MLS Academies are superior, but non-Academy MLS Next are on par with ECNL.

We just got back from Jefferson Cup and Bethesda’s MLS Next 2011 and 2012 each lost two of their three group matches to ECNL teams and each failed to qualify for knockout games. 2012s weren’t even in the top bracket. Most top ECNL teams are very competitive with, if not better than, the non-pro affiliated MLS Next teams.

https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/33264

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do ecnl national and MLSN 1 practice the same amount of time per week? is it 4 times per week? same number of hours?

is it the same off season (winter and summer)?

is it any different for u13?

I heard vda, Arlington and union all 3 times a week at u13

VDA practices 4 times a week. Arlington has 4 sessions--3 practice and 1 strength. FVU has 2 - 3 a week on average.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do ecnl national and MLSN 1 practice the same amount of time per week? is it 4 times per week? same number of hours?

is it the same off season (winter and summer)?

is it any different for u13?

I heard vda, Arlington and union all 3 times a week at u13

Anonymous wrote:do ecnl national and MLSN 1 practice the same amount of time per week? is it 4 times per week? same number of hours?

is it the same off season (winter and summer)?

is it any different for u13?

do ecnl national and MLSN 1 practice the same amount of time per week? is it 4 times per week? same number of hours?

is it the same off season (winter and summer)?

Anonymous wrote:MLSN has always been > ECNL

This isn't surprising, or new.

https://www.socceranalytix.com/034-ecnl-vs-mls-next-a-january-2025-benchmark/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SYC 0 VDA 11

I watched the extended highlights on youtube of this game... there were a lot of good goals by VDA.
VDA s ranked #10 in the country for the 2008 age group and SYC MLS Next is ranked #88 in the country.

A lot of the VDA players were bigger in the video and just overmatched the SYC players. And I have to wonder if SYC was trying out some younger players in that match? Not sure.

It would be great if they somehow faced off one more time before that age group graduates and the kids go their separate ways.

Ok let's stop with this--'they were playing younger players BS.' Everytime Next looses, this is the excuse. We all know it was SYCs starting line up playing. This is a small soccer community. The VDA boys know the SYC boys. Enough with the 'next teams weren't tryiing, the coaches didn't want to win so they brough up 14 year olds. ' It just sounds like sour grapes.

On any given day maybe SYC wil win. They didn't. They lost. Next and ECNL are equivalent when you pair them head to head. There are good teams and bad teams in both. In direct match ups the win loss ratio is equal (which is posted on social media if you wanted to find it).

Anonymous wrote:There are discussion threads repeatedly asking and checking if Arlington and NVA will move MLS Next. There are several in the areas already, try out to those.

I'm sure MLS Next isn't trying to follow ECNL and approve to many team in a given area and dilute its brand.

Is NVA Loudoun? If yes, welcome to MLSNext.

MLSN Non academy here. We lost to Academy team by 1 goal and my sons had several highlights in that game. He twice moved the ball away from 2 academy players.

And as a Dec. kid, we are going to move him to ECNL team when change to SY. The ECNL team is comparable to his current MLS team. He will play full time and wants to play national playoff. He also want to have a HS break to play with his friends.

Quite a few MLS Next non-academy kids are dual nationals. You’d be surprised who plays where in the youth ranks throughout COCACAF. I don’t know ECNL, but wouldn’t be surprised if some of those players do too.

You people do know there is no such actual thing as MLS Next vs ECNL

Its all a concoction of dads fragile egos

There are discussion threads repeatedly asking and checking if Arlington and NVA will move MLS Next. There are several in the areas already, try out to those.

I'm sure MLS Next isn't trying to follow ECNL and approve to many team in a given area and dilute its brand.

Anonymous wrote:Would be impossible to find any evidence of ECNL over MLS Next as a league. There may be some top ECNL teams that are getting results, but MLSN is clearly the better league. If you can play against MLS Academies then you are in the right place.

However, the top players will get sucked up by the academies whether they are ECNL or MLSN. So, if you have a top baller then it doesn't really matter!

Some focus on their kid
Some focus on team
Some focus on league

Usually depends on how the kid is doing as an individual player

Would be impossible to find any evidence of ECNL over MLS Next as a league. There may be some top ECNL teams that are getting results, but MLSN is clearly the better league. If you can play against MLS Academies then you are in the right place.

However, the top players will get sucked up by the academies whether they are ECNL or MLSN. So, if you have a top baller then it doesn't really matter!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SYC 0 VDA 11

I watched the extended highlights on youtube of this game... there were a lot of good goals by VDA.
VDA s ranked #10 in the country for the 2008 age group and SYC MLS Next is ranked #88 in the country.

A lot of the VDA players were bigger in the video and just overmatched the SYC players. And I have to wonder if SYC was trying out some younger players in that match? Not sure.

It would be great if they somehow faced off one more time before that age group graduates and the kids go their separate ways.

don't forget 2010 syc still sucks, rolled over by Armour

Armour plays MLS Next also, and a 2-0 loss isn't exactly news worthy.