ECNL moving to school year part 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MLSN is in the process of purchasing and acquiring the GA, if it goes through which it sounds like it more than likely yes. Will this affect the SY and BY? and the another twist is any club that has MLSN will have to bring girls side into GA and leave ECNL.

I don't see this happening. Sorry. Partnering with another league, sure. That's what they are doing for MLSN2. Purchasing GA seems pointless. GA has already announced they are going SY, and even if they are purchased by MLSN, they need to stay SY to battle their main rivals. They are not in the same position MLSN is vs ECNL. Letting ECNL go SY and GA switch back to BY would send them into permanent 2nd or even 3rd place eventually.

[Anonymous]

GA is not going back to BY. It would be like comitting suicide, creating chaos and distrust for GA.

Who could ensure that in 2 years GA would not go back to SY?

Nobody would be part of a league that changes mind every two years.

[Anonymous]

Once I’ve read all arguments and rationale I believe both MLSN1 and MLSN2 will move to SY.

However, I also think that MLS Next will give freedom to MLS academies to do whatever they consider it’s best for their interests.

I have two daughters, the oldest playing ECNL and the youngest ECNL-R, so I’m neutral to boys soccer issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MLSN is in the process of purchasing and acquiring the GA, if it goes through which it sounds like it more than likely yes. Will this affect the SY and BY? and the another twist is any club that has MLSN will have to bring girls side into GA and leave ECNL.

I don't see this happening. Sorry. Partnering with another league, sure. That's what they are doing for MLSN2. Purchasing GA seems pointless. GA has already announced they are going SY, and even if they are purchased by MLSN, they need to stay SY to battle their main rivals. They are not in the same position MLSN is vs ECNL. Letting ECNL go SY and GA switch back to BY would send them into permanent 2nd or even 3rd place eventually.

I’m not sure how it will be defined time will tell but I heard this as well MLSN and GA will be a merger and be one entity similar to ECNL. Club admin has been saying this has been discussed for over a year and they’ve been working on the administration side to combine forces.

Once they finish the logistics MLSN will require all clubs with girls to bring them in and leave ECNL girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MLSN is in the process of purchasing and acquiring the GA, if it goes through which it sounds like it more than likely yes. Will this affect the SY and BY? and the another twist is any club that has MLSN will have to bring girls side into GA and leave ECNL.

I don't see this happening. Sorry. Partnering with another league, sure. That's what they are doing for MLSN2. Purchasing GA seems pointless. GA has already announced they are going SY, and even if they are purchased by MLSN, they need to stay SY to battle their main rivals. They are not in the same position MLSN is vs ECNL. Letting ECNL go SY and GA switch back to BY would send them into permanent 2nd or even 3rd place eventually.

I’m not sure how it will be defined time will tell but I heard this as well MLSN and GA will be a merger and be one entity similar to ECNL. Club admin has been saying this has been discussed for over a year and they’ve been working on the administration side to combine forces.

Once they finish the logistics MLSN will require all clubs with girls to bring them in and leave ECNL girls.

Yes, it makes sense, in the same way ECNL wouldn’t allow clubs with ECNL girls to play MLSN at the boys side.

[Anonymous]

For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

ECNL and US Club have done a good job of building an eco system of youth soccer with levels from Top to Bottom.

MLSN is catching on which is why they created MLSN2 and GA started the Aspire league. Don’t be surprised to see a MLSN3 and a MLSNY (Youth) with U9-12 teams playing in games and cups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

ECNL will be rebranding pretty soon. Next year they will invite more teams into ECNL and have a relegation league. Let’s call it ECNL2 but will still be considered ECNL. Lots of these changing next year not just age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

ECNL and US Club have done a good job of building an eco system of youth soccer with levels from Top to Bottom.

MLSN is catching on which is why they created MLSN2 and GA started the Aspire league. Don’t be surprised to see a MLSN3 and a MLSNY (Youth) with U9-12 teams playing in games and cups.

MLSN3 they could play local rec clubs to reduce travel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

ECNL and US Club have done a good job of building an eco system of youth soccer with levels from Top to Bottom.

MLSN is catching on which is why they created MLSN2 and GA started the Aspire league. Don’t be surprised to see a MLSN3 and a MLSNY (Youth) with U9-12 teams playing in games and cups.

MLSN3 they could play local rec clubs to reduce travel

Or girls teams.

[Anonymous]

What will happen to USYS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to USYS?

USYS meeting with US club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will happen to USYS?

USYS meeting with US club.

Merging

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys, what I see is at MLS Next only 2 tiers (Homegrown and Academy).

However at US Clubs side I see at least 4 tiers: ECNL, ECRL, NPL1, NPL2 …, so more leagues, more clubs, more players, and consequently more money.

ECNL will be rebranding pretty soon. Next year they will invite more teams into ECNL and have a relegation league. Let’s call it ECNL2 but will still be considered ECNL. Lots of these changing next year not just age groups.

When you say next year do you mean 2026/27?

[Anonymous]

U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson has unveiled the
"Pathway Strategy" — a new initiative to develop more world-class players, win World Cups, reduce the cost for young people to play, and make soccer the highest-participation sport in the country.

Some key takeaways:

• U.S. Soccer has secured early-stage memorandums of understanding with MLS, NWSL, USL, youth organizations, and key sponsors to support the strategy.
• The initiative aims to lower youth soccer costs, simplify pathways, and build teams capable of winning major tournaments.
• MLS owners now invest nine figures annually in free-to-play youth development — a massive jump from essentially zero a decade ago.
• Arsène Wenger and the Twenty First Group contributed global benchmarking and development insights.
• Roughly 95% of American player development happens outside U.S. Soccer's direct control, meaning this strategy requires unprecedented cooperation across the entire soccer landscape.
(via The Athletic)