MLS Next

[Anonymous]

For the local teams, how has it been going?

[Anonymous]

Alexandria teams are outperforming SYC, but I think DC United is the place to go if you’re considering this tier of youth play. Don’t know about Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

They are young, but all the U13 teams in this area are doing extremely well, probably better than most people expect.

[Anonymous]

As a parent of a U13 MLS kid, I am impressed with the talent level of the teams my DS is playing each weekend. That is all you can ask for.

[Anonymous]

At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

You forgot Alexandria, they are a part of MLS Next and the P2P: https://www.dcunited.com/news/dc-united-academy-announce-dmv-pathway-2-pro-program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

You forgot Alexandria, they are a part of MLS Next and the P2P: https://www.dcunited.com/news/dc-united-academy-announce-dmv-pathway-2-pro-program

Why SYC is not included? are they doing that bad???

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me what the MLS Next experience is like?

I have a U12 who says he wants to switch to a club with MLS Next next year. Trying to figure out what that means in terms of practice times at various seasons, amount of travel, costs etc . . . Kid is a GK, if that makes a difference (e.g. if there are extra GK practices).

Disclaimer: I know he could well try out and not make it. I would just rather not have him try out and end up telling him he can't play if he does make it. So, I'd like to have a sense of what it means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me what the MLS Next experience is like?

I have a U12 who says he wants to switch to a club with MLS Next next year. Trying to figure out what that means in terms of practice times at various seasons, amount of travel, costs etc . . . Kid is a GK, if that makes a difference (e.g. if there are extra GK practices).

Disclaimer: I know he could well try out and not make it. I would just rather not have him try out and end up telling him he can't play if he does make it. So, I'd like to have a sense of what it means.

MLS Next requires practice be offered 4x/week minimum. And, at that level you better be there if you want to play. You play all the MLS academies and all other MLS Next teams twice a year. Once at home, once away. The whole club, all age groups play the same opponent the same day in the same location. Club fees are 2500-2750 (DCU is free), plus uniforms and team fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

You forgot Alexandria, they are a part of MLS Next and the P2P: https://www.dcunited.com/news/dc-united-academy-announce-dmv-pathway-2-pro-program

Why SYC is not included? are they doing that bad???

I think SYC is lumped in with everyone else in the area under "DMV partner clubs" and "DMV local rec. and feeder". They are just not at the level of Alexandria and the other clubs on the line above in the P2P.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me what the MLS Next experience is like?

I have a U12 who says he wants to switch to a club with MLS Next next year. Trying to figure out what that means in terms of practice times at various seasons, amount of travel, costs etc . . . Kid is a GK, if that makes a difference (e.g. if there are extra GK practices).

Disclaimer: I know he could well try out and not make it. I would just rather not have him try out and end up telling him he can't play if he does make it. So, I'd like to have a sense of what it means.

MLS Next requires practice be offered 4x/week minimum. And, at that level you better be there if you want to play. You play all the MLS academies and all other MLS Next teams twice a year. Once at home, once away. The whole club, all age groups play the same opponent the same day in the same location. Club fees are 2500-2750 (DCU is free), plus uniforms and team fees.

How long are practices? Are they 12 months a year, or is there a break at some point?

When you say "all the other MLS Next teams", do you mean in the country? In a region? How many teams are there?

Are there also tournaments, or just the one game?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

You forgot Alexandria, they are a part of MLS Next and the P2P: https://www.dcunited.com/news/dc-united-academy-announce-dmv-pathway-2-pro-program

Why SYC is not included? are they doing that bad???

I think SYC is lumped in with everyone else in the area under "DMV partner clubs" and "DMV local rec. and feeder". They are just not at the level of Alexandria and the other clubs on the line above in the P2P.

Sort of surprised not to see Bethesda there. Is it generally agreed that they aren't on the same level with the other clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age can you try out for DC United and how competitive are tryouts? That is, how many kids show up and how many are selected?

DC United does occasionally hold open tryouts. My guess is that they will do so at some time in the Spring for 2009 birth years and above. The open tryout level is fairly mixed, but the level to make the team is competitive. DC United does get 9 or 10 of the top dozen kids in the area for each age group, although the bottom half of the roster is probably on a par with other top area teams.

Most of the kids make the team through being scouted and/or the "pathway to pro" program which is a partnership with five local clubs: Loudoun Soccer, Arlington Soccer Association, Player Progression Academy, Virginia Development Academy, and Pipeline Soccer Club. If you think your kid is on that level then you should
(a) reach out directly to DC United through the web-site
(b) talk to your DS' coach to get his opinion on your kid's ability and whether this is a realistic goal
(c) consider moving to a P2P, or MLS Next, team.

You forgot Alexandria, they are a part of MLS Next and the P2P: https://www.dcunited.com/news/dc-united-academy-announce-dmv-pathway-2-pro-program

Why SYC is not included? are they doing that bad???

The results speak for themselves. The SYC MLS Next teams are the top team for the club, but are consistently on bottom half of table (I think only one team is near Alexandria’s standing). My issue with SYC is there is no structure for development. You can basically identify who starts and gets most playing time by:
How fast they can run
How hard/far they can kick it

Even MLS Next players will struggle on the lower teams because their game IQ hasn’t been developed, much less anything near a system of play. Nothing wrong with kick/run/dribble, just make sure you’re okay with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me what the MLS Next experience is like?

I have a U12 who says he wants to switch to a club with MLS Next next year. Trying to figure out what that means in terms of practice times at various seasons, amount of travel, costs etc . . . Kid is a GK, if that makes a difference (e.g. if there are extra GK practices).

Disclaimer: I know he could well try out and not make it. I would just rather not have him try out and end up telling him he can't play if he does make it. So, I'd like to have a sense of what it means.

MLS Next requires practice be offered 4x/week minimum. And, at that level you better be there if you want to play. You play all the MLS academies and all other MLS Next teams twice a year. Once at home, once away. The whole club, all age groups play the same opponent the same day in the same location. Club fees are 2500-2750 (DCU is free), plus uniforms and team fees.

How long are practices? Are they 12 months a year, or is there a break at some point?

When you say "all the other MLS Next teams", do you mean in the country? In a region? How many teams are there?

Are there also tournaments, or just the one game?

Practices are 1.5 hours each.

You can see the schedules here to get an idea of who you would play: https://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/schedule/2021-2022/u13_mls-next-schedule
Teams around here are in the mid-Atlantic division. Scroll to the bottom or search for the team you want to join.

There are tournaments as well. MLS has some of their own, but they also do "MLS Next approved" ones like Bethesda cup and Jefferson cup.