Help educate me on ECNL

I probably would have agreed with you about a year and half ago but now, after seeing what it does offer, the exposure level at each event goes unmatched. Every player that plays in the ECNL, increases their odds of some type of college scholarship by huge amounts. I am sure if you do some checking, you will find out that verbal commits have grown substantially at a younger age. The majority of our clubs 95 team had verbally committed in the spring of their sophomore year and we arent one of the huge clubs. OUr 96 team already has a committment. The expenses are no more than a D1, PL team that plays a couple of tournaments.

I know it doesnt come without some quirks but the main thing is not only did they sell their story to the club coaches but they sold it to the colleges. Our 96 team averaged 30-40 college coaches at the ECNL events this year.

Now that the Texans have joined the ECNL, it has solidified that whatever they are doing, they are doing right.

I wont miss the weeknight games during school and the wacky scheduling with make up games in LH's. I especially wont miss Moss Park!!!

96Guru wrote:I probably would have agreed with you about a year and half ago but now, after seeing what it does offer, the exposure level at each event goes unmatched. Every player that plays in the ECNL, increases their odds of some type of college scholarship by huge amounts. I am sure if you do some checking, you will find out that verbal commits have grown substantially at a younger age. The majority of our clubs 95 team had verbally committed in the spring of their sophomore year and we arent one of the huge clubs. OUr 96 team already has a committment. The expenses are no more than a D1, PL team that plays a couple of tournaments.

I know it doesnt come without some quirks but the main thing is not only did they sell their story to the club coaches but they sold it to the colleges. Our 96 team averaged 30-40 college coaches at the ECNL events this year.

Now that the Texans have joined the ECNL, it has solidified that whatever they are doing, they are doing right.

I wont miss the weeknight games during school and the wacky scheduling with make up games in LH's. I especially wont miss Moss Park!!!

What! How can you not miss being able to get a 40oz before the game?

JeffM wrote:

96Guru wrote:I probably would have agreed with you about a year and half ago but now, after seeing what it does offer, the exposure level at each event goes unmatched. Every player that plays in the ECNL, increases their odds of some type of college scholarship by huge amounts. I am sure if you do some checking, you will find out that verbal commits have grown substantially at a younger age. The majority of our clubs 95 team had verbally committed in the spring of their sophomore year and we arent one of the huge clubs. OUr 96 team already has a committment. The expenses are no more than a D1, PL team that plays a couple of tournaments.

I know it doesnt come without some quirks but the main thing is not only did they sell their story to the club coaches but they sold it to the colleges. Our 96 team averaged 30-40 college coaches at the ECNL events this year.

Now that the Texans have joined the ECNL, it has solidified that whatever they are doing, they are doing right.

I wont miss the weeknight games during school and the wacky scheduling with make up games in LH's. I especially wont miss Moss Park!!!

What! How can you not miss being able to get a 40oz before the game?

So when is LHGCL gonna announce ESPN is coming to Moss Park?????


AURORA, Colo. (July 12, 2011) – Adding to the excitement of the 2010-11 Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) National Championship, ESPNU and ESPN3 will carry a live broadcast of the U-17 national championship game on Sat., July 16, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET/noon MT from the Aurora Sports Complex in Aurora, Colo.


The ECNL National Championship, which kicks off on Thurs., July 14, features 164 of the country’s top female youth soccer teams in what is one of the most prestigious events of the year.

The U-17 ECNL National Championship Group includes eight teams that will be playing quarterfinals on Thursday and semifinals on Friday, with the winners advancing to meet in the ECNL National Championship Game Saturday on ESPNU and ESPN3. The qualifying teams are: San Diego Surf (CA), PDA (NJ), FC Stars of Mass (MA), Challenge SC (TX), Solar SC (TX), Mustang SC (CA), Albertson Fury (NY) and Minnesota Thunder Academy (MN).

“Having one of the national championship games broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN3 is an incredibly exciting step for the ECNL,” said President Christian Lavers. “We are excited to be able to show the soccer world the quality of play within the ECNL and to share the goals and mission of the ECNL with a broad audience. With the Women’s World Cup Final being played the same weekend, this will be a unique opportunity for people to see the best youth soccer in the United States at the same time that, hopefully, the U.S. Women’s National Team is raising the World Cup trophy.”

Launched in 2005, ESPNU is a multimedia college sports brand, highlighted by a 24-hour television network and website – ESPNU.com. ESPNU is available nationwide in approximately 73 million households and has long-term carriage agreements with all 10 of the top multichannel TV providers – Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 208), DISH Network (Channel 141), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.

ESPN3 is a broadband network for live sports programming that harnesses the quality ESPN has built through its TV networks and delivers online sports programming to fans through a rich, interactive and easy-to-use experience. ESPN3 broadcasts thousands of live games and events online each year.

“The ECNL National Championship is the goal shared by every team in the ECNL at the beginning of the year,” said ECNL Vice President Doug Bracken. “Having the chance to achieve that goal on a national stage, with all the additional excitement of a televised game, should be an experience that the players never forget.”

Participating teams will compete for age group national championships, promotion and relegation between the "A" and "B" flights in each age group for the 2011-12 season, and an overall ECNL National Club Champion.

All 52 current ECNL member clubs will be featured at the event, with each team assigned to a playoff group based upon its position in the final regular-season standings. Each team will play three games over three days.

Adding to the festive environment of the ECNL National Championship at Aurora Sports Complex will be the on-site presence of Nike, Eurosport, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Jamba Juice.

“One of the primary goals of the ECNL is to improve the daily player experience, both on and off the field,” said ECNL Commissioner Sarah Kate Noftsinger. “We hope that the ECNL National Championship, with the presence of ESPN, Nike, and so many other partners, will create a rare atmosphere.”

Heard the sub rule for next year is no re-entry per half for U14-U17 and no re-entry for U18.

Gunners wrote:Heard the sub rule for next year is no re-entry per half for U14-U17 and no re-entry for U18.

So that's a continuation of last year's structure? That's good news vs. the proposed alternative.