Scouts at MLSNext games

[Anonymous]

Friends of ours whose DS plays on an MLSNext team says that DC United scouts are at all the local MLSNext games.

Is that really true? Or is that just something thrown around to make MLSNext teams more attractive to players?

Do they do the same at local ECNL games? Or local tournaments?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's true. Not all games, but most MLS Next home games (ASA, SYC, Bethesda...). They are also Pathway 2 Pro partners with some ECNL clubs so I assume they go to their home games as well. Last I saw, these were the ECNL partners. Not sure if they dropped/added more clubs.

VDA, PPA, MD United, Arlington, Pipeline and Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

[Anonymous]

But how would you know this is true? Are the scouts introduced to the clubs and team? Do the coaches know them and can verify that they are there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

Anyone know whether DCU vigilantly enforces their regional rights? If a player wants to play for another academy, would DCU give them a hard time? How would they even know? Are MLS Academies required to report it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But how would you know this is true? Are the scouts introduced to the clubs and team? Do the coaches know them and can verify that they are there?

Because you can see them sitting there on the sidelines away from the parents, in their DCU gear with a notepad lol.

No they aren't introduced to the team, but coaches probably know they are there. I have no idea if they tell the club or coach ahead of time if they will be present.

[Anonymous]

They go to a lot of MLS Next and ECNL games. Lots. Exactly as one poster said...they sit off to the side in their DCU gear and notepad. And yes, they enforce territorial rights.

[Anonymous]

The etiquette is to not approach them. If they like a kid, they know who to get in touch to get parent's contact information.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda MLS Next noticeable, other next forget about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda MLS Next noticeable, other next forget about them.

You watch all the local MLSNext games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

Anyone know whether DCU vigilantly enforces their regional rights? If a player wants to play for another academy, would DCU give them a hard time? How would they even know? Are MLS Academies required to report it?

They can only enforce if the player is on their protected list. I believe 54 players are on that protected list... 45 who play on the team and 9 who aren't on the team but are in their home territory. If a player isn't on that list, they can play for any other academy. But I do believe the outside academy does reach out to the players home academy as a courtesy if they want to sign the player.

Google MLS Academy homegrown rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

Anyone know whether DCU vigilantly enforces their regional rights? If a player wants to play for another academy, would DCU give them a hard time? How would they even know? Are MLS Academies required to report it?

They can only enforce if the player is on their protected list. I believe 54 players are on that protected list... 45 who play on the team and 9 who aren't on the team but are in their home territory. If a player isn't on that list, they can play for any other academy. But I do believe the outside academy does reach out to the players home academy as a courtesy if they want to sign the player.

Google MLS Academy homegrown rules.

How does a player find out if they are on that protected list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

Anyone know whether DCU vigilantly enforces their regional rights? If a player wants to play for another academy, would DCU give them a hard time? How would they even know? Are MLS Academies required to report it?

They can only enforce if the player is on their protected list. I believe 54 players are on that protected list... 45 who play on the team and 9 who aren't on the team but are in their home territory. If a player isn't on that list, they can play for any other academy. But I do believe the outside academy does reach out to the players home academy as a courtesy if they want to sign the player.

Google MLS Academy homegrown rules.

How does a player find out if they are on that protected list?

That I do not know. I assume it would be a player that has had trials with the academy and maybe been told directly by them or through their club coach? Players that the academy is keeping tabs on. But you know what they say about assuming things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCU will always be scouting top level kids within 75? mile radius from it's base.

Anyone know whether DCU vigilantly enforces their regional rights? If a player wants to play for another academy, would DCU give them a hard time? How would they even know? Are MLS Academies required to report it?

They can only enforce if the player is on their protected list. I believe 54 players are on that protected list... 45 who play on the team and 9 who aren't on the team but are in their home territory. If a player isn't on that list, they can play for any other academy. But I do believe the outside academy does reach out to the players home academy as a courtesy if they want to sign the player.

Google MLS Academy homegrown rules.

How does a player find out if they are on that protected list?

I think that question has been asked in previous threads. No one seems to know.

[Anonymous]

If you are on it, you’ll know.