSF threatened their business model, at that point, ego comes into play and ECNL was on the defensive.
Most bizatching about ECNL inclusivity/exclusivity lately is always coming from a pro-NTH perspective (which is tiring). 2 years ago NTH people weren't bizatching about ECNL being too exclusive. Tired of all the "why is ECNL being this way?" talk, its dumb and pointless. There's reasons, let it go, good luck with GA and DPL.
I agree that multiple leagues cause those leagues to stay on their toes and continue to try and be the best however.
Ok, back to ECRL, hopefully it happens next year for all the ECNL and NPL clubs. The pyramid will be clearer. The question is whether there would be an inter-conference ECRL league. I wonder if the TN clubs would rather be in the SE conference.
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