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    College Recruiting ECNL/NPL or....

    Do D1 colleges EVER look for that diamond in the rough...that player who may not be on an ECNL or NPL level team either due to finances or academics?

    It seems to me that there has to be a player or two out there in NE who is as good as or better than some of her ECNL/NPL counterparts who is not getting even a remote glance because of the team she is on.

    When two equal players are side by side, one ECNL with lower academics and one normal NEP or other local league with outstanding academics, it seems as if the ECNL player is always the one chosen. Even the bench ECNL player gets more of a look than someone else, despite superior athletic performance, leadership and skill of the lower league player. Why is that?

    Discuss...

    #2
    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
    Do D1 colleges EVER look for that diamond in the rough...that player who may not be on an ECNL or NPL level team either due to finances or academics?

    It seems to me that there has to be a player or two out there in NE who is as good as or better than some of her ECNL/NPL counterparts who is not getting even a remote glance because of the team she is on.

    When two equal players are side by side, one ECNL with lower academics and one normal NEP or other local league with outstanding academics, it seems as if the ECNL player is always the one chosen. Even the bench ECNL player gets more of a look than someone else, despite superior athletic performance, leadership and skill of the lower league player. Why is that?

    Discuss...
    Nice Strawman.

    Simple answer in this - "Even the bench ECNL player gets more of a look than someone else, despite superior athletic performance, leadership and skill of the lower league player." Colleges are looking at who you are competing against and whether or not you are battle tested and therefore a presumption exists for the ECNL bench player that they compete against better talent and would be easier to project at the next level.

    Comment


      #3
      Wait for the D3 comments...in 5 4 3 2 1

      Comment


        #4
        I don't believe I am more or less qualified than any other poster on this site. Here are my opinions:
        * Roster spots, Admissions tips, and scholarship $ are scarce commodities
        * Every coach needs to maximize efficiency and minimize risk of these commodities
        * Above is accomplished by using one of the many "Filters" (ODP, R1, ECNL, NPL, Foreign National Team) that act as a proxy for quality
        * No coach has time or money to troll fields looking for undiscovered Diamonds
        * You can pay to have the coach discover you (go to their Camps, etc.)
        * Coach doesn't care which proxy (sorry ECNL), only that they have assurance player can perform at their level. Walk-ons Welcome.
        * Performance in lower level leagues (including HS) does not provide that assurance
        * Even if you get discovered on your own, coach may need more assurance, and ask that you play higher level

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          Do D1 colleges EVER look for that diamond in the rough...that player who may not be on an ECNL or NPL level team either due to finances or academics?

          It seems to me that there has to be a player or two out there in NE who is as good as or better than some of her ECNL/NPL counterparts who is not getting even a remote glance because of the team she is on.

          When two equal players are side by side, one ECNL with lower academics and one normal NEP or other local league with outstanding academics, it seems as if the ECNL player is always the one chosen. Even the bench ECNL player gets more of a look than someone else, despite superior athletic performance, leadership and skill of the lower league player. Why is that?

          Discuss...
          If such a player exists, the only way they would end up on a college roster is at D3. And even then, they would have to self-recruit the self to that school.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            I don't believe I am more or less qualified than any other poster on this site. Here are my opinions:
            * Roster spots, Admissions tips, and scholarship $ are scarce commodities
            * Every coach needs to maximize efficiency and minimize risk of these commodities
            * Above is accomplished by using one of the many "Filters" (ODP, R1, ECNL, NPL, Foreign National Team) that act as a proxy for quality
            * No coach has time or money to troll fields looking for undiscovered Diamonds
            * You can pay to have the coach discover you (go to their Camps, etc.)
            * Coach doesn't care which proxy (sorry ECNL), only that they have assurance player can perform at their level. Walk-ons Welcome.
            * Performance in lower level leagues (including HS) does not provide that assurance
            * Even if you get discovered on your own, coach may need more assurance, and ask that you play higher level
            and there you have it, the logic becomes shoot for the highest possible filter regardless of the desired outcome. Sort of like using a stick of dynamite to open a door. Leave nothing to chance.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              If such a player exists, the only way they would end up on a college roster is at D3. And even then, they would have to self-recruit the self to that school.
              and there you have it

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                and there you have it, the logic becomes shoot for the highest possible filter regardless of the desired outcome. Sort of like using a stick of dynamite to open a door. Leave nothing to chance.
                College rosters are usually in high 20's. High PT rotations range probably from 15-18 depending on the program. Therefore, you can afford to miss. But you want to stack the decks so to speak by using the best available filter possible. There is a reason why D1 aren't combing the sidelines of HS games.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  If such a player exists, the only way they would end up on a college roster is at D3. And even then, they would have to self-recruit the self to that school.
                  Here is where you are wrong. Don't care how high level the player is, no college coach actually comes to the player these days, the player has to go out and find them and self market. Granted the more heralded the player is the easier and more seamless that process is but the idea that coaches do a whole lot of fishing for players is a myth. College recruiting is all about strategic targeting and fit. The only ones who want you to believe that it is about mass exposure are the ones who make money sending teams to showcases. Think of it this way, if there were a little Messi out there who never played a lick of club soccer but still had all of the skill and flair of Messi, they would have lots of opportunities because their talent would be obvious to anyone who watched them play. The issue then is just getting the coaches who that little Messi wants to play for to come watch them play. That's more a logistical problem than anything. The problem around here is most parents over optimistically think their kids are budding Messis and think college coaches will just fall all over them so they will have their pick of the litter. That doesn't actually happen because their kids aren't actually good enough to play at the college they are showcasing for, that's why there is no interest, they all shoot way to high and miss their market completely. If they targeted their kids ability realistically they would be surprised at how easily recruiting comes together and it doesn't matter if you are a top level D1 or D3 prospect. It is all about finding the right fit.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    As an Asst. Coach at a New England program, I will tell you that I have seen many talented players who were as good or better (and required less scholarship $$) be passed up for their ECNL/NPL counterparts. Speed of play is always a concern, as is travel experience. Thus the filter. It's a shame, and it's not always cost effective for the program. If a lower league player out performs an ECNL/NPL player at an ID clinic or a tournament (should they happen to be in a mixed bracket) - the benefit of the doubt typically goes to the ECNL/NPL player. It's rare to have a D1 pick a lower level candidate in the same club and even more rare that we'll pick a player from a small regional club even if that player is the better overall candidate from an academic and technical side.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      and there you have it
                      Only a matter of time - and this time the response was quick. Usually he waits before pouncing

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Sure there are diamonds in the rough. But just like excavating diamonds there's hard work involved to unearth it. The prior comments anour being on target are also spot on. Even if a lower level player makes a high D1 roster full of higher level players chances are he/she won't get much PT and will have a lot to prove to earn it.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          As an Asst. Coach at a New England program, I will tell you that I have seen many talented players who were as good or better (and required less scholarship $$) be passed up for their ECNL/NPL counterparts. Speed of play is always a concern, as is travel experience. Thus the filter. It's a shame, and it's not always cost effective for the program. If a lower league player out performs an ECNL/NPL player at an ID clinic or a tournament (should they happen to be in a mixed bracket) - the benefit of the doubt typically goes to the ECNL/NPL player. It's rare to have a D1 pick a lower level candidate in the same club and even more rare that we'll pick a player from a small regional club even if that player is the better overall candidate from an academic and technical side.
                          Speed of play is a function of talent and the amount of soccer played. If a player gets passed up its because they haven't worked hard enough and aren't really good enough. It has nothing to do with the league they play in. My daughter's NPL team has been beating ECNL team's butts for years and the top players on the roster have had no problem getting recruited. No one is claiming that they can't play fast enough. There are also kids on the same roster though who aren't doing the work and can't play as fast. Now they are out on the same fields, often at the same time as the top players, but most of them are having problems with recruiting. Their problems are not because of the speed of play, its because of their lack of work.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Sure there are diamonds in the rough. But just like excavating diamonds there's hard work involved to unearth it. The prior comments anour being on target are also spot on. Even if a lower level player makes a high D1 roster full of higher level players chances are he/she won't get much PT and will have a lot to prove to earn it.
                            Diamonds in the rough are really good athletes who just haven't played enough soccer. They most certain are not poor athletes or dispassionate players who have played a ton of soccer.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              Speed of play is a function of talent and the amount of soccer played. If a player gets passed up its because they haven't worked hard enough and aren't really good enough. It has nothing to do with the league they play in. My daughter's NPL team has been beating ECNL team's butts for years and the top players on the roster have had no problem getting recruited. No one is claiming that they can't play fast enough. There are also kids on the same roster though who aren't doing the work and can't play as fast. Now they are out on the same fields, often at the same time as the top players, but most of them are having problems with recruiting. Their problems are not because of the speed of play, its because of their lack of work.
                              or possible lack of skill - work can only get some players so far

                              Comment

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