To go to ECNL or not to go: That is the question

I have a dilemma. I have been reading up, doing my research and even have been keeping up with the ECNL Nats in Seattle, all this seems futile. I can't decide weather to go ECNL or not. It's not that I am unhappy with the team I am at know, but I want to assure that being non-ECNL is the best thing for my DD.

Come one, come all please give your input ALL IS WELCOME AND HELPFUL!

The two questions you need to ask yourself. 1. Will she play and how much. Not worth it to travel and sit on the bench. 2. Who is the coach? Will he make your DD better. Is he next level? Yes, yes you go, no yes you don't go, yes, no tuff decision.

Depends upon the team of course, but we have girls that play 80 minutes and we have girls that play 20 minutes. I will assure you that every single one of them is materially better than before. You will have 20-22 on the roster and every minute of playing time has to be earned. It's certainly not easy, can be frustrating and can be nerve racking at times. Very few play 80 minutes. Very few. Very few make it through a season without injuries. Most will miss a game or more. The good ECNL teams will use their depth to fill in and those girls better be ready to go. Between high school and injuries, the teams have to be deeper. I think we carried 22 and could suit up 18 and I think out of 18 games, we had maybe 1-2 games where someone had to sit. Other than that, it was a struggle to find 18 healthy bodies.
2-3 hard training sessions per week not counting conditioning, scrimmages, skills. Yes. She will be better.
I see absolutely zero reason not to try out. If she makes it, he sees something. If she doesn't, you tried and can look for ways to improve. If she plays, great. If she gets short minutes then she can work hard to improve or go back to LH. And the money is ZERO different than a Premier League DI team. Maybe even less. If you are asking, I'll assume your are U14. You will go to Houston twice with a side trip to Austin, Tulsa once. You will attend at most 2 showcases. Most likely one will be in here. If you go to National, bonus.

DDdad wrote:
Depends upon the team of course, but we have girls that play 80 minutes and we have girls that play 20 minutes.   I will assure you that every single one of them is materially better than before.   You will have 20-22 on the roster and every minute of playing time has to be earned.  It's certainly not easy, can be frustrating and can be nerve racking at times.  Very few play 80 minutes.  Very few.   Very few make it through a season without injuries.  Most will miss a game or more.  The good ECNL teams will use their depth to fill in and those girls better be ready to go.  Between high school and injuries, the teams have to be deeper.  I think we carried 22 and could suit up 18 and I think out of 18 games, we had maybe 1-2 games where someone had to sit.  Other than that, it was a struggle to find 18 healthy bodies.  
2-3 hard training sessions per week not counting conditioning, scrimmages, skills.  Yes.  She will be better.  
I see absolutely zero reason not to try out.  If she makes it, he sees something.  If she doesn't, you tried and can look for ways to improve.  If she plays, great.  If she gets short minutes then she can work hard to improve or go back to LH.  And the money is ZERO different than a Premier League DI team.  Maybe even less.  If you are asking, I'll assume your are U14.  You will go to Houston twice with a side trip to Austin, Tulsa once.  You will attend at most 2 showcases.  Most likely one will be in here.  If you go to National, bonus.  

Thank you very much!! It has become a little more clear, and yes my DD is a U14. It was nice to hear from an ECNL parent, assuming you are one, seeing an outline of how going ECNL could be.

On the ECNL topic.  When do kids sign contracts for ECNL for the next season?  I still see tryouts for ECNL for different age groups.  I believe season starts around September.

andy_soccer wrote:On the ECNL topic.  When do kids sign contracts for ECNL for the next season?  I still see tryouts for ECNL for different age groups.  I believe season starts around September.

They signed today as well...

Actually, ECNL is Aug 1. Some have sent out forms and I'm sure some have signed but it's not official until the end of July. With Dual Rosters and 30 max, it does not have all the same pressure as LH or Plano. There could still be movement but other than those that qualified for Virginia, most teams are taking some time off.

Thanks legit and DDdad.