Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 12:29     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DS was placed on an MLS Next team for the upcoming year. I was surprised by the number of kids at tryouts that were from the year above but said they were trying out for his year. None of them seemed to be noticeably smaller.


We had this happen at ASA both kids were taller/larger than my son who was the same year as them (and didn’t play down).


ASA definitely has a couple of kids that look like they should be playing up, wonder if they were the bio banded kids


Applies to every single club and team in every league
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 11:47     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DS was placed on an MLS Next team for the upcoming year. I was surprised by the number of kids at tryouts that were from the year above but said they were trying out for his year. None of them seemed to be noticeably smaller.


We had this happen at ASA both kids were taller/larger than my son who was the same year as them (and didn’t play down).


ASA definitely has a couple of kids that look like they should be playing up, wonder if they were the bio banded kids
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 11:25     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:DS was placed on an MLS Next team for the upcoming year. I was surprised by the number of kids at tryouts that were from the year above but said they were trying out for his year. None of them seemed to be noticeably smaller.


We had this happen at ASA both kids were taller/larger than my son who was the same year as them (and didn’t play down).
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 10:45     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
There is no formula
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 10:05     Subject: Re:MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I just found this thread.

Is bio-banding allowed for MLS Next 2?

Could my very small son play down with one age group lower?


Doubt it but worth asking. MLS Next did it as a trial and the program has stuck around. There really needs to be criteria, and this is coming from someone whose son bio-banded for a single season. Also, not every small, skilled kid can play MLS Next. He needs to be near that level in his own age group but having a hard time competing because of the size differential. MLS academies even do it for safety purposes with U13-15.


I agree with this. A biobanded kid should be an impact player on the team they play on, meaning they’re one of the best on the team. I would say this for a kid playing up. A kid playing up should also be an impact player from the get go and getting significant minutes, and not just a bench warmer.


Biobanding used in true soccer countries is about keeping late developers with high potential in the game at high levels

Has nothing to do with them being so-called impact players
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 09:34     Subject: Re:MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I just found this thread.

Is bio-banding allowed for MLS Next 2?

Could my very small son play down with one age group lower?


Doubt it but worth asking. MLS Next did it as a trial and the program has stuck around. There really needs to be criteria, and this is coming from someone whose son bio-banded for a single season. Also, not every small, skilled kid can play MLS Next. He needs to be near that level in his own age group but having a hard time competing because of the size differential. MLS academies even do it for safety purposes with U13-15.


I agree with this. A biobanded kid should be an impact player on the team they play on, meaning they’re one of the best on the team. I would say this for a kid playing up. A kid playing up should also be an impact player from the get go and getting significant minutes, and not just a bench warmer.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2025 09:11     Subject: Re:MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:I just found this thread.

Is bio-banding allowed for MLS Next 2?

Could my very small son play down with one age group lower?


Doubt it but worth asking. MLS Next did it as a trial and the program has stuck around. There really needs to be criteria, and this is coming from someone whose son bio-banded for a single season. Also, not every small, skilled kid can play MLS Next. He needs to be near that level in his own age group but having a hard time competing because of the size differential. MLS academies even do it for safety purposes with U13-15.
Anonymous
Post 06/01/2025 22:47     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Don’t bother with the form. But cash to coach will be key, particularly for small player at start of the ride (U13) - DMV and SoCal for sure.

Can’t definitively state rest of ‘Merica but sport is dirty as hell. Caveat emptor.
Anonymous
Post 05/31/2025 22:03     Subject: Re:MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
I just found this thread.

Is bio-banding allowed for MLS Next 2?

Could my very small son play down with one age group lower?
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:53     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:DS was placed on an MLS Next team for the upcoming year. I was surprised by the number of kids at tryouts that were from the year above but said they were trying out for his year. None of them seemed to be noticeably smaller.


The birth year above? That’s surprising to me but mine aren’t at that age yet.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:51     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
The best thing to do is ask and work with your club and coach. You don't have any saying in if the club will bio band your child at the end of the day so he can play down. Reality is even if your child gets bio band and plays down, it doesn't guarantee maximum playing time. So many factors come into play with tier 1 and the team make up.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 11:41     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Personal experience is not until mid-August. Just before season starts. A bit nerve wrecking, for sure. But, have never heard of an application being denied.


If you don't mind me asking, when did your club start the process? Would it be possible to submit the data earlier? Let's say mid-may? Or do they need to wait for the prior season to officially end?


For us, a verbal agreement to bioband was in place in March, but the league approval likely won't come until the official submit rosters in August. Again, if your son is truly small - there should be no problem receiving approval. If he is not, stop gaming the system. This isn't meant for every small kid. It's meant for the ones with outstanding skills whose size is squeezing them out of the top levels.


Who is the verbal agreement with?


The people who matter in your club, primarily the coach of the team he will be on and the MLS Next Director / age group director.
Anonymous
Post 04/14/2025 09:51     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Personal experience is not until mid-August. Just before season starts. A bit nerve wrecking, for sure. But, have never heard of an application being denied.


If you don't mind me asking, when did your club start the process? Would it be possible to submit the data earlier? Let's say mid-may? Or do they need to wait for the prior season to officially end?


For us, a verbal agreement to bioband was in place in March, but the league approval likely won't come until the official submit rosters in August. Again, if your son is truly small - there should be no problem receiving approval. If he is not, stop gaming the system. This isn't meant for every small kid. It's meant for the ones with outstanding skills whose size is squeezing them out of the top levels.


Who is the verbal agreement with?
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2025 19:58     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Personal experience is not until mid-August. Just before season starts. A bit nerve wrecking, for sure. But, have never heard of an application being denied.


If you don't mind me asking, when did your club start the process? Would it be possible to submit the data earlier? Let's say mid-may? Or do they need to wait for the prior season to officially end?


For us, a verbal agreement to bioband was in place in March, but the league approval likely won't come until the official submit rosters in August. Again, if your son is truly small - there should be no problem receiving approval. If he is not, stop gaming the system. This isn't meant for every small kid. It's meant for the ones with outstanding skills whose size is squeezing them out of the top levels.
Anonymous
Post 04/13/2025 19:41     Subject: MLS Next Late Developer/ Bio-banding Formula
DS was placed on an MLS Next team for the upcoming year. I was surprised by the number of kids at tryouts that were from the year above but said they were trying out for his year. None of them seemed to be noticeably smaller.