I think that's what Eclipse rest their hats on: Doesn't matter if your player is good, great, or just average ECNL is the only way they will play in college. And if you look at the signings Eclipse produces it's not that far off. As much as everyone on these forums thinks women's soccer is important and every good player is eventually found it's just not true. Women's soccer is an after thought, especially women's college soccer, and the budgets for scouting is tiny compared to even women's basketball. So a lot of time all coaches have to go by is league membership and pick from there. Lot's of girls much more skilled get passed up as a result.
Inter also beat 06 Eclipse 4-1. Eclipse 06 does not have a regional league team. They use girls from the regular ECNL teams. When Inter played Eclipse is was all of their top team players besides maybe 2 on the bench. I remember seeing that twitter pic when Libertyville was playing them. It was their top team with maybe a couple from North. That post has since been taken down, lol. I never understood why those few Libertyville girls jumped ship to go to a not so good Eclipse North team. I’m sure the ECNL bill of goods. My daughter has played 06 Libertyville numerous times and they always had a good chemistry. Very nice group of girls. I don’t think I would’ve had my daughter leave that team if I was in the same situation. When it comes to facilities, I don’t see any of these teams having problems finding fields or turf. I know Libertyville and Inter have access to them. I’m not that familiar with evolution.
06 Eclipse in the playoffs had over 30 scouts on the sidelines at every game. 06 Lib went to the finals and had no one watching except for parents. It’s sad because there is a ton of talent on that team. The girls who jumped don’t care about Eclipse they want to play in ECNL showcases, they want to get noticed. Not saying they wouldn’t playing in other leagues but it’s easier. I don’t blame them. It’s about the platform.
Yep. That 2006 eclipse group has a bunch of players that recently have committed to Power 5 teams. Exposure is the selling point.
The reason Lib had no one at finals is because USYS Nat Championship was too late in July. All coaches were getting ready for either their final ID camp or their season to begin. Such a stupid time to do a National Championship, and in Orlando in July. I understand about wanting to get noticed in ECNL, but there is also levels in ECNL. The North team is bottom of the barrel. To leave Lib for the select team, I would understand. With this, there could also be many other variables why one leaves an established team with friends, etc. That could also factor in the equation. But blindly looking at a move from Lib to Eclipse North?...I would pass. Just my opinion. Maybe 4? I might have missed a few.
I think it was four in the last two months to Texas, Wisconsin and Maryland x2. Still some of the top players are not committed but for a “down” group from eclipse they are likely going to have at least 8 power 5 players and 15 D1. That is what blindly draws parents.
I thought you may have been exaggerating, but looking at the game history and ratings - it appears to fully support your comments. The 2006 North team shows a total of three wins since the beginning of 2022. The 2006 Select team shows #1 in state, while the North team shows #16. By rating - the Select team is about 5 goals per game better than the North team (which is immense). But if you want to be on a 2006 ECNL team - Eclipse currently shows to be the only legitimate possibility in all of IL.
You can see it in the standings... the Eclipse North teams have a COMBINED 4 wins between 6 teams and a whopping -239 goal differential. I don't want to just bad mouth clubs, programs, or coaches but that's embarrassing and hopefully those running the league can see it and do something about it. Look how many ECNL clubs are in other major marketplaces throughout the US.
I think the notion that you have to play ECNL to play college soccer is certainly the narrative that eclipse sells. If you look at the 2004 top NON-ECNL teams on the girls side college commitments it really isn't accurate: (Galaxy, TC, Inter, Sockers, FCU) I have a feeling that the knee jerk reaction is that I don't see anyone from Florida State, UCLA, Stanford, Duke, Carolina etc. I think that it is safe to say that if a kid is good enough to play at a school of this caliber, it really doesn't matter what club they play for, because they will be regular National Team call ups. TC 04's: Boogerd Trinity Christian, Epstein Valpo, Lambert Flagler, Lange North Central, Miller Norhwestern, Noon U of Indianapolis, Trejo EIU, Galaxy 04's: Anderson U of North Alabama, Andjelic Wisconsin Milwaukee, Burke Cininnati, Carlos Wisc Platteville, Clark U of Denver, Iverson Calvin, Lewellyan West Florida, Johnson Lindenwood, Kenworthy Platteville, OConnor Carnegie Mellon, Liapis Western Kentucky, Norkett Northwestern, ORear Valpo, Parent Platteville, Smiley Iowa, Stewart La Crosse, Roberts Loyola, Sharp Air Force, Tetteh Eastern Illinois. Inter: Gallagher Purdue Ft. Wayne, Rucka U of Tennessee Martin, Tobin/Elliot IUPUI, Kluctcharch Indiana State, Vichich U Wisc Milwaukee, Grigg SIU, Sockers: Bienda/Boltz/Downs Marquette, Delamora Loras, English Kent State, Flemming IL Wesleyan, Lynch Duke, Schopp Brown, Young Kennesaw State FCU: Burrell Michigan, Butler Denison, Dowesching N Kentucky, Dominguez Chicago State, Ehlers Depauw, Ehlert Wash U, Hungness Emory, Engel NC State, Gryzik UIC, Hernandez ISU, Holton Fordham, Kite Kenyon, Krone Texas Christian, Lane Holyoke, McGinn N. Dakota, McGuire Rutgers, McNeely Wisc La Crosse, Rebmann Wisc Milwaukee, Schmeiser Penn State, Shaffer Calvin, Vivar Lake Forest, Wilson Wisc Milwaukee, Zelazny Denver,
eclipse: Economos Loyola, Ferguson Dayton, Gaspari Pratt, Green Wisc Milwaukee, Grundhoefer Fort Hayes, Hahn Iowa, Hong/Koleno Wash U, Lee U of I, Mccracken N. Dakota, Murray Butler, Nugent Chaminade, Pineda Oklahoma State, Rochester Clabama Birmingham, Rupprect Depauw, Sassower Case Western, Skoubis Missouri, Spotak Eastern Michigan.
Pretty big difference between the level of competition. FCU/Sockers has some big schools but the others are not close to the ones the eclipse players are going to.
My kids/parents can't wait to play Eclipse North. Everyone knows it will be a competitive game for everyone all around. Kids/parents dread playing Eclipse select. It's very much a get ready for it and hold on for dear life situation. Haha it's all part of it. My daughter personally loves the challenge of Select. I as a parent love playing Select. I will gladly trade the exposure of (3-7 college coaches on sidelines for league games) in future years for a couple of beatdowns now when winning has very little value at this age anyway. Our RL played both Libertyville and Chicago Inter. We don't have a full RL roster, so 3-5 ECNL girls help out in certain games. My daughter wasn't picked for Lib, and was hurt for Inter. But the parents said Lib was a very good team while Inter was good but not as good. It's not the perfect system we have in this country, but it's what we have so I'll make due. I don't harp on it too much. These are the ingredients I had the choice of taking, so I will help my child make a meal of it. It might be a great meal, it might be shit, but she will have a ton of people trying it out and thats huge. And what matters most is she's loving every second with her team and they are extremely close. I have 4.5 more years of this youth soccer shitshow left so I will enjoy it. Maybe more after, who knows.
Red Stars Management and owner along with Jill Ellis negligent? And while we are at it... Since the WNT players got their pay, do they even care anymore. https://twitter.com/search?q=rory dames&src=recent_search_click
What I am seeing is that there are so many variables of where, in my case Girls, choose their school. Some girls want location, some want $$$. I seems to me, the weaker programs are offering a lot of money, if not full coverage with academic money tied in. I've seen girls choose mediocre programs all paid, over private higher level soccer programs where they need to come up with significant $$$. Then there is location. Seems like a ton want to go south. Then there are girls that have more competitive majors and some programs will tell them no you cannot major in that.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it amazing that RD was found to be too abusive to remain a coach in the pro game, but ECNL and US CLub still have no problem with him owning a youth soccer club?
As much as I agree with this, one does not necessarily correlate with the other. He is not coaching (so far as any of us knows at least) so is not in violation of his SafeSport "punishment." In my opinion, it's hard to stop someone from owning a business in the US. He was one of the founding members of ECNL and until the other stakeholders/clubs standup for themselves, the legitimacy of the league and most importantly the players nothing will be done and it's a sham(e). As for US Club, to me, this is where it is most embarrassing as they should be able to do something about this given they are the governing body. Should ECNL expand the Chicagoland market and let a few of the deserving clubs in I think this would send a message to Eclipse/RD that they had better get their act together and maybe start developing their own players because others are catching up (and in some cases, have surpassed them). Until then, parents will still likely blindly go over there but it's not doing the game of soccer any favors in the long run.
Sockers maybe not (they were once in ECNL, correct?) but I would imagine that FCU would snap at the chance. ECNL is still the place to be and everyone realizes it. Look at the difference in number of college coaches at GA events vs ECNL events. Given the Chicagoland is only a small(ish) piece of the youth soccer landscape I am sure there is plenty of quality in each league nationwide but ECNL does a great job marketing and offers a solid product/value.
Short of the ECNL exposure to college coaches, FCU is (in general) the best club for girls IMO. Part of that is because they have their girls in meaningful leagues - or at least divisions I should say. I would be really surprised if they would be willing to up-root all that. Sockers had a team in State Cup this season - not sure about anything else. In the past they did very little to sell to parents with kids on second teams by having them in anything more then scrimmage matches and the NPL which is a terrible league for girls locally.
I'm definitely not knocking the GA as a whole as there is good competition there, just like ECNL and USYS leagues. Good and bad within all leagues for sure. @VolklP19 What (besides GA/Divisions) do you feel sets FCU apart from the others?
Firstly they have huge numbers. Those teams below the GA are in the MRL including club v club, E64 and other leagues. In years past they would be in MRL and IWSL. The break down of youth soccer with all these "exclusive" leagues provides more options for 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams and they have taken advantage of that quite well which in turms shows the parents on those lower teams that they are meaningful to the club. GA is no where near the ECNL in terms of talent but their are pockets where GA is close. I would argue that with Eclipse control of the ECNL in the midwest, they have both limited and watered down that division. Not saying GA is better but with some smart moves they could be closer. The biggest issue - as explained is college recruiting and no one can compete with ECNL. So no matter where the weak ECNL pockets are in the States, the college showcase exposure is massive and will garnish a good deal of excellent players and decent players with parents who could go elsewhere and get into that same college without driving 3 hours a day and being verbally abused by coaches.
Giving 2nd and 3rd team kids the opportunity to compete at a "higher" level than just a local league is definitely a good thing as it should help the development of players and push the top teams from the bottom up. I do not believe FCU is in Elite 64 though. What about things like facilities, coaches, structure of club?
I will never pass up the chance to call out FCU for what it is, a glorified community club. If you like 75 minute practices, playing on half a field, and having to go to three or four different locations, your in luck! Winter sessions are a joke. Imo coaches are not organized and your kid will be locked in to their squad for the year. They do not do pooled sessions. Imo they place teams in easy divisions to insure a good record. They do not teach a specific style of play. Sockers: all outdoor sessions and most games at single location. They ALWAYS get sessions in, will re schedule if they have to. There is definitely a Sockers style of play and college coaches know it. Few years ago I was super impressed how quickly they were able to get groups of girls playing well organized game...aggressive, holding shape always. Pooled sessions are key to develiallowing players to measure up against higher placed players. It's a more competitive enviro. I know it's tricky with girls, you have to find best team/league opportunity in a what is a watered down landscape. If I had a daughter that was like second tier but serious, competitive, and fit, I'd put her in Sockers hands down. I'd just make sure I got good film on her and put time in scoping out colleges. Club affiliation and what league you play in is only part of the path!