Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

Great post. My older son played High School and agree, it was a wonderful experience. My younger one is on a MLS team and can’t play HS but MLS is indeed the best way to get on a D1 soccer team. Like everything in life, there are pros and cons. Unfortunately, the kids can’t have both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

You were the Gatorade National player of the year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

Great post. My older son played High School and agree, it was a wonderful experience. My younger one is on a MLS team and can’t play HS but MLS is indeed the best way to get on a D1 soccer team. Like everything in life, there are pros and cons. Unfortunately, the kids can’t have both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

So 5 or 6 kids from a metro area population of 6.3 million. Love those odds, definitely worth not playing HS.

5 or 6 kids on the current team, others currently in the pro ranks elsewhere who played for BSC or other DA teams, more coming along in the pipeline now who will get MLS or overseas opportunities, and many more playing USL. The thing is, no one will force you to put your kid in MLSNext, so he can play HS if that’s what he wants to do or what you want for him. None of the players I know who played on a DA/MLS team for all of their HS years regrets it. They all developed close relationships with their DA teammates, and with their HS friends, and had time for plenty of fun HS activities. They are all enjoying either their college or professional teams now. If your kid wants HS glory instead, that’s absolutely fine—he’ll have better odds at achieving that thanks to the MLSNext rule.

No idea why you find it threatening that some MLSNext kids might opt to play for their HS. Some ECNL players do, some don’t. Some travel players do, some don’t. Why not leave the decision in the hands of individual kids and clubs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, let's remove all the kids who can play soccer from their high school peers. Sounds like a great way to grow the game in the US.

HS soccer is a terrible game at any level that, at best, will represent a regression in all the important areas you're trying to teach kids at that age. At worst, it can and often does result in injuries (because it's sh!tball) that knock kids off the development track.

If a kid wants to become a pro, he's gonna have to sacrifice things like HS letters, bus rides, and wearing his jersey at school (not sure if it's the same for girls, btw). There will be plenty on that road to build social experience and IQ. If he doesn't want to be a pro (or play at least at a "high-level" college), then why do MLSNext?

The whole notion of kids being ‘knocked off the development track’ is total BS. For the handful of kids that are on a pro track, by the middle of HS they are training - and likely playing - with MLS reserve teams and have no time for a HS team. For the other 95% of MLSNext players, they may as well play HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

So 5 or 6 kids from a metro area population of 6.3 million. Love those odds, definitely worth not playing HS.

5 or 6 kids on the current team, others currently in the pro ranks elsewhere who played for BSC or other DA teams, more coming along in the pipeline now who will get MLS or overseas opportunities, and many more playing USL. The thing is, no one will force you to put your kid in MLSNext, so he can play HS if that’s what he wants to do or what you want for him. None of the players I know who played on a DA/MLS team for all of their HS years regrets it. They all developed close relationships with their DA teammates, and with their HS friends, and had time for plenty of fun HS activities. They are all enjoying either their college or professional teams now. If your kid wants HS glory instead, that’s absolutely fine—he’ll have better odds at achieving that thanks to the MLSNext rule.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

So 5 or 6 kids from a metro area population of 6.3 million. Love those odds, definitely worth not playing HS.

5 or 6 kids on the current team, others currently in the pro ranks elsewhere who played for BSC or other DA teams, more coming along in the pipeline now who will get MLS or overseas opportunities, and many more playing USL. The thing is, no one will force you to put your kid in MLSNext, so he can play HS if that’s what he wants to do or what you want for him. None of the players I know who played on a DA/MLS team for all of their HS years regrets it. They all developed close relationships with their DA teammates, and with their HS friends, and had time for plenty of fun HS activities. They are all enjoying either their college or professional teams now. If your kid wants HS glory instead, that’s absolutely fine—he’ll have better odds at achieving that thanks to the MLSNext rule.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

So 5 or 6 kids from a metro area population of 6.3 million. Love those odds, definitely worth not playing HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.

I won a National Championship with my Club soccer team, too many tournaments to count, league undefeated year after year, State title year after year.

You know what was the most exciting for me? Playing in my HS stadium under the lights with other students in the stand and as a Freshmen playing on Varsity riding the bus back from the State HS championship game we had just won and most of the school and school band out in the parking lot to greet the bus as we pulled in. Yes, the level was scattered on the HS team--but for this area so many HS kids also play high level Club that it wasn't awful. All-Met, All-Region and in the Washington Post. National Gatorade player of the year.

HS Glory Days ...cue Bruce Springsteen.

I have watched my boys play since they were 5 and been all over the US and Europe watching them play games. The most fun I had was when the first one played in his first HS game at night and the music was blaring ACDC's Thunderstruck warming up--I was so pumped I was ready to run out onto the field . The youngest get a real kick being announced by the announcer and standing for the National Anthem. You might call it hokey, but they were good times.

As a female it's the closest I ever got to Texas Friday Night Lights. And that's what HS sports are all about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you think MLS Academies are doing much of anything in terms of development, you need to travel more.

Many MLS academies (Philadelphia, New York, LA Galaxy etc.) are developing kids. Just not DC United.

DP, but while DC United has never been a model academy, they have developed plenty of pros. DCU has 5 or 6 homegrowns on their current roster alone, and some of them will almost certainly have overseas opportunities in the coming years.

DC United has access to an incredible local talent pool - at least the equal of anywhere else in the country - which they freeload off.

Anonymous wrote:Just skimming and I saw someone suggest 5% of MLS next kids were potential academy signs. That’s seems way off, 0.07% of HS soccer playing seniors will go pro. I also a see a lot about how academies are developing kids better, but to what end? You have a lot of former DA (I guess now mls next)products falling out of the sport after HS. Not sure if being a better soccer player than the next guy means an whole lot at that point. Maybe there is something to the HS environment developing other traits (community, diversity, shared experiences, memories, peer spectator support) that is valuable. I think between the two kids graduating, one will be happier with Hs experience than the other, whether or not he’s as well developed a soccer player.