Key qualities of a great soccer player
A few months ago, I talked to Shawn Beyer about US Soccer Talent Identification Scouts. CLICK HERE to read about what scouts do at games. 6 KEY QUALITIES OF GREAT SOCCER PLAYERS, according to US Soccer A very important part of our interview was when Shawn listed the six key qualities that US Soccer looks […]
Why DMCV Sharks Joined ECNL. One word: Community
Established in 1970, Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks remain a mainstay in the Southern California soccer world. Five years ago, Warren Barton joined DMCV Sharks. Since then, he’s been helping the Sharks continue to grow and improve. Sharks have a thriving recreational youth program, and they have teams in various competitive SoCal leagues, including ECNL. […]
ECNL & DA. Is it just about high school soccer? (Spoiler alert: NO)
Fall League Soccer is in full swing. After a summer full of playoffs and tournaments, soccer leagues across the country are now in full-swing. Competitive youth soccer players will be spending their weekends on soccer fields nation-wide. They will be battling for wins, league titles, and the improvement that comes along with highly competitive matches. […]
Living the Impossible Dream: From a Wheelchair to D1 Soccer
Last year, I told you Sarah Trent’s college soccer recruiting story. Recruiting specialists told Sarah all through high school that she needed to give up on her D1 soccer dreams. She didn’t listen. Now, she’s starting her sophomore season at New Mexico State University. Cassandra Herrman: Living her Dreams This year, I’m going to tell […]
Abby Wambach on the Importance of High School Soccer
Abby Wambach is a soccer legend. Olympic Gold Medalist. World Cup Champion. NCAA D1 Champion. And, back in the day, she got to play soccer for her high school. Today’s soccer players have a new and difficult choice to make. Like most of her soccer peers, and the “99ers” who paved the way, she played […]
Big News for San Diego Girls: Rebels SC Accepted into ECNL
On April 15th, 2019, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) announced that Rebels Soccer Club of San Diego has been accepted into the league. Beginning in the 2019-2020 season, Rebels SC girls’ teams will be competing in one of the top soccer leagues in the country. Read the ECNL announcement here. The ECNL and the […]
Girls’ Recruiting: Adidas College Cup Plays It Smart
In the world of women’s college soccer recruiting, a general belief is that a family has to have their player on a DA or ECNL team in order to be recruited for college soccer. Those two soccer systems, without a doubt, produce college soccer players. However, there are impressive numbers of elite-level players and teams […]
“ECNL has more to offer our girls.” Why Crossfire Premier Is Leaving the Girls’ DA
The US Soccer Girls Development Academy recently announced the arrival of six new clubs into the Girls’ DA program. While clubs are joining the Girls’s DA, more than a few clubs have decided to leave and have all of their top girls’ teams compete in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). One of those clubs […]
The DA debate continues: “It wasn’t the best fit.” -Slammers FC
Slammers FC was one of the most dominant girls’ clubs during the Girls Development Academy’s inaugural year. Surprisingly to many, Slammers FC then left the DA and returned to the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). Why? I recently spoke with Christen Press’s Slammers FC coach, Ziad Khoury about Christen’s years of youth soccer. Neither ECNL nor the DA […]
“Honestly, it’s the parents who want HS soccer.” Club coach describes his view of DA vs High School
I recently spent time with a high level girls soccer team who joined the girls’ DA in the inaugural 2017 season. This team is full of NCAA D1 commits, and even a few US Soccer National Team selectees. The girls began their high school years in the ECNL (Elite Clubs National League). A top-level club coach […]
Episode 17 – NASL in San Diego, ECNL v DA, and European Wrap Up
Dike and Nate touch on the Champions and Europa League highlights of the week before turning the conversation to the lull that has set in since that Monday on the Midway with FS Investors. In the current absence of MLS, the guys wonder about whether or not NASL and USL teams may look to fill […]
Special Edition: Shannon MacMillan Joins the SoccerNation Podcast
Executive Director of the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks joins Dike Anyiwo for a chat about the club’s recent acceptance into the Elite Clubs National League just before kickingoff the Megan Rapinoe Soccer Clininc. Dike and Shannon chat about the virtues of the ECNL, the Sharks college program, and the importance of putting players first. Enjoy! […]
DMCV Sharks Accepted into ECNL for 2017-18 Season
Beginning in August of 2017 the Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks will compete in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). “Becoming a member club of the ECNL is a tremendous opportunity for our girls,” said Sharks Executive Director Shannon MacMillan. “The ECNL is a proven and respected platform in terms of competition and continued investment […]
ECNL Playoffs Kick Off In Oceanside Tonight
The Elite Clubs National League post-season kicks off tonight in Oceanside with 24 teams from California vying for a national title. The play-offs will be played from June 23-28. In the top division, the ECNL Champions League qualifiers will be fighting to be crowned ECNL National Champions. The U14 and U18 ECNL National Champions will be […]
ECNL and US Club Soccer Announce Boys League
Less than two months ago a report stated that the Elite Clubs National League was readying itself for a formal announcement of a boys league. Today, that report has become a reality as Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and US Club Soccer are collaborating to create a new national competition and development platform for U-14 […]
Report: ECNL To Launch Boys League In Fall 2017
Since its foundation in 2009, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has gone uncontested as the top female youth soccer league in the United States. Their reign at the top looked like it would last indefinitely, but that all changed in February when U.S. Soccer announced the creation of the federation’s new Girls Development Academy. […]