MLS youth league

This interview with Kutney suggests that ECNL participants (including FC Dallas) are expected to play their stronger teams in ECNL.

An interview with ECNL Boys Commissioner, Jason Kutney

With the end of the DA, many non-MLS DA clubs have been searching for new homes. The ECNL has been flooded with requests to join the league.

ECNL applicants must demonstrate a top-level training system and assert that they will be sending their top teams to the ECNL. FC Dallas, for example, is expected to have their top teams in the ECNL.
 
Lots of rumors flying at the moment, but I am hearing that this league isn't coming together as easy as everyone thought.

Just some of the things I've heard.
  • Limited amount of games
  • League will not let players participate in any other league (can't play in an ECNL weekend game if no MLS league game in on the schedule that week)
  • MLS wants to hold rights of all players participating in league
  • Tournament restrictions that have to be approved by MLS
All of this is just talk at the moment, but it looks like instead of trying to fix what was broken with USSDA, they want to carry on with some of the restrictions that people didn't like.
 
texanincali said:
Lots of rumors flying at the moment, but I am hearing that this league isn't coming together as easy as everyone thought.

Just some of the things I've heard.
  • Limited amount of games
  • League will not let players participate in any other league (can't play in an ECNL weekend game if no MLS league game in on the schedule that week)
  • MLS wants to hold rights of all players participating in league
  • Tournament restrictions that have to be approved by MLS
All of this is just talk at the moment, but it looks like instead of trying to fix what was broken with USSDA, they want to carry on with some of the restrictions that people didn't like.
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Isn't that how MLS always handled their academies? No outside competition, you're a "homegrown" and, as of last year, there's reciprocity. Sounds the same.
 
messy said:
Isn't that how MLS always handled their academies? No outside competition, you're a "homegrown" and, as of last year, there's reciprocity. Sounds the same.
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That's how USSF handled outside competition, MLS just followed the rules as did the non-MLS clubs. It would make sense for a league that is just forming to allow some discretion by the clubs. It is a perfect opportunity to fix what was broken in USSDA.

For example, if 4 kids didn't get any playing time in their Saturday MLS League game, what is the harm of letting them roster and play with the ECNL team on Sunday? What is the harm of letting San Diego Surf play in any tournament of their choosing when there is a 2-3 week break in MLS League action?
 
texanincali said:
That's how USSF handled outside competition, MLS just followed the rules as did the non-MLS clubs. It would make sense for a league that is just forming to allow some discretion by the clubs. It is a perfect opportunity to fix what was broken in USSDA.

For example, if 4 kids didn't get any playing time in their Saturday MLS League game, what is the harm of letting them roster and play with the ECNL team on Sunday? What is the harm of letting San Diego Surf play in any tournament of their choosing when there is a 2-3 week break in MLS League action?
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These MLS rules are similar to DA and reasonable. Limited amount of games, no participation in any other league and tournament restrictions are all part of the development training to games ratio. If allowed, its tough to regulate clubs that will wear out their top players just to win matches in outside competitions, but not impossible. Players not roster for a match or that play less than 25% of a match should be eligible to play another match on the same weekend. Why not just create a simple reporting system to track outside competition? Instead of requesting permission to attend a tournament when there is a 2-3 week break, just add the players to the tracking system to keep clubs honest.

Now the interesting point is holding the rights to all players in the league. If this holds true, I'd expect the MLS would need to provide some financial support either direct to clubs or through scholarships for non-MLS academies.
 
Cibo said:
These MLS rules are similar to DA and reasonable. Limited amount of games, no participation in any other league and tournament restrictions are all part of the development training to games ratio. If allowed, its tough to regulate clubs that will wear out their top players just to win matches in outside competitions, but not impossible. Players not roster for a match or that play less than 25% of a match should be eligible to play another match on the same weekend. Why not just create a simple reporting system to track outside competition? Instead of requesting permission to attend a tournament when there is a 2-3 week break, just add the players to the tracking system to keep clubs honest.

Now the interesting point is holding the rights to all players in the league. If this holds true, I'd expect the MLS would need to provide some financial support either direct to clubs or through scholarships for non-MLS academies.
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That is a great idea and one that wouldn't be too difficult to pull off. There has to be something in place to keep clubs from running their top players into the ground, but there should also be an outlet for the players that don't always get a lot of match time in MLS League.
 
For LA-based teams, average cost of one trip to play other MLS teams will likely be about $6,000 per trip per age group team.

conservatively assumes 20 people traveling per one u17 team, from LA to Chicago (middle of country) w/ $2200 in total airfare, $1100 in total hotel (assumes two matches per trip so two hotel nights) $1000 for van rentals and gas, and $1800 for meals).

Assuming 30 regular season games (not including showcases, tournaments or play-offs), with half at home, and one match against the other LA MLS team w/ nominal travel costs, that's, very conservatively (assumes two matches per trip plus only 20 people traveling per team plus the current Covid 19-driven low rates on travel eg, $110 rt airfare LA to Chi per person), about an average of$42,000 in travel costs for regular season away games for one team for one season.

Add-in showcases, tournaments and playoffs and that's close to $70,000 for travel for one MLS academy team per season. Assuming three teams - u15, u17 and u19 - that's - conservatively - an average of +$210,000 in 2020-21 incremental travel costs for each MLS academy.

But, if MLS teams can convince enough local non-MLS clubs to play in the MLS academy league or are willing to play ECNL teams (and vice versa), then those 2020-21 travel costs go way down.

With US Soccer scholarships and subsidies going away, maybe it's worth it to the MLS clubs to share the love a little bit. Certainly seems cost-effective.
 
for reference, here's the map with just MLS teams. Teams east of the Mississippi will probably have travel costs about -50% lower than the other teams if the MLS academy league is just MLS. Maybe the MLS League is two regions, west and east, w/ the west region having non-MLS teams... Be interesting to see if clubs like Barca, TFA, and De Anza will be willing to give up rights to their players. Also, west would need 2-4 more teams (already assuming Sac Republic will be MLS...). Thoughts on which other clubs?

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Would be a surprise to me considering a lot of tweets from MLS academies congratulating 06 players for signing. I assume u15 is still part of the plan or a lot of kids/parents are going to be pretty upset.
 
Kante said:
for reference, here's the map with just MLS teams. Teams east of the Mississippi will probably have travel costs about -50% lower than the other teams if the MLS academy league is just MLS. Maybe the MLS League is two regions, west and east, w/ the west region having non-MLS teams... Be interesting to see if clubs like Barca, TFA, and De Anza will be willing to give up rights to their players. Also, west would need 2-4 more teams (already assuming Sac Republic will be MLS...). Thoughts on which other clubs?


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I like your suggestions of TFA and Sac'to and DeAnza. Maybe add Vancouver? Then with Socal you might include such non-MLS clubs as a couple of AZ teams, in addition to Barca. Santa Cruz Breakers. Crossfire Premier. Real So Cal and Golden State always worthy. Starts to look a lot like the original DA map my oldest played 10 years ago.
 
From the article:

The sources said that the new league will include Under-13, -14, -15, -17 and -19 age groups. MLS teams will be required to field U-15 and U-17 squads, but it will be up to individual clubs if they want to field teams in the other four age groups. The league is also considering an Under-16 division, though there are no current plans for it to be included in the first season.
 
From the Athletic article, here's the list of non-MLS clubs. SoCal/SoCal Adjacent in blue bold.

"The full list of the 65 non-MLS clubs, known as “founding members,” is below:

Phoenix Rising FC (USL), RGV FC Toros Academy (USL), Saint Louis FC (USL), San Antonio FC (USL), Tampa Bay United Rowdies (USL), Barca Residency Academy, IMG Academy, Shattuck-St. Mary’s, NEFC, SF Glens, Albion SC, Ballistic United, Baltimore Armour, Bayside Futebol Club, Beachside of Connecticut, Bethesda FC, Blau Weiss Gottschee, Breakers, Cedar Stars Academy Bergen, Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth, Chargers Soccer Club, Chicago FC United, Chula Vista FC, Cincinnati Premier Soccer Club, City SC, De Anza Force, Empire United Soccer Academy, FC Delco, FC Greater Boston Bolts, FC Westchester, Florida Rush Soccer Club, Indiana Fire Academy, Internationals, Jacksonville FC, L.A. United Football Academy, LA Surf Soccer Club, Lanier Soccer Academy, Metropolitan Oval, Miami Rush Kendall SC, Michigan Wolves, Murrieta Surf Soccer Club, New York Soccer Club, Nomads, Oakwood Soccer Club, PA Classics, Player Development Academy, Real Colorado, RISE Soccer Club, RSL Arizona, Santa Barbara Soccer Club, SC Del Sol, Seacoast United, SF Elite, Silicon Valley SA, Sockers FC Chicago, Solar Soccer Club, South Florida Football Academy, Southern Soccer Academy, Total Futbol Academy, TSF Academy, Valeo Futbol Club, VARDAR Soccer Club, Ventura County Fusion, West Florida Flames, Weston FC
 
So much for more meaningful games.

Some of those clubs were not very competitive when they were DAs a few months ago.
 
messy said:
The MLS clubs in LA had said they were keeping youngers, but I didn't know specifics until now.
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so, u13 and u14 for non-MLS clubs w/ optional u15+ teams where clubs are competitive w/ MLS i.e. Barca and TFA, and maybe LAUFA, Nomads and Albion?

the socal teams listed seem to imply this.
 
Can someone clarify, are the non MLS teams going to play u17 and u19 vs MLS teams? We were told a month ago that at least by u19 the MLS clubs would have their own league.
 
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