FWIW: "Applications for the ECNL will be made publicly available in December 2010, and new clubs will be accepted in February of 2010 for the 2010-2011 season." I think they meant to say that the applications would be made available in December 2009 if the clubs would be accepted February 2010. Here is were I found the info: http://www.pdasoccer.org/ECNL-FAQs.htm Check about 3 or 4 paragraphs from the bottom.
I heard GSA did not get in. Looks like Hawks might be a go. Only 12 teams were accepted. Is there a list?
More info below. Based on the dates, the final new member clubs will probably not be announced until the last half of March. The application period for the 2010-2011 ECNL season is as follows: November 1, 2010 Application Period Opens January 15, 2010 Final Day to Submit Applications (postmarked by this date) March 1, 2010 Acceptance Notices Mailed March 15, 2010 Final Day to Return Membership Agreement and Initial Acceptance Fee (postmarked by this date) http://usclubsoccer-eliteclubs.d4sportsclub.com/object.aspx?id=7&o=340781
I wonder how long that league is going to be in existance. This year the 1st Division in our age group lost 5 teams to the US Youth Soccer Region 1 League (2 teams went to the 1st level Premier League, and three teams went to the 2nd level Colonial League).
What teams are leaving? Are the CLUBS leaving also or is it just the teams? Were these teams that would have been relegated from Challenge A to Challenge B? I think that the league will eventually be fine but, as with anything that is new, the success will take a bit of time.
Just teams. Not clubs. (Same in every age group as only certain teams within a club are National caliber level teams) I am not familiar with Challenge A or Challenge B. Don't count on the success of ECNL. They are in direct competition with US Youth Soccer (the ruling body of soccer in this country).
Black, White & Red, go here: http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/PageCustom.aspx?id=15&o=340781 Read the 2nd paragraph under the 2009-10 ECNL Competition. It will explain Challenge A & Challenge B. Essentially it is a "stratification" much like the MRL uses "First Division", "Premier Division", etc. I hear what you are saying about the ECNL being in direct competition with US Youth Soccer. However, wasn't the ECNL born out of US Club Soccer? I don't think that US Club Soccer is going to go away. Some would say that the USSDA is also in direct competiton with USYSA. I think, and am hopeful, that all can peacefully coexist. However, politics can not be dismissed
I do understand how relegation would cause teams to drop out, but I don't understand how a team could leave. Isn't the league a club league which means that the club has to field teams at each age group?
I wasn't aware of challenge A & Challenge B, makes sense. No, it was not. In fact it ticked-off the US Soccer federation, which thought they were being upstaged. Hence the Regional Leagues. Money talks, so I don't see them surviving, IMHO. You are right about ECNL. Not so in the Regional Leagues. Also, I also know of one club team, a very well known club team that is in both the ECNL and the Regional League (at least some of their teams are). That club also does the Super Y in the summer! My daughters best friend is on one of the teams, so I will get valuable feedback from their experience.
Actually, it was: http://www.usclubsoccer.org/main.aspx?sec_id=19&guid=2525c658-07aa-484d-a8ac-deee6913525c I am going to take a "wait & see" attitude about the league but I think that it is here to stay. There are many prominent clubs missing but many prominent members as well. You may want to read the FAQ about the ECNL: http://www.usclubsoccer.org/Files/2010 ECNL FAQs.pdf
The ECNL is run by US Club Soccer. I am pretty sure that they are not associated with the US Soccer Feferation and in particular US Youth Soccer. Their name makes it seem so, but it is not so. The more higher level soccer that is being offered to everyone the better, but it is going to be hard for an independent league to survive competing against the people who are in charge of running US Soccer in this country, that is all I am saying.
I am aware of how the regional leagues work, but I'm still confused or maybe I misunderstood you from the first. I thought you were indicating that teams were dropping out of the ECNL to go play in the regional leagues. Someone (Robinho?) followed with a post that made me think they are dropping out because the teams were relegated to a lower ECNL division, Challenge B. My understanding is that clubs must field a team in each ECNL age group, so it would seem impossible for a single team to drop out. Perhaps a whole club is dropping out because all their teams are playing in Challenge B and they feel the regional leagues a better option for their teams? Lots of clubs are playing in both the ECNL and regional leagues. Off the top of my head, in Region 1 most, if not all, ECNL teams are playing in the regional leagues too.
Bird, I am sure you remember how US Club starting by only excepting top teams? Being funny of course. Now, ECNL will include 18 year old group. If the league kept the age brackets at 16/17, not a bad idea but including 15 and now 18 year old teams. All about money. As a club your suppose to send in your app/money and then learn about tournaments, league structure, ODP. Lets see what happens when you can't enter in any USYSA events like regional leagues, regionals nationals. Can someone tell me if Sockers applied?
Black, White & Red, If you are interested, there was a long thread about the ECNL when it changed from the Red Bull league. It is a lot to wade through but there are some interesting viewpoints brought up. Here is the link: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=929701 There are a few points that were brought up in this thread that I want to address: - Clubs do need to have a team at each age in the ECNL. - BW&R mentioned that some clubs had teams drop out of the ECNL. I am curious; if clubs had teams leave the ECNL were those teams supplanted by another team within the same club? If not, the club would (should) have left as well if the rules are being followed. - BW&R also mentioned that those teams that left the ECNL were playing in regional leagues. Since league games within the ECNL are largely played at showcases/tournaments, playing in a regional league is certainly feasible. Ohio Elite & Ohio Premier, two local clubs participating in the ECNL, also play in the MRL. Chances are that those teams were playing in a regional league last season when they were in the ECNL. - As I mentioned earlier, there is still a lot of "ironing out" that needs to be done in this league. WHile some have mentioned that transportation costs seem a bit much for this league, I would argue that with most of the games being played in showcases/tournaments that the costs are not much greater, or should be about the same as, when compared to the teams that might play in one or two regional leagues and also attend National showcases. One bothersome aspect of this new league, at least for me, is that all of the best clubs ARE NOT represented. There are many, many notable clubs not participating.
Rohbino, Currently you HAVE to bring in all three age groups. Next year it is four. To my knowledge no clubs teams have dropped out? If that is not true I would like someone to answer that one. 2010/2011 you will be able to play in regional leagues, USYSA events but their overall charter say 2011/2012 you can only participate in ECNL events. ID2 will replace ODP. Cost? If teams want to play in their regional leagues, attend the placement tournament in the middle of July, cost is higher.
Good link. I had not seen it before. Thanks. I don't have any more knowledge than anyone else regarding team leaving. The statements I made regarding the "survival" of the ECNL are just my opinion based on observations regarding girls teams in our area (2 of the 3 teams are mediocre, they would be in WAGS Division 2 is they played in WAGS, the other team was in both ECNL last year and USYSA Regional League this year, so I don't really know which way they are leaning, but my daughters best friend is on a team in the club so I will get feedback from her).
There is a simultaneous/parallel thread regarding the ECNL but, in case you do not already know, new clubs have been formally announced. IMHO, these new members add a another layer of legitimacy to the league. http://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/default_css.aspx The clubs granted membership for the 2010-11 season are: Carmel United (Ind.) San Diego Surf (Calif.) DeAnza Force (Calif.) Scorpions SC (Mass.) FC Bucks (Pa.) Slammers FC (Calif.) KCFC (Kan.) Utah Avalanche Michigan Hawks Vardar (Mich.) Real So Cal (Calif.) Washington Premier F.C.