Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 21:21     Subject: Va Mls Next
What is the amount of time a player has to spend at a club for the club to claim that they developed the player? Example: a player spends four years with one club, then two years with another club, then goes to an academy. What makes it possible for one of the clubs, especially the middle man, to claim that they produced a pro player?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 19:45     Subject: Re:Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:Looking for development from your club is not going to be successful. Choose the club that gives your kid the most visibility/opportunity and is convenient for your family life. The differences between the 3 MLSN HG clubs are not massive even though everyone wants to claim one or the other is "wayyy better". It's silly. Develop your player outside of the 3x 90 min sessions a week.

Each team has big variations in age groups. There are too many variables to say who is better.


Over the last 10 years, you can combine SYC, Alexandria and NVA’s pro’s and I think they are less than VDA and Arlington individually.

3 x 90 minute x 40 weeks puts you way behind a coach teaching soccer IQ principles. You are just not knowledgeable enough to know the differences in why certain clubs outproduce other clubs.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 19:40     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.


If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.


Slight caveat. Some private schools, like ours, have a sports requirement so players get waivers from this rule.


Got it. Can the kid handle the volume of training and also take care of academics?


That's rhetorical best question I've ever seen on here. Wish I had the answer. We'll see is the best I can offer, for now.
uhhh not sure how "rhetorical" got in there. Please ignore.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 19:39     Subject: Re:Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:Looking for development from your club is not going to be successful. Choose the club that gives your kid the most visibility/opportunity and is convenient for your family life. The differences between the 3 MLSN HG clubs are not massive even though everyone wants to claim one or the other is "wayyy better". It's silly. Develop your player outside of the 3x 90 min sessions a week.

Each team has big variations in age groups. There are too many variables to say who is better.


Right. They're all the same. Coaches can be different but in the end, same product, different packaging.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 19:37     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.


If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.


Slight caveat. Some private schools, like ours, have a sports requirement so players get waivers from this rule.


Got it. Can the kid handle the volume of training and also take care of academics?


That's rhetorical best question I've ever seen on here. Wish I had the answer. We'll see is the best I can offer, for now.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 18:29     Subject: Va Mls Next
“If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.”

MLS has a waiver for kids who want to play high school.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 14:47     Subject: Re:Va Mls Next
Looking for development from your club is not going to be successful. Choose the club that gives your kid the most visibility/opportunity and is convenient for your family life. The differences between the 3 MLSN HG clubs are not massive even though everyone wants to claim one or the other is "wayyy better". It's silly. Develop your player outside of the 3x 90 min sessions a week.

Each team has big variations in age groups. There are too many variables to say who is better.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 14:32     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.


If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.


Slight caveat. Some private schools, like ours, have a sports requirement so players get waivers from this rule.


Got it. Can the kid handle the volume of training and also take care of academics?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 13:47     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, we moved here in November. Didnt realize it was that obvious, haha. I had assumed we had plenty of time to figure things out, but seems like tryouts start so much earlier here.

Thanks for the info on different clubs, seems like I have a lot more research to do!


Welcome to the DMV! I have current U12 that will be in MLS Next year. Here is my suggestion:

1) Go through the IG of the clubs and find the coaching assignments from last year. They used to be announced Feb - April in prior years.

2) Email the current coach for U12 and ask to join in a practice for the squad. Tell him you just moved into the area and are learning about the new clubs. If you have not already, generate a 3-5 minute highlight video of your kid to get them a reason to pay attention to you.

3) Everybody will be different but based on my location and what I want from a club at this stage in development, this would be my list for VA Clubs:

a) SYC (MLS Next)
b) Alexandria (MLS Next)
c) NVA (MLS Next)
d) VDA (ECNL)
e) Arlington (ECNL)




This is not indicative of what I think about the leagues. My kid is with a MLS Next I club in MD and this is my list based on my experiences with the coaches and my research on what different clubs value in their development process. I am focused on a technical foundation and soccer IQ so my list is based on that. If prefer a physical, direct style, reverse the list and go from there. Either choice is fine.

If you are interested in ECNL-RL or MLS Next II, you will have to state that and have someone give you the breakdown of that. There are so many RL and MLS Next II clubs it is too difficult to keep up. There are ballers on each of those teams as well but I am simply just not that familiar with them. Good luck and I hope you land in the best spot for your son.



Corrected. With MLS being way more competitive, the earlier you get in the better if your kid can make the team.


As you can see, they just can't help themselves. Even when explained, they have to compete on an anonymous board. The only problem is that competing pre-puberty is proven to be pointless for long-term soccer development which these SYC parents don't seem to understand. They will send kids to DCU but that is it their peak. After puberty levels the playing field, the kids who learned how to play from 11-15 take over. The SYC parents and kids will enjoy their leather sleeved varsity jackets with MLS National Championships why coaching soccer in Fairfax County in 2035 while kids who have paid attention to the development process are still overseas with professional careers.

Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:48     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, we moved here in November. Didnt realize it was that obvious, haha. I had assumed we had plenty of time to figure things out, but seems like tryouts start so much earlier here.

Thanks for the info on different clubs, seems like I have a lot more research to do!


Welcome to the DMV! I have current U12 that will be in MLS Next year. Here is my suggestion:

1) Go through the IG of the clubs and find the coaching assignments from last year. They used to be announced Feb - April in prior years.

2) Email the current coach for U12 and ask to join in a practice for the squad. Tell him you just moved into the area and are learning about the new clubs. If you have not already, generate a 3-5 minute highlight video of your kid to get them a reason to pay attention to you.

3) Everybody will be different but based on my location and what I want from a club at this stage in development, this would be my list for VA Clubs:

a) SYC (MLS Next)
b) Alexandria (MLS Next)
c) NVA (MLS Next)
d) VDA (ECNL)
e) Arlington (ECNL)




This is not indicative of what I think about the leagues. My kid is with a MLS Next I club in MD and this is my list based on my experiences with the coaches and my research on what different clubs value in their development process. I am focused on a technical foundation and soccer IQ so my list is based on that. If prefer a physical, direct style, reverse the list and go from there. Either choice is fine.

If you are interested in ECNL-RL or MLS Next II, you will have to state that and have someone give you the breakdown of that. There are so many RL and MLS Next II clubs it is too difficult to keep up. There are ballers on each of those teams as well but I am simply just not that familiar with them. Good luck and I hope you land in the best spot for your son.



Corrected. With MLS being way more competitive, the earlier you get in the better if your kid can make the team.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:42     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.


If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.


Slight caveat. Some private schools, like ours, have a sports requirement so players get waivers from this rule.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:01     Subject: Va Mls Next
Anonymous wrote:ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.


If your kid wants to play HS it is beneficial to stay ECNL as mlsnext 1 does not allow it.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 09:59     Subject: Va Mls Next
Have a MLSNext Homegrown kid and it seems on the Alexandria side we are always getting kids joining them in practice. Some stayed and ended up on the team and others didn't. Get in touch with the coach and ask to come to a practice or two. Most teams aren't even practicing yet with the ice still on the fields.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 16:42     Subject: Va Mls Next
ECNL will also offer nothing or very little to your son once the high school season begins because they allow their players to play high school soccer. ECNL teams barely have enough kids to hold a practice, often needing to combine age groups, once high school soccer starts.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 16:41     Subject: Va Mls Next
You are correct to research MLS Next over ECNL. Once kids are 14 they should move from ECNL to MLS Next because the ECNL league deteriorates as the age groups get older. The opposite is true for MLS NeXT in the boys side because good players tend to move in one direction(towards MLS) and not the other.