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Post by futbolmama on May 20, 2024 9:08:53 GMT -5
Serious question- is ECNL worth it?
My son is being offered a spot on an ECNL team going into u14. He played SCCL at u13.
The downside is that it is an hour drive to practice (we do not have any club nearby that offers competition higher than SCCL)
Playing time is a factor?
Is it worth the time? Why do players stay that do not get much playing time?
Any advice helps!
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Post by bogan on May 20, 2024 9:18:09 GMT -5
Serious question- is ECNL worth it? My son is being offered a spot on an ECNL team going into u14. He played SCCL at u13. The downside is that it is an hour drive to practice (we do not have any club nearby that offers competition higher than SCCL) Playing time is a factor? Is it worth the time? Why do players stay that do not get much playing time? Any advice helps! That’s one of the hardest questions to answer… What is his ultimate goal-play pro, play in college? If yes then it may be worthwhile. However, he will have to cut back on his other activities. At the end of the day, only you/hour son can answer that question…because it is a time and money commitment. |
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Post by randomparent on May 20, 2024 9:59:26 GMT -5
Serious question- is ECNL worth it? My son is being offered a spot on an ECNL team going into u14. He played SCCL at u13. The downside is that it is an hour drive to practice (we do not have any club nearby that offers competition higher than SCCL) Playing time is a factor? Is it worth the time? Why do players stay that do not get much playing time? Any advice helps! There is no right or wrong decision. I can give you my opinion. An hour drive to practice, means two hours a night in the car. Assume at least a 90 minute practice, plus getting there early so you are not late. So four hours a night, four nights a week away from home. That is a big commitment. It does take it toll. ECNL is obviously higher level players, more committed players, more committed coaching, and if your sons desire is to play in college it is the path. If that is what you want to do you should consider taking the opportunity. The question of whether college soccer is worth it is completely different... I will refrain from my thoughts on that. Maybe you are thinking about player development. Hard to argue with your kid not at a big five, playing SCCL his entire career and is now at U14 good enough to boot a player that has been doing all the driving, private training, all the awesome coaching for the past few years. So maybe player development at ECNL clubs is over rated. Lastly, if this is your first rodeo of moving through youth soccer with your oldest then you might wonder what if, and have regret not trying. There was nothing you would have said to me at the time to not have made the move to ECNL. With that said, we would not do it again it had significant travel time to practice. |
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Post by DunwoodySoccerDad on May 20, 2024 10:01:07 GMT -5
Serious question- is ECNL worth it? My son is being offered a spot on an ECNL team going into u14. He played SCCL at u13. The downside is that it is an hour drive to practice (we do not have any club nearby that offers competition higher than SCCL) Playing time is a factor? Is it worth the time? Why do players stay that do not get much playing time? Any advice helps! I think it really depends on his ultimate goal for soccer. If he’s genuinely interested in playing in college then ECNL is where he should play. Be prepared though, it’s a heavy investment from a time and money standpoint. He also has to balance his academics with a heavier soccer workload. |
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Post by oraclesfriend on May 20, 2024 10:04:25 GMT -5
I say U14 is the right age to do the drive and find out if it is worth it to you personally. No right or wrong answer but here if it turns out to affect school it won’t hurt his college chances, but if you wait to try until he is in high school and find out it is too much to balance then you might have hurt him in more ways than one. Better to learn now when he won’t have his future affected.
Btw drove 1.5 hours to a club for my child to play and get college looks. It worked. Plenty of colleges paid attention. All depends on your goals.
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Post by rifle on May 20, 2024 11:39:05 GMT -5
Players who do not get much playing time probably stay because their parents believe it is important to be on the highest level possible. For their own ego.
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Post by soccerdad16 on May 20, 2024 12:09:22 GMT -5
Players who do not get much playing time probably stay because their parents believe it is important to be on the highest level possible. For their own ego. Truer words have never been spoken. |
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Post by mamadona on May 20, 2024 15:21:34 GMT -5
Maybe compromise and ask if he can get a spot on the ECRL team instead? They probably only have 3 times a week practice and won’t travel as much. And it’s not as big of a change in level from SCCL, he might get more playing time. If you’re lucky there’s someone you can carpool with.
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Post by NotherSoccerParent on May 20, 2024 21:03:55 GMT -5
On a related note, do all clubs (other than Concorde) practice 4 days a week for ECNL?
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Post by futbolmama on May 20, 2024 22:25:54 GMT -5
On a related note, do all clubs (other than Concorde) practice 4 days a week for ECNL? GSA is 3 days per week practices and one virtual Yoga/stretch day |
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Post by footyfan on May 26, 2024 10:39:45 GMT -5
A bit of a different take, let your child excel locally for a bit more.
Indicators they may be ready to leave the nest:
-if a defender, no one beats them 1v1.
-If midfield they are a dominant presence.
-If a forward they score multiple goals/assists per game.
-Parents/coaches of both clubs compliment them after matches.
-Player of the week every week.
Encourage them to be brave with the ball. Encourage high level skill moves. Make sure they can use both feet. Make sure they are not afraid to fail. It is easier to try and fail at the above when you don't have 32 rabid parents on the sideline with unrealistic expectations for their child playing in college(few American kids do and even fewer at a high level for 4 years)
If, at 15 or 16, they are still in love with the game, excel in the points above, and want to play after HS, then look to join a higher level competition.
Save some your money and/or send them to a local college camps. You'll get a peek at how they stack up there and as freshmen in HS.
Good luck and do not fear you are missing out. The loudest, most fearful parents' kids likely won't make it anywhere and will quit after high school because they don't love the sport anymore.
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Post by rifle on May 26, 2024 16:49:40 GMT -5
Players who do not get much playing time probably stay because their parents believe it is important to be on the highest level possible. For their own ego. Truer words have never been spoken. ... A bit of a different take, let your child excel locally for a bit more. Indicators they may be ready to leave the nest: -if a defender, no one beats them 1v1. -If midfield they are a dominant presence. -If a forward they score multiple goals/assists per game. -Parents/coaches of both clubs compliment them after matches. -Player of the week every week. Encourage them to be brave with the ball. Encourage high level skill moves. Make sure they can use both feet. Make sure they are not afraid to fail. It is easier to try and fail at the above when you don't have 32 rabid parents on the sideline with unrealistic expectations for their child playing in college(few American kids do and even fewer at a high level for 4 years) If, at 15 or 16, they are still in love with the game, excel in the points above, and want to play after HS, then look to join a higher level competition. Save some your money and/or send them to a local college camps. You'll get a peek at how they stack up there and as freshmen in HS. Good luck and do not fear you are missing out. The loudest, most fearful parents' kids likely won't make it anywhere and will quit after high school because they don't love the sport anymore. |
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