Anonymous wrote:Is making the effort to drive about 45 minutes one way to a MLS next team (Alexandria, Bethesda or syc) worth? Or should I stick with ecnl or ecnl RL for u13 next year?

ECNL may approximate the level of play in MLS Next; ECNL-RL is definitely a step down in terms of level of play.

Really it all depends on how good your kid is, how much he loves the game and is willing to sacrifice for it (e.g., doing his homework in the car during the ride, being efficient with his time outside of soccer), and what he wants to do with soccer -- is he really aiming for a professional career or does he want to just play through high school, college?

We drive about 30 minutes for an MLS Next team my kid is on, versus 20 for an ECNL team my kid could play for. Not a huge difference for us but even if the ECNL team was 5 minutes away, we'd still probably stick with the MLS Next team. YMMV.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is making the effort to drive about 45 minutes one way to a MLS next team (Alexandria, Bethesda or syc) worth? Or should I stick with ecnl or ecnl RL for u13 next year?

Let your kid make the squad first

😉

and isn't 'worth it' based on each individuals needs and goals?

Anonymous wrote:Is making the effort to drive about 45 minutes one way to a MLS next team (Alexandria, Bethesda or syc) worth? Or should I stick with ecnl or ecnl RL for u13 next year?

Let your kid make the squad first

Is making the effort to drive about 45 minutes one way to a MLS next team (Alexandria, Bethesda or syc) worth? Or should I stick with ecnl or ecnl RL for u13 next year?

Last year there was 2x games. This year there is 34 and the Spring season starts a lot earlier, Feb vs April.

Our club is not going to play in the usual tournaments due to schedule conflict.

For U13, we have 34 games for the year currently listed, half in the fall, half in the spring. But it’s our first year in MLSNext so I have no idea what the number of games were last year or if what OP says is true that there has been a substantial increase.

Anonymous wrote:With the higher number of games MLSNext teams are playing this year (substantially more), have your MLSNext teamed changed anything about their training, roster, or schedule?

Thanks!

What age groups and exactly how many more games than last season?

Yes, less tournaments.

With the higher number of games MLSNext teams are playing this year (substantially more), have your MLSNext teamed changed anything about their training, roster, or schedule?

Thanks!