Texas ECNL and Frontier Conference

In the north east there is PDA (Blue) which is one of the best clubs in the country. The PDA (White) as their second team, which is middle of the road. And they just added PDA south, which is in a different part of the state, but a 3rd team for PDA? Not a great look.
 
Doesn’t Stings DOC sit on the ECNL board?

ECNL Board of Directors:
At-Large: Christian Lavers (Director of Coaching - FC Wisconsin)
At-Large: Mike O’Neill (Director of Coaching - PDA)
At-Large: Doug Landefeld (Executive Director/VP - MI Hawks)
At-Large: Sarah Kate Noftsinger (Atlanta United (MLS) - Dir. of Marketing (former ECNL commissioner))
Mid-Atlantic Conference: Jay Howell (Executive Director/Director of Soccer - Richmond Utd)
Midwest Conference: Rory Dames (President/Director of ECNL - Eclipse)
Northeast Conference: Jason Dewhurst (Director of ECNL Girls - FC Stars)
Northwest Conference: Patrick Uriz (Director of Coaching - Mustangs)
Ohio Valley Conference: Doug Bracken (Director of Coaching - Ohio Elite)
Southeast Conference: Campbell Chapman (Technical Director/Girls Director/Girls ECNL Director - GSA)
Southwest Conference: Tom Amick (Director of ECNL – Heat FC)
Texas Conference: Kenny Medina (Director of Coaching - Sting)



ECNL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and non-stock corporation so there is no general voting membership, the board is the supreme governing body of the institution, and its members are sometimes chosen by the board itself (lifted from Wikipedia). As with any board they must conduct themselves to prevent any conflict or duty of interest either directly or implied. That being said all of the board members have a direct responsibility to ECNL but they also have guarded interest in the clubs they represent. Not granting membership to clubs such as Tophat, Quakes or LA Galaxy (all affiliates included) seems to be a convenient way to eliminate local competition and strengthen their club’s brand.
 
ECNL Board of Directors:
At-Large: Christian Lavers (Director of Coaching - FC Wisconsin)
At-Large: Mike O’Neill (Director of Coaching - PDA)
At-Large: Doug Landefeld (Executive Director/VP - MI Hawks)
At-Large: Sarah Kate Noftsinger (Atlanta United (MLS) - Dir. of Marketing (former ECNL commissioner))
Mid-Atlantic Conference: Jay Howell (Executive Director/Director of Soccer - Richmond Utd)
Midwest Conference: Rory Dames (President/Director of ECNL - Eclipse)
Northeast Conference: Jason Dewhurst (Director of ECNL Girls - FC Stars)
Northwest Conference: Patrick Uriz (Director of Coaching - Mustangs)
Ohio Valley Conference: Doug Bracken (Director of Coaching - Ohio Elite)
Southeast Conference: Campbell Chapman (Technical Director/Girls Director/Girls ECNL Director - GSA)
Southwest Conference: Tom Amick (Director of ECNL – Heat FC)
Texas Conference: Kenny Medina (Director of Coaching - Sting)



ECNL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and non-stock corporation so there is no general voting membership, the board is the supreme governing body of the institution, and its members are sometimes chosen by the board itself (lifted from Wikipedia). As with any board they must conduct themselves to prevent any conflict or duty of interest either directly or implied. That being said all of the board members have a direct responsibility to ECNL but they also have guarded interest in the clubs they represent. Not granting membership to clubs such as Tophat, Quakes or LA Galaxy (all affiliates included) seems to be a convenient way to eliminate local competition and strengthen their club’s brand.
I think the Quakes and Galaxy got rid of their girls programs without entertaining or waiting on acceptance to ECNL or GAL or whatever platform, so that might not be a thing for those 2 clubs. Now not accepting a program/club like Tophat which by all accounts I have seen is a top notch club might seem to have a ring of keeping out the competition.
 
I think the Quakes and Galaxy got rid of their girls programs without entertaining or waiting on acceptance to ECNL or GAL or whatever platform, so that might not be a thing for those 2 clubs. Now not accepting a program/club like Tophat which by all accounts I have seen is a top notch club might seem to have a ring of keeping out the competition.
Agreed but then there are other clubs like Lonestar who in my opinion should have been offered a sport. Sting Austin, from what I've heard and can see in the standings, doesn't appear to be a competitive club. Perhaps some of the players from Lonestar will migrate their, who knows.
 
ECNL Board of Directors:
At-Large: Christian Lavers (Director of Coaching - FC Wisconsin)
At-Large: Mike O’Neill (Director of Coaching - PDA)
At-Large: Doug Landefeld (Executive Director/VP - MI Hawks)
At-Large: Sarah Kate Noftsinger (Atlanta United (MLS) - Dir. of Marketing (former ECNL commissioner))
Mid-Atlantic Conference: Jay Howell (Executive Director/Director of Soccer - Richmond Utd)
Midwest Conference: Rory Dames (President/Director of ECNL - Eclipse)
Northeast Conference: Jason Dewhurst (Director of ECNL Girls - FC Stars)
Northwest Conference: Patrick Uriz (Director of Coaching - Mustangs)
Ohio Valley Conference: Doug Bracken (Director of Coaching - Ohio Elite)
Southeast Conference: Campbell Chapman (Technical Director/Girls Director/Girls ECNL Director - GSA)
Southwest Conference: Tom Amick (Director of ECNL – Heat FC)
Texas Conference: Kenny Medina (Director of Coaching - Sting)



ECNL is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and non-stock corporation so there is no general voting membership, the board is the supreme governing body of the institution, and its members are sometimes chosen by the board itself (lifted from Wikipedia). As with any board they must conduct themselves to prevent any conflict or duty of interest either directly or implied. That being said all of the board members have a direct responsibility to ECNL but they also have guarded interest in the clubs they represent. Not granting membership to clubs such as Tophat, Quakes or LA Galaxy (all affiliates included) seems to be a convenient way to eliminate local competition and strengthen their club’s brand.

Interesting to compare the list of top former GDA clubs on the outside against that list:

1. Tophat - GA
16. FC Virginia - VA
25. NEFC - MA
28. Cincinnati DA - OH
29. Lonestar - TX
32. South Shore Select - MA
37. Nationals - MI
58. SC Wave- WI
59. Cleveland FC- OH
 
Interesting to compare the list of top former GDA clubs on the outside against that list:

1. Tophat - GA
16. FC Virginia - VA
25. NEFC - MA
28. Cincinnati DA - OH
29. Lonestar - TX
32. South Shore Select - MA
37. Nationals - MI
58. SC Wave- WI
59. Cleveland FC- OH
Yes, interesting to say the least....
 
Agreed. Most of the conferences now have 9-13 teams.

SoCal has 14 and likely expanding to 16-18 next year, while the NW is at 23 and has a huge geographical footprint.
The NorthWest Conference is already split into two divisions and has been for years. Each club plays 2 cross division games a year. The Colorado teams were in the NorthWest Conference until this past year when they were moved into the Texas Conference for some reason. My guess is that they'll simply realign the conference like it was 2 years ago, before the Colorado teams were moved, now that they are moving back. The 2019/2020 alignment currently is:

Pacific Division
Crossfire Premier​
Washington Premier​
FC Portland​
Seattle United​
Boise Thorns​
PAC Northwest​
Eastside FC​
Crossfire United​
Bay Area Divison
San Juan​
MVLA​
Mustang​
Santa Rosa​
Pleasanton Rage​
Davis Legacy​
Marin FC​
Utah Avalanche​
 
The NorthWest Conference is already split into two divisions and has been for years. Each club plays 2 cross division games a year. The Colorado teams were in the NorthWest Conference until this past year when they were moved into the Texas Conference for some reason. My guess is that they'll simply realign the conference like it was 2 years ago, before the Colorado teams were moved, now that they are moving back. The 2019/2020 alignment currently is:

Pacific Division
Crossfire Premier​
Washington Premier​
FC Portland​
Seattle United​
Boise Thorns​
PAC Northwest​
Eastside FC​
Crossfire United​
Bay Area Divison
San Juan​
MVLA​
Mustang​
Santa Rosa​
Pleasanton Rage​
Davis Legacy​
Marin FC​
Utah Avalanche​
I'm assuming they'll just place California Thorns and LaRoca in the Bay Area Division making this a 10 team division come 2020/2021?
 
The NorthWest Conference is already split into two divisions and has been for years. Each club plays 2 cross division games a year. The Colorado teams were in the NorthWest Conference until this past year when they were moved into the Texas Conference for some reason. My guess is that they'll simply realign the conference like it was 2 years ago, before the Colorado teams were moved, now that they are moving back. The 2019/2020 alignment currently is:

Pacific Division
Crossfire Premier​
Washington Premier​
FC Portland​
Seattle United​
Boise Thorns​
PAC Northwest​
Eastside FC​
Crossfire United​
Bay Area Divison
San Juan​
MVLA​
Mustang​
Santa Rosa​
Pleasanton Rage​
Davis Legacy​
Marin FC​
Utah Avalanche​

The NE conference was split into a N & S division for the past few years as well.

Not sure why is was divided yesterday into two new conferences and not left the way it was. Maybe more teams on the way?
 
I'm assuming they'll just place California Thorns and LaRoca in the Bay Area Division making this a 10 team division come 2020/2021?
Before last season, when the Colorado teams were moved to the Texas Conf, there were 3 divisions in the NorthWest Conf - Bay Area, Pacific, Mountain. I think they will realign like that again. 8 teams in Bay Area Division(SJ Thorns, MVLA, Santa Rosa, Marin, Mustang, Rage, Davis, San Juan), 8 teams in Pacific(Portland Thorns, FC Portland, Crossfire United, Seattle United, Wash Premier, PAC NW, Eastside FC, Crossfire Premier), and 7 teams in Mountain(Boise Thorns, Utah Avalanche, La Roca, Pride FC, Colorado Rapids, Real Colorado 1, Real Colorado 2). This makes the most sense to me since it limits the travel.
 
Before last season, when the Colorado teams were moved to the Texas Conf, there were 3 divisions in the NorthWest Conf - Bay Area, Pacific, Mountain. I think they will realign like that again. 8 teams in Bay Area Division(SJ Thorns, MVLA, Santa Rosa, Marin, Mustang, Rage, Davis, San Juan), 8 teams in Pacific(Portland Thorns, FC Portland, Crossfire United, Seattle United, Wash Premier, PAC NW, Eastside FC, Crossfire Premier), and 7 teams in Mountain(Boise Thorns, Utah Avalanche, La Roca, Pride FC, Colorado Rapids, Real Colorado 1, Real Colorado 2). This makes the most sense to me since it limits the travel.

Based upon what ECNL did in the north east, and looking at the boys map, I bet they do what you suggest but make it 3 separate conferences with occasional cross over games. Semantics I guess.
 
Before last season, when the Colorado teams were moved to the Texas Conf, there were 3 divisions in the NorthWest Conf - Bay Area, Pacific, Mountain. I think they will realign like that again. 8 teams in Bay Area Division(SJ Thorns, MVLA, Santa Rosa, Marin, Mustang, Rage, Davis, San Juan), 8 teams in Pacific(Portland Thorns, FC Portland, Crossfire United, Seattle United, Wash Premier, PAC NW, Eastside FC, Crossfire Premier), and 7 teams in Mountain(Boise Thorns, Utah Avalanche, La Roca, Pride FC, Colorado Rapids, Real Colorado 1, Real Colorado 2). This makes the most sense to me since it limits the travel.
Yes, this makes good sense. 14 local Bay Area Games sounds good to me.
 
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