I understand where you are coming from, but that club is rotten. Multiple people had to have known what was going on, other coaches, and management. They are all equally responsible. In no way, shape or form should that organization be allowed to have anything to do with children in my opinion.
absolutely! The stories and rumors you heard for years have been a result of the culture allowed to fester in the organization. But that’s exactly what makes it difficult, you can’t just remove the head of the organization and it’s all magically better. RD’s is the worst part of it but MN and other staff were mandatory reporters for years and likely didn’t say anything. it’s hard to argue with their strategy since it has worked for so long: head in sand, wait a few weeks until it blows over and business as usual. ECNL has their back and FCU and Sockers isn’t compelling enough for girls to move to.
But in these scenarios, Rory is still getting paid. To my knowledge, ECNL has not said a word about any of this. So the problem is greater than Eclipse.
Oh, the problem is definitely greater than Eclipse. My point is that the monopoly Eclipse has as the only ECNL option in Chicago allows them to get away with having coaches like RD or NK or MN or whoever else. That's not to say having 4 Chicagoland ECNL clubs would prevent it either. The culture down at Inter isn't far off. Perhaps minus the sexual stuff.
Every Eclipse Instagram post should have comments linking to the Yates report. Or quotes from it. It is absolutely outrageous that there is this level of press and investigation into women’s soccer but the youth component is essentially buried. Teen girls could not be more vulnerable. It’s honestly disgusting. I don’t care if Eclipse deletes and blocks. There should be enough pissed off people to keep commenting until the end of time.
I forwarded content to the law firm handling the case and a handful of local and national reporters. Not sure if it made any difference but I will continue to do so. The longer this goes on - the more ECNL needs to be punished - board removed and banned from youth sports altogether. Hopefully some bigger colleges come out in protest - stop attending event. I guess in some way - they (colleges) are part of this as well.
But somehow if FC1974, Evo, and Inter got badges, they would be better destinations than FCU and Sockers? Doubtful. The smartest thing ECNL could do would be to offer ECNL badges to FCU and Sockers as a way to dismantle the GA Mid-America conference which is - by far - the best overall conference in the GA. Give an ECNL badge to those two clubs and it hurts the GA in the same way that badges to ECRL to some of the best of the remaining clubs (Evo, inter, 1974) hurt Illinois soccer. That would be compelling.
FCU and Sockers are fine programs but they are in the middle or bottom of the conference. Fc1974 or Inter or Galaxy would happily join the GA and life will go on. Nationals and Cincinnati CUP are all that matters in the Midwest GA conference, if ECNL would get those that would be the end of the GA as we know it today.
Kinda off subject but here i go. On the rare occasion you get a free weekend away from our own kids games, take advantage of the local college programs. I have gone to see UIC vs Loyola( competitive). Today, went to see Depaul vs Xavier, it was free today. Interesting setup of a pit and softball field as part of the pitch. But my 12 yr old enjoyed both games. If you see it maybe you can achieve it. Just something to think about.
I was at that UIC vs. Loyola game! And today I was at UIC vs. Missouri State after my son's match. While the Flames are really frustrating this year - they leave a massive hole in the middle of the field that the opposition enjoys camping in - their new set-up is really great for game watching. I also like hitting U of C games or even NPSL (right? Semi-pro league with Berber City, Chicago City, Adria, Enchanted Chicago Castle City, etc.).
Forgot about U of C, will add them to the list. Northwestern is a drive but I'm sure i can make a good food detour.
I caught a DIII game in the Milwaukee area Saturday with my son -- it only occurred to me today that it's the first live, non-youth game that he and I have seen together (just the two of us) in maybe five years. I mostly watch him. Tons of fun and we had a great time talking about what we were seeing.
Looks like they're holding the tournament on campuses now, which is probably best. But having a Final 4-type weekend somewhere used to be pretty fun. We went to the final in Indy in 2016(?) and saw Maryland beat a solid Wisconsin team. I wish the U of I had a men's team but I don't think that'll ever happen.
I wouldn’t put it past the AD to add it. They just built a stadium and have been investing heavily in facilities. With the new TV deal the program will be flush with cash and could add womens lacrosse to meet the title ix requirements.
Hockey (men's and women's) seemed to be about to happen right before the pandemic. I assume that could actually be a revenue-generating sport on the men's side, or at least something that more or less pays for itself if the arena is regularly used by things other than the two teams. That soccer stadium is really nice (along with the track component -- the two-venues, one-grandstand design is pretty cool).
I think the issue with hockey was the initial cost to build a stadium and then the operating costs. Champaign is not really a hockey hotbed so establishing the fan base and the other programming to fill the rinks would be a challenge. With soccer they have the stadium and the sport is established in the area. Definitely not a shortage of talent in close proximity. Find the right coach and the program could be a success. I think with how the current AD operates that he would be aggressive in finding that coach. I think he might be finding a new womens coach soon as he seems to be done evaluating the staff he inherited and making upgrades.
ECNL will never get those. Pretty sure ECNL was founded in part to spite CUP (not the official reason, of course). Nationals GA leadership is from. . . CUP.
In trying to understand the alphabet soup that is U13 boys soccer and beyond, I'd like some help. Given the new leagues, which are the strongest? I would guess that MLS Next is the top league with teams in Chicago (and in the US in general), but beyond that? Here are the leagues that I'm aware of, with teams to help people who know the teams get a point of reference: ECNL Midwest Conference 2010 League Chicago Magic ECNL FC Pride Elite Indiana Elite FC Wisconsin Minnesota Thunder St. Croix Rockford Raptors Eclipse Select E64 U13 Midwest Galaxy SC Elite 64 Madison 56ers Greater Libertyville Toca FC Sporting Blue Valley Elite Rockford Raptors Chicago FC United Elite 64 10B SC Wave Elite Academy League U13 - Mid-America 14 team league, Mid-America Conference. Locals are: Galaxy SC 10B EA Chicago Fire Youth SC 2010 Boys EA Greater Libertyville Soccer Association Libertyville FC 1974 EA 10 Boys National Premier League U13 NPL 1 HDS Eagles 2010 Carol Stream Panthers 2010 Strikers O’Hare 2010 Select Midwest United FC Chicago 2010 Illinois Magic FC 10 Cadence SFC 2010 Sockers FC Boys 2010 Academy 2 Illinois Elite BLFC Premiership 10 NPL 2 Chicago Blast 2010 Select GFCM 2010 Elite Sockers FC Boys 2010 Pre-Academy 1 Barca Academy Chicago Blau 2010 Palatine Celtic SC 2010 Black Eclipse Select Boys West Lagrange Celtics First XI 10 Boys NPL 3 Illinois Elite-Lockport Jahbat 10/11 CFJC 2010 Premier Chicago Inferno 2010 Premier MWC Rayados 2010 Roma FC 2010 Orange South Suburban SA 2010 Premier Orland Park Sting FC 2010 Premier So given all of that, how would you rank the leagues in terms of strength of teams? Thanks in advance.
ECNL and E64 probably 1a and 1b, with NPL 1 likely 2 and EAL 3. The other NPL leagues would be below those. My son played in EAL last year. What we found was that with so many large clubs in it, the level of play depended on the roster that showed up on any given day. My son’s team was the B team and they were competitive with most teams, but when they sent their A team, it was usually a blowout.
Interesting, thanks! And now I discover that YSSL also has an IYSA division (with 2 teams, weird), and a MWC division in additiontoYSSL1. So if those can go into the mix.
I think there may be another so called top league that comes with cheese in the crust. Papa Johns = Youth Soccer