2011 Boys

[Guest]

Could you explain how youth soccer next level really works then since you seem to know? I am legitimately curious as what other people think. What happens? Do all of the best kids in the state all at once flock to the 6 teams in the state that are in included in the MLS Next league? TSF, PDA, CSA Bergen, CSA Monmouth, Real and NY Red Bulls are the 6 teams to aspire to be on? But currently 3 of those teams are average at best. Any kids who cant cut it at an MLS Next club then drop down to the ECNL Clubs (STA, Match Fit and PDA B team) and everyone else is left to play in EDP which somehow is no longer very competitive? The MLS Next is in its 2nd season of existence. Last year the MLS Next teams played their league games and had one playoff tournament at the end of the year. So you are looking at playing 20-25 games total over the year with those clubs. No Dallas Cup, Super Copa, Disney Showcase, Jeff Cup or any of those tournaments around the country for any clubs involved in MLS Next. Strictly your league games and training. Why does EDP and various other tournaments all over the country still run College Showcase events with tons of different college coaches attending if none of those teams are even worth being on.

sounds like a broken system so all these clubs who currently are not great become great through Statuses and recruitment. CSA Monmouth how on earth they are MLS next is beyond a joke. I take my hat off to FA, Union, Morris elite who at least develop players and continue to compete. Really is an embarrassment to the program for the so called ‘big clubs’ when they are constantly getting beat by the so called ‘smaller clubs’

[Guest]

sounds like a broken system so all these clubs who currently are not great become great through Statuses and recruitment. CSA Monmouth how on earth they are MLS next is beyond a joke. I take my hat off to FA, Union, Morris elite who at least develop players and continue to compete. Really is an embarrassment to the program for the so called ‘big clubs’ when they are constantly getting beat by the so called ‘smaller clubs’

Agree! Sounds broken to me, too. Currently TSF, PDA, CSA Monmouth and Real have mediocre teams at best at the 2011 age group and compete in 1, maybe 2 tournaments per season. It actually seems like TSF is nowhere to be found, ever. Are they even playing EDP?

[Guest]

It’s not about how many games you have scheduled in the season. It’s mainly about the Talent you are playing with, train with, talent you vs. As a team, what would hold you back from signing up for additional tournaments. How much top talent do you really see in EDP anymore. Go to youth soccer wire rankings and look 2011, 2010 and 2009 top teams in NJ. The story tells it self. If I am wrong someone please correct me. I am open minded.

[Guest]

Agree! Sounds broken to me, too. Currently TSF, PDA, CSA Monmouth and Real have mediocre teams at best at the 2011 age group and compete in 1, maybe 2 tournaments per season. It actually seems like TSF is nowhere to be found, ever. Are they even playing EDP?

You have a lot to learn about youth soccer and how it progresses. These clubs play to develop kids, yes some kids get filtered out and/or move to a B team, but they play strict development (except for tournaments). That means equal play for kids, moving kids around etc. it means they try to make sure the last kid on the team gets better as well as the top kid. It comes at the cost of wins and they tell you this when you sign up. Many parents may not like it but nobody volunteers to leave either.

Everyone is so hard over soccer rankings look at the soccer wire top 100. The same clubs you trash are ranked in the top in the country.

the smaller clubs you referred to don’t have the luxury to develop as they know they will lose kids at some point. Don’t for a second think that they are all recruited either. Most run to these clubs to play on a bigger stage.

[Guest]

It’s not about how many games you have scheduled in the season. It’s mainly about the Talent you are playing with, train with, talent you vs. As a team, what would hold you back from signing up for additional tournaments. How much top talent do you really see in EDP anymore. Go to youth soccer wire rankings and look 2011, 2010 and 2009 top teams in NJ. The story tells it self. If I am wrong someone please correct me. I am open minded.

I agree it is about the talent you are playing with. If those MLS Next clubs wont play in any other competitions other than their league and a MLS only playoff tournament though... do you even really know the level they are at compared to teams still playing in EDP? Do you just take their word that they are superior and all their kids are better? The talent level and training on a very good EDP team could be a much higher level than a middle of the pack MLS league club, but you would not know.

[Guest]

I agree it is about the talent you are playing with. If those MLS Next clubs wont play in any other competitions other than their league and a MLS only playoff tournament though... do you even really know the level they are at compared to teams still playing in EDP? Do you just take their word that they are superior and all their kids are better? The talent level and training on a very good EDP team could be a much higher level than a middle of the pack MLS league club, but you would not know.

What you are insinuating here only makes sense in a vacuum. At 15 there may be a kid or two on an EDP team who slipped through the cracks. But an entire team not very likely. By that age kids have filtered up and down.

Just look at the top HS rosters, They all have kids from top clubs. Not too many from EDP only teams. So to your point they are playing each other on some level already.

lastly look at the local college rosters, not too many D1 payers coming from EDP only teams. So to your point I take the word of top HS coaches and College coaches who continue to take kids from these clubs.

[Guest]

What you are insinuating here only makes sense in a vacuum. At 15 there may be a kid or two on an EDP team who slipped through the cracks. But an entire team not very likely. By that age kids have filtered up and down.

Just look at the top HS rosters, They all have kids from top clubs. Not too many from EDP only teams. So to your point they are playing each other on some level already.

lastly look at the local college rosters, not too many D1 payers coming from EDP only teams. So to your point I take the word of top HS coaches and College coaches who continue to take kids from these clubs.

Appreciate the response. My understanding is the MLS Next league teams do not allow you to play on High School teams for the most part. They do make some exceptions, but the vast majority of those kids are not playing in HS going forward. I am unsure where to look to see what clubs some of the top HS teams kids are playing at, so what are the top clubs the kids playing for? Just the ECNL Clubs? I have looked at some local college rosters. They are approximately 50% players from other countries. The majority of in country players, NJ specifically, I am seeing their high school teams in their bios, which would imply they weren't playing at these MLS Next academy clubs. There are many with NY Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union experience listed as well, some PDA. I am seeing very little to almost noting in the way of CSA teams, TSF, Real Jersey.

[Guest]

Division 1 soccer in NJ roster make-up

NJIT – 14 NJ players listed- 7 played MLS Next Acad, 7 did not
ST Peters – 10 NJ players listed– 1 played MLS Next Acad, 9 did not
Princeton – 4 NJ players listed– 4 played MLS Next Acad, 0 did not
Seton Hall – 6 NJ players listed– 3 played MLS Next Acad Clubs, 3 did not
Rutgers – 13 NJ platers listed– 11 played MLS Next, 2 did not
Monmouth – 10 NJ players listed– 2 played MLS Next Acad , 8 did not
Rider – 5 NJ players listed– 1 did, other bios blank
FDU – 14 NJ players listed– 5 played MLS Next acad, 7 did not, 2 blank bios

that is 76 players from NJ rostered on division 1 teams in NJ - 34 of them played on MLS Next Academies (Red Bulls, PDA, CSA Monmouth, TSF, CSA Bergen, Philadelphia Union), 6 bios were blank. 36 other players came from other clubs that likely play EDP.

[Guest]

Could you explain how youth soccer next level really works then since you seem to know? I am legitimately curious as what other people think. What happens? Do all of the best kids in the state all at once flock to the 6 teams in the state that are in included in the MLS Next league? TSF, PDA, CSA Bergen, CSA Monmouth, Real and NY Red Bulls are the 6 teams to aspire to be on? But currently 3 of those teams are average at best. Any kids who cant cut it at an MLS Next club then drop down to the ECNL Clubs (STA, Match Fit and PDA B team) and everyone else is left to play in EDP which somehow is no longer very competitive? The MLS Next is in its 2nd season of existence. Last year the MLS Next teams played their league games and had one playoff tournament at the end of the year. So you are looking at playing 20-25 games total over the year with those clubs. No Dallas Cup, Super Copa, Disney Showcase, Jeff Cup or any of those tournaments around the country for any clubs involved in MLS Next. Strictly your league games and training. Why does EDP and various other tournaments all over the country still run College Showcase events with tons of different college coaches attending if none of those teams are even worth being on.

The MLS next clubs have their own private tournaments and friendlies all year round. What's the point of flying to TX or VA if your team can't compete in their local state?

Also, who gives a rat's ass about winning games this young ? Do you think pro/college club scouts ask 18 yr olds how many tournaments or goals they scored when they were 12 years old ?

Some of these EDP tournaments and league games are laughable. It's a hideous kick and run game because the little clubs are so desperate to win medals for instagram and got soccer rankings.

[Guest]

Appreciate the response. My understanding is the MLS Next league teams do not allow you to play on High School teams for the most part. They do make some exceptions, but the vast majority of those kids are not playing in HS going forward. I am unsure where to look to see what clubs some of the top HS teams kids are playing at, so what are the top clubs the kids playing for? Just the ECNL Clubs? I have looked at some local college rosters. They are approximately 50% players from other countries. The majority of in country players, NJ specifically, I am seeing their high school teams in their bios, which would imply they weren't playing at these MLS Next academy clubs. There are many with NY Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union experience listed as well, some PDA. I am seeing very little to almost noting in the way of CSA teams, TSF, Real Jersey.

To your point a lot of the MLS academy teams which are free will not allow HS kids to play anymore. One parent I know said it caused hi son to leave RB and go to CSA be a his son was offered a “scholarship” to play at a 40k a year HS.

CSA, PDA, TSF etc all allow player exemptions for HS at selective HS like Delbarton, CBA, Pingry etc. I am not sure how many players you were expecting to see from these clubs on the few colleges you checked but all the clubs post their college acceptances and each year they are extensive. Ranging from ACC to SEC. Far outweighing the ratio of any HS or EDP programs. To further the point college coaches have to contact the club first, not the HS coach to reach an athlete.

The only exception to the rule may be St. Benedict’s which supersedes most club rules, but they have players going to Europe, South America etc.

The only reason why I am familiar with all of this, is because I have a son involved in the process now. He plays at a HS with 5-6 club mates and when we play the other HS we see other kids from his club or familiar faces from other clubs.

[Guest]

Division 1 soccer in NJ roster make-up

NJIT – 14 NJ players listed- 7 played MLS Next Acad, 7 did not
ST Peters – 10 NJ players listed– 1 played MLS Next Acad, 9 did not
Princeton – 4 NJ players listed– 4 played MLS Next Acad, 0 did not
Seton Hall – 6 NJ players listed– 3 played MLS Next Acad Clubs, 3 did not
Rutgers – 13 NJ platers listed– 11 played MLS Next, 2 did not
Monmouth – 10 NJ players listed– 2 played MLS Next Acad , 8 did not
Rider – 5 NJ players listed– 1 did, other bios blank
FDU – 14 NJ players listed– 5 played MLS Next acad, 7 did not, 2 blank bios

that is 76 players from NJ rostered on division 1 teams in NJ - 34 of them played on MLS Next Academies (Red Bulls, PDA, CSA Monmouth, TSF, CSA Bergen, Philadelphia Union), 6 bios were blank. 36 other players came from other clubs that likely play EDP.

So based on your “research” 50% of NJ bred players on NJ college rosters are from MLS next academies and 50 maybe from the countless other EDP programs? Leaving out now the ECNL? Wouldn’t you want your kid to play on an academy team to increase his visibility?

50% of players from 6 programs is an enormous percentage.

[Guest]

The MLS next clubs have their own private tournaments and friendlies all year round. What's the point of flying to TX or VA if your team can't compete in their local state?

Also, who gives a rat's ass about winning games this young ? Do you think pro/college club scouts ask 18 yr olds how many tournaments or goals they scored when they were 12 years old ?

Some of these EDP tournaments and league games are laughable. It's a hideous kick and run game because the little clubs are so desperate to win medals for instagram and got soccer rankings.

I am not sure who cares about winning games at that age or how many goals are scored? I don't think anyone has said anything referencing wins or goals. I am trying to find out if MLS is all it is cracked up to be or if there is just as high of quality at other locations.
Have you watched a ton of the MLS Next games? I saw 5 games last year. Some were truly amazing quality.. A couple were terrible ball bouncing all over the place long ball style as well which was shocking. I have not seen any of the top older age teams that are just in EDP play though so I don't have a reference to compare. Like I said, just trying to see if we should look into MLS next clubs or continue with EDP.

[Guest]

So based on your “research” 50% of NJ bred players on NJ college rosters are from MLS next academies and 50 maybe from the countless other EDP programs? Leaving out now the ECNL? Wouldn’t you want your kid to play on an academy team to increase his visibility?

50% of players from 6 programs is an enormous percentage.

It wasn't much research.... just looked at the the NJ Division 1 rosters real quick and their bios. 10 minutes tops. 34 of 76 is 45% but yes, essentially 50%. My family is not local to any of the MLS Next clubs so we are trying to decide if is truly much better to be at those clubs vs a top tier EDP league team.

[Guest]

It wasn't much research.... just looked at the the NJ Division 1 rosters real quick and their bios. 10 minutes tops. 34 of 76 is 45% but yes, essentially 50%. My family is not local to any of the MLS Next clubs so we are trying to decide if is truly much better to be at those clubs vs a top tier EDP league team.

Traditional routes still exist today. Play at any HS, be really good, make the all county team and get a call from a college coach.

The problem with staying the EDP route is that your competition is not college level for the most part, so it makes it harder for a college coach to make that investment on an unproven player. If you stay there HS becomes way more important and the window is only 2-3 months.

But we are talking about your 10yr old kid…

[Guest]

I am not sure who cares about winning games at that age or how many goals are scored? I don't think anyone has said anything referencing wins or goals. I am trying to find out if MLS is all it is cracked up to be or if there is just as high of quality at other locations.
Have you watched a ton of the MLS Next games? I saw 5 games last year. Some were truly amazing quality.. A couple were terrible ball bouncing all over the place long ball style as well which was shocking. I have not seen any of the top older age teams that are just in EDP play though so I don't have a reference to compare. Like I said, just trying to see if we should look into MLS next clubs or continue with EDP.

Good effort was put into this! But remember- MLS next clubs Youth talent back then is completely different from what they will have soon. Our Youth soccer talent has improved. Even if the 50% number is correct, you will see a huge spike in that number soon.