At what age should you get your child into an MLS Next Team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The differences above depend on whether you have a soccer player or an athlete.

If you have a soccer player, move them ASAP. If you have an athlete, let them build more soccer skills by getting lots of touches and having more fun at the local club, and they can move to MLSN at U13 or U14.

For the best clubs, when they transition to 11v11 at U13, they typically have a core group of soccer players that they are looking to build around. These are players who have played together for years and whose parents have spent thousands of dollars on outside training to make their skills look good.

But these players are mostly midfielders who play every position.

By U13, the coaches are looking for a handful of difference-makers to fill out the 11v11 squad. Clubs will have more pressure to get results from their top teams at this stage. Coaches will be impressed by the super-athletic types with speed and strength who can slot into defender, striker or winger roles. If they can find these players are on their club's second or third teams, or among players who move from out of town, that is the best. Next choice is small clubs. Last choice is other competing clubs in the area.

[Anonymous]

You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

[Anonymous]

I’ve noticed a lot of kids who went to academy’s at u13 or u14 drop out when they are 15/16. Not sure why. Could be that DC United sucks, that they don’t want to pay, or they aren’t good enough, or they want something else.

I’d suggest that not going to an academy until you are 15/16 May result in a different outcome. At the younger ages I’ve noticed DC United has an obsession with physical outliers (bigger stronger faster) and then they cherry pick the very few players who are much more advanced than their peers. From my perspective the chance of moving forward out of these academies is less than 1%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed a lot of kids who went to academy’s at u13 or u14 drop out when they are 15/16. Not sure why. Could be that DC United sucks, that they don’t want to pay, or they aren’t good enough, or they want something else.

I’d suggest that not going to an academy until you are 15/16 May result in a different outcome. At the younger ages I’ve noticed DC United has an obsession with physical outliers (bigger stronger faster) and then they cherry pick the very few players who are much more advanced than their peers. From my perspective the chance of moving forward out of these academies is less than 1%.

LOL
Anyone suggesting waiting until after puberty sets in to enter an academy must have access to a hell of an impressive U8 to U14 coaching, training and competition environment in grassroots

[Anonymous]

Tell me, why is DC United currently recruiting 15 & 16 year old boys from clubs and teams that aren’t academies? Maybe you are overvaluing the grassroots thingy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me, why is DC United currently recruiting 15 & 16 year old boys from clubs and teams that aren’t academies? Maybe you are overvaluing the grassroots thingy.

Even Barcelona brings in kids at 15 and 16 and 17 and 18

That doesn't mean those kids parents made decisions to play schoolyard ball till then

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

Thank you! It seems people want to ignore those of us here who did it and would like to chase the fears of mistakes of those who have not done it and the false club and badge hype. At 7 years old, you kid should be on the ball 7 hours a week. 8 years old = 8 hours a week, etc. That is the only way to control your fate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

With training at the club 4 days a week and 2 games on the weekend, when are these MLS Next putting in development of significance outside the club?
Other than watching games on TV for IQ development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

With training at the club 4 days a week and 2 games on the weekend, when are these MLS Next putting in development of significance outside the club?
Other than watching games on TV for IQ development

Also curious about this. When and where are these kids doing the extra development time outside of club activity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The differences above depend on whether you have a soccer player or an athlete.

If you have a soccer player, move them ASAP. If you have an athlete, let them build more soccer skills by getting lots of touches and having more fun at the local club, and they can move to MLSN at U13 or U14.

For the best clubs, when they transition to 11v11 at U13, they typically have a core group of soccer players that they are looking to build around. These are players who have played together for years and whose parents have spent thousands of dollars on outside training to make their skills look good.

But these players are mostly midfielders who play every position.

By U13, the coaches are looking for a handful of difference-makers to fill out the 11v11 squad. Clubs will have more pressure to get results from their top teams at this stage. Coaches will be impressed by the super-athletic types with speed and strength who can slot into defender, striker or winger roles. If they can find these players are on their club's second or third teams, or among players who move from out of town, that is the best. Next choice is small clubs. Last choice is other competing clubs in the area.

my son is a soccer player...he is tall for his age so he doesn't have the speed or coordination yet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

ok so 2 of them remained at U12 from U10....did the rest drop out of the sport? Or move onto other MLSN or ECNL clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking the wrong question because you’re assuming mlsnext clubs equal development. That’s not necessarily true.

If your kid is playing up and is the best one on the team, it’s time to move on. Great to play against bigger, stronger, faster but it sounds like you are missing development with speed of play and decision making.

We’ve had the opposite experience as a previous poster. There is a ton of movement in the middle school period. If your kid is good enough, a club will take them at anytime. You can (and should) do outside training and individual work on your own regardless of the club you play for.

Higher level teams are mostly selected prior to tryouts unless a complete stud shows up out of the blue. That’s because clubs have ID sessions over the winter and will ask outside players to attend practice during the spring before starting to send out or make verbal offers.

Ignore the badge of the club and pick a club based on good development and fit with the team. Look at the new age cutoffs, pay attention when mlsnext announces their decision, and see how it impacts your kid. Go to ID sessions of multiple clubs, practice with them, and make a decision from there.

Most importantly, have your kid work with the ball on their own at home to the extent that they want to. They have to drive the bus, not you. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to guide you, all you need is a ball and a wall. No other decision you make for them at age 9 is going to make or break their soccer career.

Sorry, age 7… are we really having a discussion as to if you need an mlsnext team at age 7/8? The badge of the club shouldn’t be any part of the decision making process at this age.

None of the kids on my sons MLSN1 U16 team were with the club at U10. Two were with the club at U12. At all the MLSN1 teams around us that I am familiar with, 90+% of the roster were not with the club at U10. Not sure what people are talking about in this thread, but there is not a 'bonus' to being loyal to a club and/or joining early. In fact, they often see the kids who have been around for a while as 'old news' and are willing to bump them down or drop them if anyone remotely interesting shows up to a practice or tryout.

Are far as development goes, none of these clubs 'develop' these players. All of that development goes on outside of the club. Anyone who has been through this a time or two knows this. So, unless the MLSN1 club is super convenient or something like that, trying to 'get in' early is a waste of time and money.

With training at the club 4 days a week and 2 games on the weekend, when are these MLS Next putting in development of significance outside the club?
Other than watching games on TV for IQ development

Also curious about this. When and where are these kids doing the extra development time outside of club activity?

Most people here just repeat stuff they've heard, usually out of context

Nothing is more misused and misunderstood in this forum than the word development, for youth soccer