ECNL moving to school year part 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:its worth highlighting that if a SY team plays against a BY team one or the other will be playing against a team that is 6 months older. (not 1 year older)

if a BY team plays against a BY team thats a level/year/grade up they will be playing against a team that is 1 year older.

People are mixing the two situations or dont understand how/why they're different.

This is why MLS might not care about letting MLS2 switch to SY.

If MLS implements a policy that MLS2 teams that are SY always plays up against MLS Homegrown teams that 6 months older (instead of the other way around) MLS BY teams will always be 6 months older than their competition. Which will reinforce that Homegrown BY teams are always better. It would also reinforce that MLS2 SY players that move up to MLS BY homegrown teams are playing up.

All the ECNL parents on this thread that think they somehow have MLS cornered are incorrect.

Mls1 (homegrown) and mls2 (academy) don’t play each other. You should learn the structure of MLSN before criticizing others.

A u13 (just for example, any age group though) SY team will be aug 2013-July 2014. BY will be Jan 2014-Dec 2014. SY teams will be older than BY teams.

It doesnt matter what the structure is like today. If MLS does 2 different grouping types BY and SY this will be the divide.

That was the plan as of October, MLSN 1 BY and mlsn 2 SY. That blew up. A big part of mlsn2 are second teams for mlsn1 clubs. It’s not feasible to have different cutoffs for the same age groups… this is what caused mlsn to reevaluate everything and put us where we are now.

What do they gain by staying by?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no doubt ECNL is hoping MLSN stays BY

For ECNL the best case scenario would be MLSN1 BY and MLSN2 SY, because so many clubs, dads and players would decide to run away of that MLSN nightmare.

MLS could implement a rule that ECNL players must roster on a MLS2 team for 6 months before playing MLS1 and it would be over for boys ECNL. They're not doing things like this because they dont really care about ECNL.

Stop with the gloom and doom.

Of course MLSNext cares about ECNL (and viceversa), actually they are competing for the same market share: parents paying huge amounts of money.

Otherwise, why do you think is the reason because they created last year MLSN Academy division? MLSNext wants (and needs) money to support the whole infrastructure of MLS academies, who are obviously losing money.

I agree.

I think ultimately what MLS wants to do is use MLS2 profits to fund MLS1. In this case it makes the most sense to split them appart.

This is already what is happening. Mls2 and mls1 p2p help to fund the mls academies. This isn’t a new idea.

The more you split the academies away from the p2p clubs the more you ruin the appearance of a pathway. MLSN may not care about that and they may make mlsn1 p2p and mlsn2 SY and keep academies BY. That’s been discussed as a possibility for a while.

I proposed that solution many weeks ago.

MLSN 1 and MLSN 2 going SY, and leave freedom to MLS academies (and to p2p clubs also) to play up if they consider and decide so.

That would make sense but it would completely sever the academies from a direct pipeline of players. If all of the rest of the soccer landscape starts selecting for Q4 players, but the academies need Q1 players, well things will get interesting in a few years.

So if they do this (your plan), the academies will become SY within a few years anyway. Then just follow the England model.

That’s a good point, I agree with you, but let me add that the situation you describe will be unavoidable in the future.

In short, MLS academies will see that Q4s will begin to pack all 1st teams and starters at p2p clubs and younger age categories, who are the real feeders for MLS academies.

Once the bulk of US soccer is moving to SY, the England model is the one that makes sense for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:its worth highlighting that if a SY team plays against a BY team one or the other will be playing against a team that is 6 months older. (not 1 year older)

if a BY team plays against a BY team thats a level/year/grade up they will be playing against a team that is 1 year older.

People are mixing the two situations or dont understand how/why they're different.

This is why MLS might not care about letting MLS2 switch to SY.

If MLS implements a policy that MLS2 teams that are SY always plays up against MLS Homegrown teams that 6 months older (instead of the other way around) MLS BY teams will always be 6 months older than their competition. Which will reinforce that Homegrown BY teams are always better. It would also reinforce that MLS2 SY players that move up to MLS BY homegrown teams are playing up.

All the ECNL parents on this thread that think they somehow have MLS cornered are incorrect.

Mls1 (homegrown) and mls2 (academy) don’t play each other. You should learn the structure of MLSN before criticizing others.

A u13 (just for example, any age group though) SY team will be aug 2013-July 2014. BY will be Jan 2014-Dec 2014. SY teams will be older than BY teams.

It doesnt matter what the structure is like today. If MLS does 2 different grouping types BY and SY this will be the divide.

That was the plan as of October, MLSN 1 BY and mlsn 2 SY. That blew up. A big part of mlsn2 are second teams for mlsn1 clubs. It’s not feasible to have different cutoffs for the same age groups… this is what caused mlsn to reevaluate everything and put us where we are now.

What do they gain by staying by?

No immediate disruption. Safe and known element. They can use it as marketing as part of their 'pro' pathway model. They don't have to do anything (outside of make an announcement). Etc. Not saying those are great things to 'gain' but they are there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:its worth highlighting that if a SY team plays against a BY team one or the other will be playing against a team that is 6 months older. (not 1 year older)

if a BY team plays against a BY team thats a level/year/grade up they will be playing against a team that is 1 year older.

People are mixing the two situations or dont understand how/why they're different.

This is why MLS might not care about letting MLS2 switch to SY.

If MLS implements a policy that MLS2 teams that are SY always plays up against MLS Homegrown teams that 6 months older (instead of the other way around) MLS BY teams will always be 6 months older than their competition. Which will reinforce that Homegrown BY teams are always better. It would also reinforce that MLS2 SY players that move up to MLS BY homegrown teams are playing up.

All the ECNL parents on this thread that think they somehow have MLS cornered are incorrect.

Mls1 (homegrown) and mls2 (academy) don’t play each other. You should learn the structure of MLSN before criticizing others.

A u13 (just for example, any age group though) SY team will be aug 2013-July 2014. BY will be Jan 2014-Dec 2014. SY teams will be older than BY teams.

It doesnt matter what the structure is like today. If MLS does 2 different grouping types BY and SY this will be the divide.

That was the plan as of October, MLSN 1 BY and mlsn 2 SY. That blew up. A big part of mlsn2 are second teams for mlsn1 clubs. It’s not feasible to have different cutoffs for the same age groups… this is what caused mlsn to reevaluate everything and put us where we are now.

What do they gain by staying by?

Being like the entire world except England.

Being less "pokey the bear". SY (School Year) is not applicable in professional sports. It just doesnt make sense. Americans dont have a concept of this because HS leads to College leads to Pro for our biggest sport (Football). In pro soccer talent hits the field when its ready. That might be 14 years old or 22 years old. Things like college eligibility or redshirting dont apply. The entire reason Academies exist are to identify talent as young as possible and theres crazy money behind it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no doubt ECNL is hoping MLSN stays BY

For ECNL the best case scenario would be MLSN1 BY and MLSN2 SY, because so many clubs, dads and players would decide to run away of that MLSN nightmare.

MLS could implement a rule that ECNL players must roster on a MLS2 team for 6 months before playing MLS1 and it would be over for boys ECNL. They're not doing things like this because they dont really care about ECNL.

Stop with the gloom and doom.

Of course MLSNext cares about ECNL (and viceversa), actually they are competing for the same market share: parents paying huge amounts of money.

Otherwise, why do you think is the reason because they created last year MLSN Academy division? MLSNext wants (and needs) money to support the whole infrastructure of MLS academies, who are obviously losing money.

I agree.

I think ultimately what MLS wants to do is use MLS2 profits to fund MLS1. In this case it makes the most sense to split them appart.

This is already what is happening. Mls2 and mls1 p2p help to fund the mls academies. This isn’t a new idea.

The more you split the academies away from the p2p clubs the more you ruin the appearance of a pathway. MLSN may not care about that and they may make mlsn1 p2p and mlsn2 SY and keep academies BY. That’s been discussed as a possibility for a while.

I proposed that solution many weeks ago.

MLSN 1 and MLSN 2 going SY, and leave freedom to MLS academies (and to p2p clubs also) to play up if they consider and decide so.

That would make sense but it would completely sever the academies from a direct pipeline of players. If all of the rest of the soccer landscape starts selecting for Q4 players, but the academies need Q1 players, well things will get interesting in a few years.

So if they do this (your plan), the academies will become SY within a few years anyway. Then just follow the England model.

That’s a good point, I agree with you, but let me add that the situation you describe will be unavoidable in the future.

In short, MLS academies will see that Q4s will begin to pack all 1st teams and starters at p2p clubs and younger age categories, who are the real feeders for MLS academies.

Once the bulk of US soccer is moving to SY, the England model is the one that makes sense for us.

This is an important point. We share a common culture with the UK and not other European countries or any where else the world. It makes absolute sense to align with them in every way possible for soccer.

[Anonymous]

Announced officially.

"Beginning in the 2026-27 season, player registration for within MLS NEXT will be as follows: Allstate Homegrown Division will continue to use Birth-Year age groups (January 1 - December 31). Academy Division will change to School-Year age groups (August 1 - July 31).

Player registration via Birth-Year remains the optimal structure for the Allstate Homegrown Division, as it aligns with FIFA standards, the global professional pathway and greatly benefits our youth national teams.

The School Year age group system is the most suitable structure for the Academy Division, as it aligns with the broader youth soccer landscape across the United States and creates opportunities for continued collaboration and growth between MLS NEXT and the wider youth soccer ecosystem."

[Anonymous]

I believe you and all, but link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe you and all, but link?

https://www.instagram.com/mlsnext/?hl=en

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no doubt ECNL is hoping MLSN stays BY

For ECNL the best case scenario would be MLSN1 BY and MLSN2 SY, because so many clubs, dads and players would decide to run away of that MLSN nightmare.

MLS could implement a rule that ECNL players must roster on a MLS2 team for 6 months before playing MLS1 and it would be over for boys ECNL. They're not doing things like this because they dont really care about ECNL.

Stop with the gloom and doom.

Of course MLSNext cares about ECNL (and viceversa), actually they are competing for the same market share: parents paying huge amounts of money.

Otherwise, why do you think is the reason because they created last year MLSN Academy division? MLSNext wants (and needs) money to support the whole infrastructure of MLS academies, who are obviously losing money.

I agree.

I think ultimately what MLS wants to do is use MLS2 profits to fund MLS1. In this case it makes the most sense to split them appart.

This is already what is happening. Mls2 and mls1 p2p help to fund the mls academies. This isn’t a new idea.

The more you split the academies away from the p2p clubs the more you ruin the appearance of a pathway. MLSN may not care about that and they may make mlsn1 p2p and mlsn2 SY and keep academies BY. That’s been discussed as a possibility for a while.

I proposed that solution many weeks ago.

MLSN 1 and MLSN 2 going SY, and leave freedom to MLS academies (and to p2p clubs also) to play up if they consider and decide so.

That would make sense but it would completely sever the academies from a direct pipeline of players. If all of the rest of the soccer landscape starts selecting for Q4 players, but the academies need Q1 players, well things will get interesting in a few years.

So if they do this (your plan), the academies will become SY within a few years anyway. Then just follow the England model.

Is the England model a plan to have players 6 months younger than the international BY norm?

BTW England + SY only works because EPL pays the most for talent at the pro level. This allows them to not worry about Youth Academy results because for the most part they don't matter.

No, they just re-form teams for international events. Other than that, they all play the same age brackets while in country. Doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

Yea last minute put together teams tend to do well.

There are ways that it is dealt with. Tournaments in Europe that I’m familiar with (some, not all) are BY but allow a certain number of over age players. This allows an even playing field with 9/1 teams. It’s not hastily constructed teams as you are implying.

Having said that, academies don’t care about teams. They care about individuals they can make money off of, whether that’s signing a homegrown or selling (and unless they are a duel citizen, that’s at 18+). They don’t care about team results as long as the players they have targeted are developing in a way that makes them a potential pro.

As a whole MLSN doesn't make much of anything from player sales so they have to minimize costs. The US just doesn't produce top players where sales can be high (only one American for one year was in the Guardian top 100 over the last 15ish years). Would expect skimming from MLS P2P to be multiples of revenue more than a couple of player sales a year.

[Anonymous]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRvD1A9EoD2/

[Anonymous]

MLSN AD official to SY

Homegrown stays BY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Announced officially.

"Beginning in the 2026-27 season, player registration for within MLS NEXT will be as follows: Allstate Homegrown Division will continue to use Birth-Year age groups (January 1 - December 31). Academy Division will change to School-Year age groups (August 1 - July 31).

Player registration via Birth-Year remains the optimal structure for the Allstate Homegrown Division, as it aligns with FIFA standards, the global professional pathway and greatly benefits our youth national teams.

The School Year age group system is the most suitable structure for the Academy Division, as it aligns with the broader youth soccer landscape across the United States and creates opportunities for continued collaboration and growth between MLS NEXT and the wider youth soccer ecosystem."

ECNL gotta throw a party over that. Should reduce the relative age effect for boys having similar leagues with age cutoffs about 6 months apart.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t this what clubs pushed back on? There will be fall out, we will see how much.

[Anonymous]

US, only country in the world with 2 different age systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe you and all, but link?

https://www.instagram.com/mlsnext/?hl=en

TY