2025-26 MLSN Technical Standards

[Anonymous]

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps person sounds like a MLSN coach imho

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

hhhmmmmm
wonder why little Charlie is slow developing

Charlie is slow developing because they don't do anything else outside of club practice. Talk to any players and their parents on an MLSNext team and ask them what their kid does to be a starter and stay a starter. All of those kids are playing soccer almost daily - whether on their own or in small group. Summer is a great time to exponentially improve and have that improvement show up when the season starts.

Also think about the number of first team players that move to an MLSNext or ECNL team. It can be a reality check for a lot of players who are used to getting lots of playing time. Sometimes some really amazing players take longer to adjust to playing on a new team and at a higher level. Sometimes, it's best a player develop somewhere else and try again in the future.

If your player is not developing as fast as you want them to, that is completely in the control of the player and their parents. Blaming clubs is always the easier path and becomes the excuse when players don't reach their potential.

There is no place where it makes sense to have 11, 12, 13 year olds not getting playing time.
These are development years.

Why did you put them on your squad if they're not good enough for your squad?

You're stunting both mental athletic growth and on field growth

Its the clubs and coaches fault for bowing down to parents who want trophies and medals. Parents who don't know jack about soccer.

Always easier to find someone to blame for your player not developing then admitting parents are failing their kids.

Are the parents the ones who decide winning is more important than development so a ten year old doesn't get playing time?
Or is it the coach who has the weak amateur practices that doesn't do much for the kids

When you can admit shortcomings on both, then you sound reasonable

I don’t care to sound reasonable to anyone. Your player’s development is 100 percent in your control.

No clubs, teams or coaches required

Dad and backyard only

I don’t think that’s what PP meant but sure, you do you.

Clubs, teams, or coaches, as vehicles for exposure or as tools for development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pull yourself up by your bootstraps person sounds like a MLSN coach imho

Aren’t they supposed to be? I mean what are you all telling your kids? How are you all managing expectations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

hhhmmmmm
wonder why little Charlie is slow developing

Charlie is slow developing because they don't do anything else outside of club practice. Talk to any players and their parents on an MLSNext team and ask them what their kid does to be a starter and stay a starter. All of those kids are playing soccer almost daily - whether on their own or in small group. Summer is a great time to exponentially improve and have that improvement show up when the season starts.

Also think about the number of first team players that move to an MLSNext or ECNL team. It can be a reality check for a lot of players who are used to getting lots of playing time. Sometimes some really amazing players take longer to adjust to playing on a new team and at a higher level. Sometimes, it's best a player develop somewhere else and try again in the future.

If your player is not developing as fast as you want them to, that is completely in the control of the player and their parents. Blaming clubs is always the easier path and becomes the excuse when players don't reach their potential.

There is no place where it makes sense to have 11, 12, 13 year olds not getting playing time.
These are development years.

Why did you put them on your squad if they're not good enough for your squad?

You're stunting both mental athletic growth and on field growth

Its the clubs and coaches fault for bowing down to parents who want trophies and medals. Parents who don't know jack about soccer.

Always easier to find someone to blame for your player not developing then admitting parents are failing their kids.

Are the parents the ones who decide winning is more important than development so a ten year old doesn't get playing time?
Or is it the coach who has the weak amateur practices that doesn't do much for the kids

When you can admit shortcomings on both, then you sound reasonable

I don’t care to sound reasonable to anyone. Your player’s development is 100 percent in your control.

No clubs, teams or coaches required

Dad and backyard only

I don’t think that’s what PP meant but sure, you do you.

Clubs, teams, or coaches, as vehicles for exposure or as tools for development.

Team training with a supposedly expert coach is a vehicle for exposure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

hhhmmmmm
wonder why little Charlie is slow developing

Charlie is slow developing because they don't do anything else outside of club practice. Talk to any players and their parents on an MLSNext team and ask them what their kid does to be a starter and stay a starter. All of those kids are playing soccer almost daily - whether on their own or in small group. Summer is a great time to exponentially improve and have that improvement show up when the season starts.

Also think about the number of first team players that move to an MLSNext or ECNL team. It can be a reality check for a lot of players who are used to getting lots of playing time. Sometimes some really amazing players take longer to adjust to playing on a new team and at a higher level. Sometimes, it's best a player develop somewhere else and try again in the future.

If your player is not developing as fast as you want them to, that is completely in the control of the player and their parents. Blaming clubs is always the easier path and becomes the excuse when players don't reach their potential.

There is no place where it makes sense to have 11, 12, 13 year olds not getting playing time.
These are development years.

Why did you put them on your squad if they're not good enough for your squad?

You're stunting both mental athletic growth and on field growth

Its the clubs and coaches fault for bowing down to parents who want trophies and medals. Parents who don't know jack about soccer.

Always easier to find someone to blame for your player not developing then admitting parents are failing their kids.

Are the parents the ones who decide winning is more important than development so a ten year old doesn't get playing time?
Or is it the coach who has the weak amateur practices that doesn't do much for the kids

When you can admit shortcomings on both, then you sound reasonable

Not sure how this conversation diverted after I mentioned that SYC and Achilles has pool style. My child plays for neither club but we did receive an offer from Achilles which explicitly stated that no spot is guaranteed in MLS Next and you will either play in MLS Next or EDP based on your practice habits, etc. You will always have playing time but it is just not guaranteed in MLS Next. I found this strategy very attractive to me and Achilles is a close 2nd to our current club for us. From what I have seen, they are a smaller club so you are probably going to get more playing time as they seem to play their top kids up a year to fill in any gaps.

I have been told SYC pools players so that they can enter as many tournaments and play in as many leagues as possible to maximize their GotSport points and state and national rankings. They do not have a track record of development so we have never tried out for them or paid them much attention although they will probably always beat the team my child is on which means absolutely nothing to me and the development of my child until at least U16.

Nevertheless, these clubs and this message thread is about MLS Next. Games matter very little is comparison to actual training and what a child does outside of training.

The top kids this fall were playing most of the summer. They play daily. Some MLS Next level kids practice an hour daily before school, play at or after school, do homework, juggle or do wall passing and then either train at practice or do a group training.

MLS Next Homegrown Division (1) is looking for those kids as this replicates South American and European work ethics and the best shot at developing footballers who will actually break into a MLS 1st team which is the goal of the whole league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

hhhmmmmm
wonder why little Charlie is slow developing

Charlie is slow developing because they don't do anything else outside of club practice. Talk to any players and their parents on an MLSNext team and ask them what their kid does to be a starter and stay a starter. All of those kids are playing soccer almost daily - whether on their own or in small group. Summer is a great time to exponentially improve and have that improvement show up when the season starts.

Also think about the number of first team players that move to an MLSNext or ECNL team. It can be a reality check for a lot of players who are used to getting lots of playing time. Sometimes some really amazing players take longer to adjust to playing on a new team and at a higher level. Sometimes, it's best a player develop somewhere else and try again in the future.

If your player is not developing as fast as you want them to, that is completely in the control of the player and their parents. Blaming clubs is always the easier path and becomes the excuse when players don't reach their potential.

There is no place where it makes sense to have 11, 12, 13 year olds not getting playing time.
These are development years.

Why did you put them on your squad if they're not good enough for your squad?

You're stunting both mental athletic growth and on field growth

Its the clubs and coaches fault for bowing down to parents who want trophies and medals. Parents who don't know jack about soccer.

Always easier to find someone to blame for your player not developing then admitting parents are failing their kids.

Are the parents the ones who decide winning is more important than development so a ten year old doesn't get playing time?
Or is it the coach who has the weak amateur practices that doesn't do much for the kids

When you can admit shortcomings on both, then you sound reasonable

I don’t care to sound reasonable to anyone. Your player’s development is 100 percent in your control.

No clubs, teams or coaches required

Dad and backyard only

I don’t think that’s what PP meant but sure, you do you.

Clubs, teams, or coaches, as vehicles for exposure or as tools for development.

Team training with a supposedly expert coach is a vehicle for exposure?

Sure, more like development, prob.

Guys, do your research. Don’t listen to coaches or trainers that says your kid is amazing or terrible. Focus on the ones that harp on about time on the ball and the never ending grind.

And be honest about your kids motivations. Are they training on their own or at whatever trainings work with your family? Or are do they only want to train where their friends are or where they are constantly being hyped?

Do they really want to go D1 or is that because they’re constantly being told that’s what they should aspire to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

Those who are not on the game day roster for the MLSNext game are rostered for the second team game. So no one is staying home.

And taking playing time from the second team kids.

Not on our team. Try again.

[Anonymous]

So the second team roster is very small? 10 players? To accomodate all the plqy-downs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the second team roster is very small? 10 players? To accomodate all the plqy-downs?

Small enough. Those on MLSNext rosters can also play up an age group on the second team.

I honestly don’t know how sustainable all of this as well. It seemed to work ok last season but a club like Achilles only has two teams per age group and I do not think there are plans to add a third team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

Those who are not on the game day roster for the MLSNext game are rostered for the second team game. So no one is staying home.

This doesn't work out at all if the player is a "PRIMARY" player. If a primary player is not on the roster of 18, you sit at home. Only futures can play with MLS2 if not rostered on team 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

Those who are not on the game day roster for the MLSNext game are rostered for the second team game. So no one is staying home.

This doesn't work out at all if the player is a "PRIMARY" player. If a primary player is not on the roster of 18, you sit at home. Only futures can play with MLS2 if not rostered on team 1.

I guess that’s a problem for clubs that have an MLSNext II team. Not all of the MLSNext clubs have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the second team roster is very small? 10 players? To accomodate all the plqy-downs?

Small enough. Those on MLSNext rosters can also play up an age group on the second team.

I honestly don’t know how sustainable all of this as well. It seemed to work ok last season but a club like Achilles only has two teams per age group and I do not think there are plans to add a third team.

Achilles will not have a growth problem for a while although they are growing. While I have no ego and appreciate their upfront and direct approach to development because they ultimately care about the kids, most parents around here still want warm and fuzzy based on them and Achilles coaches don’t kiss parent butts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the second team roster is very small? 10 players? To accomodate all the plqy-downs?

Small enough. Those on MLSNext rosters can also play up an age group on the second team.

I honestly don’t know how sustainable all of this as well. It seemed to work ok last season but a club like Achilles only has two teams per age group and I do not think there are plans to add a third team.

Achilles will not have a growth problem for a while although they are growing. While I have no ego and appreciate their upfront and direct approach to development because they ultimately care about the kids, most parents around here still want warm and fuzzy based on them and Achilles coaches don’t kiss parent butts.

They are abusive to their players with the cursing, swearing and berating in front of teammates and strangers

If that was an acceptable or successful youth methodology, they'd be doing it at Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City etc academies

Nothing to do with kissing paying parents butts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second they do this to 12-year-olds and you guys think this is normal? I thought the standard of play for U13 was 18 roster Max. So you’re telling me that there are at least seven players that age that are not getting regular game time and have to stay home unexpectedly and did this instead of playing for an MLS next two team or lower team at another club? This is awful.

Those who are not on the game day roster for the MLSNext game are rostered for the second team game. So no one is staying home.

This doesn't work out at all if the player is a "PRIMARY" player. If a primary player is not on the roster of 18, you sit at home. Only futures can play with MLS2 if not rostered on team 1.

That is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the second team roster is very small? 10 players? To accomodate all the plqy-downs?

Small enough. Those on MLSNext rosters can also play up an age group on the second team.

I honestly don’t know how sustainable all of this as well. It seemed to work ok last season but a club like Achilles only has two teams per age group and I do not think there are plans to add a third team.

Achilles will not have a growth problem for a while although they are growing. While I have no ego and appreciate their upfront and direct approach to development because they ultimately care about the kids, most parents around here still want warm and fuzzy based on them and Achilles coaches don’t kiss parent butts.

They are abusive to their players with the cursing, swearing and berating in front of teammates and strangers

If that was an acceptable or successful youth methodology, they'd be doing it at Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City etc academies

Nothing to do with kissing paying parents butts

I’ve met many families who decided to try the club out anyway despite your rantings in this forum, and have all found it to be a great fit for their players.

I really think you drive many families to try the club out and can take pride in helping the club grow.