DCUdad wrote:

Cruzado wrote:
Sure, playing for one of the MLS academy teams (e.g. DC United) is the best place to be in order to make it to the MLS / Next Pro.

I would guess, however, that playing for one of the non-MLS academy teams in the MLS Next youth league (e.g. Bethesda or Alexandria) is the next best place to be---it's where a non-MLS academy player will get the most visibility to the MLS academy.

You'd think, but not really. With the current schedule, DC United's U15 and U17 academy teams play Bethesda and Alexandria exactly once each in a 10-month season. Yes, that is more than zero times, but not what you were probably thinking. No one from Alexandria's team is going to get an MLS Next Pro offer based on that one game a year.

I see. I don't have experience in MLS Next and I just assumed that all teams in MLS Next compete against other MLS Next teams on a regular basis; it sounds like what you're describing is almost a two-tiered MSL Next league, where the MLS Academy teams mostly play each other, and the non-MLS Academy teams mostly play each other, with less-frequent matchups between MLS Academy teams and non-MLS Academy teams. Still, it's at least some exposure to MLS for those players at Bethesda and Alexandria etc.

ProRel wrote:I know the question was about leagues, not clubs, but DCU has a program in place with several local clubs feeds players into their academy system.

https://www.dcunited.com/club/pathway2pro#:~:text=This%20exciting%20partnership%20with%20D.C.,in%20their%20own%20community%20club.

Interesting - thanks.

DCUdad wrote:

anonimouswon wrote:MLSNext is mainly for players looking to go pro especially with MLS creating the MLSNext Pro league which provides a full path to MLS. This doesn't mean colleges don't recruit from MLS Next teams, they do, but traditionally Academy (now MLS Next) is where you want to be to play at the highest level.

This is not really true. Non-MLS academies that play in the MLS Next youth league (think Bethesda or Armour) don't put you any closer to playing in the new MLS Next Pro league, which is essentially a league made up of the reserve teams of full MLS teams. The similar names of the leagues, and their marketing, make it seem this way; but it is not so. If you want to make the reserve team of an MLS side, you need to be on the MLS team's academy (think DC United or Phil Union), not a different academy in the same league. There may be a tiny handful of exceptions, but they are just that.

Sure, playing for one of the MLS academy teams (e.g. DC United) is the best place to be in order to make it to the MLS / Next Pro.

I would guess, however, that playing for one of the non-MLS academy teams in the MLS Next youth league (e.g. Bethesda or Alexandria) is the next best place to be---it's where a non-MLS academy player will get the most visibility to the MLS academy.

Why are they letting outside organizations bully candidates into recusing themselves? The school board needs to carry out its responsibility to the taxpayers and make its own decisions in the best interest of the district. This nonsense has to stop.

Interesting that ECNL allows boys to play for their high school while MLS Next does not. I have one younger kid who is likely at the level to play ECNL/MLS Next and I have been wondering which one would be better for him.

If ECNL will allow him to also enjoy the experience of playing for his high school team, we'll likely go with that league. While he's talented at soccer and will enjoy playing at a high level, I wouldn't want him to miss out on the experience of forming those close bonds of friendship and representing his school alongside his classmates.

If you're in Montco, it's a no-brainer in my opinion: Bethesda.

If I recall correctly, the only other MLS Next clubs in the area are DC United (DC), SYC (VA), and Alexandria (VA).

If you're open to ECNL instead of just MLS Next, there are a few other options.

How old are these kids?

whothey wrote:

Cruzado wrote:

whothey wrote:

Cruzado wrote:

AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.

According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.

If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?

Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.

I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.

Who is it unfair to?

For one, it's unfair to all of the other MLS Next players who also might want to play for their high schools, but who aren't doing so because they agreed to abide by the rules of MLS Next.

That isn’t unfair, that is simply a choice. But my guess is, you believe it is unfair because you feel that MLSNext players playing on your opponents teams giving them an advantage OR MLSNext kids are playing on your school team which makes your kid a bench player.

Life isn’t fair. You can turn them in to SYC if you want but they didn’t break any HS rule by participating. And if the kids are Seniors or commuted Juniors, you’re out of luck.

What you wrote makes no sense. "That isn't unfair, that is simply a choice." What does that even mean? MLS Next players agreed to abide by the rules of the league when they signed up to play MLS Next. I'm sure many of them would also like to play for their high schools, but because it's against the rules they are doing the right thing and abiding by their contract. If one MLS Next player decides that the rules don't apply to him and breaks the rules to play for his high school, that's patently unfair. Whether it's a "choice" or not is beside the point -- it's unfair.

By analogy, if MLS Next players agreed to pay $500 to participate in the league, but one player decides that the rules don't apply to him and he doesn't have to pay, but expects that he can still participate, that's also unfair. (Yes, it's also a "choice" and it's unfair.)

It's not complicated.

And for the record, I don't have a dog in this fight. But if SYC is informed of this violation and doesn't do anything to correct it, well, it's just another black mark on SYC.

whothey wrote:

Cruzado wrote:

AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.

According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.

If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?

Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.

I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.

Who is it unfair to?

For one, it's unfair to all of the other MLS Next players who also might want to play for their high schools, but who aren't doing so because they agreed to abide by the rules of MLS Next.

AnonymousNOT wrote:So I have attended a few High School games already and have noticed some MSL Next players from SYC playing High School soccer at various schools.

According to MLS Next rules and regulations, players are NOT allowed to play High School soccer.

If Alexandria can do the right thing and follow MLS Next rules why can't SYC do the same?

Give SYC the benefit of the doubt -- maybe they don't know that one of their players is also playing for his HS team in violation of the rules.

I'd report it to SYC. I'd also report it to MLS Next. It's unfair and poor sportsmanship to flout the rules of the league.

SoccerWatcher wrote:I can tell you why the BRYC families are upset. BRYC operates with "composite" teams. This means there are 30 plus kids on each ECNL team. 10 of which probably never set foot on an ECNL field but are able to claim being on an ECNL team. They do get to practice with ECNL players so the training is good. With this new partnership that is now gone. Out of the 30 players probably half will be cut. My guess is about 2/3 of each ECNL team will retain the top BRYC players but the top VYS players will displace the bottom of the roster. And all of the composite players are now going to be on an ECNL regional BRYC team. They will play games as BRYC and not under this new BRAVE team. I am guessing there will be quite a bit of duel rostering going on to appease players and families of both clubs but the days of being one of 30 players on an ECNL team are over.

Thanks. That explains why some BRYC parents would be upset.

I don't know if it would play out like that, but if it did, I think that would be a sign of success. If VYS's top players are better than some of the current BRYC players, and take their roster spots, it should make the BRAVE team stronger than what it was when it was just BRYC.

So that's why I don't understand the reference to the BRYC ECNL team (soon-to-be BRAVE) being "degraded" because of the joint venture. Some BRYC kids will lose their places, yes, but all things being equal the BRAVE ECNL would be a stronger team than BRYC ECNL was.

joy4 wrote:So having a boy in the shuffle, what is my choice?

1: going with ECNL badge (mainly VYS) and experiencing degraded team performance in ECNL for 2022-2023 season?
-- Maybe the BRAVE team will survive ECNL?
-- what if BRAVE got boot out? My boy settling down at VYS.

2: going with NVU and playing EDP, same shit, and MOst likely also degrade team performance
-- are those coaches trustable, one years or years in the future?
-- Comfortable at EDP may not / may necessarily fit my boy?

in All, BRYS boys travel is gone. I can image all boys go to VYS and SYC/Burke.

Why do you think that the BRAVE ECNL will be "degraded team performance" as compared to the soon-to-be-defunct BRYC ENCL team performance? How does the collaboration with VYS (and presumably the addition of the top talent from VYS that makes the jump from VYS Eagles to BRAVE ECNL) result in a "degraded" team?

If you were happy enough with BRYC ECNL to have your boys playing on that team this year (or if your kids are younger BRYC players considering BRYC ECNL for future years) I don't know what changed.

Of course, if you were already unsatisfied with BRYC ECNL, and we already looking to go to another ECNL club, the question then becomes does the new BRAVE ECNL team represent enough of a change for you to stick with BRYC.

Nova2Euro wrote:I think you've pretty much covered it.

Was he offered a place on a team in his own age group? If so, which team?

He wasn't offered a place on a team in his own age group. He has played on the top team in his age group for another club.

DMVCoach wrote:What age group are we talking about?

Any chance of a dual roster instead of moving up? Is your kid one of the best players on his current team?

He is one of the best players on his current team (same age kids). I can inquire about the dual-roster idea, which I wouldn't mind. This is U11, so not yet at the puberty stage.

greypanther wrote:This is not a good situation to playing up. The lowest team of a year up is usually much lower than the top 2 teams of the year below. And likely many of these kids are later birthday years from August to December and probably in the same grade as your son. They may not be bigger stronger or faster and have the same playing experience as your son. At the most they may be equal level or lower, but not better.

If your sons level of play is the lower of 3 teams for your age group, then this may be a good decision. If your son is on a top team or in the higher half for his age, then no.

That's what I'm thinking, too. I don't doubt that he "could" make a go of it with the older kids on the 3rd team, and I'm sure that the club is confident that he's a good enough player to handle it. But I don't think he would get as much out of it as he would playing with higher-level kids his own age (or frankly, higher level kids one year up), and these travel teams are not cheap, so we're looking for development as well as having fun and exercising.

My kid was offered a place on an older team (one year up) but on the lowest team of 3 teams in that age group.

My gut instinct is that this is not good for his development; that the technical skill of the players on the 3rd team (and their competition) will be lower even if the kids are a year older; that the gameplay will focus more on physicality/speed, and my kid's smaller size (even for his own age he's on the smaller side) will really hamper him.

On the other hand, I could see the argument that playing a year up against taller, faster, stronger kids might force him to come up with creative ways to use his technical skills to succeed.

I don't know though - my main concerns are the quality of gameplay and, where larger/stronger but less-skilled players are on the field, getting knocked around and potentially injured.

Any thoughts?

realdmv wrote:

mazda1120 wrote:There are things brewing within the boy's side of BRYC that could shift things significantly.

I'm not sure how this will change the boys side. The BRYC boys teams are better than the VYS boys teams. This partnership was done for the bryc girls teams. Although unless more talent goes to this partnership, the ECNL teams will continue to struggle.

That's probably true at the older ages because BRYC is in ECNL and more dedicated players will gravitate toward ECNL or MLS Next teams in the older age groups.

But in terms of developing younger talent that could feed into the new BRAVE team, I'd bet that VYS is equal to BRYC. The key to success of BRAVE will be whether it can successfully funnel the top talent from VYS into BRAVE versus watching them leave for other nearby teams like Arlington, Alexandria, SYC/Mclean, etc.

NovaAttackingMid wrote:This is cosmetics and a show of a good faith effort on the part of BRYC to make a case for maintaining ECNL status. Vienna kids were free to go to BRYC ECNL all along. Most of the top kids chose to go elsewhere or stay at Vienna because their parents don't want to drive them to South Carolina for soccer - they just aren't that into it. Knowing both clubs well, I can tell you that very few will migrate from Vienna to BRAVE for ECNL if they do their research.

Well, if that's the case, it will be short-lived indeed.

While it's true that VYS kids were always free to go to BRYC all along, most would not consider BRYC because there were other ECNL options, notably Arlington, relatively close by. Why join a weaker BRYC team if you can play in ECNL for a stronger club? The BRAVE joint-venture with VYS increases the chances that some VYS kids will consider BRYC, and give BRYC some sorely-needed help. I don't see any downside for BRYC.