Our ECNL team best more MLS teams than most MlS clubs so if that's third tier than sure. Our record against MLS teams was 7-2. Three of them were MLS Academy teams.
The two local kids from ECNL who eventually turned pro did it after college.
Great players come from everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:I agree that most top college programs will prioritize MLS Next first, but they are really saying they will look at MLS Pro Academies first. ECNL and MLS Next non pro academies are seen as equal. The only distinction I would call out that I have noticed is that MLS Next events draw from all over where ECNL seems to have regional schools.

No. They are not equal. MLSNext teams play more than 40% more regular season games. This year, MLSNext teams play 34 regular season games while ECNL play 22-24. The competition is stronger across the board.

My son plays U17 ECNL. We have played against a fair amount of MLS Next teams over the years (and a few MLS academy teams). Some really good, some just OK, but no bad teams. Overall from top to bottom, MLS Next has better teams. Not doing to deny that. The bottom of ECNL has some really garbage teams. The top end is pretty decent though. We have won some, lost some, and tied some against MLS. I will also admit MLS Next seems to be much better at teaching systems and patterns of play. I really notice it when watching the games. They better know what to do with the ball at any given time. The only drawback I've seen from MLS Next teams is they sometimes lack creativity. They will stick to that system no matter what and they have a hard time dealing with an opponent that has figured it out. I also notice the MLS coaches pull kids so quick if they make a mistake. Like they lost faith in them and it's next man up to take the spot. I don't really like that attitude in youth sports, but maybe it's a pro soccer thing? They get super mad if they are losing to an ECNL team, I mean really pissed. I don't know if others have seen that, just my observation. And these are showcases. They aren't going to win a trophy. Either way that's my 2 cents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

If Non Club academy MLS Next is second tier, doesn't that make ECNL for boys third tier?

Nope Next and ECNL are on equal footing for boys. Mixed bag for both based on team. Next is not the same as the old DA Academy. Next scooped up clubs that were non DA in their build out (Alexandria, SYC, etc) and ECNL scooped up academy teams who lost a home- Richmond, NCFC ,VDA…both leagues are good but mixed bag based on region/team…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

What's the pathway to pro for an ECNL player?
Honest question because I don't know and my DS plays ECNL

Get on a MLS Academy team.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Touche

Anonymous wrote:ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

If Non Club academy MLS Next is second tier, doesn't that make ECNL for boys third tier?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

What's the pathway to pro for an ECNL player?
Honest question because I don't know and my DS plays ECNL

Get on a MLS Academy team.

Anonymous wrote:ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

What's the pathway to pro for an ECNL player?
Honest question because I don't know and my DS plays ECNL

ECNL kids certainly can go pro and it's happened quite a few times. MLS Academy teams probably have more but not many of them make it either. Our ECNL team beat three MLS Academy teams this year. Non academy mls is second tier still very good.
USA isn't great because it's too much about money for a lot of these coaches

I agree that most top college programs will prioritize MLS Next first, but they are really saying they will look at MLS Pro Academies first. ECNL and MLS Next non pro academies are seen as equal. The only distinction I would call out that I have noticed is that MLS Next events draw from all over where ECNL seems to have regional schools.

Anonymous wrote:Where can the "data and facts" comparing the two leagues (pro/college invites) be found?

Top MLS Academy boys players can typically get college paid for. This is because MLS minimum is 70k for an under 24 year old rookie and this is the absolute lowest pay. It goes straight up from there dependent on performance. Also, clubs can trade players for a transfer fee. Either way if colleges want an MLS Academy level player they need to incentivize in a comparable way.

All the rest of the boys players MLSN non Academy, ECNL, etc actually have a harder time than girls playing in college. This is because there's an endless stream of European + other Academy washouts that compete for spots on college teams.

Where can the "data and facts" comparing the two leagues (pro/college invites) be found?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boys youth soccer is very different that girls youth soccer.

- If boys/men play professionally average salary is 110k.
- Boys/mens college coaches recruit players internationally. (Not just GA,ECNL,NPL,etc)

Also with boys, puberty and testosterone can completely change a players ability.

Please explain in detail that even a caveman can understand?

Some boys develop early because they go through puberty early. Some boys develop later.

Do you want a team full of 5'1" superstars at u10 that burn out by u14? Or do you want 6'1" players at u14 that peak at u18?

I still don't understand the change in (soccer) ability part.
You're just mentioning size.

Testosterone makes muscles which allow players to run faster, jump higher, and kick harder.

Seems pretty basic to understand.

We're talking about soccer, not decathlon hahaha

You don't think size, strength and speed makes a difference?

I know size, strength and speed are contributing factors.
If they were the only or most important factors, neither Spain nor Argentina would have World Cup Trophies.

As Johan Cruyff said, he kept Barcelona from demoting Pep Guardiola because he was small and scrawny. In doing so, he taught the Barca coaches that it was the ball that mattered most.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boys youth soccer is very different that girls youth soccer.

- If boys/men play professionally average salary is 110k.
- Boys/mens college coaches recruit players internationally. (Not just GA,ECNL,NPL,etc)

Also with boys, puberty and testosterone can completely change a players ability.

Please explain in detail that even a caveman can understand?

Some boys develop early because they go through puberty early. Some boys develop later.

Do you want a team full of 5'1" superstars at u10 that burn out by u14? Or do you want 6'1" players at u14 that peak at u18?

I still don't understand the change in (soccer) ability part.
You're just mentioning size.

Testosterone makes muscles which allow players to run faster, jump higher, and kick harder.

Seems pretty basic to understand.

We're talking about soccer, not decathlon hahaha

You don't think size, strength and speed makes a difference?

I don't think we need to see a played out argument in the middle of a thread about a played out argument.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boys youth soccer is very different that girls youth soccer.

- If boys/men play professionally average salary is 110k.
- Boys/mens college coaches recruit players internationally. (Not just GA,ECNL,NPL,etc)

Also with boys, puberty and testosterone can completely change a players ability.

Please explain in detail that even a caveman can understand?

Some boys develop early because they go through puberty early. Some boys develop later.

Do you want a team full of 5'1" superstars at u10 that burn out by u14? Or do you want 6'1" players at u14 that peak at u18?

I still don't understand the change in (soccer) ability part.
You're just mentioning size.

Testosterone makes muscles which allow players to run faster, jump higher, and kick harder.

Seems pretty basic to understand.

We're talking about soccer, not decathlon hahaha

You don't think size, strength and speed makes a difference?