ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CST:

DM: “The vote on November 22nd, (graduation year vs birth year), is just a formality. It’s already been discussed and decided. It will change back to graduation year in club soccer. We are buying time to allow club organizations an opportunity to organize their player pool process for the 2025-26 season.”

-US Club Soccer Representative

This is not groundbreaking mews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CST:

DM: “The vote on November 22nd, (graduation year vs birth year), is just a formality. It’s already been discussed and decided. It will change back to graduation year in club soccer. We are buying time to allow club organizations an opportunity to organize their player pool process for the 2025-26 season.”

-US Club Soccer Representative

This is not groundbreaking mews

This is why you wait for official statements.

This is just another rehash of rehashed rumors

[Anonymous]

Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

[Anonymous]

To me that sounds like college level MLS Next.

Which would be pretty cool if you could play for a MLS Academy (not pro), a regular MLS Next club, or MLS College team and everyone plays against each other in the same league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a strategic perspective, US Soccer allowing the leagues to dictate seems like the correct play.

This way if it fails or has complications that are not foreseen, the blame goes to those leagues pushing for change. The US Soccer stance would be they are trying to unify the landscape but some leagues only care about the bottom line not the growth of the sport and player development.

It will absolutely fail in ways unforeseen. The happy path is always wrong. And this issue, being pushed by US Club of all orgs, is absurdly justified as “helping all of soccer.”

They’re trying to tether the product closer to college, but college is in its own swirl of chaos and change. The whole thing is stupid, and it’s being pushed by stupid. If USSF takes the stance you’re theorizing, at least it suggests there is an adult in the room somewhere.

I think having a system of just birth year with the high majority of clubs operating with pay to play we will never have success. We have to be able to look at ourselves objectively and how we operate scholastically is very different than most of the world.

I think we shouldn’t abandon birth year and there should be a path for boys and girls who have aspirations of playing pro or national team level. We should also have a path that helps kids stay involved in soccer for as long as possible and include some type of waiver system so kids can also play where they belong physically.

There is so much wrong with people who argue birth year and the rest of the work do it. When the other countries have free subsidized academies and coaches that look at young players potential and growth over time.

Pay to play will never allow that and we will always have the biggest fastest kids getting the bulk of the opportunities.

I think only a school year system is a terrible idea as well.

You and rational, well thought out ideas are not welcome here. Once you put on your blinders for your chosen side, you may return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CST:

DM: “The vote on November 22nd, (graduation year vs birth year), is just a formality. It’s already been discussed and decided. It will change back to graduation year in club soccer. We are buying time to allow club organizations an opportunity to organize their player pool process for the 2025-26 season.”

-US Club Soccer Representative

This is not groundbreaking mews

This is why you wait for official statements.

This is just another rehash of rehashed rumors

Seems to me like this is just attempting to restart the buzzing. I don’t care either way, but the whole SY argument seems very much like a astroturf campaign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

So how is this supposed to work for a non-revenue sport, that often shares facilities between men’s and women’s, and sometimes the football team (revenue engine)?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea! But it sounds like something some old coot coach has been yammering on about for 30 or 40 years and it’s finally getting amplified because attention is on college sports.

I think what is vastly more likely is that many college soccer programs (and other non-revenue sports) will go dark in the next 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

So how is this supposed to work for a non-revenue sport, that often shares facilities between men’s and women’s, and sometimes the football team (revenue engine)?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea! But it sounds like something some old coot coach has been yammering on about for 30 or 40 years and it’s finally getting amplified because attention is on college sports.

I think what is vastly more likely is that many college soccer programs (and other non-revenue sports) will go dark in the next 5 years.

Just like it works now.

The soccer teams practice somewhere else and share the main fields with other sports on weekends or other days with other teams.

Odd that you don't know this.

[Anonymous]

Is this similar to what USL Super W League and DC Power FC is doing with their academy players? They signed a few high school girls who are playing with them now but will go off to college in the Spring and Fall. One of them, who plays for VDA, had a brace in her debut. Seems like a great opportunity, but I guess still can’t play with Power once they go off to college. Sounds like a step in the direction you all are referring to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

So how is this supposed to work for a non-revenue sport, that often shares facilities between men’s and women’s, and sometimes the football team (revenue engine)?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea! But it sounds like something some old coot coach has been yammering on about for 30 or 40 years and it’s finally getting amplified because attention is on college sports.

I think what is vastly more likely is that many college soccer programs (and other non-revenue sports) will go dark in the next 5 years.

Just like it works now.

The soccer teams practice somewhere else and share the main fields with other sports on weekends or other days with other teams.

Odd that you don't know this.

Both genders in season at the same time? Think bro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

This would just destroy any notion that these are student athletes. The number able to complete their degrees would plummet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's get back to the real rumor that college soccer might turn into a semi pro league with US Soccer somehow involved.

https://x.com/ProspectsUsmnt/status/1849972556826112220

NEW: College soccer is on the verge of a monumental shift in the landscape, per numerous sources I’ve talked to in the past 24 hours.

Here’s what I know:

There is a plan that at most basic level will make the college soccer season a full-time season. It will most likely mirror the pro calendar. Gone will be the three month season. It will essentially double (if not more) in length.

This is where things get interesting: This shift is likely to happen in 2025-26 or 2026-27. Most seem to think it will start up in 2026-27 to align with the likely shift of MLS/MLSNP (and probably USL too) to the European calendar at that point.

This has been something that has been worked on for some time now, but my belief is that the plan might’ve gotten a boost from MLS’s acceleration of their shift in their calendar.

How would it work?

From those I’ve spoken too, there’s a high likelihood that US Soccer Federation will be involved as a governing body and/or power broker. Numerous sources have expressed their active role in making this work.

Currently, I believe there are two major conferences that have signaled they are on board: ACC and Big 10. In fairness, I’ve heard mixed things on whether every single program in those conferences is on board at this point.

Yet, the premise of how it’s going to work is simple and moving forward: The top 40-50 programs in college soccer are lining up their ducks in a row to go to the NCAA (if they haven’t already) and ask them to cooperate in this new venture.

NCAA is losing the amateurism battle right now in many sports. They don’t have much leverage. I believe the pitch is “work in cooperation with US Soccer in this venture or we will completely breakaway from the NCAA and join the US Soccer umbrella.”

From discussions I’ve had, it sounds like this new landscape would be classified as “semi-professional” in how it would work. There’s the possibility that players might be able to have some role in the professional club landscape.

Most likely, that could happen in the form of participating during the college offseason. That’s still to be worked out I believe, and any compensation during the season is another topic that I believe is in play and needs to be sorted out.

Yet, it does appear that a monumental shift is coming for college soccer. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, at this point.

This would just destroy any notion that these are student athletes. The number able to complete their degrees would plummet.

Hilarious you think universities care if these kids get a degree or not. The very small percentage of enrollment who play sports is so small, it's irrelevant in the grand scheme of educated class joint workforce. So what if they don't graduate? The uni's made some money, kids had fun and now they follow their goals. win-win-win

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this similar to what USL Super W League and DC Power FC is doing with their academy players? They signed a few high school girls who are playing with them now but will go off to college in the Spring and Fall. One of them, who plays for VDA, had a brace in her debut. Seems like a great opportunity, but I guess still can’t play with Power once they go off to college. Sounds like a step in the direction you all are referring to.

VDA girl is one of the best I've ever seen. Also, the U17 keeper signed with USL NC team and will head to Duke. By all reasoning some girls are basically pros already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this similar to what USL Super W League and DC Power FC is doing with their academy players? They signed a few high school girls who are playing with them now but will go off to college in the Spring and Fall. One of them, who plays for VDA, had a brace in her debut. Seems like a great opportunity, but I guess still can’t play with Power once they go off to college. Sounds like a step in the direction you all are referring to.

VDA girl is one of the best I've ever seen. Also, the U17 keeper signed with USL NC team and will head to Duke. By all reasoning some girls are basically pros already.

The NC USL team is basically an extension of their academy on the girls side. An opportunity to pad resume and get some hardware. “Pro” in that tier is generous to the extreme.

[Anonymous]

No doubt it helps the local clubs, but give these girls who sign these contracts deserve some credit. They signed professional academy contracts before they head off to colleges like Duke, Penn State, and Wake Forest and the one kid is scoring against players who are 5-10 years older and have played in nwsl as well as internationally. I’d say the these kids have the potential to go pro after college. They are not just extension’ players… maybe in nc they are.