Anonymous wrote:I think between Alexandria, Arlington, and SYC there are three great options in a potentially drivable area. Those who are arguing that Arlington gets more kids to MLS academies than Alexandria (facts seem to confirm) are often people with kids who will never be invited to MLS academies. Focus on what's important...if your kid is in the 1% and is being courted by academies or D1 schools then you can be very critical on some of the fine margins between for-profit clubs. If your kid isn't in that 1% (usually pretty obvious) then do what is convenient. Why worry about prestige?

There will be countless people on here arguing that Arlington is better because they send more kids to academies and their kid is bang on average! Hilarious

+1 We are on an MLSNext team and the most talented kids are usually not trying to club hop or trying to find greener pastures or care much overall about how the team or club is even doing. They stay put wherever they are because they are likely happy with their coaching and development.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.

No one in this area, including Alexandria is loosing their MLSNext credentials. And only one (NVA) has been added locally.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.

Again you are confused. They are MLS Next...MLS Next 1 so to speak and have been for a long time. Most of the additions are MLS Next 2 including Alexandria adding MLS Next 2. Not the same thing at all.

I think between Alexandria, Arlington, and SYC there are three great options in a potentially drivable area. Those who are arguing that Arlington gets more kids to MLS academies than Alexandria (facts seem to confirm) are often people with kids who will never be invited to MLS academies. Focus on what's important...if your kid is in the 1% and is being courted by academies or D1 schools then you can be very critical on some of the fine margins between for-profit clubs. If your kid isn't in that 1% (usually pretty obvious) then do what is convenient. Why worry about prestige?

There will be countless people on here arguing that Arlington is better because they send more kids to academies and their kid is bang on average! Hilarious

Anyone know what the chances are that Alexandria loses MLS Next top team with all the new MLS next additions locally. Or is the plan to over saturate the area with mls next teams over the next few years like what is happening to the GA now.

Full disclaimer: not affiliated with either club

We have attended many programs and summer camps with both and I felt both were well organized for football clubs. EVERY club in this area would fail a Ritz Carlton service audit miserably, my current club included. Ignore any parents complaining about that. Their expectations are way too high.

I think people put too much on the team and not enough on the individual development.

I would lean towards Arlington simply due to proximity and the ability to just hop across the bridge. I do think ECNL is a sinking ship on the boys side, but parents make too much of this alphabet league and I say that with a kid on a 1st team with a MLS badge club.

I would seriously do the one that is most convenient. I have learned that many kids quit because of the pressure their parents put on them. Parents put pressure because they are sacrificing $ and time to fight DMV traffic only to see little Johnny give a lackluster effort which frustrates them because of everything they sacrificed. Lower the workload and expectations and allow a child to learn and make mistakes and the development with increase tremendously.

You have two great options. DC parents do not 🤦‍♂️

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

aren't they MLSN2 though? that's not any better than RL

Alexandria is full MLS Next 1 and been that way for a while.

Both are good clubs; we've had experience with both.

MLSNext (tier 1, not the new tier 2 MLSNext2 which seems like a marketing gimmick for a "B team" league) is viewed by most as the top boys league, and Alexandria has MLSNext.

ECNL is seen by most as the second best boys league, with the added perk that ECNL players can play high school soccer as well as ECNL (whereas MLSNext players are not permitted to play high school soccer). That said, Arlington's ECNL teams do seem to funnel a lot of players to legit MLS Academies; for whatever reason it seems more Arlington players get scooped up by MLS Academies than Alexandria players.

Ask Alexandria about their oldest age group MLS Next team - what ridiculously high percentage of that team couldn’t get into college (and obviously couldn’t go pro) so had to come back to the team the following year with no other options.

Arlington boys is only all of these things mentioned if you are on the top team (ECNL). There is no help with development, advancement, or college recruiting for anyone else and the boys coaching staff is not strong beyond the top level. So, if your son is going to be headed for the top and those things are important to you, go for it. But, don't expect anything special if your son is RL or NCSL. It's fine, but it's not what people are talking about above!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

Alexandria is a mess--if you went to their tryouts you know what I mean. Totally disorganized. Arlington is stable and has their act together on college recruiting- not to mention they have connections with MLS--lots of their players get scooped up by academies (moreso than Alexandria) so they clearly do a good job with that...

Please provide actual stats with respect to lots of Arlington players that were scooped up by academies…

I’m the last few months I know of 2 DCU, 2 Austin FC and 1 New England Revolution coming from Arlington

This may have less to do with the club and more to do with the players. If your child is good enough to be at an MLS academy they will be noticed on either Arlington or Alexandria. Maybe this is showing that Arlington is getting better players more often than Alexandria or maybe its simply that a few families chose to live in Arlington instead of Alexandria and didn't want to make an extra drive.

Its not as deep as people make it...if your kid is good enough they will get noticed at either. If you are expecting the club to be the one who makes your kid good enough then you will absolutely lose this battle and end in tears. Alexandria sends kids to academies as well. Choose what is best for your family and pray they are motivated enough to earn the call up.

I posted the stats as an answer to a question, one that came off as a little snarky. I agree completely that a good player will get noticed at either Club.
But I'll also say Arlington obviously has the connections, I know a few of those kids were there a long time, so I'd say the development and also the motivation to get deserving kids looks from Academies.

FYI I'm not with Arlington, but have a 2009 ECNL boy and have been impressed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

Alexandria is a mess--if you went to their tryouts you know what I mean. Totally disorganized. Arlington is stable and has their act together on college recruiting- not to mention they have connections with MLS--lots of their players get scooped up by academies (moreso than Alexandria) so they clearly do a good job with that...

Please provide actual stats with respect to lots of Arlington players that were scooped up by academies…

I’m the last few months I know of 2 DCU, 2 Austin FC and 1 New England Revolution coming from Arlington

This may have less to do with the club and more to do with the players. If your child is good enough to be at an MLS academy they will be noticed on either Arlington or Alexandria. Maybe this is showing that Arlington is getting better players more often than Alexandria or maybe its simply that a few families chose to live in Arlington instead of Alexandria and didn't want to make an extra drive.

Its not as deep as people make it...if your kid is good enough they will get noticed at either. If you are expecting the club to be the one who makes your kid good enough then you will absolutely lose this battle and end in tears. Alexandria sends kids to academies as well. Choose what is best for your family and pray they are motivated enough to earn the call up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

Alexandria is a mess--if you went to their tryouts you know what I mean. Totally disorganized. Arlington is stable and has their act together on college recruiting- not to mention they have connections with MLS--lots of their players get scooped up by academies (moreso than Alexandria) so they clearly do a good job with that...

Please provide actual stats with respect to lots of Arlington players that were scooped up by academies…

I’m the last few months I know of 2 DCU, 2 Austin FC and 1 New England Revolution coming from Arlington

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

aren't they MLSN2 though? that's not any better than RL

They have had MLSNext since the beginning, and added MLSNext 2 starting in fall '25

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is an ECNL club. Alexandria is an MLSN/GA

For boys, MLSN is highest level. For girls, ECNL is highest level.

It’s MLSNext.

there are 2 tiers to MLS Next though - does Alexandria have tier 1 or tier 2?

They have both