MLS Academy
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Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
The MLS League is only going to be U15 and U17. U13, U14, U16 and U18 will likely play in ECNL. |
Anonymous
If you look at the application, the teams range from U13-19, and I don't know why you are mentioning the ECNL. Other teams not in the ECNL are not likely to be playing ECNL. |
Anonymous
MLS academy parent here... This isn't entirely true, but has some truth to it. The MLS youth *league* will support U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19. But MLS academies, specifically, will only be required to field teams at U15 and U17. And those teams--MLS academy U15 and U17--will likely play a disproportionate percentage of games against other MLS academy teams. This means: -U15s and 17s from *non-MLS clubs* in the league will play each other more than they will play the MLS academies ("crossover games") -MLS academies will play up their best U14 and U16 players, weakening those teams, if they offer them at all -At U13, 14, 16 and 19, many MLS academies won't field teams... -However, some will! By default, they will play in the same "MLS elite" league. But some MLS clubs are "joining" ECNL (see ATL and FC Dallas). My guess is that this is for these other age groups, and maybe only a subset of them where there aren't enough local clubs in the "MLS elite" league. They don't want to travel all over creation for ages other than U15 and U17. So, if I were a local club, like Arlington or VDA, that was DA and signed up for ECNL, I'd probably stick with that decision for at least a year or two. There are tons of unknowns with this new MLS league, especially for non-MLS clubs. And, at least for this year, you are far more likely to get games in against teams within an hour or two drive--which ECNL has more of. Once things shake out and the virus is gone, I'll bet there is plenty of opportunity for top clubs to join later. |
Anonymous
Because it's not a volunteer thing. You don't just sign up for it, you apply for it. |
Anonymous
Great background. Makes sense. I think the key is that they focus on teams, not clubs, at specific age groups, and avoid the club vs. club format and miasma of the ECNL. There are individual teams that will provide very solid competition on the boys side from clubs that might otherwise not be willing or able to field top teams across age groups in a league like ECNL. There are also a few local boys clubs that will certainly be very competitive at particular ages. If the system remains flexible in its approach, the upside is that Arlington and VDA can revisit their decision on the boys side in a year or two if the league looks like it could succeed. |
Anonymous
Excellent reporting. Any word on what DCU is planning on doing regarding a potential move to Loudoun? |
Anonymous
Academy home games are already in Loudoun (Segra). Training at/near RFK for "the foreseeable future". Most of the academy coaches live in Maryland, as well as lots of top players. So a move to Loudoun for daily training would be extremely disruptive. Quite unlikely in the next year or two. |
Anonymous
| Do any of you know whether MLS Academy players will be "carded" with either US Club or US Youth Soccer? In the past - with DA - the players were just registered as DA players with US Soccer. Is the MLS going to set up their own player registration database, or do you think they'll piggy back on one of the other organizations. |
Anonymous
How do you know will be a much better experience? |