When/Why to decide EA/ECNL/MLS next?

[lulu9155]

I am very confused as to when and why a parent decides to have their son try out for an EA team vs ECNL vs MLS next? Does this happen at a certain age? Why would a a parent choose to switch to one of these leagues?

Is there not a small distinction to help a parent & a player choose? If a club does not offer anything but EA is it a bad idea to stay if a kid is very good? Is it better to start at a club that has ECNL for older kids? If a kid is very good should MLS next be a goal? How do you know what to do? I am thoroughly confused.

 

[Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr]

I am very confused as to when and why a parent decides to have their son try out for an EA team vs ECNL vs MLS next? Does this happen at a certain age? Why would a a parent choose to switch to one of these leagues?

Is there not a small distinction to help a parent & a player choose? If a club does not offer anything but EA is it a bad idea to stay if a kid is very good? Is it better to start at a club that has ECNL for older kids? If a kid is very good should MLS next be a goal? How do you know what to do? I am thoroughly confused.

MLS Next tends to have the highest concentration of competitive teams and good players, then ECNL, and then EA. There are outlier teams in every age group and every league. There are also kids on EA teams who could play on MLS Next teams, and then there are kids on MLS Next teams who probably aren't right for that level. Things tend to even out as the boys get older. Water finds it level, but there are still outliers because placement on teams it is art, not science.

With your own kid? If they excel in their current level and are willing to work on their own outside club games and trainings, then it seems right to take the challenge of a more competitive environment. Tryouts, last I checked, are free. I think open tryouts are a waste mostly of the time for both players and teams. Try to schedule a training with the actual team your boy might join as a trial. That will let the club see your kid, and you can see firsthand what the environment is like and whether your kid will fit-in and thrive. If your kid is driven, you might want to find an environment where your kid is far from the strongest player on the team. Get him uncomfortable. If you think he's the kind of kid who won't mentally do well with that, then proceed with caution.

 

[Jamisfoes]

Technically mls next and ECNL don’t start until u13. EA starts at U11. So I don’t think I understand your question. I think roughly 1/2 of EA clubs are also mls next clubs. As long as you are the top 5 players on an EA team, you have a good chance of making a mls next team. It’s no easy task. We are talking about the A teams of big clubs.

 

[lulu9155]

Technically mls next and ECNL don’t start until u13. EA starts at U11. So I don’t think I understand your question. I think roughly 1/2 of EA clubs are also mls next clubs. As long as you are the top 5 players on an EA team, you have a good chance of making a mls next team. It’s no easy task. We are talking about the A teams of big clubs.

Thank you. This makes sense. Our current club only has EA. But a few clubs around us have EA and MLS next.

 

[lulu9155]

MLS Next tends to have the highest concentration of competitive teams and good players, then ECNL, and then EA. There are outlier teams in every age group and every league. There are also kids on EA teams who could play on MLS Next teams, and then there are kids on MLS Next teams who probably aren't right for that level. Things tend to even out as the boys get older. Water finds it level, but there are still outliers because placement on teams it is art, not science.

With your own kid? If they excel in their current level and are willing to work on their own outside club games and trainings, then it seems right to take the challenge of a more competitive environment. Tryouts, last I checked, are free. I think open tryouts are a waste mostly of the time for both players and teams. Try to schedule a training with the actual team your boy might join as a trial. That will let the club see your kid, and you can see firsthand what the environment is like and whether your kid will fit-in and thrive. If your kid is driven, you might want to find an environment where your kid is far from the strongest player on the team. Get him uncomfortable. If you think he's the kind of kid who won't mentally do well with that, then proceed with caution.

Great advice. thank you.

 

[lulu9155]

Technically mls next and ECNL don’t start until u13. EA starts at U11. So I don’t think I understand your question. I think roughly 1/2 of EA clubs are also mls next clubs. As long as you are the top 5 players on an EA team, you have a good chance of making a mls next team. It’s no easy task. We are talking about the A teams of big clubs.

So if our current club does not have MLS next would it make sense to go to an EA team with a club that does to have that option?

 

[Grace T.]

So if our current club does not have MLS next would it make sense to go to an EA team with a club that does to have that option?

It depends on what you want out of the process. Your family seems pretty unhappy with the current situation but a lot of what you are complaining about is part and parcel of playing at the higher levels. Unless your kid is really really all in with soccer, it doesnt make sense to pursue the highest levels of soccer.

It’s not a question necessarily of how good your kid is. Your kid may or may not win the puberty lottery, but may have an advantage if they are tall and close to the age line. The question is does he want to be doing soccer pretty much all of the time (including if necessary over academics) and is always asking for more including private training. Otherwise you are just keeping up with the joneses and your kid is going to wind up hating being pushed into it.

 

[Grace T.]

It depends on what you want out of the process. Your family seems pretty unhappy with the current situation but a lot of what you are complaining about is part and parcel of playing at the higher levels. Unless your kid is really really all in with soccer, it doesnt make sense to pursue the highest levels of soccer.

It’s not a question necessarily of how good your kid is. Your kid may or may not win the puberty lottery, but may have an advantage if they are tall and close to the age line. The question is does he want to be doing soccer pretty much all of the time (including if necessary over academics) and is always asking for more including private training. Otherwise you are just keeping up with the joneses and your kid is going to wind up hating being pushed into it.

Ps the craziness that your kid is complaining about is nothing compared to the highest levels. Yes I know he’s very young still and that affects stuff. But if he’s upset being forced to play cb that stuff happens doubly so in mls next. Some mls next kids don’t even get to dress for their teams games. Many of the mls next wanna bes your kids age are doing intensive private training and summer soccer camps. By moving up you are going to likely get more, not less of it (read the thread about the club that made girls teams battle it out for the ecrl slot).

 

[Zeke]

I am very confused as to when and why a parent decides to have their son try out for an EA team vs ECNL vs MLS next? Does this happen at a certain age? Why would a a parent choose to switch to one of these leagues?

Is there not a small distinction to help a parent & a player choose? If a club does not offer anything but EA is it a bad idea to stay if a kid is very good? Is it better to start at a club that has ECNL for older kids? If a kid is very good should MLS next be a goal? How do you know what to do? I am thoroughly confused.

We went to ECNL when our daughter ran out of challenges at the non-ECNL club.

It turned out well for her. Probably could have made the move sooner.

I'd consider moving up if your kid starts every game on an average team (.500 record ), and is one of the last to sub out.

If you do move, pay attention to culture. You're picking a group of friends as much as you're picking a soccer team.

 

[focomoso]

So if our current club does not have MLS next would it make sense to go to an EA team with a club that does to have that option?

If I'm understanding your question. Playing EA on a club that does or doesn't have MLS Next at the younger ages (before MLSN starts) won't make much difference. When MLSN starts, clubs will be looking to fill out rosters and they won't prioritize kids from their own club, even if they tell you otherwise. Pathways are a myth.

 

[Code]

If I'm understanding your question. Playing EA on a club that does or doesn't have MLS Next at the younger ages (before MLSN starts) won't make much difference. When MLSN starts, clubs will be looking to fill out rosters and they won't prioritize kids from their own club, even if they tell you otherwise. Pathways are a myth.

True statement.

 

[#girldad]

It all depends on your goals. You need to move up to the highest level as soon as you can. Keep in mind that most schools/scouts are only recruiting from the highest levels. My daughter plays on a high level ECNL team in SoCal and everyone has a D1 offer, while the RL team has only a couple D2 offers.

 

[sigmabody]

It depends on what you want out of the process. Your family seems pretty unhappy with the current situation but a lot of what you are complaining about is part and parcel of playing at the higher levels. Unless your kid is really really all in with soccer, it doesnt make sense to pursue the highest levels of soccer.

It’s not a question necessarily of how good your kid is. Your kid may or may not win the puberty lottery, but may have an advantage if they are tall and close to the age line. The question is does he want to be doing soccer pretty much all of the time (including if necessary over academics) and is always asking for more including private training. Otherwise you are just keeping up with the joneses and your kid is going to wind up hating being pushed into it.

I'm far from the most experienced parent, and my kid is far from the most talented soccer player, but the above seems like really good advice. Particularly, the part about being driven to put soccer as the first priority, in addition to being a top player on the top team for a club.

My son's club has had a few players go from the club (which is small/municipal) to academy teams, who were in that category. They also have driven players on their current top teams, and that is generally what it takes to move up to that level. I could not see my kid doing the kinds of things I see those kids are doing, in the pursuit of trying to be the best as soccer (eg: going to the gym at age 13 to work out regularly), and I'm certainly not trying to push him to be like that. If the coaches think he should move up, that'll happen organically, but he's happy in his current environment.

You can always pursue a try-out, and your kid may well belong playing at that level, but I'd always keep the quoted comment in mind. My opinion, anyway.

 

[Jamisfoes]

If I'm understanding your question. Playing EA on a club that does or doesn't have MLS Next at the younger ages (before MLSN starts) won't make much difference. When MLSN starts, clubs will be looking to fill out rosters and they won't prioritize kids from their own club, even if they tell you otherwise. Pathways are a myth.

This is true except the incumbent has an advantage. Let’s say player A and B both play the CB position and are both from the same city. Player A got on the pre-MLSN/EA team at U11 and gave two years of dedicated service to the coach in EA. Here comes the U13 MLSN tryout, player B played well and are equally skilled as player A. But the coach already has player A and he needs other positions filled. Play B is a no. Since player B is good, he eventually got on a MLSN team 45min from home.
Pathways are a myth but timing absolutely matters if you don’t want a long commute.

 

[focomoso]

This is true except the incumbent has an advantage. Let’s say player A and B both play the CB position and are both from the same city. Player A got on the pre-MLSN/EA team at U11 and gave two years of dedicated service to the coach in EA. Here comes the U13 MLSN tryout, player B played well and are equally skilled as player A. But the coach already has player A and he needs other positions filled. Play B is a no. Since player B is good, he eventually got on a MLSN team 45min from home.
Pathways are a myth but timing absolutely matters if you don’t want a long commute.

Yes, timing matters, but I'm not sure the incumbent necessarily has an advantage. Sometimes they're at a disadvantage because the coach knows all their faults but haven't discovered the faults of the new shiny player trying out.

That said, I've never seen two equally skilled players. I've seen players that may be close on balance, but everyone is better at some stuff and worse at other, so it will depend more on what the coach needs to fill out his team.

 

[Jamisfoes]

Yes, timing matters, but I'm not sure the incumbent necessarily has an advantage. Sometimes they're at a disadvantage because the coach knows all their faults but haven't discovered the faults of the new shiny player trying out.

That said, I've never seen two equally skilled players. I've seen players that may be close on balance, but everyone is better at some stuff and worse at other, so it will depend more on what the coach needs to fill out his

Sure there are players on the team that coach trusts and relies on and there are those who get yelled at, these are two different kinds of incumbents. I agree that players play musical chairs and jump teams often. There are always opportunities. However, if there is a club close to you and you are good enough to make the A team, I would get in early and establish yourself. Those who can’t establish themselves on a team are those that end up doing the musical chair dance and have long commutes.

 

[KiloOne]

This is true except the incumbent has an advantage. Let’s say player A and B both play the CB position and are both from the same city. Player A got on the pre-MLSN/EA team at U11 and gave two years of dedicated service to the coach in EA. Here comes the U13 MLSN tryout, player B played well and are equally skilled as player A. But the coach already has player A and he needs other positions filled. Play B is a no. Since player B is good, he eventually got on a MLSN team 45min from home.
Pathways are a myth but timing absolutely matters if you don’t want a long commute.

Or...player B gets signed because he's new to the club and generates $3000 in dues. Player A is captive and they already have his dues, assuming he doesn't leave.

In my experience (3 boys playing EA/MLSN/ECNL) it's rare for the incumbent player to promote, as most MLSN/ECNL open spots are filled by outside players new to the club. Getting in early and establishing yourself on the EA or RL team does not necessarily mean a pathway to the MLSN or ECNL team at that club. Again, just what I've seen over the past 8 years at the clubs my boys have played for.

 

[Jamisfoes]

Or...player B gets signed because he's new to the club and generates $3000 in dues. Player A is captive and they already have his dues, assuming he doesn't leave.

In my experience (3 boys playing EA/MLSN/ECNL) it's rare for the incumbent player to promote, as most MLSN/ECNL open spots are filled by outside players new to the club. Getting in early and establishing yourself on the EA or RL team does not necessarily mean a pathway to the MLSN or ECNL team at that club. Again, just what I've seen over the past 8 years at the clubs my boys have played for.

I guess it depends on how strong your U11 and 12 EA teams are. If you don’t already have a strong team then it’s best to start over.

 

[sigmabody]

Sure there are players on the team that coach trusts and relies on and there are those who get yelled at, these are two different kinds of incumbents. I agree that players play musical chairs and jump teams often. There are always opportunities. However, if there is a club close to you and you are good enough to make the A team, I would get in early and establish yourself. Those who can’t establish themselves on a team are those that end up doing the musical chair dance and have long commutes.

As another aside, this type of process (to try to get your kid the optimal opportunities and exposure) is one reason I'm glad my son isn't a top tier player, and we're not really chasing this. Keeping up with the demands of his second-tier local-club team is cumbersome as it is, and I don't know if I'd be up for the sort of lifestyle changes which are required to support a player with top-tier aspirations. I know of some people who commute 2+hrs each way, 4x/week or more, just for the training with a top-tier academy team (not including travel for games/etc.), and I'm glad I'm not in a position where I need to decide on that level of commitment. There's value in being realistic about one's prospects.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

So if our current club does not have MLS next would it make sense to go to an EA team with a club that does to have that option?

There is no set truth on this in my opinion. All family by family and player by player decision and desire.
EA and MLS Next games aren't as local as SoCal games. EA games can take you to Chula Vista, Santa Barbara, AZ...
MLS Next showcases can take you out of CA...

If the goal is to play the highest level of soccer on the boys side for the foreseeable future, I think getting on the first team of the club that has MLS Next by the time you're 10 or 11 years old helps. I do agree with the comment above that the incumbent has an advantage. I guess this depends on if the coach/DOC focuses on what the kid is good at or what the kid is bad at... but in general if you're already on the team, it's easier to stay on. I just have seen it over and over kids that probably should be cut... but isn't and the kids that probably should make the team didn't...