mls next vs ecnl

[Guest]

is there a big drop between MLS Next and ECNL ?

[Guest]

The best ECNL boys teams are pretty good but as a rule, its all about MLSN if you are a top player.

[Guest]

My son plays NAL, E64 and MLSn...the drop off is pretty steep there.

[Guest]

is there a big drop between MLS Next and ECNL ?

Some MLSN clubs are pretty awful and can easily be beaten by some ECNL clubs. However there is no doubt that as a league MLSN is a stronger league, by a lot, and has a much stronger recruiting path.

However 1) if your only local MLSN is bad it may not be worth it 2)if your kid barely plays on MLSN it isn't worth it. What is the best fit for your player matters most.

[Guest]

Totally agree, some of the E64 teams are way better than the bottom half of the MLSn teams, in the NE if you look at the standings of the two its pretty clear.

[Guest]

is there a big drop between MLS Next and ECNL ?

Top couple in standings table for ECNL clubs could hang mid pack in MLS next divisions.

Mid Table ECNL teams are below the bottom MLS Next teams in the bracket.

[Guest]

is there a big drop between MLS Next and ECNL ?

I think it depends on the teams in each league and the age group. Usually the top ECNL teams are similar quality to the top non-Academy MLSN teams, while the middle of table ECNL table teams are equivalent to middle to bottom level MLSN teams. For example if you look at the "rankings app" ( isn't perfect, but most people consider the most impartial comparison between teams) you'll see in NJ 2008 boys the top 5 teams are 4 MLS and 1 ECNL...

Red Bulls (MLS Academy)
TSF (MLSN)
Match Fit (ECNL)
PDA (MLSN)
CSA Bergen (MLSN)

With other MLSN and ECNL teams mixed...

CSA Monmouth #10
STA ECNL #12
Real #13

[Guest]

what's the ranking app you're using?

[Guest]

Having played in both leagues, the top of E64 is nowhere near the level of top MLSn.....maybe an argument at the middle to bottom

[Guest]

Having played in both leagues, the top of E64 is nowhere near the level of top MLSn.....maybe an argument at the middle to bottom

Yeah there's some overlap with certain clubs, but top 1/3 of MLS swats away the rest like annoying gnats

[Guest]

It depends on where you are geographically. A state like Texas is dominated by ECNL teams that would give most MLSN teams a run, but in the northeast the ECNL teams are generally second tier to MLSN by a large margin. Of course their are crappy programs in MLSN like the new West Virginia club that would lose to most travel teams, but every league has its teams like this.

[Guest]

what's the ranking app you're using?

It's called "Soccer Rankings" by USA Sport Statistics LLC in the app store

[Guest]

Be careful not to get too influenced by the MLS Next marketing machine. Instead, talk to some actual D1 men’s team coaches. They’ll tell you they recruit heavily at both MLSN and ECNL, and they’re very happy to take good ECNL players – even from the Northeast.

[Guest]

Having played in both leagues, the top of E64 is nowhere near the level of top MLSn.....maybe an argument at the middle to bottom

You know that E64 and ECNL aren't the same thing, right? My son plays on a top ECNL club and we definitely compete strongly against the top MLSN clubs (who aren't Red Bulls, Union, etc)

[Guest]

You know that E64 and ECNL aren't the same thing, right? My son plays on a top ECNL club and we definitely compete strongly against the top MLSN clubs (who aren't Red Bulls, Union, etc)

Last place MLS Next teams would beat top ECNL teams.