New Division added to LHGCL?

Heard that LHGCL was adding a division to their leagues exclusively for the ECNL Clubs. There will be no promotion or relegation! If this is true it's a landscape change for NTX. No more have to win mentality so player development can be the main priority. If this is true LHGCL just made the best change they ever have to enhance the game of soccer here in NTX. Congrats and thank you LHGCL!!

No promotion/relegation in the ECNL only division or does this apply to all of LHGCL

Yes this is what is about to happen.

good stuff

Yes game changer! Nice work LH!

How is a division strictly for ECNL clubs the best thing to ever happen to NTX soccer?
No promotion or relegation, I get. But limiting consumers to 1 of the Big 5 seems to be driven by something other than development.

Disagree. Competition is what created the environment for lh to produce great players for years. With guaranteed placements games become scrimmages with a ref. Next state cup should allow everyone to be the champion and not keep score? End of an era for lh.

Guess I'm confused. Is this for all the teams that belong to ECNL clubs, including say FCD Pink? Will these ECNL club teams be segregated from the non-ECNL clubs in LH? When does this start?

Sounds like a great concept. Will this be for all age groups?

If this is just for the non-ECNL teams, then I just see it watering down both the non-ECNL and ECNL LH divisions because it separates good teams from both groups. I don't see how this makes LH any better but I can see how it'll drive more players to play for the ECNL clubs. What's next, an all DA LH division?

SD69 wrote:If this is just for the non-ECNL teams, then I just see it watering down both the non-ECNL and ECNL LH divisions because it separates good teams from both groups. I don't see how this makes LH any better but I can see how it'll drive more players to play for the ECNL clubs. What's next, an all DA LH division?

Great idea!

NTX Competitive soccer heading back to the 'ol Wild West days of Academy...

DA, ECNL, Composite, LHGCL, PPL, APL, Premier League, Champions League, NPL, Jr. Development League, PTCL... what ones am I missing?

Wait a minute... are we sure or almost sure (nothing I guess is completely sure with LH) about this new division? It's impossible to keep up all these changes.

Why isn't anyone talking about the MONEY aspect.  Could it be LHGCL wants in on the action (money) and so they are creating another league to bring in the ECNL teams?

I would suspect its for only the ECNL TEAMS only and not the entire/all "5" Big Clubs....
That means for the U12.....they could potentially alienate 13 teams from this 3 divisions.

SocDad wrote:Why isn't anyone talking about the MONEY aspect.  Could it be LHGCL wants in on the action (money) and so they are creating another league to bring in the ECNL teams?

I would suspect its for only the ECNL TEAMS only and not the entire/all "5" Big Clubs....
That means for the U12.....they could potentially alienate 13 teams from this 3 divisions.

That would bring in 13 new PPL or APL teams. Watering down.
Its either a money thing or a big club thing. No way this is about development.

Trying to get confirmation of the details, but from sources I consider to be highly reliable, it sounds like there will be at least 2 additional leagues (on top of LHGCL) that LH will be running or have some hand in running.

Champions League - Sounds like this will be similar to Premier League and will be a regional league (TX/OK) open to non-ECNL teams to be invited and/or qualify.  US Club Sanctioned.

Jr. Development League - Sounds like this is pre-ECNL or Jr. ECNL league that will be exclusive to the ECNL clubs.  Also US Club Sanctioned

I don't have details yet about which age groups these leagues will cover, and whether either/both of these leagues will be "in addition to" or "in place of" playing in LHGCL. Seems to me that this looks something like what the ECNL clubs did in Cali with EGSL.

My understanding is also that LHGCL will continue to function as it has been, under USYSA/NTSSA sanction.

ECNL clubs don't need LH to do this. Watch this one next year and see if ECNL clubs pull teams out of LH!

FCT2016 wrote:ECNL clubs don't need LH to do this. Watch this one next year and see if ECNL clubs pull teams out of LH!

No they don't, but it certainly helps them if LH offers to run the leagues, which looks like what is happening here. LH keeps their biggest customers happy and maintains some degree of relevance.

Big winners with these changes are the big clubs. Everyone says it is to develop players but the truth is it is all about the money.  I predict club dues to rise substantially in the next few years.  I feel for the parents that truly can't afford soccer and their kid is not good enough to get scholarship.

bwgophers wrote:

FCT2016 wrote:ECNL clubs don't need LH to do this. Watch this one next year and see if ECNL clubs pull teams out of LH!

No they don't, but it certainly helps them if LH offers to run the leagues, which looks like what is happening here.  LH keeps their biggest customers happy and maintains some degree of relevance.

A relevant lackey???? UHHHHH.....OK.

Setting aside the pros and con's of this new league, how about a confirmation from LH with relevant information? Today is 6 weeks from signing day. The new league announcement will generate an unprecedented wave of chaos and player movement as players on excluded teams (D1 non ecnl club teams and players rostered on the c team with ecnl clubs) flood the big 5. Surely LH knows by now how they intend to run the league? No QT, but dual rosters and LH league play forbidden, discouraged, expected required? Fee increase? Membership (5 ecnl x 2 and south Texas and Oklahoma?), roster min /max? U10 barrier rule for u11?

"Human sacrifice. Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!"

I heard announcement coming this week or next.

Is it not already chaotic... so what better time to rip off the bandaid.

Yes ATP, ripping off the bandaid is the best approach- agreed. Its the when and how that I take issue with. Changing the entire league structure AFTER an entire spring of preparations by teams to build rosters, test out guest players in tournaments , and after hundreds of families have planned their summers around QT (now likely unnecessarily) is simply offensive. BW is right. We don't need LH to do this.  LH has had ample time to get their act together. This has been discussed for MONTHS.

Dread Pirate wrote:Yes ATP, ripping off the bandaid is the best approach- agreed. Its the when and how that I take issue with. Changing the entire league structure AFTER an entire spring of preparations by teams to build rosters, test out guest players in tournaments , and after hundreds of families have planned their summers around QT (now likely unnecessarily) is simply offensive. BW is right. We don't need LH to do this.  LH has had ample time to get their act together. This has been discussed for MONTHS.

Not following, perhaps because there are no real details yet, but how is QT likely unnecessary?