Any other NoVA club promoted to MLSNEXT HG level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bring on the MLS next dilution-- 100 EDP/ NAL tier 2 clubs now named MLS Academy including like 6 in the DMV. If you are a parent, do your research as to what MLS Academy is--it's not HG. You are essentially cutting your player off from making a tier 1 team as there is no where to progress to--ever-- at your club. And if you think your club is going to go from tier 2 to having a tier 1 offering in your players career lifetime--good luck. They took a total of 8 across the whole country. It's just not happening. The tier 2 money grab is real and they will bring on as many as will pay them for the badge. Next year will be another 100. Make sure you know what you are signing up for which is a diluted tier 2 experience. If you are going to go tier 2, your best option is to go to a club where you have a shot at at tier one team at some future point (example: Armour, Bethesda) vs one of the new VA clubs that cap their highest team at Tier 2.

Getting promoted within your club from Tier 2 to Tier 1 also has a very low probability. As has been said on this forum many times, clubs prefer to bring in “new money” at the top level by accepting kids from outside. Based on this, I would be fine having my DS at a club that only has AD as their top team, until he is ready for HG and then I would have him tryout at other clubs.

I think deserving clubs will be promoted, having 1-2 good teams is not enough, has to be a pattern of high level players and coaches

Keep telling yourself that. And then look at how many were promoted across the nation the past two years. Your player will be in college by the time your club is up for consideration. Clubs with only tier 2 are getting nothing different than they had last year in EDP. It’s all a branding ploy.

+100

[Anonymous]

The model is definitely nothing new. Just like the B, C, and D travel teams subsidize the club and enable scholarships for the top teams, the MLSN Academy Division is built to maximize participation and, in turn, maximize revenue. MLS NEXT charges a flat $500 per player for Academy Division registration, which means each team brings in $9,000+ in league fees alone. 47 new AD clubs = $423,000+. Obviously referee and other misc. fees are assumed, but half or more is pure profit.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have intel on NVU MLS Next Academy? It seems like they have some strong older boys teams but curious about the younger ages. Are they recruiting kids from anywhere or just hoping good players come to try out? I assume a lot of other teams have finished their process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have intel on NVU MLS Next Academy? It seems like they have some strong older boys teams but curious about the younger ages. Are they recruiting kids from anywhere or just hoping good players come to try out? I assume a lot of other teams have finished their process.

The Older boys teams are strong, u19s this year and last year beat most ECNL National teams. One would assume getting MLS will draw better players into younger age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have intel on NVU MLS Next Academy? It seems like they have some strong older boys teams but curious about the younger ages. Are they recruiting kids from anywhere or just hoping good players come to try out? I assume a lot of other teams have finished their process.

We looked into this club. The big drawback is they seem to have to pay for a lot of their practice space by renting fields at GMU. They don't seem to have dedicated practice space anywhere in particular, and Annandale vs. Mason is a big difference for us location wise (one doable, one not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have intel on NVU MLS Next Academy? It seems like they have some strong older boys teams but curious about the younger ages. Are they recruiting kids from anywhere or just hoping good players come to try out? I assume a lot of other teams have finished their process.

We looked into this club. The big drawback is they seem to have to pay for a lot of their practice space by renting fields at GMU. They don't seem to have dedicated practice space anywhere in particular, and Annandale vs. Mason is a big difference for us location wise (one doable, one not).

That’s tough. I wonder if it results in a lot of moved or cancelled practices?