ECNL practices open for all age groups?

Trying to find out if ECNL practices are open for all age groups and if so, do you have to have a release from your select team to attend an ECNL practice? What if the team you currently play for has an ECNL club, but you want to attend another ECNL club instead of your club's ECNL team, can you do that without any issues?

Burnout,the primary ecnl tryouts have already taken place. Some of the ECNL clubs will have some tryouts after the president's cup but the ecnl primary teams have already been established. ECNL isn't for all age groups they form as each age group moves from u13 to U14. As to trying out with another club ECNL team, yes you can do that and no you don't need permission to try out since it is separate from LH.

InaB wrote:Burnout,the primary ecnl tryouts have already taken place. Some of the ECNL clubs will have some tryouts after the president's cup but the ecnl primary teams have already been established. ECNL isn't for all age groups they form as each age group moves from u13 to U14. As to trying out with another club ECNL team, yes you can do that and no you don't need permission to try out since it is separate from LH.

Thanks InaB, I do know that the initial tryouts already occurred, but its never too late to challenge in for a spot...every year new ones come in due to others leaving. I just didn't know if you could start going out to the practices to try to make the ECNL roster or if there were certain periods you were able to tryout.

Hi Burn, no problemo. As I said, the clubs won't have more tryouts until after the President's cup. That is when they will look at any other potential players. Keep in mind that the President's cup comes after LH sign up. So, there is an opportunity to be a dual rostered player at this point.

How many times a week do the ECNL teams practice?

Also what is the cost for ECNL? Is each club different?

https://www.txsoccer.net/t14586-ecnl-travel-schedule this should help with practice and cost questions.

Great Thanks for the cost breakdowns.$ about $8,000 a year x 5 yrs is $40,000.

What about the training schedules for ECNL?
I have looked on the clubs website and it only lists 2 days like everyone else.
I thought the ECNL teams would be doing more training and less games, isn't that what their philosophy is?
Can anyone shed some light on this?

JH01 wrote: Great Thanks for the cost breakdowns.$ about $8,000 a year x 5 yrs is $40,000.

What about the training schedules for ECNL?
I have looked on the clubs website and it only lists 2 days like everyone else.
I thought the ECNL teams would be doing more training and less games, isn't that what their philosophy is?
Can anyone shed some light on this?

- ECNL Pre-season, Regular Season and playoffs is August - June (11 mths)
- Assume ~2 mth off to be split up through out the year for Winter Break, Spring Break, Rain-outs etc.
==> 9mths of practice 2x per week = 9*4*2= 72 practices

- ~18 conference games and up to 9 showcase games (using u16, u17 as an example) and min 3 playoff games
==> 30 games

I'm not so sure the ECNL practice to game ratio (~2.4 to 1) is any better or worse than non-ECNL. Before doing this exercise I would have expected that ECNL was much higher though. Hmmm Maybe clubs are sneaking in a 3rd practice a week here or there?.?

BurntOut98 wrote:Trying to find out if ECNL practices are open for all age groups and if so, do you have to have a release from your select team to attend an ECNL practice? What if the team you currently play for has an ECNL club, but you want to attend another ECNL club instead of your club's ECNL team, can you do that without any issues?

I haven't heard of any ECNL club discontinuing its weekly pool trainings.

BurntOut98 wrote:Trying to find out if ECNL practices are open for all age groups and if so, do you have to have a release from your select team to attend an ECNL practice? What if the team you currently play for has an ECNL club, but you want to attend another ECNL club instead of your club's ECNL team, can you do that without any issues?

This can be answered in three different ways.

1. If the player is U13 (00s), the ECNL try-outs and practices are going on now. Technically, there are no U13 ECNL teams yet, although the primary U13 (00s) ECNL teams for all 5 ECNL Clubs have formed in one shape or the other. I believe there is no smart coach out there who will turn away a potentially good player. Mind you ECNL roster can expand to 26 although most teams usually keep it at a manageable limit of about 18 - 20.

And it does not matter if the 00 player is within or out of ECNL Clubs (FCD, Feet, Texans, Sting, Solar). You do not need a release from your select team, although normal courtsey will dictate that you at least let your Select Coach know.

2. If the player is U14 - U17 (99s - 96s), it becomes a little bit unclear but still very workable.

2a) If the U14 - U17 player is currently rostered (whether actually playing or not) with an ECNL team, she can not practice (technically can not even talk) with any other ECNL team within the area till after June 1st. After June 1st, the player can talk and/or practice with any ECNL team she wants. This becomes a little bit complicated as the same player will probably be required to perform her responsibilities all the way until after ECNL National Playoffs in June, and possibly all the way to the National Finals in July. Tough situation for someone who is looking.

But this U14 - U17 ECNL player can talk and practice/play with any non-ECNL team any time, even if that non-ECNL team is within an ECNL Club. Lots of examples on this happening.


2b) If the U14 - U17 player is currently rostered with a Non-ECNL team, whether within the ECNL Club or not, then the player is free to talk, practice/play with any ECNL team, any time including now, unless they are also dual-rostered with their Club ECNL teams. Again, you do not need a release from your select team, although normal courtsey will dictate that you at least let your Select Coach know.

Pele98 wrote:

BurntOut98 wrote:Trying to find out if ECNL practices are open for all age groups and if so, do you have to have a release from your select team to attend an ECNL practice? What if the team you currently play for has an ECNL club, but you want to attend another ECNL club instead of your club's ECNL team, can you do that without any issues?

This can be answered in three different ways.

1. If the player is U13 (00s), the ECNL try-outs and practices are going on now. Technically, there are no U13 ECNL teams yet, although the primary U13 (00s) ECNL teams for all 5 ECNL Clubs have formed in one shape or the other. I believe there is no smart coach out there who will turn away a potentially good player. Mind you ECNL roster can expand to 26 although most teams usually keep it at a manageable limit of about 18 - 20.

And it does not matter if the 00 player is within or out of ECNL Clubs (FCD, Feet, Texans, Sting, Solar). You do not need a release from your select team, although normal courtsey will dictate that you at least let your Select Coach know.

2. If the player is U14 - U17 (99s - 96s), it becomes a little bit unclear but still very workable.

2a) If the U14 - U17 player is currently rostered (whether actually playing or not) with an ECNL team, she can not practice (technically can not even talk) with any other ECNL team within the area till after June 1st. After June 1st, the player can talk and/or practice with any ECNL team she wants. This becomes a little bit complicated as the same player will probably be required to perform her responsibilities all the way until after ECNL National Playoffs in June, and possibly all the way to the National Finals in July. Tough situation for someone who is looking.

But this U14 - U17 ECNL player can talk and practice/play with any non-ECNL team any time, even if that non-ECNL team is within an ECNL Club. Lots of examples on this happening.


2b) If the U14 - U17 player is currently rostered with a Non-ECNL team, whether within the ECNL Club or not, then the player is free to talk, practice/play with any ECNL team, any time including now, unless they are also dual-rostered with their Club ECNL teams. Again, you do not need a release from your select team, although normal courtsey will dictate that you at least let your Select Coach know.

That was perfect, exactly what I needed to know. Thanks Pele!!