Expansion

Carlsbad7 said:
Don't know what you're talking about when you said "Socal allows any team to join" maybe you meant SOCAL league?

What I meant is that Southern California can field enough talent that parents and players don't need to travel to AZ or NV for games. (Not that I hate going to AZ or NV) it's just not nessasary when the big clubs in Socal (location not league) are the best in the nation. It's a very clear signal that there's much more opportunities for more teams. They might not be leading leagues in Socal but they'll be better than 80% of the equivalent clubs nationwide.
Click to expand...
It has been this way for a long time. One team that my younger son played on for a while was invited to fill a gap in the Surf Cup tournament that had occurred because one of the invited teams, one of the Celtic boys teams of that era, had won State Cup and the Western Regional Tournament and had a schedule conflict with the National Tournament. My son's team played State Cup champions from three different eastern states, won their group easily, and then were knocked off by Celtic's other boys team who went on to win Surf Cup.
 
Tracker...

1. GA was Promoted by US Soccer
2. GA added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. GA added SYC
4. GA added Revolution
5. GA added Seattle Celtic
6. GA added Westside Metros FC
7. GA added Oregon Premier
8. GA added South Valley Surf
9. GA added KC Scott Gallagher
10. GA added Coppermine SC
11. GA added Cap City SC
12. GA added Columbus United SC
13. GA added Bayside FC
14. GA added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. GA gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. GA gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. GA gave NEFC a 2nd GA team

1. DPL added FC Sarasota
2. DPL added Georgia Impact
3. DPL added Inter Connecticut FC
4. DPL added San Antonio FC
5. DPL added Idaho Inferno
6. DPL added Augusta Arsenal
7. DPL added Wasatch SC
8. DPL added Dallas Hornets SC
9. DPL added 956 United
10. DPL added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy
12. DPL added NEFC South
13. DPL added Western Washington Surf
14. DPL added San Antonio Athenian SC

1. ECNL added Colorado Rush
2. ECNL added Nationals
3. ECNL added Ukies
4. ECNL added South Shore Select

1. ECRL added Lonestar
 
Like I said a while back, this will get to the point that ECNL/ECRL/ECRL2 and GA/DPL/DPL Open will get to the point that they have so many teams and levels that they become the de facto former SCDSL vs CSL rivalry. Then, to placate the egos of the parents again, they will branch off an "elite" group of the best teams to form a super elite group with a more elite-sounding name, and on and on it will go. Not blaming anyone in particular ... it's just bizarre watching the money-fueled frenzy.
 
Larzby said:
Like I said a while back, this will get to the point that ECNL/ECRL/ECRL2 and GA/DPL/DPL Open will get to the point that they have so many teams and levels that they become the de facto former SCDSL vs CSL rivalry. Then, to placate the egos of the parents again, they will branch off an "elite" group of the best teams to form a super elite group with a more elite-sounding name, and on and on it will go. Not blaming anyone in particular ... it's just bizarre watching the money-fueled frenzy.
Click to expand...
It's slightly different this time because there's professional leagues like MLS and NWSL in the background that are able to be king/queen makers for elite groups of teams that are able to feed them talent. (MLS Next and soon to be NWSL Next.)

But for everyone else not associated with pro leagues it's dejavu all over again.
 
Tracker...

1. GA was Promoted by US Soccer
2. GA added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. GA added SYC
4. GA added Revolution
5. GA added Seattle Celtic
6. GA added Westside Metros FC
7. GA added Oregon Premier
8. GA added South Valley Surf
9. GA added KC Scott Gallagher
10. GA added Coppermine SC
11. GA added Cap City SC
12. GA added Columbus United SC
13. GA added Bayside FC
14. GA added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. GA gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. GA gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. GA gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. GA added Colorado United

1. DPL added FC Sarasota
2. DPL added Georgia Impact
3. DPL added Inter Connecticut FC
4. DPL added San Antonio FC
5. DPL added Idaho Inferno
6. DPL added Augusta Arsenal
7. DPL added Wasatch SC
8. DPL added Dallas Hornets SC
9. DPL added 956 United
10. DPL added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy
12. DPL added NEFC South
13. DPL added Western Washington Surf
14. DPL added San Antonio Athenian SC

1. ECNL added Colorado Rush
2. ECNL added Nationals
3. ECNL added Ukies
4. ECNL added South Shore Select

1. ECRL added Lonestar
 
SurfSupDude said:
Time to get out the pencil again on that score card tracker…

theecnl.com

ECNL ANNOUNCES MAJOR ADDITIONS AND PROMOTIONS TO ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE

The ECNL is thrilled to announce a wave of promotions and additions across the country to the ECNL Regional League for the 2024-25 season, as well as the creation and rebranding of a number of ECNL Regional Leagues.
theecnl.com theecnl.com
Click to expand...
Noticed these a couple of days ago. But the ECRL additions link is mixed up with new, existing, and marketing speak. I read through the first couple of paragraphs and got annoyed.

Didn't think many cared about the new ECRL clubs because there's a lot of them and it would just invite "quantity over quality" comments.

If anyone would like to update the tracker with new ECRL clubs they're more than welcome.
 
SurfSupDude said:
…and…
theecnl.com

ECNL GIRLS ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTHERN CAL

The ECNL is excited to announce the formation of a new ECNL Girls Regional League in California. The ECNL Regional League - Southern Cal will launch next season to clarify and improve the player development pathway for the nation’s top clubs in Southern California.
theecnl.com theecnl.com
Click to expand...
More confusing marketing-speak. Taking out the buzzwords, it appears they are adding a third tier of teams - similar to what DPL just announced. Both sides of the divide (GA / ECNL) should go back to calling them Flight 1, Flight 2 and Flight 3 now. But then why would parents pay $5k+ per year?
 
Tracker...

1. GA was Promoted by US Soccer
2. GA added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. GA added SYC
4. GA added Revolution
5. GA added Seattle Celtic
6. GA added Westside Metros FC
7. GA added Oregon Premier
8. GA added South Valley Surf
9. GA added KC Scott Gallagher
10. GA added Coppermine SC
11. GA added Cap City SC
12. GA added Columbus United SC
13. GA added Bayside FC
14. GA added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. GA gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. GA gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. GA gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. GA added Colorado United
19. GA added Sporting United FC

1. DPL added FC Sarasota
2. DPL added Georgia Impact
3. DPL added Inter Connecticut FC
4. DPL added San Antonio FC
5. DPL added Idaho Inferno
6. DPL added Augusta Arsenal
7. DPL added Wasatch SC
8. DPL added Dallas Hornets SC
9. DPL added 956 United
10. DPL added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy
12. DPL added NEFC South
13. DPL added Western Washington Surf
14. DPL added San Antonio Athenian SC

1. ECNL added Colorado Rush
2. ECNL added Nationals
3. ECNL added Ukies
4. ECNL added South Shore Select

1. ECRL added Lonestar
2. * ECRL added more but the announcement is confusing
 
Tracker...

GA
1. Was Promoted by US Soccer
2. Added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. Added SYC
4. Added Revolution
5. Added Seattle Celtic
6. Added Westside Metros FC
7. Added Oregon Premier
8. Added South Valley Surf
9. Added KC Scott Gallagher
10. Added Coppermine SC
11. Added Cap City SC
12. Added Columbus United SC
13. Added Bayside FC
14. Added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. Gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. Gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. Gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. Added Colorado United
19. Added Sporting United FC

DPL
1. Added FC Sarasota
2. Added Georgia Impact
3. Added Inter Connecticut FC
4. Added San Antonio FC
5. Added Idaho Inferno
6. Added Augusta Arsenal
7. Added Wasatch SC
8. Added Dallas Hornets SC
9. Added 956 United
10. Added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy (Not sure what DPL Open is)
12. Added NEFC South
13. Added Western Washington Surf
14. Added San Antonio Athenian SC
15. Added Global Football Innovation
16. Added Bridge City Soccer Academy
17. Added Houston Rangers

ECNL
1. Added Colorado Rush
2. Added Nationals
3. Added Ukies
4. Added South Shore Select

ECRL
1. Added Lonestar
2. Added Cape Coral SA
3. Added South Florida Football Academy
4. Added Sunrise Surf Soccer Club
5. Added Team Boca
6. Added West Florida Flames
7. Added Arkansas Comets
8. Added Blitz Academy
9. Added Northeast Oklahoma FC
10 Added Oklahoma Cosmos
11. Added Sporting Springfield
12. Added Sting Nebraska
13. Added Germantown Legends
14. Added Lobos Rush
15. Added Mississippi Rush
16. Added Tennessee United
17. Added Tupelo FC
18. Added Utah Surf
19. Added New England Surf
20. Added PSA North
21. Added Hex Keystone FC
22. Added Match Fit Mercer
23. Added Reading Rage
24. Added YMS
25. Added DC Soccer Club
26. Added Mt. Vernon Sport Club
 
Couple of items to note...

GAs most recent add Sporting United FC was ECRL before switching to GA. This is new and will put pressure on ECNL to move ECRL clubs to NL or risk losing them to GA.

With the number of clubs all the different leagues are adding its clear that 2 separate mega leagues are here to stay. There's a couple of things that could change the entire landscape (NWSL Next, a buyout, etc) but they're not likely to happen in the short term.
 
Carlsbad7 said:
GAs most recent add Sporting United FC was ECRL before switching to GA. This is new and will put pressure on ECNL to move ECRL clubs to NL or risk losing them to GA.
Click to expand...

GA loses 4 of their top clubs nationally in one season to ECNL - you say it's a nothingburger. ECNL-RL loses a club rated #500 in the country to GA - which accepts them - and you say it's putting pressure on ECNL. Be consistent. GA is losing top clubs and trying to maintain quantity while all top clubs are getting pressure from parents to move.

Carlsbad7 said:
With the number of clubs all the different leagues are adding its clear that 2 separate mega leagues are here to stay. There's a couple of things that could change the entire landscape (NWSL Next, a buyout, etc) but they're not likely to happen in the short term.
Click to expand...

There is too much inertia for anything to change significantly in the short-term, but the longer-term trajectory seems pretty clear.
 
RandomSoccerFan said:
GA loses 4 of their top clubs nationally in one season to ECNL - you say it's a nothingburger. ECNL-RL loses a club rated #500 in the country to GA - which accepts them - and you say it's putting pressure on ECNL. Be consistent. GA is losing top clubs and trying to maintain quantity while all top clubs are getting pressure from parents to move.



There is too much inertia for anything to change significantly in the short-term, but the longer-term trajectory seems pretty clear.
Click to expand...
Maybe, it's all going to depend on what the big clubs decide to do and how/if NWSL chooses to get involved with Youth Soccer.

Right now with ECNL for top clubs competition is high (which is nice) but does that translate to and more or less $$$ than other leagues? The quick way to incentiveize top clubs is to give them a 2nd ECNL/GA team. Will we see more of this on the ECNL side?

I still believe that lower performing clubs in high level leagues over time will either move to a more appropriate league or they'll get forced into joining a more appropriate league. We haven't really seen this action yet for youth leagues but it's starting to become very clear a reshuffling is nessasary. As an example I can see ECNL breaking out Sonoran and Mojave into an A and B league. This would be to avoid blowouts.
 
Larzby said:
Like I said a while back, this will get to the point that ECNL/ECRL/ECRL2 and GA/DPL/DPL Open will get to the point that they have so many teams and levels that they become the de facto former SCDSL vs CSL rivalry. Then, to placate the egos of the parents again, they will branch off an "elite" group of the best teams to form a super elite group with a more elite-sounding name, and on and on it will go. Not blaming anyone in particular ... it's just bizarre watching the money-fueled frenzy.
Click to expand...
This is proven day after day for Girls ECNL vs GA is not even close to a rivalry. GA vs ECRL is.
 
Justhereforthepopcorn said:
This is proven day after day for Girls ECNL vs GA is not even close to a rivalry. GA vs ECRL is.
Click to expand...
I've been pointing this out for years. The GA propagandist refuse to accept it, even though all the data indicates it, and cross-play tournaments solidify it. The strength of teams in GA continues to decline. If NWSL creates a new youth league, they will take the top teams/clubs regardless of which league they are playing in today. We have seen that everytime there is a shuffle in the king-of-the-hill youth soccer league race. If NWSL youth league were to happen today, 95% of NWSL youth league teams would come from ECNL teams/clubs.
 
Tracker...

GA
1. Was Promoted by US Soccer
2. Added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. Added SYC
4. Added Revolution
5. Added Seattle Celtic
6. Added Westside Metros FC
7. Added Oregon Premier
8. Added South Valley Surf
9. Added KC Scott Gallagher
10. Added Coppermine SC
11. Added Cap City SC
12. Added Columbus United SC
13. Added Bayside FC
14. Added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. Gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. Gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. Gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. Added Colorado United
19. Added Sporting United FC
20. Added Downtown United SC

DPL
1. Added FC Sarasota
2. Added Georgia Impact
3. Added Inter Connecticut FC
4. Added San Antonio FC
5. Added Idaho Inferno
6. Added Augusta Arsenal
7. Added Wasatch SC
8. Added Dallas Hornets SC
9. Added 956 United
10. Added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy (Not sure what DPL Open is)
12. Added NEFC South
13. Added Western Washington Surf
14. Added San Antonio Athenian SC
15. Added Global Football Innovation
16. Added Bridge City Soccer Academy
17. Added Houston Rangers

ECNL
1. Added Colorado Rush
2. Added Nationals
3. Added Ukies
4. Added South Shore Select

ECRL
1. Added Lonestar
2. Added Cape Coral SA
3. Added South Florida Football Academy
4. Added Sunrise Surf Soccer Club
5. Added Team Boca
6. Added West Florida Flames
7. Added Arkansas Comets
8. Added Blitz Academy
9. Added Northeast Oklahoma FC
10 Added Oklahoma Cosmos
11. Added Sporting Springfield
12. Added Sting Nebraska
13. Added Germantown Legends
14. Added Lobos Rush
15. Added Mississippi Rush
16. Added Tennessee United
17. Added Tupelo FC
18. Added Utah Surf
19. Added New England Surf
20. Added PSA North
21. Added Hex Keystone FC
22. Added Match Fit Mercer
23. Added Reading Rage
24. Added YMS
25. Added DC Soccer Club
26. Added Mt. Vernon Sport Club
 
GA adding Downtown United SC (aka DUSC) is kind of interesting because DUSC is where NWSL Gotham plays its 2nd teams.

This is the East Coast equivalent to SD Wave practicing on the Polo Fields with Surf.
 
GA
1. Was Promoted by US Soccer
2. Added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. Added SYC
4. Added Revolution
5. Added Seattle Celtic
6. Added Westside Metros FC
7. Added Oregon Premier
8. Added South Valley Surf
9. Added KC Scott Gallagher
10. Added Coppermine SC
11. Added Cap City SC
12. Added Columbus United SC
13. Added Bayside FC
14. Added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. Gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. Gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. Gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. Added Colorado United
19. Added Sporting United FC
20. Added Downtown United SC
21. Added Blues FC

DPL
1. Added FC Sarasota
2. Added Georgia Impact
3. Added Inter Connecticut FC
4. Added San Antonio FC
5. Added Idaho Inferno
6. Added Augusta Arsenal
7. Added Wasatch SC
8. Added Dallas Hornets SC
9. Added 956 United
10. Added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy (Not sure what DPL Open is)
12. Added NEFC South
13. Added Western Washington Surf
14. Added San Antonio Athenian SC
15. Added Global Football Innovation
16. Added Bridge City Soccer Academy
17. Added Houston Rangers

ECNL
1. Added Colorado Rush
2. Added Nationals
3. Added Ukies
4. Added South Shore Select

ECRL
1. Added Lonestar
2. Added Cape Coral SA
3. Added South Florida Football Academy
4. Added Sunrise Surf Soccer Club
5. Added Team Boca
6. Added West Florida Flames
7. Added Arkansas Comets
8. Added Blitz Academy
9. Added Northeast Oklahoma FC
10 Added Oklahoma Cosmos
11. Added Sporting Springfield
12. Added Sting Nebraska
13. Added Germantown Legends
14. Added Lobos Rush
15. Added Mississippi Rush
16. Added Tennessee United
17. Added Tupelo FC
18. Added Utah Surf
19. Added New England Surf
20. Added PSA North
21. Added Hex Keystone FC
22. Added Match Fit Mercer
23. Added Reading Rage
24. Added YMS
25. Added DC Soccer Club
26. Added Mt. Vernon Sport Club
 
2024 Girls Expansion Tracker...

GA
1. Was Promoted by US Soccer
2. Added Liverpool FC International Academy (CA)
3. Added SYC
4. Added Revolution
5. Added Seattle Celtic
6. Added Westside Metros FC
7. Added Oregon Premier
8. Added South Valley Surf
9. Added KC Scott Gallagher
10. Added Coppermine SC
11. Added Cap City SC
12. Added Columbus United SC
13. Added Bayside FC
14. Added Rhode Island Surf SC
15. Gave City SC a 2nd GA team
16. Gave Cincinnati United a 2nd GA team
17. Gave NEFC a 2nd GA team
18. Added Colorado United
19. Added Sporting United FC
20. Added Downtown United SC
21. Added Blues FC
22. Added North Shore United

DPL
1. Added FC Sarasota
2. Added Georgia Impact
3. Added Inter Connecticut FC
4. Added San Antonio FC
5. Added Idaho Inferno
6. Added Augusta Arsenal
7. Added Wasatch SC
8. Added Dallas Hornets SC
9. Added 956 United
10. Added North Coast FC
11. DPL OPEN added Lanier Soccer Academy
12. Added NEFC South
13. Added Western Washington Surf
14. Added San Antonio Athenian SC
15. Added Global Football Innovation
16. Added Bridge City Soccer Academy
17. Added Houston Rangers
18. Added GFI Academy
19. DPL Open added Albuon Atlanta
20. DPL Open added Meteo Alliance FC
21. Added Bridge City Soccer Academy
22. DPL Open added DME Academy
23. Added Lake Travis Elite
24. DPL Open added Hartford FC United
25. DPL Open added RSL-AZ South
26. DPL Open added RSL-AZ North

ECNL
1. Added Colorado Rush
2. Added Nationals
3. Added Ukies
4. Added South Shore Select

ECRL
1. Added Lonestar
2. Added Cape Coral SA
3. Added South Florida Football Academy
4. Added Sunrise Surf Soccer Club
5. Added Team Boca
6. Added West Florida Flames
7. Added Arkansas Comets
8. Added Blitz Academy
9. Added Northeast Oklahoma FC
10 Added Oklahoma Cosmos
11. Added Sporting Springfield
12. Added Sting Nebraska
13. Added Germantown Legends
14. Added Lobos Rush
15. Added Mississippi Rush
16. Added Tennessee United
17. Added Tupelo FC
18. Added Utah Surf
19. Added New England Surf
20. Added PSA North
21. Added Hex Keystone FC
22. Added Match Fit Mercer
23. Added Reading Rage
24. Added YMS
25. Added DC Soccer Club
26. Added Mt. Vernon Sport Club
 
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