If MLS2 changes to SY and MLS1 stays in BY, how can the MLS2 club ever be promoted to MLS1, like Sporting SD? MLS1 and MLS2 must stay together in BY or SY.
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If MLS2 changes to SY and MLS1 stays in BY, how can the MLS2 club ever be promoted to MLS1, like Sporting SD? MLS1 and MLS2 must stay together in BY or SY.
Scrub It Kook
SILVER ELITE
not sure on the league criteria for getting an MLS1 slot, but Sporting SD has always had some top notch teams in each age group, so if anyone is deserving, it is them.
For MLS to sell MLS2 to new clubs and their parents with a "pathway" to MLS1, MLS1 and MLS2 have to be in the same age group. This is basic marketing 101.
TheMountie
BRONZE
My son’s a September kid and has always played at the top levels (EA, ECNL, MLS Next), but with the SY change coming, I moved him down to SoCal F1 this season to get more playing time.
To be on a top-quality team, he’s usually a sub, with the occasional start if someone’s out. Being one of the youngest and least physically developed, the relative age gap is particularly noticeable; skill-wise, he fits in, but it’s tough to get PT in tight, physical games.
After State Cup in January, we’ll look toward ECNL tryouts for the 12/13 SY group, where he’ll finally be one of the oldest. I think that’s when he’ll really take off.
I’m curious; when will the SY format officially take effect? If the SoCal season ends in November and the State Cup is completed by February 2026, will tournaments starting in March 2026 follow the SY or BY system?
To be on a top-quality team, he’s usually a sub, with the occasional start if someone’s out. Being one of the youngest and least physically developed, the relative age gap is particularly noticeable; skill-wise, he fits in, but it’s tough to get PT in tight, physical games.
After State Cup in January, we’ll look toward ECNL tryouts for the 12/13 SY group, where he’ll finally be one of the oldest. I think that’s when he’ll really take off.
I’m curious; when will the SY format officially take effect? If the SoCal season ends in November and the State Cup is completed by February 2026, will tournaments starting in March 2026 follow the SY or BY system?
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
Email evidently sent by MLS N. No confirmation one way or the other what the plan is, just an acknowledgement that they're thinking about the topic.
CleatSniffer
BRONZE
Unsure if this was confirmed. Looks like MLS2 moving to SY at least at Albion
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
From what has been shared by the club, it looks like it's going to be universal shortly (not only AD, but sounds like HD as well), now waiting on a vote for MLS N to confirm what they've settled on.
MLS1 and MLS2 have to be on the same page. Otherwise, they can not sell MLS2 to a new club with a "pathway" to MLS1. Tournaments for MLS1 clubs will be a big hassle too, like the Albion Cup. Only MLS Academy will remain in BY.
MLS Homegrown can easily stay BY as long as it remains the highest tier before playing MLS professionally. Any tournament Homegrown sponsored would force SY teams to play 6 months up. Or mix-match a BY tournament team.
Rollonyoubears
SILVER
I have a feeling our club is going to take a firm stance that players cannot play up. That is particularly a problem for my son's Flight 2 team where half of the team were born later than the 8/1 cutoff. Has anyone's club taken a firm stance either way yet? It seems Albion will let kids play up based on the info above....
pitchplease
SILVER ELITE
it is incredibly rare for a mls homegrown team to play outside of mls. you may have a few one offs in a particular area, ie- surf, albion, dallas cup, and at the younger ages 13, 14, maybe 15. but i would say that 95% of teams dont play out of the league ( in the us) there are so many games and tournaments, showcases that teams dont risk injury or added expenses. and even if they did, you are not allowed to play your own age group, you have to play a year up anyways. i dont see mls following suit with other leagues to do school year. with the whole mls 2 thing, how many academies even participate in that league? i dont see the academies changing things around if it doesnt pertain with the first team.
Either way BY vs SY or SY vs BY when different groupings play each other someone will be playing up roughtly 6 months. (not 12)
This is going to be an issue with lots it clubs. At my sons club both the 2010, 2011, 2012 all have 18+ roster in EA MLS2 and MLS Next.
Some of teams like MLS 2 2012-2011 is going to have over 24 players after the merge. Some of those player will now get dropped. They can't play up because the 2010s are also full roster.
most clubs if all the teams have the players go down with the age group they should be in those teams should be pretty even after the moves. Did you look at who would be going down on the 2010's? The only teams that should be really effected are the real young age where there is no lower age team to go to so that team above that is dropping there handful of players would bump players off the roster on the lower age team. I would be surprised if you had a team that lopsided. Did you look at how many currently on the 2010 team would drop down to the 2011 team? Most teams have kids born in all months of the year. I guess you could get some examples that have a bunch of Jan-Aug birthdays and not many Sep-Dec birthdays but I seriously doubt it.
Your assumption will apply to the B team. The top ECNL team will attract many Aug-Dec. GA, weak ECNL, and strong RL players to tryout for the best college recruiting exposure.
One of the top G10 RL teams has 8 of 15 players on the roster eligible to play 2011 next year. In May,. The 10 RL scrimmaged the 11 NL and beat them 5-1 with the 11s scoring a garbage time goal after being down 0-5 with 8 min left. I’d assumed that those RL players would definitely help that 2011 NL Team. There are also 3-4 2010 NLs that are trapped players. I think it’s safe to say next year is going to be wild when the age matrix changes.