ASA and school year?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have inside scoop on whether Arlington Soccer will be moving to school year? I was hoping we would just have a decision rather than the continued debate. I’m neutral on the change, but know two board members whose kids benefit from BY and I’m curious how decisions will be made!

[Anonymous]

Arlington won't be an island in their decision. They will follow us soccer and or ecnl. Odd question.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t mean to ask an “odd” question so let me just rephrase - what are people hearing about Arlington’s plans?

[Anonymous]

Arlington won't make plans until the governing bodies do.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard 2026

[Anonymous]

The language says clubs will be given flexibility to decide BY or SY. Is Arlington aligned with the bodies that seem likely to go SY (ECNL) or BY (I have no idea which)? Very new here with a child who would be trying out this spring.

[Anonymous]

All travel soccer will move to academic year for the fall of 2026. If you want confirmation ask any travel team coach. I've asked three and they all confirmed this.

[Anonymous]

Good to know! I was looking for that type of insight (eg coaches are saying SY) since we aren’t on a team (hopefully yet, but who knows!).

[Anonymous]

I have a kid in McLean and a kid in Vienna. I asked both coaches and they said everyone is moving to academic year after the 2025-2026 season. I'm also friends with a travel coach for Arlington. He said the same. After the 2025-2026 season. I believe them over any "grapevine" information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good to know! I was looking for that type of insight (eg coaches are saying SY) since we aren’t on a team (hopefully yet, but who knows!).

There is no insight. No coach at any team has a clue about this. Even club leadership has no idea at the moment. You are way way way ahead of them.

Knowing Arlington they will do nothing until Ecnl issues instructions. They will make no statement or give a hint. I would not expect guidance from Ecnl until Feb or March of 2026. I think you will hear nothing until then.

[Anonymous]

It could be that 90% of arlington teams (rec up through RL) go SY in 2026--but their very top teams--which are affiliated with ECNL--go earlier. The determining factor will be what ECNL decides to do and they have been silent so far.

A big club like Arlington that caters to many types of players likely won't have a one size fits all approach especially if they want to stay competitive.

[Anonymous]

Arlington needs to join MLSNext, but for some reason prefers being an anchor tenant at ECNL. It makes no sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington needs to join MLSNext, but for some reason prefers being an anchor tenant at ECNL. It makes no sense to me.

They cannot do mlsnext and keep Ecnl on the girls side. That is the entire issue. I am sure they would want to do mlsnext but not at the cost of losing Ecnl girls. GA is not an equal option at the moment on the girls side.

They may have thought they could pull both off at one point but they are where they are. Things could change in the future but nothing is out there right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington needs to join MLSNext, but for some reason prefers being an anchor tenant at ECNL. It makes no sense to me.

They cannot do mlsnext and keep Ecnl on the girls side. That is the entire issue. I am sure they would want to do mlsnext but not at the cost of losing Ecnl girls. GA is not an equal option at the moment on the girls side.

They may have thought they could pull both off at one point but they are where they are. Things could change in the future but nothing is out there right now.

Got it. Thanks for the response!

[Anonymous]

How long will it take the Arlington parents to realize that playing up is not working and makes no difference?