Continuing on with our observations from the ECNL National Championhips. (Read part one)

6. This may seem contradictory following point 5 from yesterday, but the quality of officiating needs to improve. There were a handful of good crews on hand for the games and they seemed to be placed in the championship bracket as much as possible, but there was something of a shelf to fall off quality-wise when it came to the other matches (and there were approximately 80-120 per day).

Coaches still need to set a standard for how they react to poor calls (or the perception thereof), but the league will want to address this in a pointed fashion. With both USSF Academy matches and U.S. Youth Soccer Regionals going on at the same time it may be hard to find more good officials, but perhaps the league can launch some referee development work of its own and start attracting promising young officials to its event.

ECNL U17 Championship Bracket

7. Implementing a Playoff event next year is a good thing. Allowing more teams to play at a higher-level of match will enhance the development and competitive experience for more players. It also serves to put the finals on a stage all its own, which can only be a good thing in terms of the spectacle and quality.

8. College programs are getting better and better at recruiting and evaluation. I saw so many coaches working very hard, from the top programs to those you don’t normally think about in that vein. It’s clear that the climate in women’s college soccer is more upwardly mobile than it has ever been and a lot of programs, including head coaches and assistants, were really hustling at the fields to watch as many players as possible.

The days of staff coaches camping out in tents, eating, drinking and being merry instead of scouring the landscape for talent, seem to be in serious decline.

9. ECNL produced a club ranking for the 2011 season based on overall and conference performance. I don’t know if I’m ready to sign off on the formula used, but the clubs listed in the top 10 are certainly many of those you would expect. The ranking (1-10) went like this: 1. Slammers, 2. PDA, 3. Michigan Hawks, 4. Dallas Sting, 5. Mustang SC, 6. Eclipse Select, T7. Dallas Texans,  T7. Colorado Rush,  9. Crossfire Premier, 10. CASL Chelsea

10. There are some nice folks out there in soccer land. Pardon the mushy ending, but I am so grateful and encouraged by the many positive comments from coaches, players and parents alike about TopDrawerSoccer.com. Many came from people I knew way back when it was a one-man band, while others were from people I just met last week.

I’m glad you are finding so much to like, but as I told everyone who paid that compliment, we are always focusing on the many ways we know we can get better (just like a good player or coach would).  Still, an encouraging word can go a long way during a week away from the family. Thank you.

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