Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 17:08     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Tryin to understand how this all works.



MLS Academy - Best competition, most resources.
ECNL - teams with full pathway including RL and USL affiliation are next and usually best option in non-MLS cities. College exposure is probably best and pro academy exposure almost as good as MLS Next. Some clubs allow players to participate in high school.
MLS Next - Usually equal talent level as ECNL teams. Get to play pro academy teams yearly, so better pro exposure. No high school participation.
Smaller ECNL clubs and MLS Next 2 - Depends of location. Usually 2nd option in locales with dominant ECNL/MLS Next clubs. Can be a money grab as these orgs are rapidly expanding.



If this is a "ranking" then this is not accurate. MLS Next is "better" because it provides better opportunities for your child. If your kid can make an MLS Next top team, then you are silly to say no for ECNL. This isn't even debatable to be honest. Better competition, better events, better eyes on you. ECNL cannot compare.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 15:22     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

MLS Next because you MLS is where Messi plays
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 13:37     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

MLS Next is clearly winning as a league. But in reality, the team levels are similar between MLS Next and ECNL, with MLS Academy teams on top.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 13:24     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Here's how it works...

Most of the people that comment on DCUM have girls playing. The top girls leagues are ECNL and GA. ECNL parents are very cultish + love everything ECNL. These same parents think they know everything about boys youth soccer and try to apply their girls ECNL knowledge to boys. It creates all kinds of chaos because girls and boys top pathways are completely different.

The reality is that MLSN is where most boys would prefer to play. There's all kinds of reasons but others can explain that.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 12:38     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Anonymous wrote:they both play very average soccer compared to global counterparts at the same age, done!


At least we have our MNT ready to dominate next year's World Cup.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 11:29     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Can my kid play in high school AND for a league?
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 11:20     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Anonymous wrote:How does does NCSL and EDP compare?
Assuming we don’t want to travel outside the DC area.


Oh boy!

NCSL Division 1 is very good below u13
The lower the NCSL division, the lower the teams.

A step up is EDP, but there is further travel into MD, PA and DE.

EDP I and II are very good below u13 also.

The lower the division in EDP, the lower the teams.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 11:08     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

How does does NCSL and EDP compare?
Assuming we don’t want to travel outside the DC area.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 10:54     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

they both play very average soccer compared to global counterparts at the same age, done!
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 09:25     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Anonymous wrote:Tryin to understand how this all works.



MLS Academy - Best competition, most resources.
ECNL - teams with full pathway including RL and USL affiliation are next and usually best option in non-MLS cities. College exposure is probably best and pro academy exposure almost as good as MLS Next. Some clubs allow players to participate in high school.
MLS Next - Usually equal talent level as ECNL teams. Get to play pro academy teams yearly, so better pro exposure. No high school participation.
Smaller ECNL clubs and MLS Next 2 - Depends of location. Usually 2nd option in locales with dominant ECNL/MLS Next clubs. Can be a money grab as these orgs are rapidly expanding.

Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 08:32     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Both leagues have some really good teams and less competitive teams.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2025 01:46     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Anonymous wrote:You want us to

tell you what works for you?


lol. Beware the bomb throwing troll! Just ignore.

Both are great. The end.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 21:28     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

You want us to tell you what works for you?
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 20:38     Subject: Re:which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Here is 4 pages worth to get your started.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1256590.page
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2025 20:33     Subject: which is better - ecnl or mlsnext?

Tryin to understand how this all works.