Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 22:38     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Attended the invite only tryout of Loudoun, not sure if they needed any new players. Coaches had the current team play on field and rest on the other. Felt like a waste of time to tryout.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 17:23     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Case in point . One of the loudoun AD teams beat NVA in a scrimmage. Instead of letting some giving those loudoun players a chance, they are cutting NVA players and replacing them with outside players.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 14:12     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:McLean only has AD. They don’t have HG.


Right. It looks like starting at U13 the top McLean team plays in MLS Next AD Virginia league, and the second team plays in NAL. Just wondering how NAL compares to ECNL-RL. Is it more like EDP?
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 14:00     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
McLean only has AD. They don’t have HG.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 13:48     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development?


Similar but will depend on the particular age group / coach. Overall, probably 60-40 in favor of Loudoun, but that would not necessarily make a longer training commute worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Winter programming?


Similar but in both cases, families are largely left to their own devices at the MLSN2 / ECNL-RL level, so it depends on the particular teams. Some teams do a lot in the winter, others do not.

Anonymous wrote:Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?


Being on the Loudoun U12 top team is a huge advantage for making NVA U13. After that, I'm not sure it matters what team you are on, if you want to move from an MLSN2 or ECNL-RL team (or FVU ECNL) to NVA. NVA will drop a few players, or players will move, and they will bring in new players as needed. There is both a luck and skill component to opportunities from the outside.

This tryout season is weird, because of the age cutoff change. It will be easier for Aug-Dec birthdays to make age-appropriate MLSN2, ECNL and ECNL-RL teams.



Thank you for the info. I am seeing that from U13 up, McLean first team plays in MLS Next AD (is that a league?) and the second team in the NAL? Is that a good league? Curious how it compares to ECNL-RL.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 10:39     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development?


Similar but will depend on the particular age group / coach. Overall, probably 60-40 in favor of Loudoun, but that would not necessarily make a longer training commute worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Winter programming?


Similar but in both cases, families are largely left to their own devices at the MLSN2 / ECNL-RL level, so it depends on the particular teams. Some teams do a lot in the winter, others do not.

Anonymous wrote:Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?


Being on the Loudoun U12 top team is a huge advantage for making NVA U13. After that, I'm not sure it matters what team you are on, if you want to move from an MLSN2 or ECNL-RL team (or FVU ECNL) to NVA. NVA will drop a few players, or players will move, and they will bring in new players as needed. There is both a luck and skill component to opportunities from the outside.

This tryout season is weird, because of the age cutoff change. It will be easier for Aug-Dec birthdays to make age-appropriate MLSN2, ECNL and ECNL-RL teams.

Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 10:13     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:If I were in your shoes, I would attend a game or two for each team and also see if you have a connection with a player or parent on either team to get some perspective. Be on a competitive team with close friends, at the right level for the player, and keep it relatively convenient for the family.


The one player we know seems to be leaving or has already left McLean for Loudoun. We are friendly when we see each other, but not close enough to reach out. I suspect the move is because NVA is a real option for this player. I wish I knew if there was a specific reason for leaving McLean. Unfortunately the clubs that are most convenient for us have their share of issues, so now looking at others a little further away but still doable.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 10:00     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
If I were in your shoes, I would attend a game or two for each team and also see if you have a connection with a player or parent on either team to get some perspective. Be on a competitive team with close friends, at the right level for the player, and keep it relatively convenient for the family.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 09:02     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:I would pick based on what is a better group of boys in your son’s age group.

At my son’s age, the Loudoun boys (now NVA) were way more down to earth and nice than the McLean boys. I’m sure it varies across age groups but getting in a nice culture is going to be impactful for your experience.


I wish meeting the other kids and more importantly the parents was part of a tryout experience! Have been able to meet other parents when attending a practice, but not at a big tryout. Makes sense that McLean parents would not be the most down to earth types out there.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 08:53     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development? Winter programming? Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?


They do both but let’s be honest. Your kids chances of jumping from a club second team to an MLS Next HG team will be difficult unless they have improved their skills and game impact significantly. Coaches on HG teams always looking for the right talent for team needs but you have to make the team and play well enough to stay on the team too. Shorter term goal might be to make an AD team and keep improving and moving up. Just my general experience observations but your situation might be different


I should have been more clear that AD is the goal at this point and not necessarily trying out at Loudoun thinking it will somehow open up a path to NVA. My son has played against those kids and he is not at their level right now. Just wondering which club would be better for the AD level.

I am especially wondering if the Loudoun AD teams have more of a “second team” feel where kids feel like they are always competing with each other to be invited to guest play or be considered to move up, and families getting caught up in that. We have been there done that and my son would prefer to be on the top team at a club if possible because in our experience there’s actually less drama.


Well AD is the top team at Loudoun U13 and above, NVA is the HG club. Do they have a chance to play up in Loudoun age group if they have the skills and the older team has player needs sure, seen it myself. More likely in a game by game situation and not for the entire season.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 08:43     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development? Winter programming? Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?


They do both but let’s be honest. Your kids chances of jumping from a club second team to an MLS Next HG team will be difficult unless they have improved their skills and game impact significantly. Coaches on HG teams always looking for the right talent for team needs but you have to make the team and play well enough to stay on the team too. Shorter term goal might be to make an AD team and keep improving and moving up. Just my general experience observations but your situation might be different


I should have been more clear that AD is the goal at this point and not necessarily trying out at Loudoun thinking it will somehow open up a path to NVA. My son has played against those kids and he is not at their level right now. Just wondering which club would be better for the AD level.

I am especially wondering if the Loudoun AD teams have more of a “second team” feel where kids feel like they are always competing with each other to be invited to guest play or be considered to move up, and families getting caught up in that. We have been there done that and my son would prefer to be on the top team at a club if possible because in our experience there’s actually less drama.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 08:34     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
I would pick based on what is a better group of boys in your son’s age group.

At my son’s age, the Loudoun boys (now NVA) were way more down to earth and nice than the McLean boys. I’m sure it varies across age groups but getting in a nice culture is going to be impactful for your experience.
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 08:16     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development? Winter programming? Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?


They do both but let’s be honest. Your kids chances of jumping from a club second team to an MLS Next HG team will be difficult unless they have improved their skills and game impact significantly. Coaches on HG teams always looking for the right talent for team needs but you have to make the team and play well enough to stay on the team too. Shorter term goal might be to make an AD team and keep improving and moving up. Just my general experience observations but your situation might be different
Anonymous
Post 02/25/2026 01:40     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
Anonymous wrote:I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development? Winter programming? Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?
they recruit from outside.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2026 23:36     Subject: Loudoun vs. McLean for boys
I see both of these have the second tier of MLS Next. How do these two clubs compare in terms of coaching, roster sizes, and player development? Winter programming? Are players leaving (or trying to switch to) one or the other in greater numbers? I understand Loudoun feeds into NVA, which I could see as being an advantage. But do they really even look at the kids on the second team, or just recruit from outside anyway? If people had to guess, will it be easier to make the academy team at one or the other for next year?