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Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

I stand corrected. Thought only U12s were in a different "DA only" league. DCUnited only has academy teams, there is no 2nd, 3rd, etc. team. I know a fair amount of the families/kids of that Armour preacademy U16 team. Many played HS and did not participate in full club activities in the fall and several were on the U16/U17 DA roster. So maybe that explains the poor results?

Yes - that sounds possible. If so, situation might have evened up in the spring if and when other (e.g. VA) teams lost players to HS soccer. Certainly Baltimore usually managed to put out a good team at most age groups.

wrt DC United, they may still have done something with their U16 players other than have them sit on the bench. It's a problem all the DA clubs had - there was not an official DA U16 competition, but they needed those kids to stay part of the program as they would likely form the core of the team the following year. Surely DC United and the other MLS teams must have found a way to get them game time? I have no idea what they did do they, if they did.

My understanding is that those players, U16/U17, DCUnited, didn’t not play in another league. They weren’t allowed by DA rules, maybe they set up some friendlies, but no organized league.

Certainly I haven't been able to find a league in which they played so you may well be correct that they didn't. It wasn't because of DA rules though, because - per above - all the non-MLS DA U16 teams played in a DA U16 league organized by EDP - but totally separate league from the rest of EDP - just for the DA U16 teams.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

I stand corrected. Thought only U12s were in a different "DA only" league. DCUnited only has academy teams, there is no 2nd, 3rd, etc. team. I know a fair amount of the families/kids of that Armour preacademy U16 team. Many played HS and did not participate in full club activities in the fall and several were on the U16/U17 DA roster. So maybe that explains the poor results?

Yes - that sounds possible. If so, situation might have evened up in the spring if and when other (e.g. VA) teams lost players to HS soccer. Certainly Baltimore usually managed to put out a good team at most age groups.

wrt DC United, they may still have done something with their U16 players other than have them sit on the bench. It's a problem all the DA clubs had - there was not an official DA U16 competition, but they needed those kids to stay part of the program as they would likely form the core of the team the following year. Surely DC United and the other MLS teams must have found a way to get them game time? I have no idea what they did do they, if they did.

My understanding is that those players, U16/U17, DCUnited, didn’t not play in another league. They weren’t allowed by DA rules, maybe they set up some friendlies, but no organized league.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

I stand corrected. Thought only U12s were in a different "DA only" league. DCUnited only has academy teams, there is no 2nd, 3rd, etc. team. I know a fair amount of the families/kids of that Armour preacademy U16 team. Many played HS and did not participate in full club activities in the fall and several were on the U16/U17 DA roster. So maybe that explains the poor results?

Yes - that sounds possible. If so, situation might have evened up in the spring if and when other (e.g. VA) teams lost players to HS soccer. Certainly Baltimore usually managed to put out a good team at most age groups.

wrt DC United, they may still have done something with their U16 players other than have them sit on the bench. It's a problem all the DA clubs had - there was not an official DA U16 competition, but they needed those kids to stay part of the program as they would likely form the core of the team the following year. Surely DC United and the other MLS teams must have found a way to get them game time? I have no idea what they did do they, if they did.

BFD

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Of course they won’t lose all their players. Only the best ones.

They will lose a handful of the best ones to DC United. They may lose more back to Loudoun though - the ones that moved from Loudoun to VDA when Loudoun moved to ECNL.

And BRYC can take kids from Fairfax, Falls Church and Springfield who may have been more willing to go to Arlington when DA. I suspect that depends a lot on whether the current DA coaching staff stays.

Agreed - although
(a) it seems clear that they are staying
(b) this situation is a little cloudier than the VDA -> Loudoun situation.

I mentioned the VDA->Loudoun move because it was a clearly identifiable set of players who were playing at Loudoun two years ago, and made the move to VDA specifically because Loudoun went to ECNL and they wanted to play at the higher level. Now that VDA are also ECNL it seems to me that that particular group are high risk to move back to what was, based on behavior up until last year, their preferred team when the teams were playing in the same league.

It's certainly true that Arlington also has players coming from further afield, but I don't think there's quite such a group that might head to one specific club. Plus - as you say, and I agree - the Arlington coaching staff is a big draw.

Does this mean that MLSDA will be integrated into existing leagues like EDP, but in a separate conference, but maybe still allowed to participate in tournaments and state cup (where they could potentially play ECNL teams)? https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/15/major-league-soccer-us-youth-soccer-announce-groundbreaking-strategic-partnership

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

I stand corrected. Thought only U12s were in a different "DA only" league. DCUnited only has academy teams, there is no 2nd, 3rd, etc. team. I know a fair amount of the families/kids of that Armour preacademy U16 team. Many played HS and did not participate in full club activities in the fall and several were on the U16/U17 DA roster. So maybe that explains the poor results?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Of course they won’t lose all their players. Only the best ones.

They will lose a handful of the best ones to DC United. They may lose more back to Loudoun though - the ones that moved from Loudoun to VDA when Loudoun moved to ECNL.

And BRYC can take kids from Fairfax, Falls Church and Springfield who may have been more willing to go to Arlington when DA. I suspect that depends a lot on whether the current DA coaching staff stays.

Bryc will take anyone willing to commit at this point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Of course they won’t lose all their players. Only the best ones.

They will lose a handful of the best ones to DC United. They may lose more back to Loudoun though - the ones that moved from Loudoun to VDA when Loudoun moved to ECNL.

And BRYC can take kids from Fairfax, Falls Church and Springfield who may have been more willing to go to Arlington when DA. I suspect that depends a lot on whether the current DA coaching staff stays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Of course they won’t lose all their players. Only the best ones.

They will lose a handful of the best ones to DC United. They may lose more back to Loudoun though - the ones that moved from Loudoun to VDA when Loudoun moved to ECNL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

Apologies the link is https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL will be watered down with 2nd team while the top boys will be in MLS. So much for being a top league and you better hope this GA doesn't pick up momentum otherwise ECNL will be a thing of the past

There is only 3 clubs, 2 in MD and one in DC , in the whole region here doing MLS. Not every top player is looking to go into MLS. Seen lot good talent individual outside current MLS teams.

Agree. There will be talented teams in MLS, ECNL, other leagues as well. Here’s more than 1 “proven pathway” to college. But there were, and will be, plenty of parents that will get sucked into a team b/c it plays the “highest” level. Tell us how that works when there’s a roster of 30 kids. B/c bloated rosters happen all too frequently and your DS may never get more than 50% PT in a game, or worse, doesn’t dress for multiple games.

BaltArmour 16/17s had a roster of over 30 kids?!?! If a kid isn’t playing how are they getting into a college program? And more importantly how is a kid developing of they’re not playing? Sounds really fun...

http://balt.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=12071920

That's two teams. The U17 team + maybe one or two of the best U16 players play (or played) in the DA league. The rest of the U16s would have played in the DA-only league under the auspices of the EDP. Not yet clear how the MLS league will handle U16/U17 age group.

It's one team, a combined U16/U17 team. That is was the age group for DA, a combined 16&17 age group. 30+ kids on the roster is 30 kids+, several kids didn't play much at all, still paid their $3k++. The U16 SAC Prem Blue team was going to play in South Atlantic EDP Conferences this spring - was mostly U16s ('04s) that didn't make DA U16/U17 team; who pushed some SAC Prem Blue down to lower teams or to another club. There was no "DA only" league other than the U12 EDP "Developmental League."

MLS will have U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18/19.

All the non-MLS DA clubs, inlcuding Baltimore played their U16 teams in EDP in a special DA league called the Atlantic Development League. You can see the league schedule and standings here (you have to scroll down to get the table for this area): https://www.edpsoccer.com/adl-schedules. FWIW SAC/BA pre-academy finished last with thye following record:
SAC/BA PRE-ACADEMY 10 1 9 0 6 26 -20 3 0.3

I don't know what, if anything, DC United may have done with their U16 group though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.soccerwire.com/news/major-league-soccer-reveals-95-initial-member-clubs-for-new-youth-academy-league/

All this talk from ALL you parents and the only one accepted is a team from Baltimore HA! teams from NOVA right now must really be feeling hurt.

Why did you purposely leave out Bethesda Soccer Club? So that’s 2 from Maryland.

I didn't know Bethesda was in Nova

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Sheep to the slaughterhouse. You can think or say you are elite, but the more you have to do either, the less you are.

Anonymous wrote:No one is disputing that MLS will now be tier 1 for boys..

Just dont assume VDA and all ECNL programs will lose all their players. MLSYA can only take so many players and with only 1 academy in NOVA everyone will be running to ECNL to think they are still elite

Of course they won’t lose all their players. Only the best ones.