Is mls next better than ecnl

U13 is the magic number. At U13, the youth soccer landscape is transformed by the introduction of three top-level competitions. The Girls Academy (GA) only includes (you guessed it) girls. Only boys teams can compete inMLS NEXT. And the Elite Clubs National League(ECNL) has both boys and girls teams competing for the title. So how do you choose when the time comes to decide? What is best between MLS NEXT vs. ECNL vs. GA?

Any of these organizations offer top-tier challenge (and competitions). They all movie fast, technical and tactical soccer. And all of them provide access to a platform built for accelerated soccer development. That’s the goal, after all: these programs are each designed to raise the bar for youth soccer and help the Joined States compete on a global level.

But there are some crucial differences to keep in brain when deciding the right next step for your player. Let’s walk through those: first in a brief chart, then in more detail below.

What is the ECNL?

The Elite Clubs National League formed in 2009 and instantly lived up to its label. The competition has expanded to include 113 g

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

Grace T. said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

by Adam Wood

Writer, researcher and soccer coach. Devotee of The Beautiful Game. Lifelong learner and community-building advocate.

U13 is the magic number. At U13, the youth soccer landscape is transformed by the introduction of three top-level competitions. The Girls Academy (GA) only includes (you guessed it) girls. Only boys teams can play inMLS NEXT. And the Elite Clubs National League(ECNL) has both boys and girls teams competing for the title. So how do you choose when the time comes to decide? What is best between MLS NEXT vs. ECNL vs. GA?

Any of these organizations offer top-tier competition (and competitions). They all feature fast, technical and tactical soccer. And all of them provide access to a platform built for accelerated soccer development. That’s the goal, after all: these programs are each designed to raise the bar for youth soccer and help the United States compete on a global level.

But there are some important differences to keep in mind when deciding the right next step for your player. Let’s walk through those: first in a brief chart, then in more detail below.

What is the ECNL?

The Elite Clubs National League formed in 2009 and

ECNL vs MLS next

Grace T. said:

So is it definitive that ECNL will switch to school years? Last I heard the MLS Academies are still a no go for switching back because it will cause too many problems with internationals and too much blow back from Europe. If so it is unlikely they'll let the regular MLS Next change. If so it's unlikely MLS2 will change given that one of the reason for closer integration is to allow the MLS Reserve players to have some place to play and to have more flexibility in moving people up and down. One of two scenarios might develop. Late birthday but high talent players drift to ECNL, while CY birthdays to MLS (at least until U18 when it becomes less of an issue for the boys). Or the girls are all on SY but the boys on CY (which would be funny) if ECNL becomes purely a girls thing and GA crashes and burns (a big assumption...as others have said depends on NWSL)

Click to expand...

NWSL leadership is focused on opening new franchise locations + getting cities to foot the bill for stadiums. Which while annoying makes sense because this is how investors (current NWSL club owners) make the most $$$.

Something to watch is what Gotham is doing wi

Breaking Down the Maze of Youth Soccer: ECNL, GA, NPL, MLS NEXT & MLS NEXT Pro

Introduction: Making Sense of Youth Soccer’s Alphabet Soup

If you’re a parent trying to navigate youth soccer in the U.S., you’ve probably felt overwhelmed. Between acronyms like ECNL, GA, MLS NEXT, and NPL, it can feel like you’re learning a new language—and the truth is, the landscape changes depending on where you live.

 

In one region, ECNL might dominate the conversation, while in another, the top local team could play in GA, NPL, or even a strong regional league. Some parents assume there’s a “best” league nationwide, but in reality, youth soccer is highly regionalized, and the “right” option often comes down to the quality of the club, not just the league patch on the jersey.

 

This guide is designed to help you step through the noise and focus on what really matters:

 

• How do the leagues actually work?
• What’s the difference between them?
• How does this affect your player’s path to development and recruiting?
• And what role do things like player cards play?

 

Why Parents Find This So Confusing

You’re not alone. U.S. youth socc