Anonymous
02/23/2026 15:34
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Rolling offers for Arlington ECNL-NL have started. Does anyone know what Alexandria is up to with their MLSNext HD offers? Is that team essentially set? Same for SYC and NVA?
Not a current Alexandria player but have our HD offer from Alexandria.
Did you receive it today? Would like to know if you've had it for a few days or they are finishing up the emails?
Today - don’t worry!
Anonymous
02/23/2026 14:37
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Rolling offers for Arlington ECNL-NL have started. Does anyone know what Alexandria is up to with their MLSNext HD offers? Is that team essentially set? Same for SYC and NVA?
Not a current Alexandria player but have our HD offer from Alexandria.
Did you receive it today? Would like to know if you've had it for a few days or they are finishing up the emails?
Anonymous
02/23/2026 14:27
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Rolling offers for Arlington ECNL-NL have started. Does anyone know what Alexandria is up to with their MLSNext HD offers? Is that team essentially set? Same for SYC and NVA?
Not a current Alexandria player but have our HD offer from Alexandria.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 13:02
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
MD side has not started yet. It looks like Armour has taken the MD State Associations advice and inverted the tryouts by starting with the older age groups first and then trickling down. We will see what Bethesda and Achilles do in the next few weeks.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 11:41
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Rolling offers for Arlington ECNL-NL have started. Does anyone know what Alexandria is up to with their MLSNext HD offers? Is that team essentially set? Same for SYC and NVA?
SYC is essentially finalized for HD already. Alexandria has sent a few offers out but doing rolling offers as they work down the roster. NVA and Arlington pretty much the same.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 11:38
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Curious where all the best kids are flocking. I assume they are aiming for MLS Next teams with ECNL as more of a fallback? Maybe Arlington or VDA if they prefer ECNL? Mine tried out for Arlington knowing it’s a long shot, wondering how many of their current players will accept or if they are going for MLSNext. Arlington made it sound like they might invite some kids back for one more session, but at this point I would think they are just offering and working their way down the list depending on acceptances.
I think that's very true. My assumption is they are in recruitment mode right now for key players. Once they get that critical mass locked in, they'll start working down a ranked list. Other issue is whether guys go down to U12 or even want to go. Arlington has a very competitive 2015 squad already and that U12 team will carry 12-14 players tops whereas U13 could have as many as 22??? That's a big difference. Lots of moving parts.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 10:50
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Curious where all the best kids are flocking. I assume they are aiming for MLS Next teams with ECNL as more of a fallback? Maybe Arlington or VDA if they prefer ECNL? Mine tried out for Arlington knowing it’s a long shot, wondering how many of their current players will accept or if they are going for MLSNext. Arlington made it sound like they might invite some kids back for one more session, but at this point I would think they are just offering and working their way down the list depending on acceptances.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 10:19
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Rolling offers for Arlington ECNL-NL have started. Does anyone know what Alexandria is up to with their MLSNext HD offers? Is that team essentially set? Same for SYC and NVA?
Anonymous
02/23/2026 10:13
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
In Virginia at least, the ECNL allowed teams to start making offers on 2/1 instead of 3/1 - so that accelerated offers for the NL teams only. The MLSNext teams with a Homegrown team have been ID sessions or inviting players to practice with them for a few months now and making rolling offers (first to current players).
The cycle for many -RL teams, NCSL teams, and Academy Division MLS teams is still looking like April for most teams (though I believe I saw Arlington might have stated their RL tryouts and pre-Academy tryouts for U11/12 this weekend, but admittedly wasn’t paying close attention).
Point being, you likely haven’t missed much if you are staying U12 but I’d start to pay closer attention if you are looking to switch clubs.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 09:53
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Who knows. People are holding on to their offer and transfer portal decisions like classified information. Maybe I'll release my kid's offer email with appropriate redactions and a fully unverifiable self assertion that I'm the most transparent parent the commonwealth has ever seen. Feels about right.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 08:24
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.
Clubs have already started tryouts? I didn't realize. This is our first year. However my 2014 boy will stay U12 due to the new age group changes.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 00:14
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:First tryout, first offer for 1st team. We will not accept any offer until May although we will do the rounds with a few clubs.
Most clubs give you 2-3 days to accept an offer. They are giving you 3 months?
Every club will swipe your CC at any time of the year. Clubs want to win so they don't turn down talent and the money.
Have you ever waited past the 3 days? They will call multiple times, I promise.
If they want you, they will wait.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 23:45
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
Anonymous wrote:First tryout, first offer for 1st team. We will not accept any offer until May although we will do the rounds with a few clubs.
Most clubs give you 2-3 days to accept an offer. They are giving you 3 months?
Anonymous
02/22/2026 23:11
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
First tryout, first offer for 1st team. We will not accept any offer until May although we will do the rounds with a few clubs.
Anonymous
02/22/2026 22:46
Subject: 2014 Boys (U13) Offer/Status Check-In
How’s everyone faring? Drop a note below, stay sane, and don’t be a jerk.