MLS Academy League Announcement Coming Soon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

Who cares??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

[Anonymous]

money grab creating all these leagues to only fold a few years alter to only create another one because the parents of the last one will have aged out and everyone who is of age will think they are the next big thing and pay out the nose and the cycle repeats itself over and over

same people just different named leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:money grab creating all these leagues to only fold a few years alter to only create another one because the parents of the last one will have aged out and everyone who is of age will think they are the next big thing and pay out the nose and the cycle repeats itself over and over

same people just different named leagues.

I means teams play in leagues so I don't know what you really think is a better way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha! Meaningful competition!?! Some of the recently added non MLS/not former DA clubs can’t compete against the DCUs and Bethesda.

Right, Arlington/VDA - tell us all about how you would have been greater had you the guts to try to play in MLS. And also say bye to some of your players who will be going to those clubs, where they may actually learn how to play.

I think Arlington/VDA still think they made the right decision. They joined a league that is stable and known with not a lot of variables whereas the MLS youth league has a lot of variables with question marks whether it will be fully supported long-term. So those local MLS youth clubs (Achilles, Bethesda, Baltimore Armour, DCU, Alexandria, and Springfield) are going to play each other in certain age groups and then have to travel some distance for other opponents. Meanwhile, Arlington/VDA will be in-state for the fall, which, given everything that's going on, is a sensible plan. And while there may be Arlington players that consider Alexandria, Bethesda, and Springfield, I am not sure if you would have a massive exodus of players leaving VDA, knowing they may have a 45-60 minute commute each way just for training. And all of this goes without even talking about a possible downgrade in coaching with some of those clubs. Lack of "guts"? Not sure about that, but more so about being practical and having foresight.

[Anonymous]

I think this year is a "whatever you can get'. Arlington is in ECNL and has a Fall schedule that is basically inside the DMV area and no out of state travel. And the MLS is a fickle and sometimes odd creature when it comes to youth soccer. To say they have a solid and, more importantly, financially sound long-term plan for this academy systme is a bit of a stretch. Few kids wanted to switch up this year with the half-messed up tryout system that was in place.

We'll see what happens next year, assuming we are back to normal-ish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

MLS Rules:

Clubs may not permit any full-time Club Player to participate in non- MLS NEXT soccer activities
during the MLS NEXT Season, except as set forth in this Section and in connection with a Player’s
National Team duty and/or Youth National Team Identification Center participation. Clubs will be
held accountable for the actions of their Players and Club Representatives, as well as the Club’s
parents, spectators, and volunteers. Club Players will be subject to discipline by both their own Club
and PDev.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

If my son is on a EDP team and the club brings in MLS players from the top team to play a game, I would be pretty pissed. Therefore, I doubt a club would do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

That would be Achilles for you!


If my son is on a EDP team and the club brings in MLS players from the top team to play a game, I would be pretty pissed. Therefore, I doubt a club would do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha! Meaningful competition!?! Some of the recently added non MLS/not former DA clubs can’t compete against the DCUs and Bethesda.

Right, Arlington/VDA - tell us all about how you would have been greater had you the guts to try to play in MLS. And also say bye to some of your players who will be going to those clubs, where they may actually learn how to play.

I think Arlington/VDA still think they made the right decision. They joined a league that is stable and known with not a lot of variables whereas the MLS youth league has a lot of variables with question marks whether it will be fully supported long-term. So those local MLS youth clubs (Achilles, Bethesda, Baltimore Armour, DCU, Alexandria, and Springfield) are going to play each other in certain age groups and then have to travel some distance for other opponents. Meanwhile, Arlington/VDA will be in-state for the fall, which, given everything that's going on, is a sensible plan. And while there may be Arlington players that consider Alexandria, Bethesda, and Springfield, I am not sure if you would have a massive exodus of players leaving VDA, knowing they may have a 45-60 minute commute each way just for training. And all of this goes without even talking about a possible downgrade in coaching with some of those clubs. Lack of "guts"? Not sure about that, but more so about being practical and having foresight.

Some of good players at VDA could go to Springfield or Alexandria without a long commute (especially if they are in Woodbridge), and all of the Arlington players could do the same unless they are already making a long commute to Arlington from west or northwest of Arlington. There's possible upgrades of coaching in switching to some of those clubs, without question. Depends on the coach at your current team and potential coach on the next team. I don't think the travel is going to differ this year for these clubs, and certainly longer term the travel for ECNL is more burdensome and expensive. We'll see what happens. So Arlington will play BRYC, Loudoun and McLean, the teams it played in the CCL before everybody decided the CCL wasn't worthwhile. Do I have that right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

If my son is on a EDP team and the club brings in MLS players from the top team to play a game, I would be pretty pissed. Therefore, I doubt a club would do that.

That would be Achilles for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha! Meaningful competition!?! Some of the recently added non MLS/not former DA clubs can’t compete against the DCUs and Bethesda.

Right, Arlington/VDA - tell us all about how you would have been greater had you the guts to try to play in MLS. And also say bye to some of your players who will be going to those clubs, where they may actually learn how to play.

I think Arlington/VDA still think they made the right decision. They joined a league that is stable and known with not a lot of variables whereas the MLS youth league has a lot of variables with question marks whether it will be fully supported long-term. So those local MLS youth clubs (Achilles, Bethesda, Baltimore Armour, DCU, Alexandria, and Springfield) are going to play each other in certain age groups and then have to travel some distance for other opponents. Meanwhile, Arlington/VDA will be in-state for the fall, which, given everything that's going on, is a sensible plan. And while there may be Arlington players that consider Alexandria, Bethesda, and Springfield, I am not sure if you would have a massive exodus of players leaving VDA, knowing they may have a 45-60 minute commute each way just for training. And all of this goes without even talking about a possible downgrade in coaching with some of those clubs. Lack of "guts"? Not sure about that, but more so about being practical and having foresight.

Some of good players at VDA could go to Springfield or Alexandria without a long commute (especially if they are in Woodbridge), and all of the Arlington players could do the same unless they are already making a long commute to Arlington from west or northwest of Arlington. There's possible upgrades of coaching in switching to some of those clubs, without question. Depends on the coach at your current team and potential coach on the next team. I don't think the travel is going to differ this year for these clubs, and certainly longer term the travel for ECNL is more burdensome and expensive. We'll see what happens. So Arlington will play BRYC, Loudoun and McLean, the teams it played in the CCL before everybody decided the CCL wasn't worthwhile. Do I have that right?

Top teams in those clubs will play ECNL. Second teams will play CCL. So if you're playing any of those clubs, you're playing their 2nd teams...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha! Meaningful competition!?! Some of the recently added non MLS/not former DA clubs can’t compete against the DCUs and Bethesda.

Right, Arlington/VDA - tell us all about how you would have been greater had you the guts to try to play in MLS. And also say bye to some of your players who will be going to those clubs, where they may actually learn how to play.

I think Arlington/VDA still think they made the right decision. They joined a league that is stable and known with not a lot of variables whereas the MLS youth league has a lot of variables with question marks whether it will be fully supported long-term. So those local MLS youth clubs (Achilles, Bethesda, Baltimore Armour, DCU, Alexandria, and Springfield) are going to play each other in certain age groups and then have to travel some distance for other opponents. Meanwhile, Arlington/VDA will be in-state for the fall, which, given everything that's going on, is a sensible plan. And while there may be Arlington players that consider Alexandria, Bethesda, and Springfield, I am not sure if you would have a massive exodus of players leaving VDA, knowing they may have a 45-60 minute commute each way just for training. And all of this goes without even talking about a possible downgrade in coaching with some of those clubs. Lack of "guts"? Not sure about that, but more so about being practical and having foresight.

Some of good players at VDA could go to Springfield or Alexandria without a long commute (especially if they are in Woodbridge), and all of the Arlington players could do the same unless they are already making a long commute to Arlington from west or northwest of Arlington. There's possible upgrades of coaching in switching to some of those clubs, without question. Depends on the coach at your current team and potential coach on the next team. I don't think the travel is going to differ this year for these clubs, and certainly longer term the travel for ECNL is more burdensome and expensive. We'll see what happens. So Arlington will play BRYC, Loudoun and McLean, the teams it played in the CCL before everybody decided the CCL wasn't worthwhile. Do I have that right?

Yes, back to old CCL. Arlington and Loudoun will be top teams and BRYC and McLean bottoms! LOL

What a joke!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ha! Meaningful competition!?! Some of the recently added non MLS/not former DA clubs can’t compete against the DCUs and Bethesda.

Right, Arlington/VDA - tell us all about how you would have been greater had you the guts to try to play in MLS. And also say bye to some of your players who will be going to those clubs, where they may actually learn how to play.

I think Arlington/VDA still think they made the right decision. They joined a league that is stable and known with not a lot of variables whereas the MLS youth league has a lot of variables with question marks whether it will be fully supported long-term. So those local MLS youth clubs (Achilles, Bethesda, Baltimore Armour, DCU, Alexandria, and Springfield) are going to play each other in certain age groups and then have to travel some distance for other opponents. Meanwhile, Arlington/VDA will be in-state for the fall, which, given everything that's going on, is a sensible plan. And while there may be Arlington players that consider Alexandria, Bethesda, and Springfield, I am not sure if you would have a massive exodus of players leaving VDA, knowing they may have a 45-60 minute commute each way just for training. And all of this goes without even talking about a possible downgrade in coaching with some of those clubs. Lack of "guts"? Not sure about that, but more so about being practical and having foresight.

Some of good players at VDA could go to Springfield or Alexandria without a long commute (especially if they are in Woodbridge), and all of the Arlington players could do the same unless they are already making a long commute to Arlington from west or northwest of Arlington. There's possible upgrades of coaching in switching to some of those clubs, without question. Depends on the coach at your current team and potential coach on the next team. I don't think the travel is going to differ this year for these clubs, and certainly longer term the travel for ECNL is more burdensome and expensive. We'll see what happens. So Arlington will play BRYC, Loudoun and McLean, the teams it played in the CCL before everybody decided the CCL wasn't worthwhile. Do I have that right?

Top teams in those clubs will play ECNL. Second teams will play CCL. So if you're playing any of those clubs, you're playing their 2nd teams...

Right. But their top teams used to be in the CCL, and at least at younger ages, still are, right? So it will be just like old times for those kids. (I know your pecking order remains very important over in Arlington, but at the end of the day, it really is the same thing.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How some players play MLS and other leagues????

I thought they couldn't. Alexandria youth MLS team is playing other leagues as well.

DA is no more and with it are many of the restrictions that came with it.

Teams play in multiple leagues without issue why should it be different for players?

And here is the thing that people must really come to terms with, no league is going to enforce the rules of another league.

So for example, your team plays in EDP and one week your opponent has kids on their team who also play in MLS. What is it to EDP? EDP doesn't care about the rules of another league and MLS doesn't care about EDP's rules either.

So there is nothing your league is going to do about MLS players playing on teams in your league.

If my son is on a EDP team and the club brings in MLS players from the top team to play a game, I would be pretty pissed. Therefore, I doubt a club would do that.

As mentioned by another poster, have you heard of Achilles?