There's a certain amount of logic in having a foot in both doors to see how things go, at least at the beginning. It will take a little while before Boys ECNL is established enough that it can push the "All In" position it was pushing with the girls when there were clubs with both ECNL and GDA.
MLS youth league
- Thread starter Zvezdas
- Start date
I should add Youth Academy is different than MLS academy. Youth Academy is almost like their affiliate club, but more integrated than that... but similar to the old LA Galaxy - San Diego.
FWIW a friend of a friend recently joined an mls organization (rapids if it matters) and said the mls academy plan is a mess and there’s very little motivation and organization to make it happen. He said it will be a mess this year (maybe up and running by January. Maybe). If they play this fall it won’t be a league just games and showcase weekends with only mls teams. Not motivated to go play a league that will have teams that were bottom feeder DA teams and/or weren’t even DA.
This is third hand and from a guy who just joined rapids organization. So take it fwiw.
This is third hand and from a guy who just joined rapids organization. So take it fwiw.
I won't be surprised if this is how things end up going in terms of timing of league play. But, the MLS clubs have enough control over things now to ensure their teams can play the teams they want them to play. I also find it hard to believe that the people in the MLS academies aren't motivated to make this happen - they not only want to keep their jobs, they also like games (just like the players) and won't want to just supervise trainings for the next 6 months.
So, are we supposedly still waiting for some kind of an announcement from MLS on the academy league today?
jpeter
PREMIER
This week around or before May 15th was told there will be some updates coming.
I have a hunch there are trying to time things in accordance with possible opening for group training. If MLS confirms the June 8th date for that perhaps the youth teams can get back in some limited forms also.
Salvaging some of the season and working with some models without fans that make economic sense is their big priority now. If that can be accomplished youth play in a formal league might begin in fall. If not spring 2021 is more likely and what USL decided on.
That's what we were told but I'm not holding my breath for today or the 15th.
I just don’t see how the non fully funded clubs are going to compete. They will be worse off than the Non MLS DA teams defecting to ECNL. They could not keep up with cash being thrown their way from the MLS. Even TFA only has a team or two that can play with the big boys( the 05 team is legit). They should just play Coast or SCDSL
As with everything else, the question is which league will be perceived as #1 by players/parents. My guess is that the theory for non-MLS teams is that if the best players go to the MLS academies and players want to play against the best players, even if only to get a chance to be scouted by those MLS academy coaches or by the D1 coaches who scout the games in the MLS league, then they'll be willing to play for the non-MLS teams in that league.
ECNL is probably better for the clubs in terms of league organization and stability, being able to determine your club's own fate (since clubs have a seat at the table and there won't be MLS teams that run the league to benefit themselves) and making it easier to keep your own players. Whether that translates to benefits for the players is not as clear. HS play is less of a draw for boys than girls, but it might help with some kids if the MLS league doesn't allow it or plays through it. There might be more organized college showcases for ECNL teams too since MLS is less likely to care about that (although MLS does still place a lot of players in D1 schools every year and they retain their rights and sometimes sign them as homegrown players).
The real question will be how the MLS league treats the non-MLS teams. If the non-MLS teams only get limited games against the MLS teams to provide local scrimmages and otherwise just play against themselves, that will probably get old fast. Even then, for players the tie to the MLS academies may be enough to differentiate the league from ECNL and other local options.
Alot of this comes down to resources and money. With ussda out of the picture those club subsidies and travel scholarships are not going to be forthcoming anymore.
Will MLS clubs propely fund this new league to make it successful? I doubt they will spend like what they did on the DA side given their current financial situation. At what point will they even have funds to allocate? Right now that's not the case.
On the clubside Ecnl has traditionally been a very expensive League to be a member of with parents footing the bill. That bill could be getting larger, club don't have the da subsidies any longer and with their income off they will likely not be offering handouts at previous levels. Some parents & players are going to be priced out and will stick with local leagues.
Banana Hammock
SILVER ELITE
our club said 26 game league season
I heard same from coach friend in a non-MLS club. They are not getting a lot of communications and it is currently very disorganized. He is not sure where their club will fit in in the new league and whether they are in a lower tier than the one for MLS teams.
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.
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.
texanincali
SILVER ELITE
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.
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
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.
texanincali
SILVER ELITE
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?
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.