The New England MLS Next Thread

[Guest]

Anyone remember when schedules came out last year? Or when this year's will be released?

Should be soon, next week or so.

[Guest]

Not necessarily. If you're on one of the many mediocre MLSN clubs giving up HS may not be worth it. Cracking a decent D1 roster is difficult if you're not on a pro club team or have a foreign passport. D3 doesn't require MLSN credentials. Unfortunately boys don't have a strong B league option like girls do, and girls no longer have the HS restriction anyway. Some boys ECNL clubs are as good as some MLSN clubs. Nor are a HS teams terrible. Each player needs to assess the pros and cons along with their aspirations and what will help achieve them.

Class of 2022:

Beachside = 5 D1 commitments

Bolts = 6 D1 commitments

Oakwood = 5 D1 commitments

Seacoast = 9 D1 commitments

[Guest]

Class of 2022:

Beachside = 5 D1 commitments

Bolts = 6 D1 commitments

Oakwood = 5 D1 commitments

Seacoast = 9 D1 commitments

Almost all low level programs and many won't ever see the field. There's little money in men's D1, even less so if you're not a starter. Many of those programs have kids that never played MLSN and didn't give up HS. Plenty of MLSN players wind up D3 as well.

If you really want MLSN because it suits your needs, has the best coaching in your area etc that's great. But don't bow to the pressure to skip HS if you don't want to. What works for each player will be different. Just keep in mind you can't get that time back

[Guest]

Almost all low level programs and many won't ever see the field. There's little money in men's D1, even less so if you're not a starter. Many of those programs have kids that never played MLSN and didn't give up HS. Plenty of MLSN players wind up D3 as well.

If you really want MLSN because it suits your needs, has the best coaching in your area etc that's great. But don't bow to the pressure to skip HS if you don't want to. What works for each player will be different. Just keep in mind you can't get that time back

Low level programs? Really? Where is your child playing again? How might your child's team fare against these "low level" programs?

High school soccer is the worst form of soccer. Relationships, blah, blah, blah, town pride, blah, blah, blah, lifelong memories, blah, blah, blah. It's crappy soccer played at a crappy level by track athletes and hockey players trying to stay in shape. Romanticizing what is essentially a sports fraternity that worries more about where the party is next weekend than getting better at soccer simply mystifies me.

I'm all for people doing what makes them happy, but comparing Burger King to a steak house makes you sound silly.

Could you define "low level" so we get a better grasp on whats rattling around inside your head?

There are 208 ranked men's D1 soccer teams.

That makes #104 mid-level, correct?

[Guest]

Low level programs? Really? Where is your child playing again? How might your child's team fare against these "low level" programs?

High school soccer is the worst form of soccer. Relationships, blah, blah, blah, town pride, blah, blah, blah, lifelong memories, blah, blah, blah. It's crappy soccer played at a crappy level by track athletes and hockey players trying to stay in shape. Romanticizing what is essentially a sports fraternity that worries more about where the party is next weekend than getting better at soccer simply mystifies me.

I'm all for people doing what makes them happy, but comparing Burger King to a steak house makes you sound silly.

Could you define "low level" so we get a better grasp on whats rattling around inside your head?

There are 208 ranked men's D1 soccer teams.

That makes #104 mid-level, correct?

Dig up the d1 commitment threads that tracked male players over their careers. At best half make it through all 4 years. It's just how it works. Making a roster is a big accomplishment. Having a successful 4 year career even more so

Not the op

[Guest]

Dig up the d1 commitment threads that tracked male players over their careers. At best half make it through all 4 years. It's just how it works. Making a roster is a big accomplishment. Having a successful 4 year career even more so

Not the op

^^^AGREED.

That's not what Captain High School is espousing though.

I don't care if you play D1, D2, D3, NAIA or NJCAA. Any player on those rosters has separated themselves from >80% of the high school aged soccer players.

But, and it's a big but, there is a heirarchy. While there might be some overlap in quality among the levels, it's not as great as some make it out to be.

[Guest]

Low level programs? Really? Where is your child playing again? How might your child's team fare against these "low level" programs?

High school soccer is the worst form of soccer. Relationships, blah, blah, blah, town pride, blah, blah, blah, lifelong memories, blah, blah, blah. It's crappy soccer played at a crappy level by track athletes and hockey players trying to stay in shape. Romanticizing what is essentially a sports fraternity that worries more about where the party is next weekend than getting better at soccer simply mystifies me.

I'm all for people doing what makes them happy, but comparing Burger King to a steak house makes you sound silly.

Could you define "low level" so we get a better grasp on whats rattling around inside your head?

There are 208 ranked men's D1 soccer teams.

That makes #104 mid-level, correct?

Poster pointed out that skipping HS for MLS may not be worth it for some players. Another pointed out just making a roster is one part of the journey. To make a roster then never play? Or what about the MLS players that wind up on low level D3s or don't get recruited at all? That all happens.

There are no right and wrong oaths, just what works best for each player. Play MLS if you want. Play HS if you want. No need to rip other people's choices.

[Guest]

The teams that offer the highest likelihood of making a college soccer roster are all MLS Next teams. There are other paths, but most are less fruitful if high level college soccer is the target. It depends on your goals.

[Guest]

The teams that offer the highest likelihood of making a college soccer roster are all MLS Next teams. There are other paths, but most are less fruitful if high level college soccer is the target. It depends on your goals.

Agreed.

May I add, I believe the pecking order is or should be MLSN, ECNL (club soccer), Private HS, Public HS. But most good HS players play some sort of club soccer. But Alot are just great athletes staying in shape and for the enjoyment.

I would rather my son get minutes at D3 then go D1 and be a practice player. But to each its own.

[Guest]

Agreed.

May I add, I believe the pecking order is or should be MLSN, ECNL (club soccer), Private HS, Public HS. But most good HS players play some sort of club soccer. But Alot are just great athletes staying in shape and for the enjoyment.

I would rather my son get minutes at D3 then go D1 and be a practice player. But to each its own.

Like I said, I support whatever someone wants to do. My child chose to challenge themselves athletically in D1 soccer and it has worked out.

[Guest]

Agreed.

May I add, I believe the pecking order is or should be MLSN, ECNL (club soccer), Private HS, Public HS. But most good HS players play some sort of club soccer. But Alot are just great athletes staying in shape and for the enjoyment.

I would rather my son get minutes at D3 then go D1 and be a practice player. But to each its own.

As would many others. Or they don't want their entire college experience to be about sports and want some balance. There's no right or wrong answer except for each athlete. But the D1 folks definitely have a superiority complex. I have a D1 kid and know all to well D1 isn't always "all that". Some D1 is pretty trashy. And D1 definitely is a tough slog. Their younger sibling is starting the recruiting process doesn't want that, even though they're actually a stronger player.

[Guest]

Low level programs? Really? Where is your child playing again? How might your child's team fare against these "low level" programs?

High school soccer is the worst form of soccer. Relationships, blah, blah, blah, town pride, blah, blah, blah, lifelong memories, blah, blah, blah. It's crappy soccer played at a crappy level by track athletes and hockey players trying to stay in shape. Romanticizing what is essentially a sports fraternity that worries more about where the party is next weekend than getting better at soccer simply mystifies me.

I'm all for people doing what makes them happy, but comparing Burger King to a steak house makes you sound silly.

Could you define "low level" so we get a better grasp on whats rattling around inside your head?

There are 208 ranked men's D1 soccer teams.

That makes #104 mid-level, correct?

You seem very bitter about your HS experience. Did you even play HS sports?

[Guest]

Seacoast has teams in U13,14,15,16

I think for next year:

U13: NEFC, Bolts, IFA, Valeo, Bayside
U14: Revs, NEFC, Bolts, IFA, Valeo, Bayside
U15: Revs, Bolts
U16: Bolts, IFA, Valeo and Bayside
U17: Revs, Bolts
U19: Revs, Bolts, IFA, Valeo and Bayside

In no particular order...

[Guest]

We’ll see if that move works out for them. Kind of a choppy pathway to have top players in MLSN for a few years then consolidate down to ECNL. All when several other clubs now have the full pathway for boys on the MLSN side.

It is a choppy pathway, seems they made this decision purely on their business than on player development

[Guest]

The top 5 pr 6 Nefc kids go to the Revolution each year. They have a formal partnership. If you are that good, you'll end up on the revs which is a pretty good pathway.

top 5 from age group u13 and u14 of mlsn but after that what does NEFC has to offer? ECNL? its crap