ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

From a pure business standpoint, GA made a very good decision by partnering with MLS Next. Now, with regard to Age Change, with ECNL and RL going all in and agitating for change, isnt the best BUSINESS decision to stay with birth year and hope to poach Q1Q2 kids? I would bet that GA follows MLS Next and stays birth year. In a commoditized market, product differentiation is key and birth year vs school year is certainly differentiated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

Here's the real facts...

Colorado Rapids Academy teams will continue to play in MLS Next. They will be placing their SECOND teams in boys ECNL.

REAL Colorado.gave up on playing at the MLSN level and is going all in on the league Rapids are putting their 2nd teams in.

REAL Colorado players likely won't get considered for college anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

Here's the real facts...

Colorado Rapids Academy teams will continue to play in MLS Next. They will be placing their SECOND teams in boys ECNL.

REAL Colorado.gave up on playing at the MLSN level and is going all in on the league Rapids are putting their 2nd teams in.

REAL Colorado players likely won't get considered for college anymore.

Just stop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

Here's the real facts...

Colorado Rapids Academy teams will continue to play in MLS Next. They will be placing their SECOND teams in boys ECNL.

REAL Colorado.gave up on playing at the MLSN level and is going all in on the league Rapids are putting their 2nd teams in.

REAL Colorado players likely won't get considered for college anymore.

Why would you think this? ECNL Texas is a very good division. In Texas the only teams ranked higher than the ECNL teams are the MLS Academy team. It's MUCH better than MLS Next in this area and the preferred destination for most boys who didn't manage to make an MLS Academy team. In Dallas specifically first choice is always FC Dallas MLS Academy, but Dallas Texas ECNL, Solar ECNL, FC Dallas ECNL, boys would rather play all 3 of those places over Dallas Hornets without question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a pure business standpoint, GA made a very good decision by partnering with MLS Next. Now, with regard to Age Change, with ECNL and RL going all in and agitating for change, isnt the best BUSINESS decision to stay with birth year and hope to poach Q1Q2 kids? I would bet that GA follows MLS Next and stays birth year. In a commoditized market, product differentiation is key and birth year vs school year is certainly differentiated.

except for the fact that it will make things very difficult. Q4 kids + Sept will miss the whole U13 year and go straight from U12 to U14 and miss a key development year

They should go 8/1 to differentiate themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

Here's the real facts...

Colorado Rapids Academy teams will continue to play in MLS Next. They will be placing their SECOND teams in boys ECNL.

REAL Colorado.gave up on playing at the MLSN level and is going all in on the league Rapids are putting their 2nd teams in.

REAL Colorado players likely won't get considered for college anymore.

In the news release REAL Colorado noted how they have had 4 players go pro. Doesn't that show they can recruit/develop?

“A 10-month season, we’ve found, gives us the ability to develop players over a timeframe that allows them to play at a high level in college or go straight to the pros,” added Real Colorado CEO Jared Spires. “That development timeline, along with the quality of ECNL, was important for us. Just this year we had four kids sign pro contracts in MLS. We wanted to ensure we could keep that same programming for our club while also joining the Texas Conference, which is one of the best in the country.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://theecnl.com/news/2025/5/1/real-colorado-academy-colorado-rapids-youth-join-ecnl-texas-conference.aspx

Please discuss.....

Bottom line:

1. ECNL and MLS Next are at war with each other.

2. Colorado was a proxy battle and ECNL won this one (but does Colorado even matter except for Real Colorado on the girls' side?).

3. MLS Next added a bunch of smaller or less-successful clubs to their platform in Colorado, but very likely won't be enough for it to matter without Real Colorado and Colorado Rapids Youth not involved.

4. Colorado Rapids *Academy* and Colorado Rapids *Youth* are distinct organizations. Academy is part of the actual MLS Rapids organization and Rapids Youth just shares branding (maybe they will change their branding or be forced to?) but does not have any official connection to the MLS organization.

5. This decision by ECNL, Real Colorado, and Colorado Rapids Youth is a consolidation and likely will negatively affect all of the other clubs and the state association. These were probably the two big players in the state and they just built a moat around themselves. They may be 'rivals' on the pitch, but they seem to have viewed the smaller clubs and state associations as the greater foe here.

6. Colorado is likely a lag indicator and not a lead indicator. Places like Colorado and DC don't set the tone for youth soccer, only California and Texas really can, do, and will

7. Again, this was just a proxy war that doesn't really matter anyways. ECNL won this one, but loyalties are fickle.

You’re an idiot. ECNL put out announcement that an ECNL team stayed in ECNL

The boys teams were in MLSN the girls were ECNL.

The boys were in ECNL Mountain. You’re confusing the academy with the club.

You're lost and confusing everyone.

Here's the facts:

The boys' top teams for both Colorado Rapids Youth and Real Colorado were in MLS Next.

For Rapids Youth, yes, they switch to the Academy at U15. For Real Colorado, they stayed MLS Next through U19.

Starting in Fall '25, both Rapids YOUTH and Real Colorado are switching to ECNL completely and their top teams that previously competed in MLS Next are competing in ECNL Texas and their second teams will be competing ECNL Mountain.

Here's the real facts...

Colorado Rapids Academy teams will continue to play in MLS Next. They will be placing their SECOND teams in boys ECNL.

REAL Colorado.gave up on playing at the MLSN level and is going all in on the league Rapids are putting their 2nd teams in.

REAL Colorado players likely won't get considered for college anymore.

So confident, yet so uninformed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spend a lot of time with the NL team above and below and know the parents and the birthdays and what’s likely to happen.

RL players at our club aren’t likely in most cases to make the NL team the year below. Probably some clubs in CA and Texas but really that means NL level is even stronger so probably still hard.

RAE doesn’t just flip And q1 NL players will be dropped from current rosters 😂 thats actually hilarious. Some NL teams will actually need to keep q4 players up bc they can’t pull from the RL team bc the level of play is not there, regardless of birthday.

Rae is real and the youngest ages where being larger and having more developed motor skills is an advantage when picking the team for the first time …the September and q4s will dominate the roster.

You are delusional if you think all the sudden RL players are going to push NL players off rosters. Most Pre NL teams are entering age above brackets and dominate older second teams. The real winners are Q4 NL players!! It will generally be a win win decision for them.

We are in GA and that is my assessment as well. The players on the 1st team, even the age below, are stronger than all the GA2 players the year above. Switching to SY, probably will not have players move from the 2nd team to the 1st team in most cases.

[Anonymous]

This was the original post on 5/28/24. We haven't learned much. Can we get to 1000 pages before the 1 year anniversary?


August 1 - July 31.

Anyone have an inside scoop on this? Is it a done deal for 2026?

The latest ECNL podcast seems pretty definitive without declaring it to be final.

[Anonymous]

At this point, absolutely nothing has been proposed for 25/26 by anyone except the one thing that said they'd start in January 26.

Still, I'm sure we can get to 1000 by bickering more.

I'll lead the way by saying every team has the best kids, the kids in the middle, and the bubble kids. It is delusional to think that with the SY change, that bubble NL kids can't be pushed out by top RL kids. On any given day the top RL kid is likely interchangeable with the bottom NL kid in their own age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At this point, absolutely nothing has been proposed for 25/26 by anyone except the one thing that said they'd start in January 26.

Still, I'm sure we can get to 1000 by bickering more.

I'll lead the way by saying every team has the best kids, the kids in the middle, and the bubble kids. It is delusional to think that with the SY change, that bubble NL kids can't be pushed out by top RL kids. On any given day the top RL kid is likely interchangeable with the bottom NL kid in their own age group.

100% This is probably more 'true' on the boys side though compared to the girls side.

RE: the posts where people are saying the 2nd team can't compete with the 1st team a year down: y'all must not be at very competitive clubs. I'd look for a stronger development environment.

[Anonymous]

Op here checking in and supporting the push to 1,000!

My August player is happy to be able to eventually play with all her school grade friends.

Forget 1,000 ….. Onwards to 1,500!! Come on soccer parents- we’ve got this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here checking in and supporting the push to 1,000!

My August player is happy to be able to eventually play with all her school grade friends.

Forget 1,000 ….. Onwards to 1,500!! Come on soccer parents- we’ve got this!

Wait, where you live with an Aug B-day will allow her to play SY? How does that work? That doesn't seem ironed out -- yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here checking in and supporting the push to 1,000!

My August player is happy to be able to eventually play with all her school grade friends.

Forget 1,000 ….. Onwards to 1,500!! Come on soccer parents- we’ve got this!

Wait, where you live with an Aug B-day will allow her to play SY? How does that work? That doesn't seem ironed out -- yet.

New England. Our school cut off is typically Sept 1. So if they stay with 9/1, she’ll be the youngest, as she is in school.