EA southwest

[Scrub It Kook]

1. Clubs are because of the rising fees moving their focus from poorer areas to the richer areas. Laufa/Albion for example moved its focus from downtown Los Angeles/Griffith Park to Long Beach and then now southward to Torrance, the OC and even sending MLSN teams to Santa Monica. If anybody has the Chula Vista/Nomads story, I would love to hear it because that's been another shift.
2. The big mega Clubs are increasingly relying on satellites for expansion. you have the Bulls for example spread out from the Val to LA West Side, LASC now in the San Gabriel Valley, Albion having acquired 4 clubs.
3. If Clubs are advertising this late into June for EA2, EA and even MLS2 teams, the reorg on those middle levels is a pretty substantial shakeup. Who is left in Socal League? It seems increasingly a place for just youngers. Is E64 gone on the boys side? What about the other non-ECNL letter leagues?
4. MLS2 at least anecdotally right now isn't shaping up to be the big integration that it was supposed to be with the first tier. Seems like it might be headed just for being the new EA, except with all the teams/players scrambled.

Anecdotally, I had heard the Nomads simply began forfeiting numerous MLSN games at various age levels early in the year. The league apparently sent an email to the players parent's advising of the removal from the league. In all honesty, it could be good in the long-run as it gives them the opportunity to rebuild in SoCal League or another lower level letter league if they can gain access. Right around this time is when Sporting San Diego got MLSN II in no small part from their MLS pro veteran I am sure. If they do well I would not be surprised if they get promoted to full MLSN status. No idea what happened to Chula Vista

I tend to agree, SoCal seems to be a place for youngers before the ABC leagues really kick into gear. I thought E64 was going away as well but haven't seen any confirmation of that.

I also agree MLSN II initially seems to simply be a rebranding of EA teams, EA is a rebranding of the EA2 teams and EA2 is a rebranding of Flight 1/2 teams. It does allow for more shuffling of players within the club to various levels based on ability (if the players/parents agree to the switch). I am also seeing multiple EA teams bio-banding players for the 25/26 season which is interesting.

 

[Grace T.]

Anecdotally, I had heard the Nomads simply began forfeiting numerous MLSN games at various age levels early in the year. The league apparently sent an email to the players parent's advising of the removal from the league. In all honesty, it could be good in the long-run as it gives them the opportunity to rebuild in SoCal League or another lower level letter league if they can gain access. Right around this time is when Sporting San Diego got MLSN II in no small part from their MLS pro veteran I am sure. If they do well I would not be surprised if they get promoted to full MLSN status. No idea what happened to Chula Vista

I tend to agree, SoCal seems to be a place for youngers before the ABC leagues really kick into gear. I thought E64 was going away as well but haven't seen any confirmation of that.

I also agree MLSN II initially seems to simply be a rebranding of EA teams, EA is a rebranding of the EA2 teams and EA2 is a rebranding of Flight 1/2 teams. It does allow for more shuffling of players within the club to various levels based on ability (if the players/parents agree to the switch). I am also seeing multiple EA teams bio-banding players for the 25/26 season which is interesting.

Chula Vista seems on the ascendancy as a result of the fall of nomads

How it will work for the non mlsn mls2 teams depends really on how many players the bigger clubs drop from mlsn either permanently or for play time. Some of them are carrying very bloated rosters. The issue is reserve and futures players seem reluctant to play down for fear of being permanently sent there. But it doesn’t really work to interlock unless mlsn and mlsn ii share practice at the same branch: otherwise the mls ii players are just getting benched by strangers coming down or you force players to attend double practices.

 

[Scrub It Kook]

Chula Vista seems on the ascendancy as a result of the fall of nomads

It also depend on if and how the new SDFC/Right to Dream Academy MLSN teams come into play. That seems to be the crown jewel a lot of top players are after.

 

[zags77]

Socal Elite will likely have to fix its relationship with Socal League first.

Given the admission of the Reds on top of strikers, and given that Strikers is the one club that is regularly producing at all levels, I doubt they'll let in any OC teams in. Brea is in TFA's area, another club still producing results. Didn't Sand & Surf just partner with City plus it has the same OC issue? Brea and Sand & Surf also just got EA so unlikely after just 1 year particularly since if SoCal Elite sticks together it and strikers are likely to pound all the EA competition.

No...if they let someone else it it's likely a surprise that makes little sense with connections (see Bulls, Juventus, Reds), or it's an ECNL club they poach. I think the days of geographic coverage (like Santa Barbara/Ventura/Murrieta) in Socal are probably over.

Sand & Surf was in the DPL for 6 months and got promoted to GA Aspire. In another post someone mentioned that they had been told that if they wanted to play GA they need to go to Pasadena....

No correlation the head of DPL is the head of LA surf....

None of these moves make any sense and anything is possible...

Albion Santa Monica and So Cal Elite will dominate EA next season.

 

[Christian10711]

Sand & Surf was in the DPL for 6 months and got promoted to GA Aspire. In another post someone mentioned that they had been told that if they wanted to play GA they need to go to Pasadena....

No correlation the head of DPL is the head of LA surf....

None of these moves make any sense and anything is possible...

Albion Santa Monica and So Cal Elite will dominate EA next season.

I think Albion SM kids are going to join Albion la teams so it is not certain they will dominate but I can see SoCal elite Rangers and ac brea dominating ea

 

[Grace T.]

I think Albion SM kids are going to join Albion la teams so it is not certain they will dominate but I can see SoCal elite Rangers and ac brea dominating ea

There aren’t a ton of slots on the Albion la mls2 team because some mlsn players will be played down, competing with players from La Santa Monica fc England and Santa Ana and it adds an hour commute in traffic from the west side because of the airport/culver city crunch. Further Albion la moved some of the mlsn 1 teams to the west side. Further given the demotion to the extent the better players dont go to Albion la, they might go to Juventus the bulls or breakers ecnl. Further most of the fc England kids got moved to Santa Monica. So it will be hit or miss by year and they will have lost their strongest players but with the fc England reinforcements they’ve got full teams ready to go.

But the issue is quite a few of the new ea teams of the other clubs are really still driving for players. The soccer boards are full of announcements still this late into June. They won’t be fully formed given the summer break until July/august.

 

[Jamisfoes]

There aren’t a ton of slots on the Albion la mls2 team because some mlsn players will be played down, competing with players from La Santa Monica fc England and Santa Ana and it adds an hour commute in traffic from the west side because of the airport/culver city crunch. Further Albion la moved some of the mlsn 1 teams to the west side. Further given the demotion to the extent the better players dont go to Albion la, they might go to Juventus the bulls or breakers ecnl. Further most of the fc England kids got moved to Santa Monica. So it will be hit or miss by year and they will have lost their strongest players but with the fc England reinforcements they’ve got full teams ready to go.

But the issue is quite a few of the new ea teams of the other clubs are really still driving for players. The soccer boards are full of announcements still this late into June. They won’t be fully formed given the summer break until July/august.

In SoCal league lingo:
MLS next = Flight 1
MLS2 = Flight 2
EA = Flight 3
EA2 = AYSO

Why would anyone drive an hour to play on a flight 2 team?

 

[Grace T.]

In SoCal league lingo:
MLS next = Flight 1
MLS2 = Flight 2
EA = Flight 3
EA2 = AYSO

Why would anyone drive an hour to play on a flight 2 team?

An hour is not THAT bad for a flight 2 team. If you are in the downtown triangle or Val you may not have a choice if you want to play on any flight 2 teams. There are kids commuting 2+ hours for flight 1 and 1.5 ecnl teams. My son’s bestie’s girlfriend drives from the Val to Fontana 2+ hours out and 1 back for her flight 1 team.

I know some parents on one of the Albion mlsn teams that got moved to the west side. Their commute went from 20 minutes to over an hour and a half due to that Culver City traffic.

 

[Jamisfoes]

An hour is not THAT bad for a flight 2 team. If you are in the downtown triangle or Val you may not have a choice if you want to play on any flight 2 teams. There are kids commuting 2+ hours for flight 1 and 1.5 ecnl teams. My son’s bestie’s girlfriend drives from the Val to Fontana 2+ hours out and 1 back for her flight 1 team.

I know some parents on one of the Albion mlsn teams that got moved to the west side. Their commute went from 20 minutes to over an hour and a half due to that Culver City traffic.

Personally I wouldn’t do it. 30 min max for any team. An hour if it’s LAFC or Galaxy academy with a full ride and only if he is not on the bench.

 

[Lou789]

Strikers has this list of teams on their website. my son is u14 and they are telling us there is an MSL 2 league separate from EA if we join. That EA will be their third trans.

I thought MLS next 2 will play EA?

Laguna united has this as well listing it as a separate league.

 

[sigmabody]

I thought MLS next 2 will play EA?

I'm so far outside that world of high-end leagues that I have nothing close to first-hand knowledge, but...

My impression (from press releases, etc.) was that EA was involved in the management of MLSN2, but would also continue to run their own league as well, and probably attempt to be at the same level of competition with MLSN2. MLSN2 seems more like a push just to keep more parents involved in club soccer longer than anything else (ie: "look, your kid is in MLSN, of course you should keep paying for their development...").

 

[Grace T.]

Strikers has this list of teams on their website. my son is u14 and they are telling us there is an MSL 2 league separate from EA if we join. That EA will be their third trans.

I thought MLS next 2 will play EA?

Laguna united has this as well listing it as a separate league.

MLS2 is a separate league. EA is now third third tier. MLS2 in SoCal is being administered (read $$$) by EA which is how they did the compromise that brought all this together.

 

[CAZZZ]

MLS2 is a B-team league, and EA is a C-team league. This marketing gimmick is designed to motivate parents and encourage them to continue paying high club fees.

 

[Messi>CR7]

Strikers has this list of teams on their website. my son is u14 and they are telling us there is an MSL 2 league separate from EA if we join. That EA will be their third trans.

I thought MLS next 2 will play EA?

Laguna united has this as well listing it as a separate league.

U13-U19 - A, B, and C teams play in MLSN, MLSN2, EA1 respectively
U11-U12 - EA1, SoCal/EA2 (not all EA member participate in EA2)

If a club is not a member of MLSN, then its top team plays in MLSN2.
If a club is not a member of MLSN or MLSN2, then its top team plays in EA.
If a club is not a member of MLSN/MLSN2/EA, then it's top team plays in SoCal.

Clear as mud?

 

[sigmabody]

U13-U19 - A, B, and C teams play in MLSN, MLSN2, EA1 respectively
U11-U12 - EA1, SoCal/EA2 (not all EA member participate in EA2)

If a club is not a member of MLSN, then its top team plays in MLSN2.
If a club is not a member of MLSN or MLSN2, then its top team plays in EA.
If a club is not a member of MLSN/MLSN2/EA, then it's top team plays in SoCal.

Clear as mud?

You left out ECNL/ECRL, but I agree with the sentiment, certainly.

Aside: If you want to get a general sense of how the various leagues stack up in practice, look at the 2011 teams in the upcoming Surf Cup (https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3764/schedules-standings). In the various brackets, at least on the boys side, there are teams from MLSN/MSLN2, ECNL/ECRL, EA/EA2, SoCal NPL, and teams/clubs with no specific letter league qualifications. While only a selection of top teams (of course), it does show a fairly good breakdown of how various leagues stack up, and how much overlap in levels there is between leagues.

 

[Grace T.]

You left out ECNL/ECRL, but I agree with the sentiment, certainly.

Aside: If you want to get a general sense of how the various leagues stack up in practice, look at the 2011 teams in the upcoming Surf Cup (https://public.totalglobalsports.com/public/event/3764/schedules-standings). In the various brackets, at least on the boys side, there are teams from MLSN/MSLN2, ECNL/ECRL, EA/EA2, SoCal NPL, and teams/clubs with no specific letter league qualifications. While only a selection of top teams (of course), it does show a fairly good breakdown of how various leagues stack up, and how much overlap in levels there is between leagues.

The general sentiment around these parts has been ECNL ranks around tier 1.5 and ECRL ranks at tier 2.5 for the boys, though the soccer pyramid US soccer put out has ECRL down at 4 and ECNL down at 2. As anything it depends on the individual club and individual team performs....a boys team going to the ECNL playoffs or top showcase competitions > MLS2 team that's bottom of the division and limited showcase and playoff exposure. Things are also moving fast and the landscape won't look the same in 3-4 years (case in point SoCal Elite used to be the club besides strikers many wanted their kids in for SoCal League but now SoCal league is a shadow of itself for the olders, SoCal Elite lost placement in SoCal League, and SoCal Elite is now in the third tier (EA)).

The danger for ECNL is that perhaps the reason US Soccer but ECRL down in 4 is that, no just in socal, the quality of ECRL seems to have declined in recent years so kids might take an ECNL or bust approach (one ECNL club I know has 35+ kids on their ECNL team but most of the kids would get their playtime on the interlocking ECRL team...MLSN squads can get away with that, but ECNL can't and it's becoming a problem). Take Calabasas for example. Boys Eagles has been stuck in ECRL for quite a while and if you wanted to play higher level you'd have to commute to Ventura for MLSN or the Val for Real SoCal ECNL. With MLS2 options now in Ventura, Thousand Oaks, the West Side and Studio City, why would a kid commute to Calabasas for ECRL? Lots of older teams still late into the summer are advertising for EA2 slots which are open as well.

 

[sigmabody]

Lots of older teams still late into the summer are advertising for EA2 slots which are open as well.

To that point, I think HS is where players and parents start really thinking about if and where their kids should continue playing, and lots of players shuffle around (which will be compounded by the new leagues now). I know for my son's club, the upper B2011 team lost a number of players to other clubs over the summer, and is recruiting from external clubs to fill those slots (rather than elevating players from the two lower teams for that age).

Once again, I find myself somewhat glad my son isn't a top tier player, and I don't really need to worry about that whole mess. This time next year, he'll probably be done with club soccer, and maybe just playing for the HS team (or back to AYSO for fun). He had potential for sure, but at the high end club soccer isn't really about that (so much as privates and coach favorites, and who can pay the most), as far as I can tell. I'm glad we're seemingly close to the off-ramp, personally.

 

[Grace T.]

To that point, I think HS is where players and parents start really thinking about if and where their kids should continue playing, and lots of players shuffle around (which will be compounded by the new leagues now). I know for my son's club, the upper B2011 team lost a number of players to other clubs over the summer, and is recruiting from external clubs to fill those slots (rather than elevating players from the two lower teams for that age).

Once again, I find myself somewhat glad my son isn't a top tier player, and I don't really need to worry about that whole mess. This time next year, he'll probably be done with club soccer, and maybe just playing for the HS team (or back to AYSO for fun). He had potential for sure, but at the high end club soccer isn't really about that (so much as privates and coach favorites, and who can pay the most), as far as I can tell. I'm glad we're seemingly close to the off-ramp, personally.

Most AYSO regions now cut off at U14 so to play AYSO you'd like to have to commute to a joint region which still has a U16 and you'll have to commute for games about the same distance. For U18 for the most part your only option is to transfer him to AYSO adult league. The other options for high school players who are done with club soccer but don't want to play are adult Friday/Sunday leagues, Latino League, some private high schools which aren't top tier competitors offer intramural soccer in the fall for the non-club soccer players, and adult futsal leagues. If he wants to play high school and goes to a competitive school, removing him from club isn't really an option if he wants to play varsity, and some high schools in the top 30 unless you are higher level letter league (ECNL, MLS with a private school waiver, MLS2, EA) you don't have a prayer (there was a kid on the boards ranting about this recently).

 

[Lou789]

MLS2 is a separate league. EA is now third third tier. MLS2 in SoCal is being administered (read $$$) by EA which is how they did the compromise that brought all this together.

So come fall they will announce a new league called MLS2? There is zero info on it. When are they rolling it out?

 

[Messi>CR7]

So come fall they will announce a new league called MLS2? There is zero info on it. When are they rolling it out?

MLS NEXT New Competition Tier Teams and Divisions (2025-26) | MLSSoccer.com

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www.mlssoccer.com

The PR that went out in Feb just mentioned a new tier, but since then all the clubs have been refeering to it as MLSN2. You can see the SoCal teams who joined this league in the PR.

So to answer your earlier question, yes, Strikers's MLSN2 is their B team, and LUFC's MLSN2 is their A team.