Question...

I heard that select players will soon be unable to play in high school soccer programs. Is this true? Anyone know why?

Partially true.  US Soccer is implementing a Girls Development Academy starting in fall of 2017.  Currently, 4 NTX clubs (FC Dallas, Solar, Sting, & Texans) have been awarded DA slots.  US Soccer is positioning DA to become the primary pipeline to the youth national teams.  Players that want to participate in the DA will be required to forego playing in any other soccer leagues (i.e. ECNL, LH, etc.), and will also not be allowed to participate in any HS sports, soccer or otherwise.

This will impact the players at the highest levels, but it will end up being a small percentage of the total # of club soccer players in NTX.

My understanding is that '00 and '01 birth years will be allowed to be in DA and still play HS sports, but starting with the '02 birth years, the ban on HS sports for DA players will be enforced.

ECNL, LH, PPL, etc... will continue to allow players to play HS sports.

I know it's permitted, but is it really possible to play ECNL and another HS sport that's not soccer?  Could one juggle ECNL and basketball?  Track? Softball?

I know of an ECNL player that played varsity soccer and ran varsity track for a 6A school last year, but I don't think it's very common. I would think track would be the easiest sport other than soccer to work around ECNL schedules.

Coaches (both ECNL & HS) will be more likely to make exceptions for stud athletes, than middle of the roster types.

Thank you - very interesting - appreciate the information!