UCL and the Future of EDP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the initial interest for the new UCL league in Maryland is strong -- all of the big clubs are signed up with particularly large interest at U12 and below.
https://www.msysa.org/ucl-league-structure/

Will this squeeze out EDP? Are the days of U-Little teams in VA and MD meeting in NCSL over?

Big clubs? Who specifically.

Arlington is not leaving NCSL.

All of the MLS Next clubs have their U12’s in NAL.

Arlington Dad - Who mentioned Arlington?

Not an Arlington Dad. Big clubs were mentioned. Arlington is typically missing from the equation.

Alexandria, SYC and Loudoun/NVA all play with MD clubs. Arlington and the VDA subsidiaries are the only big club outliers still trying to find competition in NCSL and VA Premier League by playing up (which hurts development by not staying small-sided). There is plenty of talent locally so that none of the top teams in DC, MD or VA based around DC have to travel to PA, NC or southern VA to get quality competition.

[Anonymous]

Oh cool just what everyone needed… another league 🫠

[Anonymous]

Money grab by the state association

[Anonymous]

DS is u19 and I can’t even tell you how many leagues we’ve seen. Every few years there’s some new hot league. His first two years CCL was where the A teams played. Then everyone moved to EDP. Then the A teams at big non-MLS clubs moved to ECNL. He played for a club that wasn’t ECNL or MLS Next in EDP1 where they still saw some good competition but this past year his team and many others in the division moved to MSLN2 (I know there’s now a new name). Just give it time and this new league will be replaced like all those before it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Money grab by the state association

Maybe, but they're pitching it as cheaper than existing leagues and with less travel.

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt that "all of the big clubs are signed up." It's probably more like a club asked MSYSA about the league so MSYSA put their logo on the site and declared they "desire to participate in the inaugural season of the UCL!", probably to the annoyance of some clubs and EDP.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone actually heard from their team/club that they will play in this league? We’ve been in EDP for years…

[Anonymous]

This might explain the Virginia participation:

To further support clubs in and around Maryland and DC, the United Clubs League (UCL) partners with the Girls Academy (GA). The UCL x GA partnership includes:

The UCL aligns with the Girls Academy pathway for players, teams, and clubs
Girls Academy (GA) Division for U11 and U12 teams within the UCL
These U11 and U12 divisions comprise the U11-U12 Girls Academy platform in the Mid-Atlantic region (including southern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia)
The GA Division is for the top U11 and U12 girls’ teams from participating GA and GA Aspire clubs located within the Mid-Atlantic Conference Divisions
GA and GA Aspire clubs apply and register via the GA
GA and GA Aspire clubs are encouraged to place their younger (e.g., U8-U10) and deeper (e.g., their second U11-U12 girl’s teams and their third+ U13+ teams) in the various UCL divisions (e.g., State Division 1), as appropriate
Additional opportunities for players, teams, and clubs will continue to evolve through the ongoing collaboration between the UCL and Girls Academy
GA Clubs are encouraged to utilize the referee assigning services provided by MSYSA
More information about what this exciting collaboration means for you will be shared once available

[Anonymous]

Expand to see clubs: https://www.msysa.org/about-us-all-affiliates-primary/

I noted Bethesda and Achilles.

Doesn't note what level for each club. Or rather, I didnt see it.

[Anonymous]

DD U15 played in EDP this last year and the furthest travel was 2 hours. That was once. The others were within an hour.
We’ve switched to a new team/club thats still in the EDP league. I assume the travel distance will be similar.