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DeltaDog. This is for you! Your waiting has ended

ECNL over ODP any day. But I do think someone earlier had a very valid point and, in all this subsequent venom, it was probably missed.

The exposure from the ECNL showcase games has been great. But I agree with the poster that there is a real possibility and risk that the regional ECNL games will have the same attendance as an R3PL game. The only way I see it could be different is if the ECNL does a better job of letting colleges in the area know about the games.

So as the ECNL expands, I think it is taking on the risk of providing less value, real or perceived. Hopefully they recognize this and have taken steps to address it, but I have no information would lead me to believe that is or is not the case.


I don't see a CESA/CASL ECNL league game attracting more coaches than a CESA/CASL R3PLE league game. As ECNL continues it's expansion of teams and development as an organization it will became a coin toss argument as to which league offers greater exposure. If it's exposure you're looking to get from league play. College coaches will come to league games in the Fall, but only when those attendances do not conflict with their own college league schedules.

ECNL was very smart to hitch it's league games the last couple of years to existing major tournaments that already had long lists of college coaches already attending, a continuation of what they were doing as the Red Bull League. However, CESA teams could have, probably should have, been attending tournaments like CASL, Disney and PDA, etc. anyway. Perhaps it was good that ECNL required the participation at CASL and got the teams back in Raleigh, but the teams could have been enjoying the same level of exposure and competition at those events without an ECNL logo on their jerseys. After about a 6 year absence for my daughter, her u-18 team played CASL Shootout (well, ECNL league games during the tournament), and after the last game she looked around and said, "We should have been coming here all along".

My point, so far, is that as ECNL continues to expand and evolve you will end up with regional or conference games providing similar exposure and level of competition as the teams are already realizing in R3PLE. And, as most of what are called the ECNL "events" are actually existing tournaments offering the same levels of exposure and competition to those not in ECNL you're not gaining any more access than you already had. So, take your pick between organizations.

Now, ECNL vs. ODP is really a comparison of two different types of beasts, as is ECNL vs. R3PL. Unless, you're actually asking about the conflict for some players between the ECNL games and Region ODP Camp both in July (kind of a ECNL vs. Viking Cup debate). The decision the players will eventually be making will be whether they participate in leagues/programs put forth by ECNL (evolving sub-regional level play, national "events" including a national championship, and id2 player identification) or by USYSA (SCYSA state leagues/championships, R3PL sub-regional play, a national league for those that qualify, regional and national championships and ODP player identification).

But, let's take the first... 3 ECNL games in July vs. Region ODP camp. Strictly on perceived value of experience over the last 6 years (no dropping the "committment" card to muddy the comparison at this point), Region ODP camp hands down. Of course, without listing all the reasons for that decision, unlike others here I don't expect the state ODP programs to provide the player development the players should already be getting through their local clubs. Don't get me wrong, I love it when it happens but I don't expect it to the extent some here seem to.

At the heart of ODP it is a series of tryouts/identification at the state, regional and national levels that offers players, beginning at the grass roots level, the opportunity to essentially tryout for the national team. The team that plays in the Olympics. While all players don't make the state teams, fewer make the region teams and even fewer the national, I believe there are benefits including those considered "added value" at all levels that a player is capable of achieving.

ECNL also has a player identification program (or an association with such a program), and it is id2. It seems to be a good program for what it intends to do, but it is a program at the national level only and does not include opportunities for recognition of those players capable of participating in state and region level pools and teams. And, the last time I checked the oldest age group included in the id program is 16 years. 3 ECNL games or id2 vs. ODP... we'd be back in Alabama again if hadn't just aged out.

So, I believe the real comparison should be between ECNL and all the opportunities it provides vs. USYSA and all the opportunities provided there. Given that comparison I'd choose USYSA and continue to take advantage of what I see as a greater variety of opportunities at a wider variety of playing levels for both the teams and the individuals involved. Especially the opportunity to participate in ODP. Added value impact on recruiting... put a "Member Region III ODP Team" stamp of college coaches' approval on the profile your daughter sends out and see how many schools come knocking on your door with offers in some cases very nearly sight unseen. There is no state or region level identification/participation offered by ECNL through id2 that you can add to your profile.