Announcement

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

All 30 MLS clubs � the 26 current and four incoming expansion teams � will participate in the league, which will also include five USL Championship teams and 60 non-professional clubs, for a first season total of 95 teams.

The sources said that the new league will include Under-13, -14, -15, -17 and -19 age groups. MLS teams will be required to field U-15 and U-17 squads, but it will be up to individual clubs if they want to field teams in the other four age groups. The league is also considering an Under-16 division, though there are no current plans for it to be included in the first season.

Exact details of the competition structure are being worked out, but the sources expect that the platform will be divided into separate MLS and non-MLS divisions. Multiple sources said that it�s likely that MLS academies will primarily play other MLS academies, and non-MLS clubs will primarily play against each other in their own circuit.

The full list of the 65 non-MLS clubs, known as �founding members,� is below:

Phoenix Rising FC (USL)
RGV FC Toros Academy (USL)
Saint Louis FC (USL)
San Antonio FC (USL)
Tampa Bay United Rowdies (USL)
Barca Residency Academy
IMG Academy
Shattuck-St. Mary�s
NEFC
SF Glens
Albion SC
Ballistic United
Baltimore Armour
Bayside Futebol Club
Beachside of Connecticut
Bethesda FC
Blau Weiss Gottschee
Breakers
Cedar Stars Academy Bergen
Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth
Chargers Soccer Club
Chicago FC United
Chula Vista FC
Cincinnati Premier Soccer Club
City SC
De Anza Force
Empire United Soccer Academy
FC Delco
FC Greater Boston Bolts
FC Westchester
Florida Rush Soccer Club
Indiana Fire Academy
Internationals
Jacksonville FC
L.A. United Football Academy
LA Surf Soccer Club
Lanier Soccer Academy
Metropolitan Oval
Miami Rush Kendall SC
Michigan Wolves
Murrieta Surf Soccer Club
New York Soccer Club
Nomads
Oakwood Soccer Club
PA Classics
Player Development Academy
Real Colorado
RISE Soccer Club
RSL Arizona
Santa Barbara Soccer Club
SC Del Sol
Seacoast United
SF Elite
Silicon Valley SA
Sockers FC Chicago
Solar Soccer Club
South Florida Football Academy
Southern Soccer Academy
Total Futbol Academy
TSF Academy
Valeo Futbol Club
VARDAR Soccer Club
Ventura County Fusion
West Florida Flames
Weston FC

Enjoy the travel.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:22 PM

This will easily be the best boys league. I assume 10 month program, with same basic set up as DA. Top boy players will not clamor for HS soccer. Boys ECNl will remain the distant #2 league.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:24 PM

America's a big country, travel is going to go with it.

What I'd like to see is if this is structured where an MLS club can buy players (with their consent) and integrate them into their own club. Those transfer fees go to the club, which in turn are used to keep costs lower for those players.

This would help to integrate us into a more normalized club hierarchy/league structure that is seen throughout the world.

And, no, I am not a parent with a kid in this program and won't, either. I still like the idea, though.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

This will easily be the best boys league. I assume 10 month program, with same basic set up as DA. Top boy players will not clamor for HS soccer. Boys ECNl will remain the distant #2 league.

The MLS Division is likely to be the best boys division, but where does the second tier fit?

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:39 PM

I thought NEFC already joined ECNL for boys?

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

The MLS Division is likely to be the best boys division, but where does the second tier fit?

The clubs want reduced costs and they know that means playing teams closer to home. I think that whole "meaningful games" stuff was just a red herring. These pro academies can't just play each other. I wouldnt be surprised though if it ends up like DA used to, where clubs do not necessarily get invited to field a team at every age group.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:47 PM

soccer needs to evolve within North American. College has never been a pathway to the pros, and if MLS wants to be relevant, it needs North American soccer to be relevant and needs a minor league - similar to baseball and hockey. This is a good move.

Big fan of girls, but I think college remains the primary goal for most female players, and serves as a reasonable minor league for NWSL

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I thought NEFC already joined ECNL for boys?

I heard they joined ECNL also. Kind of weird that ECNL would only add one team in a region (Where there were Bolts and Stars Boys ECNL there would be one game Sat and one Sun).

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/...pment-platform

Looks like the Dev Academy was moved to MLS so they could dump the girls program.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I heard they joined ECNL also. Kind of weird that ECNL would only add one team in a region (Where there were Bolts and Stars Boys ECNL there would be one game Sat and one Sun).

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/...pment-platform

Looks like the Dev Academy was moved to MLS so they could dump the girls program.

I think you nailed it. Likely the pc way to get rid of the girls.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Looks like the Dev Academy was moved to MLS so they could dump the girls program.

ding ding ding. This was all a charade to get out of the business of the girls soccer at a time they couldnt afford really bad publicity with the USWNT lawsuit not having been announced yet at that time. USSF handed MLS the keys, threw up their hands and said we really don't care for this "youth soccer" stuff.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 02:06 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I heard they joined ECNL also. Kind of weird that ECNL would only add one team in a region (Where there were Bolts and Stars Boys ECNL there would be one game Sat and one Sun).

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/...pment-platform

Looks like the Dev Academy was moved to MLS so they could dump the girls program.

Yes you nailed it. Did this to dump the girls.

My guess too is that it will be tiered as well so lesser clubs don�t get as many opportunities to play MLS clubs and don�t get the invite to big tournament�s.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

My guess too is that it will be tiered as well so lesser clubs don�t get as many opportunities to play MLS clubs

You got it! Less than 10 non-MLS clubs are going to be in the MLS Division from across the country.

That = more travel and less exposure for the non-MLS teams.

Have fun with that!

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 02:24 PM

U15 and U17 MLS teams that need to travel the country to play other MLS teams? That sounds like a great idea for high school players. Good luck with that!

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2020, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Yes you nailed it. Did this to dump the girls.

My guess too is that it will be tiered as well so lesser clubs don�t get as many opportunities to play MLS clubs and don�t get the invite to big tournament�s.

More likely ussf had to dump their association with running the boys DA which after years and years was badly failing and could not even produce a team of players capable of qualifying for the world cup tournament, much less advancing in the tournament.