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Post by keepingithonest on May 16, 2023 19:50:54 GMT -5
Curious what people are seeing. Is the allure of being somewhat affiliated with MLS a draw pulling kids from other clubs to ID camps and tryouts or are things going the other way and MLS Next not grabbing the boys attention like they thought it would?
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Post by cluelessparents on May 16, 2023 20:27:51 GMT -5
Curious what people are seeing. Is the allure of being somewhat affiliated with MLS a draw pulling kids from other clubs to ID camps and tryouts or are things going the other way and MLS Next not grabbing the boys attention like they thought it would? Isn’t that like being affiliated with a single A minor league baseball team with little hope of moving up? |
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Post by Brinker on May 16, 2023 21:12:51 GMT -5
I just think boys ECNL is more competitive in the Atlanta area unless you are on Atlanta United academy.
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Post by messindreams on May 16, 2023 23:06:09 GMT -5
This debate can only be settled on the pitch. NASA boys ECNL is very strong across most of the age groups.
I know that MLS Next is stronger across the US, I've heard the same from college + national scouts. Based on what couple of friends shared with me, there were scouts from pro clubs, USMNT, and staff from every college that plays competitive soccer at the just concluded MLS Next playoffs in Maryland.
I think one should keep MLS Next as an option over few lower tier ECNL teams in ATL. Just my two cents.
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Post by Futsal Gawdess on May 17, 2023 7:24:52 GMT -5
I just think boys ECNL is more competitive in the Atlanta area unless you are on Atlanta United academy. Very well said... |
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Post by randomparent on May 17, 2023 8:09:03 GMT -5
This debate can only be settled on the pitch. NASA boys ECNL is very strong across most of the age groups. I know that MLS Next is stronger across the US, I've heard the same from college + national scouts. Based on what couple of friends shared with me, there were scouts from pro clubs, USMNT, and staff from every college that plays competitive soccer at the just concluded MLS Next playoffs in Maryland. I think one should keep MLS Next as an option over few lower tier ECNL teams in ATL. Just my two cents. I am not a fan of MLS Next as it prevents kids from playing high school. With that said, here were last Fall's U12 SCCL results (the last year before they break off in their respective leagues). Team 1. Atlanta United 2011B - Black SCCL Club MLS Next 2. NTH NASA 11 Pre ECNL Ma >>> ECNL 3. GSA 11B ECNL Dev 1 >>> ECNL 4. Lanier SA LSA 11B Pre MLS Elite >>> MLS Next 5. SSA 11B Pre MLS JC >>> MLS Next 6. Inter Atlanta FC 11B Blue >>> MLS Next 7. Alabama FC 11B SCCL 1 >>> ECNL 8. AFC Lightning 11B SCCL Gold >>> MLS NExt 9. CF 11B SCCL Champions-Lulic >>> ECNL 10. Roswell Santos '11 Boys First Team >>> SCCL 11. Hoover Vestavia 11 Yellow Pre-MLS NEXT >>> MLS Next 12. Atlanta Fire 2011B Pre-ECNL Red >>> ECNL 14. Atlanta Fire South 2011B Pre-EA >>> ECNL 14. UFA Norcross 11B Premier >>> ECNL At least in Atlanta, for U12 this past fall it appears that MLS Next had the superior teams. And it appears Santos deserves something more than SCCL since they out performed 2 ECNL teams and 1 MLS Next team. |
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Post by messindreams on May 17, 2023 8:19:01 GMT -5
This debate can only be settled on the pitch. NASA boys ECNL is very strong across most of the age groups. I know that MLS Next is stronger across the US, I've heard the same from college + national scouts. Based on what couple of friends shared with me, there were scouts from pro clubs, USMNT, and staff from every college that plays competitive soccer at the just concluded MLS Next playoffs in Maryland. I think one should keep MLS Next as an option over few lower tier ECNL teams in ATL. Just my two cents. I am not a fan of MLS Next as it prevents kids from playing high school. With that said, here were last Fall's U12 SCCL results (the last year before they break off in their respective leagues). Team 1. Atlanta United 2011B - Black SCCL Club MLS Next 2. NTH NASA 11 Pre ECNL Ma >>> ECNL 3. GSA 11B ECNL Dev 1 >>> ECNL 4. Lanier SA LSA 11B Pre MLS Elite >>> MLS Next 5. SSA 11B Pre MLS JC >>> MLS Next 6. Inter Atlanta FC 11B Blue >>> MLS Next 7. Alabama FC 11B SCCL 1 >>> ECNL 8. AFC Lightning 11B SCCL Gold >>> ECNL 9. CF 11B SCCL Champions-Lulic >>> ECNL 10. Roswell Santos '11 Boys First Team >>> SCCL 11. Hoover Vestavia 11 Yellow Pre-MLS NEXT >>> MLS Next 12. Atlanta Fire 2011B Pre-ECNL Red >>> ECNL 14. Atlanta Fire South 2011B Pre-EA >>> ECNL 14. UFA Norcross 11B Premier >>> ECNL At least in Atlanta, for U12 this past fall it appears that MLS Next had the superior teams. And it appears Santos deserves something more than SCCL since they out performed 2 ECNL teams and 1 MLS Next team. great info! AFC Lightning is MLS Next. Also, UFA Norcross doesn't have ECNL teams so it could be one of their lower teams. I think Santos deserves better but city overlords are holding it back. |
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Post by soccerdad16 on May 17, 2023 8:24:54 GMT -5
I am not a fan of MLS Next as it prevents kids from playing high school. With that said, here were last Fall's U12 SCCL results (the last year before they break off in their respective leagues). Team 1. Atlanta United 2011B - Black SCCL Club MLS Next 2. NTH NASA 11 Pre ECNL Ma >>> ECNL 3. GSA 11B ECNL Dev 1 >>> ECNL 4. Lanier SA LSA 11B Pre MLS Elite >>> MLS Next 5. SSA 11B Pre MLS JC >>> MLS Next 6. Inter Atlanta FC 11B Blue >>> MLS Next 7. Alabama FC 11B SCCL 1 >>> ECNL 8. AFC Lightning 11B SCCL Gold >>> ECNL 9. CF 11B SCCL Champions-Lulic >>> ECNL 10. Roswell Santos '11 Boys First Team >>> SCCL 11. Hoover Vestavia 11 Yellow Pre-MLS NEXT >>> MLS Next 12. Atlanta Fire 2011B Pre-ECNL Red >>> ECNL 14. Atlanta Fire South 2011B Pre-EA >>> ECNL 14. UFA Norcross 11B Premier >>> ECNL At least in Atlanta, for U12 this past fall it appears that MLS Next had the superior teams. And it appears Santos deserves something more than SCCL since they out performed 2 ECNL teams and 1 MLS Next team. great info! AFC Lightning is MLS Next. Also, UFA Norcross doesn't have ECNL teams so it could be one of their lower teams. I think Santos deserves better but city overlords are holding it back. One thing to note here at U12 there were teams spread out playing up. Concorde was in E64, NASA Milton and UFA forsyth also played U13. |
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Post by randomparent on May 17, 2023 14:07:37 GMT -5
great info! AFC Lightning is MLS Next. Also, UFA Norcross doesn't have ECNL teams so it could be one of their lower teams. I think Santos deserves better but city overlords are holding it back. One thing to note here at U12 there were teams spread out playing up. Concorde was in E64, NASA Milton and UFA forsyth also played U13. That's accurate, but I cant think of a better way to get an idea than using that bracket. |
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Post by hateallthesechanges on May 17, 2023 14:12:54 GMT -5
None of these kids in comparison are playing in either league yet though. How many of these kids are just playing at their closest local club for Academy then making the move at U13 when it starts to matter? And if so, is the move toward ECNL so they can play high school or not? And you would also have to take Atlanta United out of the mix. I think everyone agrees true MLS clubs are the strongest but are for the few and far between.
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Post by randomparent on May 17, 2023 14:32:16 GMT -5
None of these kids in comparison are playing in either league yet though. How many of these kids are just playing at their closest local club for Academy then making the move at U13 when it starts to matter? And if so, is the move toward ECNL so they can play high school or not? And you would also have to take Atlanta United out of the mix. I think everyone agrees true MLS clubs are the strongest but are for the few and far between. U12 Fall SCCL results are imperfect. You can do with the comparison what you want. Kids move all the time. Moving beyond U12, 80%+ of kids that played for their U12 top team will be on the U13 top team unless that team finished at the bottom of the bracket or if they have a coaching change. My only point is on the message board people discuss MLS Next locally like it is hot garbage, in my mind it is a lot closer than people give credit too. |
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Post by diamondmid on May 17, 2023 14:51:35 GMT -5
None of these kids in comparison are playing in either league yet though. How many of these kids are just playing at their closest local club for Academy then making the move at U13 when it starts to matter? And if so, is the move toward ECNL so they can play high school or not? And you would also have to take Atlanta United out of the mix. I think everyone agrees true MLS clubs are the strongest but are for the few and far between. U12 Fall SCCL results are imperfect. You can do with the comparison what you want. Kids move all the time. Moving beyond U12, 80%+ of kids that played for their U12 top team will be on the U13 top team unless that team finished at the bottom of the bracket or if they have a coaching change. My only point is on the message board people discuss MLS Next locally like it is hot garbage, in my mind it is a lot closer than people give credit too. No offense to anyone but there is no way to glean anything regarding level or hierarchy based on team results from 11-year-olds. It’s fair to say MLS Academy teams will be the top level (maybe not all the time, but most of the time). MLS Next teams that are not associated with a Pro team are a mixed bag. Nationally, there are some that are top notch and some not-so-much. In the Southeast - you would be hard-pressed to say MLSN is a higher level than ECNL (not counting ATLUTD). The biggest advantage ECNL has is allowing kids to play high school. As noted on this board very often- only a minuscule % of kids will go on to play pro. So why sacrifice HS for a pipe dream? You only get to be young once. If you want to play beyond HS, ECNL affords you plenty of opportunities without having to give up playing for your school. |
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Post by randomparent on May 17, 2023 15:59:51 GMT -5
U12 Fall SCCL results are imperfect. You can do with the comparison what you want. Kids move all the time. Moving beyond U12, 80%+ of kids that played for their U12 top team will be on the U13 top team unless that team finished at the bottom of the bracket or if they have a coaching change. My only point is on the message board people discuss MLS Next locally like it is hot garbage, in my mind it is a lot closer than people give credit too. No offense to anyone but there is no way to glean anything regarding level or hierarchy based on team results from 11-year-olds. It’s fair to say MLS Academy teams will be the top level (maybe not all the time, but most of the time). MLS Next teams that are not associated with a Pro team are a mixed bag. Nationally, there are some that are top notch and some not-so-much. In the Southeast - you would be hard-pressed to say MLSN is a higher level than ECNL (not counting ATLUTD). The biggest advantage ECNL has is allowing kids to play high school. As noted on this board very often- only a minuscule % of kids will go on to play pro. So why sacrifice HS for a pipe dream? You only get to be young once. If you want to play beyond HS, ECNL affords you plenty of opportunities without having to give up playing for your school. My point in showing the results of U12 SCCL was just that until the clubs break off into their separate leagues, they perform pretty evenly in Atlanta. I do not think it is controversial or should be completely disregarded. Again, I think the teams in both leagues are closer than some would suggest. I do agree with your point on ECNL and high school, and it is because of that I would never let my kids play MLSN. It would be great though of ECNL was more inclusive and allowed more teams, even if it were just at the ECRL level. |
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Post by messindreams on May 17, 2023 23:43:54 GMT -5
U12 Fall SCCL results are imperfect. You can do with the comparison what you want. Kids move all the time. Moving beyond U12, 80%+ of kids that played for their U12 top team will be on the U13 top team unless that team finished at the bottom of the bracket or if they have a coaching change. My only point is on the message board people discuss MLS Next locally like it is hot garbage, in my mind it is a lot closer than people give credit too. No offense to anyone but there is no way to glean anything regarding level or hierarchy based on team results from 11-year-olds. It’s fair to say MLS Academy teams will be the top level (maybe not all the time, but most of the time). MLS Next teams that are not associated with a Pro team are a mixed bag. Nationally, there are some that are top notch and some not-so-much. In the Southeast - you would be hard-pressed to say MLSN is a higher level than ECNL (not counting ATLUTD). The biggest advantage ECNL has is allowing kids to play high school. As noted on this board very often- only a minuscule % of kids will go on to play pro. So why sacrifice HS for a pipe dream? You only get to be young once. If you want to play beyond HS, ECNL affords you plenty of opportunities without having to give up playing for your school. Having seen both sides of the coin, MLS Next is much stronger across US but ECNL is better in ATL. Southeast MLS Next includes ATL Utd, Charlotte FC and Nashville SC MLS academies. Opportunity to play against these teams and 8-10 month training is not bad. Also, there are ways to play high school if one chooses to do so while practicing with the team. League (and some clubs) doesn't allow players to play in games but won't restrict from practicing if they are listed as future/development player while playing HS. They can also get an exception form MLS, that is tough but doable. |
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