Anonymous
08/05/2025 12:52
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Most of the brackets and schedules are out and this all looks so dumb. For the year before everyone starts MLSN, the lack of thought and organization is crazy. Theres like five different divisions or leagues where the “top” 2014 teams play, and almost none of them will play each other more than a handful of times.
Every team/club has their own priorities and the abundance of leagues and teams enable this. Example some teams like SYC chases gotsport points and plays often in two leagues and split teams simultaneously. Others position just to win like in division 2 NCSL, and others worry about travel time. Think we all wish the competition and leagues were aligned in the best interest of the kids and their development but it's not right now. Maybe someday.
When my son was U12 (he's a 2010), he played in an EDP hosted division called the Atlantic Development League. It had Achilles, Arlington, SYC, Bethesda, SAC/Armour, Loudoun, and probably a couple I'm forgetting. It was a good group of the better clubs and included ECNL and MLSN bound teams. It would be nice for current U12s to have something like that.
You son had a much better experience then. That would be infinitely better than what the current 2014’s are getting.
They are spread out in EDP, NAL, Chesapeake or whatever the ECNL clubs are doing. They would all get better by playing one another.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 12:16
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Most of the brackets and schedules are out and this all looks so dumb. For the year before everyone starts MLSN, the lack of thought and organization is crazy. Theres like five different divisions or leagues where the “top” 2014 teams play, and almost none of them will play each other more than a handful of times.
Every team/club has their own priorities and the abundance of leagues and teams enable this. Example some teams like SYC chases gotsport points and plays often in two leagues and split teams simultaneously. Others position just to win like in division 2 NCSL, and others worry about travel time. Think we all wish the competition and leagues were aligned in the best interest of the kids and their development but it's not right now. Maybe someday.
When my son was U12 (he's a 2010), he played in an EDP hosted division called the Atlantic Development League. It had Achilles, Arlington, SYC, Bethesda, SAC/Armour, Loudoun, and probably a couple I'm forgetting. It was a good group of the better clubs and included ECNL and MLSN bound teams. It would be nice for current U12s to have something like that.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 11:56
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Most of the brackets and schedules are out and this all looks so dumb. For the year before everyone starts MLSN, the lack of thought and organization is crazy. Theres like five different divisions or leagues where the “top” 2014 teams play, and almost none of them will play each other more than a handful of times.
Every team/club has their own priorities and the abundance of leagues and teams enable this. Example some teams like SYC chases gotsport points and plays often in two leagues and split teams simultaneously. Others position just to win like in division 2 NCSL, and others worry about travel time. Think we all wish the competition and leagues were aligned in the best interest of the kids and their development but it's not right now. Maybe someday.
Anonymous
08/05/2025 10:12
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Most of the brackets and schedules are out and this all looks so dumb. For the year before everyone starts MLSN, the lack of thought and organization is crazy. Theres like five different divisions or leagues where the “top” 2014 teams play, and almost none of them will play each other more than a handful of times.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:56
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Oh my. the jealousy and vicarious competitiveness are strong with this one. I feel sorry that your son will have have your feelings of inadequacy driving your expectations of him.
This is hilarious. This string is based on anxiety and FOMO of where “other teams are playing” and I am the one whose kid will have an issue. That is rich. Actually trying to educate you DMV folks since the production record from this area is awful because parents focus on the wrong things.
Worry less about leagues, rankings, etc. and develop a love of the game and ball mastery.
And yet you're the only person in the thread to call out two specific teams, criticize their make-up and their training, and brag(?) about how your kid is going to be better than those kids. Hilarious, indeed. Do you have those kids' photos on a dartboard or some kind of aspirational poster? I'm excited for you that your kid will be great and you'll be able to derive all the self-worth you want from his success.
Did you really take his post for bragging?
Do you not hear parents obsessed about rankings, leagues, etc?
"you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid"
yes. and not really. your feelings of inadequacy are amplifying your reading of this as obsession over leagues. I'm sure your kid will be great in whatever league your child is in and whatever club he plays for. (note you don't play for the club and are not in the league)
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:51
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:
Only place they could play 11v11 early. Not sure what the hurry is but guess the club and parents do. Might be they can add more players per team and generate more money and benchwarmers.
Yeah I was aware of the plan for some 2014 mlsn teams to play 11v11, but I assumed it would be in the new mlsn tier. I don’t get this at all.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:46
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Copperfield and Celtic are not the two top teams in the country. Celtics is sure a top 5, Copperfield maybe top 25-30. Both darn good teams but not 1 and 2. Facts matter and don't quote gotsport either.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:41
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:SYC 2014s 1 and 2 are playing in EDP NL
https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/44338/teams?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bgroup%5D=m_13&showall=groups&commit=Search
Only place they could play 11v11 early. Not sure what the hurry is but guess the club and parents do. Might be they can add more players per team and generate more money and benchwarmers.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:40
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Oh my. the jealousy and vicarious competitiveness are strong with this one. I feel sorry that your son will have have your feelings of inadequacy driving your expectations of him.
This is hilarious. This string is based on anxiety and FOMO of where “other teams are playing” and I am the one whose kid will have an issue. That is rich. Actually trying to educate you DMV folks since the production record from this area is awful because parents focus on the wrong things.
Worry less about leagues, rankings, etc. and develop a love of the game and ball mastery.
And yet you're the only person in the thread to call out two specific teams, criticize their make-up and their training, and brag(?) about how your kid is going to be better than those kids. Hilarious, indeed. Do you have those kids' photos on a dartboard or some kind of aspirational poster? I'm excited for you that your kid will be great and you'll be able to derive all the self-worth you want from his success.
Did you really take his post for bragging?
Do you not hear parents obsessed about rankings, leagues, etc?
Anonymous
07/29/2025 14:22
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Oh my. the jealousy and vicarious competitiveness are strong with this one. I feel sorry that your son will have have your feelings of inadequacy driving your expectations of him.
This is hilarious. This string is based on anxiety and FOMO of where “other teams are playing” and I am the one whose kid will have an issue. That is rich. Actually trying to educate you DMV folks since the production record from this area is awful because parents focus on the wrong things.
Worry less about leagues, rankings, etc. and develop a love of the game and ball mastery.
And yet you're the only person in the thread to call out two specific teams, criticize their make-up and their training, and brag(?) about how your kid is going to be better than those kids. Hilarious, indeed. Do you have those kids' photos on a dartboard or some kind of aspirational poster? I'm excited for you that your kid will be great and you'll be able to derive all the self-worth you want from his success.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 13:52
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
SYC 2014s 1 and 2 are playing in EDP NL
https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/44338/teams?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bgroup%5D=m_13&showall=groups&commit=Search
https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/44338/teams?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bgroup%5D=m_13&showall=groups&commit=Search
Anonymous
07/29/2025 12:50
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:
This is hilarious. This string is based on anxiety and FOMO of where “other teams are playing” and I am the one whose kid will have an issue. That is rich. Actually trying to educate you DMV folks since the production record from this area is awful because parents focus on the wrong things.
Worry less about leagues, rankings, etc. and develop a love of the game and ball mastery.
Lol yeah that makes sense. Stop thinking about where your kid spends almost all of their time playing, and instead just develop a love of the game.
It’s just a little weird to see “MLS Next” (not pre-MLSN) teams in non MLS league. And so far no one on those clubs has jumped on here to explain what is going on.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 11:40
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Oh my. the jealousy and vicarious competitiveness are strong with this one. I feel sorry that your son will have have your feelings of inadequacy driving your expectations of him.
This is hilarious. This string is based on anxiety and FOMO of where “other teams are playing” and I am the one whose kid will have an issue. That is rich. Actually trying to educate you DMV folks since the production record from this area is awful because parents focus on the wrong things.
Worry less about leagues, rankings, etc. and develop a love of the game and ball mastery.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 11:33
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
No, the best players on those teams will go to an MLSNext team and bump other kids (maybe yours) from their perch.
DS is in MLSNext now but have played against kids who he recognizes from his early playing days in a non-MLSNext club.
Anonymous
07/29/2025 11:03
Subject: Where are 2014 “MLS Next” teams playing?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They are in the Mid Atlantic Academy League. Got some real good teams and some pretty average teams in it.
Just 6 teams total, that's not really a league.
9 teams total, not 6. Not sure where you got your info from. League, smeague. Kids getting ready for their shot at making a MLS Next team in 2026, tougher the games the better.
Last year it was definitely just six clubs. They had two divisions and each club had a top team and second team. A few of those clubs are showing up in EDP brackets this year. Maybe NAL always takes down their website between season and just leaves a broken link page up for a few weeks, but that’s a weird way to do it. Overall the whole thing looks like it has been put together with little planning or cohesion and it sure doesn’t look like some elevated development environment.
Two of the best 2014’s in the DMV, not on my kids club, will be in NAL.
The top two ranked 2014’s clubs in the country are Celtic and Coppermine and you will see over the next 3-5 years those boys get individually passed by my kid and the others who don’t expect Ritz Carlton level service from this system and willing to simply play in a parking lot if needed against the best technical players possible, not the best teams who have been arranged to win via tactical and physical superiority which is not the aim at this age.
Oh my. the jealousy and vicarious competitiveness are strong with this one. I feel sorry that your son will have have your feelings of inadequacy driving your expectations of him.