Dual Rostering

Can someone explain dual rostering? Our potential team has less than 10 committed and we're told they will fill the spots with ECNL players. How does that work? I thought you couldn't "play down". Do ECNL players show up for these other games? Will my DD sit out so the ECNL players can win for the team/club?
I don't want to pay the dues to find out we don't have enough for games or for my DD to sit out majority of the team. I'd love some guidance please.

First.. awesome name.. cheesiepoof..

Dual roster means that a player is rostered on 2 teams. This is only legal if a player is rostered on say a USClub team that is not registered with North Texas (Like an ECNL team) and a team that is registered with North Texas (Like a LH team). There are many reasons why this is done but it is primarily done because the various leagues like LH have minimum roster sizes AND the player club pass limits the number of players who can play on a given day on in a LH game.

Coaches that have multiple teams in the same age group (like LH and ECNL) will in many cases not max roster both teams. This allows the coach to maximize player game time and opportunities for players to play up or down in more competitive/less competitive environments as development of the player dictates.

Usually the only time dual rostering kids is a negative is when the coach has too many players and as a result the bottom 1/3 of the roster will get less playing time.

In my experience there are often a ton of conflicts between the ECNL schedule and the LH schedule that prevents ECNL players from playing in both ECNL and LH games the same weekend. Given this, I would not be too concerned about dual rostered players.

You do need to be concerned about the coach's use of Club Player Pass. If a coach uses CPP every week to borrow players from other teams to win games then if your DD is not a core starter, then yes I would be really concerned.

BTW.. ECNL is considered D1 and as a result it's not considered "playing down"

If you only have 10 committed, then I suspect you will be using CPP everyweek in addition to ECNL when no schedule conflicts all season. Not sure this is a recipe for success but it does probably mean your DD will never come off the field and at least has a team to play on.

cheesiepoof wrote:Can someone explain dual rostering?  Our potential team has less than 10 committed and we're told they will fill the spots with ECNL players.  How does that work?  I thought you couldn't "play down".   Do ECNL players show up for these other games?  Will my DD sit out so the ECNL players can win for the team/club?
I don't want to pay the dues to find out we don't have enough for games or for my DD to sit out majority of the team.    I'd love some guidance please.  

"Potential team has less than 10 committed" and playing 11v11?   So the team your DD is on will be where the coach gives all his ECNL players the extra play time.  If there is a conflict along with a few girls out with injuries/sickness then where will the players come from?

cheesiepoof wrote:Can someone explain dual rostering?  Our potential team has less than 10 committed and we're told they will fill the spots with ECNL players.  How does that work?  I thought you couldn't "play down".   Do ECNL players show up for these other games?  Will my DD sit out so the ECNL players can win for the team/club?
I don't want to pay the dues to find out we don't have enough for games or for my DD to sit out majority of the team.    I'd love some guidance please.  

1) What age group?
2) What league is you DD's team supposed to be playing in?

In most cases, I would say run away, and run away FAST, but there are some limited situations where it could work out.

cheesiepoof wrote:Can someone explain dual rostering?  Our potential team has less than 10 committed and we're told they will fill the spots with ECNL players.  How does that work?  I thought you couldn't "play down".   Do ECNL players show up for these other games?  Will my DD sit out so the ECNL players can win for the team/club?
I don't want to pay the dues to find out we don't have enough for games or for my DD to sit out majority of the team.    I'd love some guidance please.  

Might also want to find out who and how many players your DD is going to practice with on a regular basis?

I agree with Brazos and DeltaTauChi with their questions.
Does the team your DD is looking to join have a D1 bye? If not, is the coach sure those ECNL players are going to show up?
What happens if there is a schedule conflict? Will you have enough to field a team and/ or even have a sub?
If and when those ECNL girls show up, where does that put your daughter as far as playing time? From what I've seen, coaches that dual roster typically are doing it for that added boost in talent. If that's the case, unless your DD is one of the best/ favorite non-ECNL players, get ready to watch your DD sit the bench while those ECNL players take her playing time.
If those ECNL players are going to be sharing playing time, will they be required to attend any of the team practices? How well will the girls connect if they don't practice together at all?
Are you willing to take that chance of paying that kind of money to watch your dd share playing time with girls that are being told to use your team as a "sloppy seconds" or just another way to get some more touches?
What happens if you have injuries and those ECNL players have conflicts? Is your team going to play with no subs and/ or short? What happens if ya'll don't have enough due to injuries and scheduling conflicts?

All of these are things to consider. There are plenty of teams out there that are still looking for players. I would hate to see any girl sign a contract and get put into a situation that is going to make her lose her love of the game--- either through losing playing time to players that aren't even fully dedicated to their team like she is or because they are at a disadvantage due to promised numbers aren't at games due to schedule conflicts, and they are having to play short or right at 11.