Reply to MLS academy moving to 15/16/18 age group

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[quote=Anonymous]From this post https://x.com/chai_asc/status/1772744500038779026?s=20
I am hearing that the decision to change the age levels (U15/U16/U18) within MLS Next has been approved today by the powers that be. What does this mean?

▫️ U16 becomes a required age group, it was optional before
▫️ U18 replaces the U19 age group (I am unsure if this is required because not all MLS clubs had a U19 team)

I view this as a positive change. Here is why:

▫️ If a U16 player was at an academy that didn't have a U16 club and was not an elite prospect, they often struggle for playing time during a key development year
▫️ For academies that did have a U16 team, the competition isn't as good
▫️ A U18 division can serve as a MLS Next Pro preseason of sorts for top U18 players. As of right now, those players scramble for playing time between the end of the U17 season and the start of MLSNP
▫️ This should make U18 level reasonably competitive whereas the U19 level was not—a lot of pre college players and guys who didn't have a strong pro future
▫️ U17 players will face better competition within U18 division
▫️ Overall I think it also gives elite players more viable options to play against older/more advanced players[/quote]

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