We are a strikers family for 2 years. Not impressed with the organization so I find it hard to believe that they couldn't see this coming. Did love our coach though and hope he lands somewhere solid. This is our last year so we are appreciating each and every game.
Strikers ECNL rumors
- Thread starter Mom of 2
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It is official. Club announced it to their families in a formal letter.
I am not sure #1 is true anymore. Maybe if you want to train in a "pod," don't care if the DOC knows your name, and are fully committed to never playing HS soccer. I am sure Surf will continue to grab some great players, but those players need to have a specific goal and play the style the DOC likes.
If you are going to change DMCV you are going to have to make some changes that will make some people angry. Not much different than when the DOC came in recently at Surf.
AW is a great coach and he does a good job of developing young kids, but I do think you are overstating his recruiting abilities.
I am pulling for DMCV. After what I saw at Surf I am certain they need a few setbacks to really evaluate who they are as an organization.
I want to say sorry to you for being wrong about you. I see now that your PM years ago was more of a warning about the Amigos. I was getting so many PMs with threats, old friends outing my personal PM and conversations and many telling me I better STFU at that time so I wasn;t sure. I thought you were someone else and for that, I was 100% wrong. TM's did not like me either because. You saw what I saw. Sorry your dd had to go through all that. It will make them stronger in the long run but man, it's painful what they do to some kids and parents.
The only coach I know that has been 100% honest, open and transparent is Tad Bobak. He was the Doc at Blues, founder of Blues, Founder of ODP and first U15 YNT coach and coached 7 teams from U11-U18 in 40 years. He coached my kid for two years. He had things he could have done better regarding the GDA and the strong arm tactics back then. I also would have done things a hell of lot different if I knew the snakes my dd had to deal with. However, she and I learned lessons about how some people lie to your face with a straight face and you have no idea a lie is even there. No way any soccer club is impressive the last 5 years. It's not all their fault. These leagues have a lot to add to an overall grade of D. I don't talk to any Doc or coach the last three years Speed so I have no moo. I told everyone here that we were going old school three years ago and have her email the coaches directly, call them and set up three official visits for June 15th, 2020. The was the plan but Covid came. Offers this year were down 50% or even more. More and more players went to the transfer portal and let's not forget that all current players in college got extra year. So this whole thing is no one's fault really. It's called life and life is not fair
Same here. Lot of things are not done professionally. I remember someone on this thread said PATs deserved more to be in ECNL and there were a lot of lies from Strikers. Maybe he can comment more now.
That's what I've heard. But don't be surprised if she coaches the 07's either. Half of the 06 team is 07's and she coached them at West Coast.
Anyone know if this was part of the plan when they let Pats into ECNL? Did ECNL think that adding Pats would be too many clubs in a small area? Or did something happen after Pats was let in that caused Strikers to get the boot?
I know a few strikers ECNL players (u17 and u19).
Some of them have bounced around within DA and ECNL over the past few years. Will this move be the straw that breaks the camels back and will some top level players say "fuck it. I'm hanging up my cleats. I've poured a lot into soccer since I was 7 years old. Now I'm going to be a junior/senior in HS next year and I'm fed up with this crap. I used to love soccer. But this added stress every 6-15 months makes me hate it. I quit. I'm going to get a Disneyland pass with the money my parents will save on club soccer. I'm going to go to the beach every weekend. I'm going to work on my college essays in the evenings instead of dragging around to the great park 3 nights a week."
I'm not sure who to "blame" for this. But I don't think anyone can say "this is best for the players."
what a mess.
I know a few strikers ECNL players (u17 and u19).
Some of them have bounced around within DA and ECNL over the past few years. Will this move be the straw that breaks the camels back and will some top level players say "fuck it. I'm hanging up my cleats. I've poured a lot into soccer since I was 7 years old. Now I'm going to be a junior/senior in HS next year and I'm fed up with this crap. I used to love soccer. But this added stress every 6-15 months makes me hate it. I quit. I'm going to get a Disneyland pass with the money my parents will save on club soccer. I'm going to go to the beach every weekend. I'm going to work on my college essays in the evenings instead of dragging around to the great park 3 nights a week."
I'm not sure who to "blame" for this. But I don't think anyone can say "this is best for the players."
what a mess.
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I had heard rumors about a year back (When Strikers boys side first entered MLS Next) that Strikers girls side would lose ECNL as a consequence. Then it got quiet for a full year. I'm guessing they all knew the consequences and thought ECNL wouldn't actually follow through with the threat.... or actually didn't care?
Exactly right. Add "I'm going to play high school sports with my classmates and friends and enjoy it"
At the younger ages, club sports was a win/win for our family. Staring at about U14 it's less fun, more drama, more time (MLS Next is 4 nights a week plus a lot of weekend travel) and much more like an unpaid job all while other priorities are popping up. Kids are wising up to the scheme.
Plus, the deals are not there like they were in the past. Some schools used to sign 11 and now only 4. I spoke to dad of 2023 and she is depressed. Depression is an energy that hits us all, some children have had a hard time the last three years. This is not the girls fault at all you guys. Girls and their parents were sold access and this year was rough and next year the little access they had is now gone unless they break the rules and contact the other coaches who can;t wait to add their roster next year. This will impact that ECNL team because some will get the boot and the domino continues to hurt the girls. Yes, the 1% and maybe more are always happy and have no idea why parents complain and it;s just sour grapes. Yes, it;s sour grapes for many of us, This needs fixing somehow. I don;t have the answers but I watched this go on now every year for 6 years. Horrible!!! Now these families are out.
A lot more boys play soccer than girls. And many of the best girl players have an older brother who plays.
If they can only have one, I can’t say I’m surprised if a program picked MLS Next over ECNL.
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
My Niece got 50% scholarship at top D1 school after years of playing GA/ECNL/USYNT (U16). We are talking about a top 50 player in the country and only got 50% scholarship. Parents still have to pay $25k a year (that's $100k in 4 years to play college soccer)!
My other niece played at Discovery level and went to a smaller school in Canada with 60% scholarship. Parents had to pay $6k a year ($24k for 4 years).
Niece at D1 got 15 minutes of playing time last year (15 minutes for the entire season). She had depression and grades were not great.
This pipe dream that ECNL is selling is a scam!! Yes they can get your kids to college but its going to cost you a boat load of money for 5 years of ECNL and then more money for a top D1 program.
Parents will get smarter about this ECNL/DA process.
By the time a given set of parents gets smart the money is already gone.
This is what I don't understand. One of the top female soccer players in the nation + only gets 50% scholarship?
You'd do better saving up the $$$ and stapling it to your kids application. (aka providing a donation to the school)
What I also don't understand is that some of the top soccer colleges have all kinds of issues with coaches treating players like crap + most of the top teams play kickball.
Also depends on the Club.. you think ECNL would kick the girls teams of LAFC, Galaxy or RSL because they have MLS? That would be ridiculous. ECNL will bully the small clubs but would never mess with Blues, or Surf or any of the top teams. They go to GA or somewhere and quality of ECNL comes into question.
Is the niece local where the parents can go to games all the time?
If not , add a couple more thousand ( flights, car rental, hotels, and meals) per year to go see your kid play.
My sister went to a East coast school, got a full ride. Parents made 2 trips a season , and it ended up costing them pretty much the same that a full season of competitive soccer cost at the time ( this was like 20 years ago).
I assume all games are streamed now at these schools, so a parent technically wouldn't have to make as many trips.
Bro, I was sold Pro for that GDA league back in 2017 I kid you not. No one was talking college to me or my little one, trust me. 7th grader. They saw something in my kid at that time, a hunger, a thirst to battle and a thirst to win medals and play all out and go for the gold medal....lol! When my kid was 13, it was all about GDA, U14 Youth National Team List, Pro and no one pays a dime. How on earth would I even entertain my kid leaving Tad? Come on man, something had to be offered, right? I was told to look around because Tad took the olders and my kid was 4 10' at best and was confused. Should I play up and get smashed playing up or play possession and go Pro? They got the age changed in 2017 and caused so much chaos and confusion most of our heads were spinning with one sales pitch after another, from one Doc to another. Fully funded Free Rides for all the girls brother. What is not to like about that? Plus they have The List that everyone wanted their kid to be on. After your kid doesn;t make the U14 YNT List for whatever the reason, the bait on the hook is switched to college scholarship opportunities. This was 7th grade by the way and they told me to get my kid over to college night so she can learn how to send emails so she can say hi to coach and then wait by the phone for a quick hi and then offer. I had old friends whose kids were depressed and or quit the college game because of the demand. The girls were quitting the sport 8 out of 10 in college before their Sr year. That's why they change the recruiting rule. I also thought at this time everyone was getting a full ride in girls soccer. I know, silly me. I know this 2021 player that also made YNT a few times and is really smart. Parents make good money so no fin aid for being poor. She got 60% deal and came off the bench this year. Great kid. The fact is, at Big U this kid and her parents will have to pay $85,000 after four years. Pops has money from being smart with it and not that big of a deal money wise for this family. I was shocked not a full full ride. She loves her school, her coach and all is good and no depression. Another player I know is also 2021 and is in the transfer portal because her coach was a big fat liar and got fired as well for being a liar. This city is not what she thought it would be and crime is through the roof. The program is a mess and she hates the school. Super great kid and was depressed all year. Finally found a great school and the soccer coach saw her play one of her best collegiate games this past season and has spot open for her. Yes, a 2022 could have maybe got it but her parents are rich and will pay for the spot, meaning the parents will pay the tuition. No big deal and makes sense for the coach. Not sure of the deal but might just be books and admin, early class sign up and a few other perks. This girl will find minutes because she gets straight A's, does not party and will be a great addition. I know other stories. I do my research and I get to the truth of how great or not so great college soccer is and do you get full rides. I say about 20% seem to be having fun and the only full rides I know about are girls with super smart brains and really good soccer player. The best of the best soccer player and ok grades is only getting 50% from the soccer program. If your parents are poor, then it could be free, depending on the school and the State you live in. This is a cut throat sport in college at the highest level. I mean that with respect and its the truth. We need a pro path for the next group of girls, moo
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Top D1 schools don't have to offer full rides because the demand for their offers is there. Parents are willing to chip in for their daughter to go there. If your niece is a top 50 player, she could have gotten more money elsewhere. This was her choice to accept that offer. She is also not paying $100,000 to play college soccer. She is also getting a education and degree out of this. That is where the money is going. The higher the program you aspire to, the less the scholarship offer will likely be. Only the true GOATS will get a full ride to a top D1 program out of high school.