u/Impressive-Key2164

Not sure if there are any college coaches that pass through here but it seems like I've seen a few comment from time to time so here we go.

If a player has an August birthday, in the mid-Atlantic at least, they will be playing primarily with a graduating class below them as all the schools I know of have a September 1st cut off for enrollment. My question is how would this change your view on that player? Assuming the player is playing ECNL or MLS HG.

Follow up, would you recommend "playing up" in some show cases if the organization would allow it if you were going in person to see the player?

I hope that makes sense. I know it's a bit of uncharted ground but that's why I'm looking for a little guidance.

Thanks!

There are a lot of posts about what NOT to do. I'd just like a clear one about what you did do that got you there. I don't want this to devolve into a series of rants, just clear, concise:

Played ECNL, sent 235 emails, got 4 responses from d3 schools, went on visits to all 4, preferred XYZ university because ______. Or Played MLSN, used my clubs recruiting coordinator, his friend from Ohio works at ABC College of Arts.

I'd prefer only answers of people who were on actual college rosters as freshman (or parents) in the last 10 years and not just people who heard a rumor about one but I can't police that.

I'm genuinely curious about this so I kind of want to see what the thought is. I'm not trying to ragebait anyone here I promise.

Every week or so there is a post or a youtube video or a parent at a tryout saying that MLSN, ECNL, GA, ODP...whatever is a scam. I've had kids or known kids that participated in all of these things and I don't think a single one felt scammed. So my question is this: Where do these thoughts/feelings come from? It's a given that they're all relatively expensive, time consuming, may require several hours drive. I feel like all of that is known coming in so what exactly is the scam? Maybe all that isn't known coming in?

Maybe you say well they don't produce any different results than my local YMCA but when I look at every NCAA roster I can find they seem to be, for the Americans on the rosters anyway, dominated by those top leagues. In fact one recent study published and posted on here this week shows that 99% of all American girls players come from ECNL/RL or GA.

My child has no connections, I'm not a doctor, lawyer, or otherwise millionaire. He goes to a public school. He has never had a problem making these teams so I don't believe that's true although I'm sure it does happen but I would think it also happens in your local travel leagues.

I get it not being for every kid. I have 2 sons and my younger one would never want to be involved in more than 1 or 2 practices a week. He just likes to play with friends and not commit ya know...75% of his life to it. I'm fine with that, completely understandable and logical. My older one wants to climb mountains, test himself at everything, prove himself every where and I'm also fine with that. Do I hate the drive? Does the cost sting? Yes. However, I want him to chase his dream as long as he wants to and they're only your children for so long and from what I remember about big dreams they kind of dissipate as you get older, the time is when you're young. So yeah...I'll suck it up and drive.

I can't speak for every league but ECNL at least I know the cost goes to paying full time licensed coaches, league fees, tournament fees, facility maintenance and cost, club operating cost and it was about $1000 a year more than the USYS league we came from before it. Seems fairly reasonable actually.

Yes...I'm aware top clubs in Europe are free. They're free here as well they just don't cover much of the country. Again, I'd love for everything to be free but until that's an option...

So I guess my question is, does anyone really believe it's a "scam" or you just don't like it? I don't like paying for it either but I've yet to find a real alternative. Do you just believe it's a scam to charge so much?

I live in a fairly remote area and we have no MLSN / ECNL team within 2 hours of us so we have a pretty substantial drive but I've heard of worse. What's your drive like for the upcoming season?