It really looks like you don't know what you are talking about to be honest. Just a guy with an iphone relaying on an irrelevant app - most people can use it but you don't know how to google on it. I'm going to tell you what reality is. As of fall 2024 - the MLS only academies adjusted age groups. The change eliminated U17 (which previously combined U16/U17). To U18 (which combines U17, U18, (and stated above a few chosen 2006 trap players - which the MLS caps at 3 players) To break it down eaiser so you understand which is probably not on your app. 2006 born - 90% have graduated HS and either playing in college, NextPro or completed career. Those late 2006 who are still Sr's, coupld be playing but rosters in the MLS are limited to 3 players 2007 born are mostly Sr's this year and playing U18 2008 born are playing U18 newly combined year 2009 born are playing U16 In the MLS there is no U17 age group.
It's rich to be insulting someone while spouting irrelevant bullsh*t. Are those MLS N teams listed in the 07/06 age bracket or not. Of course they are. All you had to do was see that you misspoke.
I just wanted to jump in and share my support for the Ranking App. It’s one of the most impressive youth sports ranking and prediction tools I’ve seen. Is it perfect? No—sports will always have upsets and close calls. But the developer has done an outstanding job aggregating data from leagues, tournaments, and showcases to create an algorithm that predicts outcomes impressively well. While the prediction algorithm might not win any awards for mathematical precision, the fact that it’s readily accessible in the pocket of every “overly invested” parent makes it both useful and entertaining. I’ve been amazed at how often the predicted scores are spot-on, and it adds a little extra satisfaction when we pull off an unexpected win—or a bit more sting when we underperform against the odds.
Keep pushing your narrative. You just hide behind data and when presented with different data points you just call them one-offs or outliers. Here are the actual standings for High School ECNL Midwest through today, that the clubs are actually measured on…(The middle school ECNL teams still have many games to play.) So a 29th national rating by your analysis translates into one team in first place in league play, which is the same number of 1st place teams the 200th rated club has…. 07/06 Inter -7th Eclipse - 10th Rockford- 13th 2008 Rockford- 8th Eclipse - 11th Inter - 12th 2009 Rockford- 1st Eclipse - 6th Inter - 8th 2010 Eclipse - 1st Inter - 10th Rockford- 15th
Maybe you could learn how to use spaces properly in your post. But I'm not sure what you think I'm hiding behind, or in fact what you're trying to say. Maybe format it in a way people can read. But if you're trying to say that because Rockford is showing 1 1st place in one league in one season in one age group, and Eclipse is showing 1 1st place in one league in one season one age group, that the clubs have similar strength top teams in all age groups - that's not how math works. Take the average rating of the club's top team in all competitive age groups. Come up with 1 score per club. Rank them. And that's really it. Does it matter much whether one club is rated X and one club is rated Y? Probably not. But if the question is asked - which club is expected to do better if all of their top teams by age group showed up at a field one Saturday and played each other back to back, which club would be expected to win more - this is a pretty good way to answer that hypothetical. I personally think that the addition of the club rating to YSR/SR is transformational, and cuts through any and all of the boasting of how good this club is vs. that club, when prior it all came down to who knew who and what was pushed in the few soccer publications. Now there is an objective method that is tied directly to a club's wins & losses on the field, that is much harder to find bias or fault with. Of course anyone can choose to find various faults with this, and some might certainly value traits differently that aren't directly tied to just wins and losses. But calling it "wrong", as if it wasn't directly related to the underlying teams' performance, would always betray a lack of understanding of what they are actually arguing with.
People have the right to have differing opinions and should be able to discuss them without being told they don’t understand math, don’t know how to write properly with spacing, and are angry and dumb. You obviously have put a lot of time into the app and I don’t think anyone is arguing that it isn’t a good tool but it is not the end all be all either. Whenever anyone challenges you, you respond by attacking them, then attack more when they try to defend themselves. One of the benefits of this group is being able to come here to get information when trying to navigate the soccer landscape for their youth kids and if people feel like they are going to be attacked for what they post then they will never post. Would you talk to your kids the same way you respond in here just because they don’t see things the same way you do?
I can see why you're frustrated that the numbers didn't add up. If you want to keep claiming that Team X (insert various examples) ranks among the top 20 or 50, despite recent game data or strength of schedule that suggest otherwise, have fun. I'll continue to challenge those claims, just as others do in the various forums where I see you sharing this information.
Wow. I’ve never seen someone so angry or defensive over a damn app. Look at the history of this thread and it’s the same thing over and over from this poster.
I want to say congrats on the app. I know I jammed you a ways back but it seems you have put a ton of thought and effort in this. If I had kids in the sport I would subscribe for sure. Fun stuff!
I am assuming this is one of the main reasons why the app takes "recent" matches into play more heavily.
I think this thread has really gotten derailed the last week or so and I believe we should get it back on track and stick to what it should be about, Chicagoland soccer. Fall season is coming to a close which means snow and indoor (neither of which I like). ECNL - IL teams finishing in the middle of the back in almost all age groups (Rockford are the outliers at 09 and Eclipse at 10 unless I am missing others). ECNL RL - Evolution is still a mess at every age but 09? GLSA 10, 08, and 06/07 have qualified or in the hunt for league titles and playoffs Will any other teams come into the league next season? GA - Sockers/FCU don't really seem to be standing out in the Mid America Division Galaxy is at the top or near for all age groups in the weaker of the two divisions. I wonder if GA makes any changes to the structure of these two divisions? Are those enough talking points to get everyone back on track?
Yeah Sockers are no where when it comes to girls. FCU seems to be alright but no where near Galaxy. What gets me is how Chicago Magic is kicking FCU in the rankings. Magic are owned by the same company which owns FCU and FCU took over the Magic DA badge years ago. One would think all the talent would funnel in to FCU?
The FCU/Magic thing, Well that might be a nuance of the app not being perfect. It is the best we have, but far from perfect.
GA could help Galaxy by reshuffling a bit and bringing in Lou Fusz and STL Development Acd. LF has some tough teams, could become a decent rivalry. Easy to get down to STL.
The Chicago area does deserve an additional ENCL badge on the girls side. While Eclipse has some outstanding teams and coaches, The ENCL’s decision to let Rory Dames behavior slide is disqualifying and distasteful to a lot of families. His behavior has resulted in the NWSL giving him life time ban for coaching professional women… but somehow he and his family are allowed to own and operate the crown Jewel of Chicagoland soccer. The ENCL’s attitude seems to be… Rory Dames is too dangerous for professional female athletes …but perfectly acceptable for young teenage girls. It just seems like Eclipse gets to play by a different set of rules. Would the ENCL add a new team to their league with if the owner had the same background as Rory Dames … probably not. Would the Encl add a new team to their league that had no permanent facilities and was so poorly managed their players don’t know what their schedule is 2 weeks out .. probably not. Just saying it would be nice for North Burbs and City kids to have an ENCL option with real faculties, regular schedules, while not having to financially support a mentally abusive alleged pedo .. who once had his eclipse girls simulate giving blow jobs during warmups. A lot to ask… I know ENCL.. the City and North Burbs deserve better
Anyone have insight into why the ECNL is now trying to charge $$ for their basic league app? Am I missing something or is this just another way for them to be greedy?
They were referring to my post. I was just looking at the high school age groups. It was not a slight at Eclipse, the 2011 & 2012 just have not played many league games. However, Eclipse 2011 is off to strong start like last year when you considered their showcase they are 9-1-1. Different amount of games between league, CUP and showcase but here how the local teams are looking: MW Conference + CUP + Showcase: 2011: Eclipse 9-1-1; Inter 4-6-0; Rockford 3-4-1 2012: Eclipse 6-4-1; Inter 5-2-3; Rockford 3-2-3
Wouldn't say Eclipse is the Crown Jewel of Chicagoland soccer. It's just the only ECNL club not in a distant ex-burb of Chicago. But everything else I would agree with, the Rory shadow looms over that club.
If you have a current player, they should get access and two complimentary subscriptions. It looks like everyone else will now be made to pay $3 dollars a month to use the ECNL app.
Just got back from ECNL Phoenix. I've been wrapped up in showcase mode for a couple days otherwise I would have jumped in earlier. Anyway..... Eclipse 09s beat Solar, just that was funny since that was brought up earlier in the thread. I was able to get some information on the process and ECNL adding teams. I'll share more in time, but nothing yet. I will say though, for Chicagoland area, I wouldn't get any hopes up about someone new getting added to the ECNL. That's about as much as I'm comfortable sharing right now.
Oh come on you can’t leave us hanging! Re: Eclipse 2009 they have been playing pretty well lately after a rough start to their year. One of their players was called to the U16 YNT camp so always good to see local kids get that kind of individual recognition.
I didn't leave you hanging. I said I wouldn't expect any new teams in the ECNL in or around Chicago next year.
Such a tease. I’m not surprised though, I think that each of these things can be true (I) Ecnl needs to allow Inter and Rockford some time to further mature and (ii) Chicagoland north can support another badge.
That is well said. It's crazy how parents still buy into that club. it also seems like the quality of coaching has gone down in recent years. a lot of their top tier coaches have left.