Then youth soccer is dead IMO. Essentially... 1. Join a small community club - think your going to be great and barely make it on the Varsity high school team on as a Senior. 2. Join a large comm club or private club and only be as good as an IWSL A or B player. 3. Join a club that has access to ECNL/RL or GA and be a decent to great player. That may not be where we are at now but as more clubs join RL - it most certainly will be. The player pools are quite diminnished at every level. RL stands to grow in terms of competition as they pull in more key clubs from USYS/MWC and other locations throughout the US. But that kills the competition at the MWC level and below. I've had this discussion before and always bring up that the U12 Chicago Magic 98/99 girls team who participated in the A division of the IWSL years ago, would destory any Prem 1 team today at that age. The more soccer has expanded in terms of leagues, the more the competition is spread out and not competing against one another. The "exclusivity" of club-based leagues is the final nail IMO.
So what does this all mean on the girls side? I’m thinking more about the ECNL and GA clubs. Will the addition of new clubs into these platforms have any impact on Eclipse or Sockers/FCU’s existing teams? Some of their existing teams are really good so would players leave that, especially those in high school? Doubtful. Or will it have more of an impact on newer/younger teams? Anyone care to venture a guess?
Not just youth soccer. I know this is a soccer forum so that's the focus. But this setup is all across youth sports in this country. My son plays baseball, started 2 years ago. The kids on his spring little league team who decided to play travel baseball at the age of u8 and u9 are light years ahead of my son. If my son ever wanted to catch up and play travel ball with his buddies, I'm looking at 1.5 years of baseball training to get him caught up. Basketball is the same way, he plays basketball as well. The kids who are on our neighborhood team are ok. The kids who play AAU at his age are a joke. He either has to follow them and try to get on the AAU circuit, or him playing with his friends in that sport is a lost cause. For soccer, it's the same, as well as other sports other than football because High School football is the minor leagues of NCAA with is the minor league feeder system for the NFL. It's just the way sports in this country have evolved. Separately..... I don't think the talent pool is as watered down as you think, and I actually think the ECNL first and GA second trying to consolidate the talent pools when these super leagues were made wasn't initially a terrible idea. I still think for Chicagoland there are more than enough kids to go around. Up here in Wisconsin, it's much different, where the idea of ECNL and getting 20 of the best kids on a team in the state is much more reasonable.
Don't think it means much to be honest. I personally think Libertyville and Inter are a little better quality than Galaxy, so ECNL gets a little stronger while GA adds Galaxy. But all in all it's more games in a certain area which people won't complain too much about. Separate question. What does the GA get out of adding mid level teams to their league. Galaxy on average about 4th or 5th in their MWC (completely guessing). They also added a team from Nebraska to the same conference, but the Nebraska team was on average 4th-5th in the ECNL'S second tier (RL). This is the second season in a row they have done this, why do they keep taking scraps from the RL. If that's the plan then so be it, but dont keep saying and advertising it's the best of the best around. It's just a strange strategy to me.
I think it definitely helps keep younger talent. I know for sure Galaxy and Libertyville have lost better players to Eclipse the older they got. Maybe those players stay if they are on a platform like ECNL or GA. The big impact it will do is force these Clubs (Eclipse, FCU, Sockers) to pick up there game. They are not the only option in town anymore, the consumer all of a sudden will have 3 more options: Galaxy, Chicago Inter and Libertyville(If these 2 both get ECNL badges). Which to me is a good thing.
It's a good question. I actually think Galaxy is slightly ahead of Libertyville but it's very close. I'm sure the GA is going about inviting decent RL and USYS teams because of geographical needs, plus most of the top RL teams usually are B/C teams of stronger clubs (or teams that supplement their B/C teams with A team talent in RL games). My guess is the GA leadership believes it is much better to invite a strong non-ECNL club vs a lower to mid standings ECNL club. That would sort of make it seem like they are taking the ECNL leftovers..even if this may be true. I heard that GA rejected Libertyville's application a year ago so getting ECNL for Libertyville will be a huge accomplishment. FCU would be the club that would lose the most from Libertyville's promotion, while Evolution would be the largest victim to ChicagoInter getting invited. Eclipse I still think is the wildcard, their talent likely will stay together for an additional year but any hiccup in performance will send families to one of the other big league clubs since all the other programs have better facilities and coaches and now play in the same super leagues.
I don't know if they even have fields anylonger. I heard they are looking for a new home which is causing some parents to add in some contingency plans.
Now that Galaxy is part of the GA, it seems like the ECNL decision will have massive ramifications for Libertyville, Evolution and Inter. Best guess is that only 1 of those clubs will receive a spot. For the clubs that don't get a full ECNL membership will this lead to a massive exodus of their top kids? With so many options for GA and full ECNL spots in the Chicagoland area, why would a top talent kid settle for a second tier league (MWC or ecrl?) The next couple weeks could have a massive impact on the girls club scene.
For top talent is it going to come down to ECNL vs GA and for other kids ECRL vs MWC? How do families decide? I do not envy their position. Do you decide based on college coach attendance? Or will they decide based on the ability to play HS soccer or not? Crazy time for girls soccer in the Chicagoland area! College list for last ECNL event https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/2711/college-list College list for last GA event https://app.scoutingzone.com/RegLink/2022 Girls Academy Champions League Finals/ScoutAttendees College list for last ECRL event https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/2725/college-list College list for last NL Pro event https://www.usysnationalleague.com/assets/134/6/nl_22-23_womens_mesa.pdf
It'll definitely be interesting to see how it all shakes out. I think the tryout season will be pretty crazy. So many parents with a serious case of FOMO will be carting their kids all over the place to try and get a spot on the new GA/ECNL teams. As for how many kids actually move... That's another story. Don't forget, Galaxy, and whoever gets the golden ECNL ticket(s) already have pretty solid rosters at all age groups. Otherwise they wouldn't be getting a spot in these leagues. Will there be some movement? Yes, definitely, but to think any of these new GA or ECNL teams will be adding more than 5, maybe 6 kids is kind of crazy. Galaxy carries 22 or more kids on their top teams.
With Eclipse looking for a new home and supposedly looking West, This is big news. Too bad Sockers could not make it work in Naperville or Crystal Lake because that would have added a GA funnel into Palatine for them within the newest layout of ECNL/RL/GA.
Seems like if eclipse went west it would hurt Inter more than them staying north. Players from Naperville area might choose inter over Eclipse if the choice is driving to Northbrook or Lockport but if Eclipse is west then that only makes them more attractive to those top players
The quote was "back west". Now I'm not sure if they have an option of OB anylonger in terms of fields but as long as they use Darien for indoor play, they are within range of losing players (both clubs).
Is Eclipse really going to attract/retain top kids anymore? Historically, Eclipse kept kids because of their platform rather than the quality of their training and treatment within the club. With multiple ECNL and GA options for families, it may be harder for parents to find viable reasons to keep their kids at Eclipse. In this new Chicagoland soccer market, parents need to realize that they have all the power now. Multiple ECNL/GA options will force clubs to up their customer service game. Either platform will get your kids exposed to top college coaches as the last events prove. There is no reason for families to operate under the FOMO mentality. Parents can now demand the whole package (daughter's being treated with respect, high quality training, college exposure, real development.) As a father of daughter's it is so exciting to see this seismic shift in the Chicagoland girls soccer landscape!!! I hope parents choose wisely this tryout season. College list for last ECNL event https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/2711/college-list College list for last GA event https://app.scoutingzone.com/RegLink/2022 Girls Academy Champions League Finals/ScoutAttendees
Oak Brook has long term contracts with clubs at the polo fields and the turf. Also I heard eclipse was done with indoor at Darien. If they were going to leave Northbrook, I heard somewhere in Naperville was the target.
I think the ECNL is still the top option and is attractive to players that want to play high school in the spring. The additional option should definitely put a dent in eclipse’s numbers but might take a while because of the established track record of the eclipse players getting scholarships to high level D1 schools.
Even if your assumption is correct about Eclipse and colleges. Are scholarships worth exposing your daughter to the systemic abuse at Eclipse that has been in the news for the last year?
Sadly those parents think it is. But from what I've heard, Inter is not Georgia peach either. Galaxy has at least one questionable coach that I would not want my daughter around. Wonder what happens with Team Chicago in all this. I think they are backed by Wheatland Rec so maybe they lose some of their talent. I know the 04 team was pretty decent but most of those gals should be heading to College next year.
Congratulations to Inter. My kids team has played them a lot and obviously their results speak for themselves so you cannot argue with them getting in that regard. Seems like Libertyville and Inter were neck and neck maybe/maybe not? Interesting reading the article where the League Commissioner said that Inter won 2 divisions and already had 3 teams qualified to ECNL RL Midwest Championships. Looks like Libertyville had the same just at different ages and U13 and U14 spring season still to come. I wonder what set them apart. I wonder if new Chicagoland teams come into the ECNL RL next fall.
Yes parents have proven that many do not care. They had record turnout at tryouts last year and that was after all the graphic details about RD’s treatment of youth players came out. Chicago Inter’s coaches may not have the reputation for the sexual comments but definitely for verbal abuse of players and refs.
I would assume that any top players that Team Chicago would have will head over to Galaxy or hope that Eclipse stays down their way. They may travel the 40 or so minutes to Chicago Inter. When was the last time they've had top teams or top players though? To reiterate what was said in an earlier post, there are only so many spots available on these teams in top platforms and they already have good players so some spots will open up but it will take a lot to break into some groups. Why leave a good team to play on a second team where you likely will not get the same treatment as a top team. Parents will need to think long and hard about what is best for their player and not necessarily listen to all the BS (pun intended) that club directors and coaches are going to sell you. Do your homework and find the right spot where your player can grow.
I’ve heard that Galaxy GA program will allow kids to play HS soccer? Just wondering if most people feel that is a selling point or negative?