Surf Zombie
GOLD
Supposedly this is being floated, but not officially announced. Anyone else hear about this? Interesting market share expansion by leveraging “ECNL” brand if true.
Sounds like a branding thing and to get them into the pipeline early. As there are no ECNL-RL2 teams in AZ or NV it will be a local league. Might be there simply to make it easier to move players into the ECNL governed teams. Unless they charge more for the brand I don't see the harm. NPL, ECNL-RL 2 if it costs the same and is equally competitive what does it matter.Supposedly this is being floated, but not officially announced. Anyone else hear about this? Interesting market share expansion by leveraging “ECNL” brand if true.
It may not be equally competitive. ECNL teams have to play the other ECNL teams, whether they are any good or not. This may just be a third tier of closed leagues.Sounds like a branding thing and to get them into the pipeline early. As there are no ECNL-RL2 teams in AZ or NV it will be a local league. Might be there simply to make it easier to move players into the ECNL governed teams. Unless they charge more for the brand I don't see the harm. NPL, ECNL-RL 2 if it costs the same and is equally competitive what does it matter.
I don't think they do. In PHX all the DPL teams play in the local leagues and DPL. Would think its the same for ECNL. Same as tournaments. They have to play in ECNL league, but they can play in others as well.It may not be equally competitive. ECNL teams have to play the other ECNL teams, whether they are any good or not. This may just be a third tier of closed leagues.
What is to stop them from doing that now? ECNL governs itself and has separate rosters. There is nothing to keep an ECNL, ECNL-RL or ECNL-RL2 player from playing on a NPL team. They could be rostered on both as they are governed from different authorities. This really isn't much of a change other than branding. Kinda how I think of E64. Separate league with different teams.This would strictly be a “roster” sharing move. If SoCal league turns their flight 1/npl division into “ecnl rl2l” it will be some ecnl clubs can put their ringers into teams to win. And/or to be able to have a smaller roster of “npl” players but to be able to move players around to fill in as needed.
overall- I think it’s terrible. ECNL has been great for the truly “top” / “elite” players. It has been awful for everything else.
I have mixed opinions on whether ECNL really benefits the top few.This would strictly be a “roster” sharing move. If SoCal league turns their flight 1/npl division into “ecnl rl2l” it will be some ecnl clubs can put their ringers into teams to win. And/or to be able to have a smaller roster of “npl” players but to be able to move players around to fill in as needed.
overall- I think it’s terrible. ECNL has been great for the truly “top” / “elite” players. It has been awful for everything else.
I have mixed opinions on whether ECNL really benefits the top few.
Some top 2010 team goal differentials, so far:
VA Union, +51/18
Charlotte SA +53/18
Solar +57/16
MVLA +68/12
Surf +51/14
FL Premier +48/10
Eclipse +42/10
Dallas Texans +53/17
All those teams are averaging 3-5 point wins. Those kids aren’t getting a ton of challenge in their league games.
Other age groups are different, but it‘s a problem.
Every one of those 2010 teams has several comparable teams within 10 miles. They are 2009s. But ECNL 10s don’t play ECNL 09s, so those games don’t happen.I'm not sure what this data shows. You're correct, in that most (but not all) of the leaders in the various ECNL G2010 conferences have a GD that is far above even the 2nd place teams, let alone the rest of the teams in their own same conferences. But what is the alternative? If you go down a league or 2 - and do the same thing looking at SoCal DPL standings for the fall, it shows the exact same thing. The top team in 2010, G or B, in every Flight 1 division, has the top team with a GD that is far above the 2nd place teams (and all the rest). Same in Flight 2, in most divisions. In Flight 3 - it looks like it's the top 2 teams instead of the top 1 in most divisions. If you look at 2022/2023 GA standings, every U13 division looks the same as well. Top team is dominant, sometimes there is a second team, but not in most. Heck - the top team in GA Southeast has a GD of 103.
The common thread is that in every division at every level of competition - the top team in the conference has a GD that implies they are winning most games by several goals. But what's the control - where is the theoretical conference in youth soccer that could be created where all of the top talent is so spread out that there isn't a dominant team? The only time that top talent can be expected to meet top talent (by definition) is at the very tip of the pyramid, at national events that pull all of the best together for direct competition. Expecting that to ever happen in any local league - even the "top" one, is not a high percentage bet. In fact - I'd bet that the only times that there wouldn't be a dominant team are in pure rec play, where there is often a stated goal of parity, and at least an attempt to spread out the more skilled players across each of a town's teams.
Every one of those 2010 teams has several comparable teams within 10 miles. They are 2009s. But ECNL 10s don’t play ECNL 09s, so those games don’t happen.
This is why it’s a little different in a pro-rel league. If someone starts to pull away from the pack, they get moved up. If they look unbeatable at age, they play up and the older kids take them down a notch.
DPL makes a good control. Take a look at U11 and U12 for boys flight 1 DPL: 8 divisions, no perfect records. A few 30 point goal differentials, but no 68 or 103.
Isn't that what they are doing in Norcal? Top finishing NPL teams play in the ECRL league for the season? Also seems like some teams are playing in DPL and NPL at the same time in Norcal. Maybe someone from up there can clarify how it is working there?
If true an interesting move by ECNL.About 5 Boys ECNL clubs in SoCal Conference are getting a second RL team. Not RL-2 but a second RL team that’s the same play level. Nothing on the girls side yet. Sounds like boys side is pushing it to compete and battle the other leagues like MLS Next and what not. Girls side likely gonna hold off since they’re at the top of the mountain still just wait and see how it goes with the boys.
Sounds like a dumb ideaAbout 5 Boys ECNL clubs in SoCal Conference are getting a second RL team. Not RL-2 but a second RL team that’s the same play level. Nothing on the girls side yet. Sounds like boys side is pushing it to compete and battle the other leagues like MLS Next and what not. Girls side likely gonna hold off since they’re at the top of the mountain still just wait and see how it goes with the boys.