Can a boy go from ECNL to D1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A player from ECNL can definitely go D1. So can a player who doesn’t play MLS Next or ECNL. It’s about the talent. Yet, it is almost impossible for anybody even in the top leagues to go D1 in the current environment so parents need a reality check. Look at the D1 rosters of men’s teams and they are full of international players and transfers. The fact is coaches really don’t care what league you played in if you have the talent. Instead, it’s all about marketing yourself. If you don’t play for a league with a lot of exposure to college coaches, you need to work extra hard to get the college coaches attention. But it can be done! Join the educating parents of HS athletes group on FB.

No it is NOT impossible to play D1 if you play ECNL or MLS Next. If you do what the above poster said, you are 50% to play D1 and almost a a shoe in to play D2 or D3. But you are right that transfer portal and internationals are making it harder and they most definitely get the available scholarship money.

The 50% is based on old data. The last few years had already become increasingly difficult. For class of 2026, it’s been painfully hard. DS’s friends are finding options far more limited than they expected. Again look at the rosters and focus on freshmen. How many freshman do you see who are not international players at D1s? And how many of those will actually see the field if they get so lucky as to be rostered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

College coaches do not care if your team wins. They care how you perform as a player. Yes, many academy players have pro ambitions but most will not see those realized so college is a good plan. Nothing wrong with going overseas to play in a low division of pro (my son would jump at that chance if offered) if that is that is what a player dreams of, but parents really overestimate their kids odds.

[Anonymous]

My son is a rising college soph. He has several kids that he played with over the years that played for our local ECNL club that are now playing D1 soccer - it varies from ACC schools to Sun Belt schools, but they are playing meaningful minutes.

Now, what we are seeing though too is a lot of the top level ECNL players are moving to MLS academies at the U14/U15 age - we are in an area not covered by any "homegrown" rules, so we are seeing kids go anywhere from Union, to DCU, to Charlotte, Columbus, etc.

But, the D1 kids were all top players on their club team - not only did they have physical size and speed, they were also the most technically proficient as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

College coaches do not care if your team wins. They care how you perform as a player. Yes, many academy players have pro ambitions but most will not see those realized so college is a good plan. Nothing wrong with going overseas to play in a low division of pro (my son would jump at that chance if offered) if that is that is what a player dreams of, but parents really overestimate their kids odds.

I agree. But if a team doesn’t get past the first round of a tournament, the players will get less visibility. Of course, players who don’t perform well or don’t get much playing time even on the best teams have little (or no) advantages. Generally speaking, players in better teams get more eyes on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

College coaches do not care if your team wins. They care how you perform as a player. Yes, many academy players have pro ambitions but most will not see those realized so college is a good plan. Nothing wrong with going overseas to play in a low division of pro (my son would jump at that chance if offered) if that is that is what a player dreams of, but parents really overestimate their kids odds.

I agree. But if a team doesn’t get past the first round of a tournament, the players will get less visibility. Of course, players who don’t perform well or don’t get much playing time even on the best teams have little (or no) advantages. Generally speaking, players in better teams get more eyes on them.

You should already be in contact with the coaches of Colleges you're interested in

They aren't just watching games with a blank clipboard hoping to find a diamond in the rough

If your player is not exceptional on the better teams, he's not getting eyes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

Actually MLS Academies are considered the top tier in boys soccer (domestically). MLSN is second tier. Probably higher than ECNL in the second tier. But same second tier, not the highest tier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

Actually MLS Academies are considered the top tier in boys soccer (domestically). MLSN is second tier. Probably higher than ECNL in the second tier. But same second tier, not the highest tier.

There goes the ECNL defender.

Please stop with this nonsense.

NO LEAGUE MAKES YOU. PERIOD. Yes, there are boys in ECNL just as good and coveted by MLS Next squads but you are sadly mistaken if you think the levels are close in the DMV. In parts of TX, the reverse is true as ECNL still dominates some parts there and other parts of the country.

Most of us are pretty well off so our kids have choices. ECNL is mostly the best of the well-off while MLS Next, via academies playing, encompasses a brought range of the financial landscape and has the best overall talent. When they start a separate league for MLS academies, ECNL can come have an argument. With that said, if I were in NOVA, I would easily choose Arlington over SYC, despite SYC being in MLS Next. The goal of being in Arlington would be to get picked up by ANY academy other than DCU and then play in MLS Next.

[Anonymous]

What's the advantages of playing d1 over d2?
What's the advantages of playing d2 over d3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you not read?
Yes prior to 2025 this was very possible

If you are planning on this for admission after 2026 no one is going divsion 1 because project 2025 says so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

RU's graduating class is sending boys to UVA, WVU and Georgetown. Of course ECNL kids go D1. Probably no difference, maybe edge to ECNL for college.

[Anonymous]

Ok- this is a silly post. Many ECNL boys go D1. Locally just look at the Arlington recently graduated class- many D1s in there alongside NVA grads going D1. Richmond and VA Beach - D1 commits and Mid Atlantic isn’t even the strongest ECNL region. If you look at schools on West or Texas a ton of ECNL players fill those rosters. Nearly a quarter of ECNL players go D1. College is the focus for ECNL so they have a big network. What is impacting that and will continue to impact is international and transfer portal. Has nothing to do with ECNL itself. With the pressure on internationals student visas right now though it might reverse course for the class of 2027 -2029.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

Actually MLS Academies are considered the top tier in boys soccer (domestically). MLSN is second tier. Probably higher than ECNL in the second tier. But same second tier, not the highest tier.

There goes the ECNL defender.

Please stop with this nonsense.

NO LEAGUE MAKES YOU. PERIOD. Yes, there are boys in ECNL just as good and coveted by MLS Next squads but you are sadly mistaken if you think the levels are close in the DMV. In parts of TX, the reverse is true as ECNL still dominates some parts there and other parts of the country.

Most of us are pretty well off so our kids have choices. ECNL is mostly the best of the well-off while MLS Next, via academies playing, encompasses a brought range of the financial landscape and has the best overall talent. When they start a separate league for MLS academies, ECNL can come have an argument. With that said, if I were in NOVA, I would easily choose Arlington over SYC, despite SYC being in MLS Next. The goal of being in Arlington would be to get picked up by ANY academy other than DCU and then play in MLS Next.

Argues forcefully that MLSNext is the best, period.
Says he would choose an ECNL team over any MLSNext team in the area.
Go figure.

[Anonymous]

The better question: Can a boy from USYS go to D1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trying to figure out how much choosing ECNL over MLSN impacts college outcomes.

Also which MD or DC ECNL teams are the best?

MLSN is considered the highest tier for boys soccer. Period. This does not automatically equate every MLSN team is better than every ECNL team nor does it mean every MLSN player is better than every ECNL player.

Take the above into account, and MLSN players will have a better chance of making D1. But there are so many other factors. How good is the team? Does the team get knocked off the first round during tournaments and showcases? Is the specific player actually performing well? One could easily make the argument that some standout kid in the top ECNL team will have a better chance than a benchwarmer kid in the lowest ranking MLSN team.

Also, consider that true standout MLSN players, at least most of them, are looking to go pro immediately upon age of eligibility. College might not be the top priority for those players.

Actually MLS Academies are considered the top tier in boys soccer (domestically). MLSN is second tier. Probably higher than ECNL in the second tier. But same second tier, not the highest tier.

There goes the ECNL defender.

Please stop with this nonsense.

NO LEAGUE MAKES YOU. PERIOD. Yes, there are boys in ECNL just as good and coveted by MLS Next squads but you are sadly mistaken if you think the levels are close in the DMV. In parts of TX, the reverse is true as ECNL still dominates some parts there and other parts of the country.

Most of us are pretty well off so our kids have choices. ECNL is mostly the best of the well-off while MLS Next, via academies playing, encompasses a brought range of the financial landscape and has the best overall talent. When they start a separate league for MLS academies, ECNL can come have an argument. With that said, if I were in NOVA, I would easily choose Arlington over SYC, despite SYC being in MLS Next. The goal of being in Arlington would be to get picked up by ANY academy other than DCU and then play in MLS Next.

MLSN p2p has strong teams. I just don’t understand the need to pretend they are at the same level as MLS Academies just because they play each other. Undermines credibility.