Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

It is a pretty great way to grow men’s soccer, IMO. The level of our men’s team is on the rise, and for the many young players who featured in the Nations League and Gold Cup, their DA experience was a big part of what got them ready to play at the level. Boys in our area are definitely looking at DA-developed teens who are playing for DC United or other MLS teams and making six figures, or teens in the Bundesliga like Reyna, Hoppe, and Scally who are making many multiples of that.

I think it works out for everyone for talented players to try MLSNext. If they don’t make it there, or don’t enjoy the sacrifices, they can always drop back down and play HS. If they do well, they will have either pro opportunities or college recruiting ones. For every kid who stays in MLSNext and obeys the no-HS rules, another HS roster spot opens up for a kid who was borderline to make the HS team. You end up with more kids in the high-level pipeline and additional kids having fun with HS soccer. What’s not to like about this set-up?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

HS soccer is a terrible game at any level that, at best, will represent a regression in all the important areas you're trying to teach kids at that age. At worst, it can and often does result in injuries (because it's sh!tball) that knock kids off the development track.

If a kid wants to become a pro, he's gonna have to sacrifice things like HS letters, bus rides, and wearing his jersey at school (not sure if it's the same for girls, btw). There will be plenty on that road to build social experience and IQ. If he doesn't want to be a pro (or play at least at a "high-level" college), then why do MLSNext?

The whole notion of kids being ‘knocked off the development track’ is total BS. For the handful of kids that are on a pro track, by the middle of HS they are training - and likely playing - with MLS reserve teams and have no time for a HS team. For the other 95% of MLSNext players, they may as well play HS.

Are all HS sports banned or just soccer?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD and private HS play in the Fall. I'm wondering how this has affected teams. Our any kids that usually would play sitting our or are they just hoping not to get caught?

Public HS (at least where I am in MD), no MLSNext kids that I know of. As others have noted it would get back to the club pretty quickly. The players know each other (and if they don't, social media connects them), parents know each other, some club coaches even come to HS games to support their players. They will get caught, though to be honest not sure what happens if they are.

Private is a bit different, MLSNext teams can give out a limited number of waivers so that private school kids can play HS. The only one I personally know doing this basically got the HS to say the kid's admission was based partly on soccer, which earns him a waiver. Wasn't true, but that's how it works.

Yes, we have known of a few instances of this for private schools. The school ties the student's "financial aid" or admissions to a sport and that allows the MLSNEXT team to provide a waiver. It happens all the time. There is usually a deal made between the school and club teams (most of the coaches know each other at the local higher level). If the club team doesn't allow the kid (usually a very good player) to play they go and play for a rival that allows for the waiver.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

HS soccer is a terrible game at any level that, at best, will represent a regression in all the important areas you're trying to teach kids at that age. At worst, it can and often does result in injuries (because it's sh!tball) that knock kids off the development track.

If a kid wants to become a pro, he's gonna have to sacrifice things like HS letters, bus rides, and wearing his jersey at school (not sure if it's the same for girls, btw). There will be plenty on that road to build social experience and IQ. If he doesn't want to be a pro (or play at least at a "high-level" college), then why do MLSNext?

If he wants to be a pro, he should be at an MLS Academy. SYC is not producing pro’s.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

HS soccer is a terrible game at any level that, at best, will represent a regression in all the important areas you're trying to teach kids at that age. At worst, it can and often does result in injuries (because it's sh!tball) that knock kids off the development track.

If a kid wants to become a pro, he's gonna have to sacrifice things like HS letters, bus rides, and wearing his jersey at school (not sure if it's the same for girls, btw). There will be plenty on that road to build social experience and IQ. If he doesn't want to be a pro (or play at least at a "high-level" college), then why do MLSNext?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

Totally understand MLSNext teams not allowing team activities to be missed for HS or any other team, but it’s dumb that they try to control what a kid is doing in their free time. They’re not signing 95%+ of them to contracts anyway.

Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

Anonymous wrote:MD and private HS play in the Fall. I'm wondering how this has affected teams. Our any kids that usually would play sitting our or are they just hoping not to get caught?

Public HS (at least where I am in MD), no MLSNext kids that I know of. As others have noted it would get back to the club pretty quickly. The players know each other (and if they don't, social media connects them), parents know each other, some club coaches even come to HS games to support their players. They will get caught, though to be honest not sure what happens if they are.

Private is a bit different, MLSNext teams can give out a limited number of waivers so that private school kids can play HS. The only one I personally know doing this basically got the HS to say the kid's admission was based partly on soccer, which earns him a waiver. Wasn't true, but that's how it works.

My son. Doesn’t care.

We knew a kid on a U14 DA team a few years ago who decided to risk playing MS soccer at our public, figuring it was pretty safe since there is basically zero reporting on MS sports. A parent for the opposing team called his DA coach about 30 seconds in to his first game to rat him out. I wouldn’t take the chance. It’s also kind of remarkable how many kids get injured playing MS or HS soccer.

Sitting out. HS rosters are published. Too easy to get caught.

Anonymous wrote:MD and private HS play in the Fall. I'm wondering how this has affected teams. Our any kids that usually would play sitting our or are they just hoping not to get caught?

sitting out.

Anonymous wrote:MD and private HS play in the Fall. I'm wondering how this has affected teams. Our any kids that usually would play sitting our or are they just hoping not to get caught?

yes all of them.

MD and private HS play in the Fall. I'm wondering how this has affected teams. Our any kids that usually would play sitting our or are they just hoping not to get caught?