What are the top leagues for boys?
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SoccerQs
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MLSNext?
ECNL? Where does EDP fit in? Are there others? |
SoccerCzar
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| This is how I see it. The top Clubs are the MLS Academies DC United, Philly Union, Columbus, etc. Under them are the MLS Next teams. This is arguably the best league because these games are showcases are the the most scouted for college and obviously pro. Right under them is ECNL. Why? because these showcases are highly scouted but not as much as MLS Next. As to the level of play...I think it it's pretty close. Not all the best players go to MLS Next and one of the biggest reasons is that you are not allowed to play HS if you play for an MLS Next or MLS academy team. ECNL allows kids to play HS and even does well to allow you miss training to attend HS, etc. The next level is EDP D1 and that's because I don't feel they are scouted as much but make no mistake about it. Many EDP D1 teams can and do beat ECNL teams. Jeff Cup for U15s and older was just this weekend. You can look through and see EDP teams beating ECNL teams. ECNL teams beating MLS Next teams and EDP teams beating MLS Next teams, etc etc. Then after EDP D1, you have EDP D2, ECNL-R, CCL (which may be merging with ECNL-R maybe?) and NCSL and that's just hit or miss by team...but if you look at any top tournament, they respect MLS Next, ECNL, and EDP D1 teams the most. It's difficult to get into the top few divisions playing in any other league. I would bet that there are a few NCSL D1 champion teams that didn't even get accepted to Jeff Cup. But if so, I'm sure it was only the Fall Champ. But just take a look at Jeff Cup and see who was placed in which divisions and that will give you a very good sense of how the leagues are viewed. |
Cruzado
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Interesting that ECNL allows boys to play for their high school while MLS Next does not. I have one younger kid who is likely at the level to play ECNL/MLS Next and I have been wondering which one would be better for him.
If ECNL will allow him to also enjoy the experience of playing for his high school team, we'll likely go with that league. While he's talented at soccer and will enjoy playing at a high level, I wouldn't want him to miss out on the experience of forming those close bonds of friendship and representing his school alongside his classmates. |
DCUdad
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This is basically correct, although there are significant variations within those levels, and some overlap. Bethesda and Armour are generally better MLSNext clubs than the other DMV options at this point. Arlington is a better ECNL club than many others, etc; and Arlington might be better than some of the MLSNext clubs nearby. You can look at which clubs are sending players along to MLS academies like DC United, and which are sending players on to D1 schools to tease this difference out. In general, "better competition" is the gravity that attracts better players and better coaches, which creates a virtuous cycle over time. So expect the gap between MLSNext and ECNL to grow, not shrink, as time goes on. |
SoccerQs
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SoccerQs
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SoccerCzar
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SoccerQs
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| So above when the poster says that EDP D1 is below ECNL, do they mean Premier I or all the Premier teams? |
SoccerSkeptic
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| When people say EDP Div 1, what are they talking about? U13 and above starts at D3 for south Atlantic premier. Are people talking about EDP soccer in NJ? EDP doesn’t seem any better than ncsl in the dc area. What am I missing? |
SoccerCzar
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Basically this...
https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/4877 |
SoccerSkeptic
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Thanks! Not sure why I can’t find those divisions on the EDP website. |
SoccerCzar
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I couldn't find them either. Someone had to send them to me at the start of the season. EDP website is notoriously bad. |
mdsoccerdad
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now now now- its not the websites fault you didnt know what you were looking for. Its clearly right there on the front page- in the first HUGE box that says "US YOUTH SOCCER CONFERENCES MANAGED BY EDP" and then clearly on the drop down menu as well. |
SoccerSkeptic
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Seems like its the website's fault to me. Why wouldn't it be under EDP League Schedules? Who would think the top divisions of EDP would be under a totally different section? |
mdsoccerdad
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Because technically they are not an EDP league persay- they fall under the USYS name and the national leagues program- its not the EDP league so why would it be in that tab? There are 13 national leagues conferences across the US- only 4 four of them are managed by EDP, and thats this direct region. look, its the biggest box on the first page, top left. not hard to miss. its fine that many just arent up to speed on the structure of it, but to complain about the site is dumb. teams that are part of these conferences dont say "we play for EDP" (though I guess many do)...... they should say they play for USYS, because the other conferences across the country that theyll end up playing arent EDP, they are USYS as well. (and would have no clue what EDP is) |