According to our DA director, the new league will be called something like "MLS Academy" and while the details are still being worked out, it will mostly work like the DA did minus about 20% of the clubs that jumped to ECNL. They are adding Phx Rising at all levels, Liverpool in OC and some other clubs.
What will likely be different is that the u19 level might go away because MLS clubs feel that if you aren't ready to be signed by then it won't be worth their time. What teams like LAUFA, TFA, Nomads, etc will do with that age group remains to be seen. Beyond that they are getting rid of the gap year, likely getting rid of the sub rules. Not much else will change. Our DOC said MLS clubs have to do this because otherwise they couldn't afford their academies since they'd have to fly to almost every game.
Our DOC is full of shit in general, but if you liked the DA, it sounds like it will still be the DA. The downside of course is that losing the six clubs in southern CA means that there will be more out of state travel to Arizona since there will be at least three clubs there (Barca, Rising, RSLAZ). It will be interesting to see if those clubs that left try to get back in or stick with ECNL.
They said MLS is meeting today about it and final details will be available in the next couple of weeks. Basically MLS is going to do everything US Soccer resisted doing that the wanted to do. I still maintain southern CA clubs should have an alliance to play each other and limit the travel (why play Rising three times when you can play Strikers three times and not pay for a hotel, miss school, etc) but that would require DOC's to think about the best interests of the kids first.
Knowing its not finalized as yet, whats the general consensus on MLS Academy age groups? Are people thinking/hearing its going to be U15, U16, and U17 with 19 going away? Or is the feeling U15 and U17?
If the MLS league seems a little ad hoc and making it up as they go, that's probably because it is. That has caused some to be worried about its viability. We'll see. Even if it has lasting power, it does appear they're taking other clubs to complete the schedule rather than to upgrade the competition, which makes you wonder if those clubs/players will get the full benefits
If the MLS league seems a little ad hoc and making it up as they go, that's probably because it is. That has caused some to be worried about its viability. We'll see. Even if it has lasting power, it does appear they're taking other clubs to complete the schedule rather than to upgrade the competition, which makes you wonder if those clubs/players will get the full benefits
This is just a mess.
For years the MLS DAs have been trying to get rid of the non-MLS DAs. They wanted to form a league amongst only MLS DAs. That's why they split up the U19 into two divisions.
Now this new MLS/USYS league says all former non-MLS DAs can be a part of the new league. What non-MLS clubs in their right mind would want to play second class citizens to the MLS academies?
You're miss the $$$ part of the equation and the new solidarity agreements that they're working on, that's why.
Some clubs can't afford the big $$$ for there players to train 4x play, travel for league or showcases across the country with the da subsidies.
This is just a mess.
Why? Because they don't have every detail ironed out during a massive transition while a 100-year pandemic is going on? So parents like you and I have all of the details immediately?
Why don't we exercise some patience and see what comes out of this before passing judgment? Clearly they have some time to iron out the details, the current season is over and we are in a dead period for the foreseeable future.
By the way, I highly doubt that EVERY non-MLS DA team is offered to be in this new MLS league. Even that first tweet merely said "every former DA club will have a place to play" (paraphrasing), it didn't say where.
MLS just hired Jay Berhalter as a consultant for the new MLS league.If the MLS league seems a little ad hoc and making it up as they go, that's probably because it is. That has caused some to be worried about its viability. We'll see. Even if it has lasting power, it does appear they're taking other clubs to complete the schedule rather than to upgrade the competition, which makes you wonder if those clubs/players will get the full benefits
This bit of news, which is not surprising, may be contributing to skepticism of the MLS youth league. MLS may be thinking the non-MLS teams will pay fees that would basically cover much of MLS' costs for the league itself.
MLS will be less inclined to self deal bc the youth soccer community is their fan base. If they are smart and trying to filter players to the MLS and expanding the MLS & its fan base, youth soccer is small potatoes and self dealing will cost them more than it's worth in the long run.MLS just hired Jay Berhalter as a consultant for the new MLS league.
On one hand, can't stand the idea of Jay Berhalter. On the other, read a couple of references that the DA was his baby, so maybe the right/most informed guy to help out now. Hopefully, because they're starting largely from scratch and folks have a very low expectations, they'll be able to do things better.
At the end of the day though, it's hard not to be concerned that MLS self-interest will prevail at the expense of others.
Also, love Charles Boehm generally, but he mucked up the quote from the MLS guy. The quote was that every former DA team would "have a place to play," not that every former DA club would have a place in the MLS league.
Totally agree that they always needed to include more local clubs to reduce travel, even apart from the financial crisis, although I'm sure they hoped those clubs would provide the best non-MLS teams and I don't know that they achieved that overall. Just suggesting that MLS' ability and appetite to carry the league has limits, and those limits are now greater. It will be interesting to see how they set up the fee structure for the non-MLS clubs.They have to cut expensive and no I don't think that why they want to include non-mls, travel and other things are behind that like USYS.
Heard high school will not be an option in the MLS league
I agree play for fun 1st but I have had a very different experience working with athletes and non athletes getting into colleges.My advice is play soccer, gave some fun, and choose clubs, coaches, teams that are supportive and have good reputations.
The whole chase the college athletic partial scholarship for soccer deal should'nt be the focus. Your kids great grades and character will go farther in getting accepted.
The days of getting special admin due to athletics are pretty much over at the big colleges. Even at UCLA if you not in the average range of requirements they won't even give you a offer. The range for GPA for incoming freshman is 4.0 to 4.29 and you need socal and character reference or work also. If you have a 3.5 GPA and play soccer to count on offers from the the big D1 colleges they have so many possible applicants they just move on to the next.
At the better D2's 3.5gpa is possible for some schools that have lower admission standards while other require 3.7+ even the the minimum requirement is just what like a 2.2 GPA for a scholarship. D3 there are no set gpa requirements, up to schools but still have to meet the NCAA A-G course work in college.
Financial need is a big part of scholarships, example our son had offer from a pretty high profile college but it cost $55,000 a year. Coach likes him wants to make him an offer but explain to him they only get about 6 scholarships and nobody gets a full one and it's based on economic need basically he's going to get nothing in a nut shell.
Our daughter decided that she wasn't going to play college soccer and she managed to get over a dozen scholarships based on academic character, social, and Civic things she does. some of those were smaller amounts but it all added up enough to pay for her college for the first two years.
College soccer while that's another topic all together, the short limited season is really not conducted for serious soccer players. Many end up having to play and some other leagues like usl 2, upsl, etc to keep developing.