I will post a comment for the algo. As others have commented, the system we have does not work for a lot of great players in the US. I appreciate that you acknowledge that while also building a business within and around the US system. One pathway that I have heard is viable from player stories is the JUCO route. Players from lower leagues who have the skill can grow their game and make good connections in JUCO and then move to an NCAA school after two years.
Very helpful here. I play in West Virginia for the biggest club in the state but there aren’t many options in the area. We’ve beat USL academies and have beat MLSDA teams. The club just switched from Great Lakes to E64. My brother played for the same club. Played for the same hs I’ll play for next year and got 1000+ mins for Marshall university (D1) as a freshman. The reality is Is that there aren’t as many options around here.
From my experience as a coach ECNL and E64 are fairly similar when it comes to exposure and level of play. Both have respective RL teams that act as their B teams essentially and even they have very similar exposure for college coaches. At this level though, it's all about the effort you put into the process. Even at the MLS Next level, if you aren't reaching out to colleges they won't see you unless you are the top top player on your team.
My son is in his senior year of high school and has been doing ID Camps since Freshman year. Recently his club had to drop out of ECNL because his club has an MLS Next team and ECNL told the club that the top tier team at the club had to be ECNL or they had to drop out of ECNL. So for his upcoming club season, spring in our area, they will have a U19 NAL team. He has been in communication with about 10 colleges, D1, D2 and D3. How do you think this change in from ECNL to NAL effect him with these teams. All the colleges have said positive things about him after the ID Camps and in correspondence, but as of today he has not received any offers. A few schools, D3, have told him to apply but have not made any offers. Some of the D2 schools have asked him what his timeline is for making decision and he has told them by the end of the high school season which is around Thanksgiving. The D1 schools have told him to keep sending video and his game schedule. Is this how the process works?
Joe great question. All of this varies per club, per team and per situation. It is great that he is talking to these teams. It is late for him to not have an offer at this point but it is not too late. The only way for me to know exactly his situation and if he is in a good place about to receive an offer or if he is just being strung along is if we schedule a call. Hope to hear from you.
I am 14 years old and in 8th grade. I joined a club team last year and is playing necsl but will be playing edp in the spring. I practice individually every day and want to climb to ecnl and other high level clubs in Rhode Island. But I don’t know if I am good enough and what I should be doing to achieve my goals.
I have only played in the competitive CSA (colorado soccer association) advanced league for 2 seasons - I'm pretty sure this would be at the bottom tier of your pyramid - and 2 seasons of Highschool (JV last year and varsity/swing this year). I was among the best out of the swing players but among the worst in the Varsity squad. I love soccer but I honestly think I may not have the skill or enough time to develop to play in College. Should I pursue this or is that not realistic? Any tips and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Im 13 years old and i play in the open league (div 3 youth soccer). My old club recently expanded to e64. Im wondering if i should tryout, and if I were to make the team, what would be the next step? The MLS NXT and ECNL teams are all in the capital which is like a 2hr + drive for most teams from me
Where do you stand on USYS? I recently got back from the Southern Presidents cup in Plano Tx. I play for Union 10 FC Top Tier , and we compete in the Alabama State League. What are your thoughts on the club and my exposure to high level?
And we went to the Southern Presidents cup as a result of finishing 2nd in the state. Which is a route to this years national presidents cup which has already happened.
I’m in a club team that I was with since I was 8. We are an NPL team in California. I am captain of that team but I dont know if i should stay or go to a better team like LA SURF. I don’t know if I go to college from high school or MLS next. And can mls next players play highschool soccer?
Mls Next players for the most part cannot play Highschool. There are very few exceptions. In terms of your club you should be trying to play at the highest level possible, Call me if you need help link is in the description.
Play in the highest league possible where you can still be one of the main players. For the boys side, that’s MLS Next. You can’t play high school when playing MLS Next but can get a waiver to play high school if you’re on a scholarship at a private high school or something. There may be additional special cases waivers but generally you don’t play high school with MLS Next.
Can you help me out I was wondering what the different between ecnl -rl and usc-rl because it seems as if they are the same thing please Awnser quick I’m sooo confused 😅
ECNL-RL is in a higher tier with more exposure from college coaches. Also ECNL-RL teams are often affiliated with ECNL teams so you can be moved up. For both tiers aim for division 2 and 3 schools at the start.
im 13 years old in 7th grade and i dont know what to do I play in edp but i have a nal team asking for me to join but we joust had a tourny and my team is starting to really get good and we ended up beating them 1-0 should i leave my team to go play ecnl or nal to climb the ranks to mls next or stay for now
Been on this club for a while now in EDP. Is that a good level to be seen by coaches or should I shoot for something better. I really just realized that there were all these levels to soccer divisions after talking to some mls next and ECNL kids at my school. Any advice?
i might be a little to late to comment but i play for midwest united royal prem idk what i should do am better than most on my team but just dont know how i can reach that new level of ecnl and mls next.what do i do tryouts are around the corner do i go
I’m 11 years old and I play in the NPL because our coach thinks that Pre-ECNL and ECNL are all for the money. He said NPL teams can compete with ECNL teams and still win. His 2006 girl team beat the number one team in the nation SOLAR and they also play in the NPL. My question is how do I become part of MLS Next, when is tryouts and is NPL really high competition?
It is not about who is better. It is about who gets the most exposure. At that age improvement is great but other kids will be playing ECNL and those teams get full, but it varies per player and club so please book a call for us to help
This video helped me to better understand club youth soccer in america, especially because it relates to me and i’m a 13 year old going through this aspect of my career right now. My parents are giving me the opportunity to try out for a NPL team which i have and they liked me. Less traveling less money. Another option that might not work out is ECNL path. A team that liked me aswell. just way more traveling. Your thoughts?
ECNL is the higher level so try to shoot for that. If thats not possible NPL is still a good level, but you will have to start by reaching out to lower level D2 and D3 schools.
Thanks for another informative video. We have been considering a club that will play pre-ECNL and a club that will play E-64 next season. My son would be playing up if we chose that club. I also very much liked the video touching on D3 schools being high academic schools. I have stressed with him since he started playing club soccer that if he doesn’t keep his grades up then he won’t get to play. I let him know it’s a lesson I learned the hard way after being recruited to play for several NAIA schools and messing my grades up. I also didn’t have the advice and guidance provided in your videos. I use my lesson to show the importance of maintaining high academic standards. Again, thank you so much for providing the information and advice.
Varies per the age group. Ask the coach you are with, they will be able to tell you and if they can't or won't that is a red flag. Slammers is a very good club on the girls side.
It’s very easy. Look at the older teams of the chapter of your Slammers. Whatever league they’re in is the pathway you’re on for your son. Slammers are everywhere and each chapter is different. Slammers route to ECNL. So look for a chapter that plays ECNL starting at U13 (in 2024 it’s 2012s)
Can u pls help me im so confuses. I play for Furman United 2009. I love futball and am good but i dont know how to get into all these teams and stuff. Pls help me 😭😭🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hi Coach, I had a quick question. Are top D3 schools such as MIT, JHU, NYU, University of Chicago, WashU in St. Louis, etc as competitive as lower level D1 schools? Basically will I have to be at a D1 level to play at these schools. Also do you think that Caltech would be considered a top D3 school?
YES THEY ARE! Cal Tech is a top academic school. This year they did really well but in years past they have not been as strong. U of Chicago are full of DI caliber players as are the other schools
I was no able to find the video on the channel with the Girls youth soccer pyramid. I saw one a year ago but it did not take into account Girls Academy
Thanks!! Daughter is 6th grade and on a pre-ecnl roster. Local clubs that are not GA or ECNL badged are essentially putting out information to pursuade best players at her age in the two closest counties not to try out for the only club that is ecnl badged. So has been a rough go playing against the other pre ecnl teams in the division (mostly NJ, PA, amd Bethesda, MD) were there is not that active attempt to block kids for trying out for what is generally the best oppotunity.
book a call and we can dicuss her situation further. if she wantsto play college soccer and cannot play at those levels she will need to take different steps @@josephmbillupsiii2755
I’m 15 years old in 9th grade and haven’t played for any clubs yet I only played for school teams I’m looking to tryout for an MLS Next academy in about a week. What should I do to play MLS next if I never really played club football?
I play EA for a club that has no higher league affiliated. We have been destroying competition so far and are first in our bracket. Do you think our team could fit in with MLS Next or ENCL? Please answer, i am really new to this.
I am a sophomore in high school looking to go to the next level. I am a dual-enrollment student taking ap and honor classes on top of that with a 3.7 unweighted gpa. Currently playing npl and highschool soccer. I have not started the process yet and want to know what my next steps are?
You should start now. Varies per player. Join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours) or Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I play for a REC team and I just want to know if its better to tryout for an ecnl team and play there for a few seasons then play for Mls next or to just go strait to mls next tryouts.
Let me ask, I am a factory worker who lives in Southeast Asia, I am 22 years old, my position is as a striker, is it possible to play in the MLS League? Am I late? It's okay to play for a weak club, the important thing is to be able to play in the MLS league, my dream if I play in MLS is to play for the Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy.
I was wondering what the difference between ecnl-rl and usc-rl and are they the same thing please don’t say to book a call cuz I need to know quick !!!!!!! 😅
ECNL-RL is in a higher tier with more exposure from college coaches. Also ECNL-RL teams are often affiliated with ECNL teams so you can be moved up. For both tiers aim for division 2 and 3 schools at the start.
Were in comp soccer in utah plaing in a mid tier division. We pay 1800 a yr in club fees... thats NOT including tournaments and travel. We travel to southern utah, nevada and arizona. My kid is 10
$1800?? That’s so cheap haha Paying $3500 before tourney and travels for my younger son. He’s 11. But my daughter is in club volleyball. It’s easily double what I pay for soccer for my son. My older son’s in competitive golf… it’s DOUBLE the volleyball… Haha I never complain about soccer fees… one of the cheapest competitive sports you can play..:
I have a tough choice, and it is either Play for an MLS NEXT team that is last place in their league but i would get a lot of playing time , or play for Florida Premier, Where they are the 3rd best u13 ECNL team in the state and i wouldnt get tons of playing time, or play for Florida Premier ECRL?
I would go somewhere where you can play… playing a lot on an MLS Next team is good… if you show up vs MLS academies there might even be a way to get on their trials…
Hey coach, I'm currently in my sophomore year, going to be in my junior year next year, 16 yrs old. I really am passionate about soccer, don't play for a club team at the moment, but my highschool has made it deep in the playoffs both years i've been apart of the team. I am currently recovering from a knee surgery and am wondering, is it too late for my to play at the college level as I don't play for a club team, and I am coming off an injury. Also, where would i find tryout information for club teams?
How can a player play in both mls next and ecnl simultaneously? Seems like it’s possible on the ecnl side but not mls next. Mls next requires you to only play mls next and you cannot play for another league in another club.
Great video, really give me a good idea of what I need to do if I want to go D1. I currently play for a somewhat above average mls next team I would say and have been invited to train with galaxy last year( im a sophomore) School comes 1 for me (4.3 gpa) and the kids on galaxy go to online school so even if I did make the team which I didn’t, where do you think I’m headed? My goal is to play at UCLA, my dads has connections with the head couch. (His cousin’s son)
You’d have to be one of the best on a really good MLS Next team in the country to be able to get on UCLA… Top desirable spots - Stanford UCLA etc - are offered to youth national team level players + top foreign academy kids coming to the states for college after being cut from their academy teams at 17 years old…
that does not stop one from being able to play college soccer. Emails are free, making vidoes can be done with an iphone, and ID camps can be $50. You must pick the places that you can do. The system here is not perfect but it is better than many places and that is why internationals want to come here
Where do you think the NAL will be in the next 5 years for girls? My Daughter is 7 and her current club (older girls teams) joined the NAL last year and did very well. There is a much larger club in the area that plays in ECNL. At the younger ages its all about development and her current club is great versus the larger ECNL club where you can get lost along with all the ridiclous politics before they are even 10. I want her to focus on development, having fun, playing time #1 and see where NAL is in 5 years versus ECNL and go from there. I think my logic makes sense, but if you think the NAL has limited upside - that might be an issue in 5 years. Thank you
@collegesoccerguy my kid got accepted to the top team that will play mlsnext U13 next year. Should we try to Chicago fire youth mlsnext club next year or just stay and develop the relationship and skills with the fc united? What's your opinion? Thank you.
there are many different teams. Please look online in your area and visit the ECNL and MLS next websites. they explain where there are teams in your area
very informative. My son Jasper is U10 2015 boys playing at the local club level here in Plymouth, Michigan. What do you recommend i do for him to give him the best opportunity to advance his level and play MLS Next
Go to a club that has MLS Next pathway… If there isn’t then ECNL pathway… If there isn’t that either then try to play up a year in whatever highest league there is locally…
Hey coach wanted to know what you thought of the EDP1 league I recently tried out for the Liverpool international academy team in my state made the team and the team I’m on is at this league it’s also the highest lv of play they offer I’m 16 and a junior in high school thanks
@@collegesoccerguy I have not started since it is my 2nd year playing club soccer I hoping this year I can collect film and then start speaking with them
Good question. This varies per person and club. Please join the Discord for futher help (expires in 24 hours) discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr Or book a call which is faster bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Varies per club. MLS NEXT & ECNL are top leagues. Join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hrs) or Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
@@collegesoccerguy it’s my son he is 11 turning 12 next week he is playing with u14 in the premier leagues he was invited to play in the ECNL for his age group but it’s an 1:30 away which would be ok but I have to other girls playing so it really is impossible. I just don’t know how much better is ECNL compared to the Premier league
It is a much higher level. I drove two hours each way and i have two brothers who also played and had to go elsewhere. College coaches don’t care the situation they just care who they can see the most. This is what I do what I do. I help players get noticed even if they cannot travel
So how did you get on a college team if you only got accepted onto an MLS Next team afterwards? Also, if you aren’t on the MLS Next level yet, how can you get noticed by colleges?
My son is in day 2 of "open" tryout with MN Utd. U15. As 7th and 8th grader he played up with the HS team and was captain. They didn’t need the nbs so. We'll see how it goes 😃
@@collegesoccerguy He had a great first 2 days. He had a lot of touches and was making really quick/ smart decisions with the ball. Day 3, you could tell they were trying to seperate the cream and they pulled him over to play with that paricular group but he made two significant moves that ended up as turn orvers. (trying to be highlight reel) annnnd it was back to back touches. LOL. Day four I think he realized it. Played hard but I could see his frustration. 7 days later , no call back but. It looked like about 60-70 tried our and they were looking for eitght.
My son plays in national league and has played NL pro . They just got eliminated from national league playoffs . In the spring they play premier ncysa . He’s a u16 player . We haven’t sent any emails or done anything. Should he continue to stay in the NL or try to move up ?
@@collegesoccerguy Yeah, I am currently in contact with about 5 D3 schools and one D2 school, my goal realistically is not to go D1 but do you think there is a chance I can push for D1?
Hi, I would like some assistance as my son is 11 but he does want to play college soccer and I’m trying to facilitate his journey for him. How may I reach you?
Because I was in an ecnl team that was not doing very well so I did some tryouts and made a better ecnl team but then the Texas 2 league popped up and I decided to tryout and make there team
hey im b12 in couple of months im gonna be Elite academy and thw next level after that for my club is mls next am i in a good spot? or should i change to ecnl
Great question. Varies per player & club. Please join the discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hrs) or Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Hi Jev, my child is a top student in a very competitive district with heavy community involvement and leadership roles since 3rd grade. Currently 8th and guaranteed to graduate high school at the top with many honors and roles he'll work towards. In EA1 and recently tried out for MLS Next. Would it be a possibility to be recruited for Harvard (has secondary legacy with college, grad school and law school), Yale and Stanford. Would it be a possibility? Would doing their summer clinics help starting next summer? Or is this summer better? We have vacation planned this summer. Is continuing in EA1 enough or would that discount him to be recruited by any of the top schools? We're in Southern California.
From my experience, ECNL RL is not very good... and does not get very much exposure OR priority of your existing club. They focus on the top team 90% of the time. You are better off going to a different division E64, Academy, Midwest conference, and etc become a higher priority and develop.
Elite Academy is a good level, He should shoot for MLS Next or ECNL as that is where the big D1 schools are going to be recruiting from, but for now He should shoot for D3 and D2 Schools
By age 12, EA is not highest level for boys…. All the best talent have moved onto MLS Next or top ECNL clubs by 12 years old… not even counting the best of the best playing in MLS pro academies (not to be confused with MLS Next)
I'm 15 here playing US Club Soccer, lowest of the low. I'm trying to move up and are committing to trainings, but I can't move up since my club has all of their higher teams filled up. Really desperate to play in MLS Next because I really do love soccer, but I'm not confident that I can go from the lowest to the literal top. Are there any ways I can improve heavily? Even then I would like to move up to ECRL or ECNL, just really disapointed.
Just get out and practice with the coaches at higher teams and get in contact with them. Keep training hard, giving your best, and God will open paths for you. Good Luck my man.
USL Academy ranks amongst the higher tiers if the club is affiliated with ECNL or MLS Next. If they do not compete in either league the exposure will be minimal. Elite Academy is third tier.
My son is in the process of choosing between ECNL-RL and EA in the Denver area. Would you recommend one over the other? My son is hoping to make ECNL or MLS-Next, but for now these are his options this season. Would love your thoughts.
Thanks for your comment. It varies too much by region, coach, and your sons commitment level. Please book a call to speak further. Collegesoccerguyprograms.com is how we set that up
personally i think e64 is better than ecnl rl because first of all ecnl rl is a regional league and also I've made ecnl, ecnl rl, and e64 teams and I've played in those leagues and i would say out of those three the order from best to worst is ecnl, e64, and by far ecnl rl
At different teams the level could differ, but in terms of level and exposure ECNL-RL is better for college coaches to see you playing at. Another reason is because almost all ECNL-RL clubs have an ECNL Team linked with them which makes it easier to get moved up.
Im a 16yo playing at the highest premier division (just below npl in cali). My team has been first in premeir 3 years in a row but just cant seem to win the npl qualifying tourneys. We are also in the EA league along with our normal league. I am one of the best if not the best player on my team and am thinking about playing at a higher level (ecnl/npl preferably) but what's holding me back is my coaches have a lot of connections with big names and college coaches, and that this is my home team and is in walking distance. What is your opinion on what i should do?
Can you rank PaWest? Here in Pittsburgh there is only one team in MLS Next, Beadling, one Ecnl team, Riverhounds, but there are a lot of PaWest Classics leagues. Can you explain how PaWest ranks comparatively to other leagues?
It is really good it could mean for now you might not get much game time, but you can work your way up and it is also good for colleges to show you are playing at a high level. If you need help call me link is in the description.
I will post a comment for the algo. As others have commented, the system we have does not work for a lot of great players in the US. I appreciate that you acknowledge that while also building a business within and around the US system. One pathway that I have heard is viable from player stories is the JUCO route. Players from lower leagues who have the skill can grow their game and make good connections in JUCO and then move to an NCAA school after two years.
THANK YOU!
Very helpful here. I play in West Virginia for the biggest club in the state but there aren’t many options in the area. We’ve beat USL academies and have beat MLSDA teams. The club just switched from Great Lakes to E64. My brother played for the same club. Played for the same hs I’ll play for next year and got 1000+ mins for Marshall university (D1) as a freshman. The reality is Is that there aren’t as many options around here.
That’s amazing!! Congrats to your brother
From my experience as a coach ECNL and E64 are fairly similar when it comes to exposure and level of play. Both have respective RL teams that act as their B teams essentially and even they have very similar exposure for college coaches. At this level though, it's all about the effort you put into the process. Even at the MLS Next level, if you aren't reaching out to colleges they won't see you unless you are the top top player on your team.
Well boys, but to play in MLS Next. Pray for me. I really want to play NCAA Div 1. It is my Dream. Only Christ can bring me there.
Keep Going!
please pray for me too, in Jesus name
My son is in his senior year of high school and has been doing ID Camps since Freshman year. Recently his club had to drop out of ECNL because his club has an MLS Next team and ECNL told the club that the top tier team at the club had to be ECNL or they had to drop out of ECNL. So for his upcoming club season, spring in our area, they will have a U19 NAL team. He has been in communication with about 10 colleges, D1, D2 and D3. How do you think this change in from ECNL to NAL effect him with these teams. All the colleges have said positive things about him after the ID Camps and in correspondence, but as of today he has not received any offers. A few schools, D3, have told him to apply but have not made any offers. Some of the D2 schools have asked him what his timeline is for making decision and he has told them by the end of the high school season which is around Thanksgiving. The D1 schools have told him to keep sending video and his game schedule. Is this how the process works?
Joe great question. All of this varies per club, per team and per situation. It is great that he is talking to these teams. It is late for him to not have an offer at this point but it is not too late.
The only way for me to know exactly his situation and if he is in a good place about to receive an offer or if he is just being strung along is if we schedule a call. Hope to hear from you.
Did you schedule a call?
@collegesoccerguy how do I schedule a call?
I am 14 years old and in 8th grade. I joined a club team last year and is playing necsl but will be playing edp in the spring. I practice individually every day and want to climb to ecnl and other high level clubs in Rhode Island. But I don’t know if I am good enough and what I should be doing to achieve my goals.
Book a call link in description
I have only played in the competitive CSA (colorado soccer association) advanced league for 2 seasons - I'm pretty sure this would be at the bottom tier of your pyramid - and 2 seasons of Highschool (JV last year and varsity/swing this year). I was among the best out of the swing players but among the worst in the Varsity squad. I love soccer but I honestly think I may not have the skill or enough time to develop to play in College. Should I pursue this or is that not realistic? Any tips and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Im 13 years old and i play in the open league (div 3 youth soccer). My old club recently expanded to e64. Im wondering if i should tryout, and if I were to make the team, what would be the next step? The MLS NXT and ECNL teams are all in the capital which is like a 2hr + drive for most teams from me
Where do you stand on USYS? I recently got back from the Southern Presidents cup in Plano Tx. I play for Union 10 FC Top Tier , and we compete in the Alabama State League. What are your thoughts on the club and my exposure to high level?
what league within USYS?
Mid south
And we went to the Southern Presidents cup as a result of finishing 2nd in the state. Which is a route to this years national presidents cup which has already happened.
And one more question there are no MLS next teams near my area so what should i do?
I'm 14 years old playing in NL Pro. How does that compare to MLS Next, ECNL, E64 and leagues like that?
Tier 3-4
Thanks bro I hope I will become professional player 🤞🏽⚽️🧠🫀
I’m in a club team that I was with since I was 8. We are an NPL team in California. I am captain of that team but I dont know if i should stay or go to a better team like LA SURF. I don’t know if I go to college from high school or MLS next. And can mls next players play highschool soccer?
i was wondering the same thing to if high school players can play MLS next
Mls Next players for the most part cannot play Highschool. There are very few exceptions. In terms of your club you should be trying to play at the highest level possible, Call me if you need help link is in the description.
Play in the highest league possible where you can still be one of the main players. For the boys side, that’s MLS Next.
You can’t play high school when playing MLS Next but can get a waiver to play high school if you’re on a scholarship at a private high school or something. There may be additional special cases waivers but generally you don’t play high school with MLS Next.
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Can you help me out I was wondering what the different between ecnl -rl and usc-rl because it seems as if they are the same thing please Awnser quick I’m sooo confused 😅
ECNL-RL is in a higher tier with more exposure from college coaches. Also ECNL-RL teams are often affiliated with ECNL teams so you can be moved up. For both tiers aim for division 2 and 3 schools at the start.
how do you join a club with no former club experience and no highlights
im 13 years old in 7th grade and i dont know what to do I play in edp but i have a nal team asking for me to join but we joust had a tourny and my team is starting to really get good and we ended up beating them 1-0 should i leave my team to go play ecnl or nal to climb the ranks to mls next or stay for now
Been on this club for a while now in EDP. Is that a good level to be seen by coaches or should I shoot for something better. I really just realized that there were all these levels to soccer divisions after talking to some mls next and ECNL kids at my school. Any advice?
i might be a little to late to comment but i play for midwest united royal prem idk what i should do am better than most on my team but just dont know how i can reach that new level of ecnl and mls next.what do i do tryouts are around the corner do i go
Great video man, Very good to learn the scheme. Cheers
Thank you so much! Really appreciate that
I’m 11 years old and I play in the NPL because our coach thinks that Pre-ECNL and ECNL are all for the money. He said NPL teams can compete with ECNL teams and still win. His 2006 girl team beat the number one team in the nation SOLAR and they also play in the NPL. My question is how do I become part of MLS Next, when is tryouts and is NPL really high competition?
It is not about who is better. It is about who gets the most exposure. At that age improvement is great but other kids will be playing ECNL and those teams get full, but it varies per player and club so please book a call for us to help
This video helped me to better understand club youth soccer in america, especially because it relates to me and i’m a 13 year old going through this aspect of my career right now. My parents are giving me the opportunity to try out for a NPL team which i have and they liked me. Less traveling less money. Another option that might not work out is ECNL path. A team that liked me aswell. just way more traveling. Your thoughts?
ECNL is the higher level so try to shoot for that. If thats not possible NPL is still a good level, but you will have to start by reaching out to lower level D2 and D3 schools.
All depends on goals. If dream is to play D1 or pro, gotta play ECNL…
Thanks for another informative video. We have been considering a club that will play pre-ECNL and a club that will play E-64 next season. My son would be playing up if we chose that club.
I also very much liked the video touching on D3 schools being high academic schools. I have stressed with him since he started playing club soccer that if he doesn’t keep his grades up then he won’t get to play. I let him know it’s a lesson I learned the hard way after being recruited to play for several NAIA schools and messing my grades up. I also didn’t have the advice and guidance provided in your videos. I use my lesson to show the importance of maintaining high academic standards.
Again, thank you so much for providing the information and advice.
Thank you for commentating and letting me know! Call if and when you need help
Book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
My son plays for Slammers. I am unsure as to which of all these leagues that you mentioned it is part of. Assistance please?
Varies per the age group. Ask the coach you are with, they will be able to tell you and if they can't or won't that is a red flag. Slammers is a very good club on the girls side.
Slammers plays in different leagues. Depends on teams level. They play in SoCal, ENCL, ECRL and I know girls play NpLso I’m sure boys do too
It’s very easy. Look at the older teams of the chapter of your Slammers. Whatever league they’re in is the pathway you’re on for your son. Slammers are everywhere and each chapter is different. Slammers route to ECNL. So look for a chapter that plays ECNL starting at U13 (in 2024 it’s 2012s)
Can u pls help me im so confuses. I play for Furman United 2009. I love futball and am good but i dont know how to get into all these teams and stuff. Pls help me 😭😭🙏🏼🙏🏼
u can go tryout for them by just searching up the club names
Yeah but I'm broke 😭😔 I want to know how to send emails get opportunities and stuff
call me!
@@collegesoccerguy how?
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Hi Coach, I had a quick question. Are top D3 schools such as MIT, JHU, NYU, University of Chicago, WashU in St. Louis, etc as competitive as lower level D1 schools? Basically will I have to be at a D1 level to play at these schools. Also do you think that Caltech would be considered a top D3 school?
YES THEY ARE! Cal Tech is a top academic school. This year they did really well but in years past they have not been as strong. U of Chicago are full of DI caliber players as are the other schools
No scholarships tho at D3…
I was no able to find the video on the channel with the Girls youth soccer pyramid. I saw one a year ago but it did not take into account Girls Academy
ECNL , GA, ECNL RL , NPL , DPL is the order. Call me for more help with specifics
Thanks!! Daughter is 6th grade and on a pre-ecnl roster. Local clubs that are not GA or ECNL badged are essentially putting out information to pursuade best players at her age in the two closest counties not to try out for the only club that is ecnl badged. So has been a rough go playing against the other pre ecnl teams in the division (mostly NJ, PA, amd Bethesda, MD) were there is not that active attempt to block kids for trying out for what is generally the best oppotunity.
book a call and we can dicuss her situation further. if she wantsto play college soccer and cannot play at those levels she will need to take different steps
@@josephmbillupsiii2755
great! lets get on a call @@josephmbillupsiii2755
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I’m 15 years old in 9th grade and haven’t played for any clubs yet I only played for school teams I’m looking to tryout for an MLS Next academy in about a week. What should I do to play MLS next if I never really played club football?
Ur cooked
@@IGIvanrobles3251 u right on that😭
book a call!
Not realistic…. Unless you’re unbelievably athletic
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I’m still trying to figure out if I should play for my highschool team while I’m in 8th grade or stay at my club team can you help me figure it out?
What Club are you playing for?
@@collegesoccerguy Hoover soccer club in Alabama
What about Elite Academy 2? (EA2) What league would you say is at the same level or would compare to it?
It is in tier 4 of Youth soccer, but since you are affiliated with a Elite Accademy team it can be in tier 3. Start by reaching out to D3 schools.
I don’t know about other regions but EA2 for older boys in SoCal is pretty far down in levels… would be extremely difficult to get a scholarship…
In Michigan we are playing NLC Tier 1. Where does that fit in?
That would be in the 4th tier around e64 under EA
So I live in louisiana, and the nearest mls next, ecnl team is over 300 miles away.
Do you have a video about that?
Join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I play EA for a club that has no higher league affiliated. We have been destroying competition so far and are first in our bracket. Do you think our team could fit in with MLS Next or ENCL? Please answer, i am really new to this.
I am a sophomore in high school looking to go to the next level. I am a dual-enrollment student taking ap and honor classes on top of that with a 3.7 unweighted gpa. Currently playing npl and highschool soccer. I have not started the process yet and want to know what my next steps are?
You should start now. Varies per player. Join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I play for u15 mls next for tormenta fc academy .
I play for a REC team and I just want to know if its better to tryout for an ecnl team and play there for a few seasons then play for Mls next or to just go strait to mls next tryouts.
Is ufa(United futbol academy) in GA a good club
Yea Bro
yes
Concorde Fire seems to be many levels better…
Let me ask, I am a factory worker who lives in Southeast Asia, I am 22 years old, my position is as a striker, is it possible to play in the MLS League? Am I late? It's okay to play for a weak club, the important thing is to be able to play in the MLS league, my dream if I play in MLS is to play for the Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy.
not realistic. aim for local teams
Way too late….
im 16 playing for a gla team and im looking to up the level and just need help
Book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I was wondering what the difference between ecnl-rl and usc-rl and are they the same thing please don’t say to book a call cuz I need to know quick !!!!!!! 😅
ECNL-RL is in a higher tier with more exposure from college coaches. Also ECNL-RL teams are often affiliated with ECNL teams so you can be moved up. For both tiers aim for division 2 and 3 schools at the start.
Were in comp soccer in utah plaing in a mid tier division. We pay 1800 a yr in club fees... thats NOT including tournaments and travel. We travel to southern utah, nevada and arizona. My kid is 10
It gets worse! And college coaches don’t have time to have empathy they have to win games
$1800??
That’s so cheap haha
Paying $3500 before tourney and travels for my younger son. He’s 11.
But my daughter is in club volleyball. It’s easily double what I pay for soccer for my son.
My older son’s in competitive golf… it’s DOUBLE the volleyball…
Haha I never complain about soccer fees… one of the cheapest competitive sports you can play..:
I have a tough choice, and it is either Play for an MLS NEXT team that is last place in their league but i would get a lot of playing time , or play for Florida Premier, Where they are the 3rd best u13 ECNL team in the state and i wouldnt get tons of playing time, or play for Florida Premier ECRL?
Book a call please it’s complex
I would go somewhere where you can play… playing a lot on an MLS Next team is good… if you show up vs MLS academies there might even be a way to get on their trials…
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
USYS National League. Above EDP
I’m a freshman and playing high school soccer should I keep playing until I save up enough money for clubs?
yes, but start making a video now! Unless you can save 2-4k a year better spending your time saving up for ID camps and making lots of videos
@@collegesoccerguywhat if my older brother is a sophomore with 2000 dollars who just created his ncsa account today? These programs are so crazy
Hey coach, I'm currently in my sophomore year, going to be in my junior year next year, 16 yrs old. I really am passionate about soccer, don't play for a club team at the moment, but my highschool has made it deep in the playoffs both years i've been apart of the team. I am currently recovering from a knee surgery and am wondering, is it too late for my to play at the college level as I don't play for a club team, and I am coming off an injury. Also, where would i find tryout information for club teams?
Book a call varies per player
Way too late.
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Un I play in Npl and club highest level is ECNL is it a good club
Yes but ask your coaches how they plan to help you
Ok
How can a player play in both mls next and ecnl simultaneously? Seems like it’s possible on the ecnl side but not mls next. Mls next requires you to only play mls next and you cannot play for another league in another club.
Book a call that’s complicated to explain
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
What about UPSL, where would it fit into the pyramid?
Tier 3 but it does not get college exposure
Great video, really give me a good idea of what I need to do if I want to go D1. I currently play for a somewhat above average mls next team I would say and have been invited to train with galaxy last year( im a sophomore) School comes 1 for me (4.3 gpa) and the kids on galaxy go to online school so even if I did make the team which I didn’t, where do you think I’m headed? My goal is to play at UCLA, my dads has connections with the head couch. (His cousin’s son)
Book a call when you can
You’d have to be one of the best on a really good MLS Next team in the country to be able to get on UCLA…
Top desirable spots - Stanford UCLA etc - are offered to youth national team level players + top foreign academy kids coming to the states for college after being cut from their academy teams at 17 years old…
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
What’s the best academy in us
I play NAL 2011 which is the second team of a team that beat Red Bulls. I got an offer for ecnl rl. what’s the best?
Go with NAL as it is the higher level, but make sure to take everything into consideration and do what's best for you
@@collegesoccerguy About to have our first tournament (for the nal team) against ecnl and rl
Lets Go! Good Luck
Most people can’t afford these programs.
that does not stop one from being able to play college soccer. Emails are free, making vidoes can be done with an iphone, and ID camps can be $50. You must pick the places that you can do. The system here is not perfect but it is better than many places and that is why internationals want to come here
My sons club plays in national league to player for the club is a couple hundred dollars but the travel is what cost the most
MLS next has a low cost
@@Ideas795 where ?
@@hix9306most MLS academies are free. Non affiliated MLSNext academies are expensive
have you ever heard of long island junior soccer league? if so, where does lijsl rank on this list?
Yes! Tier 5
thank you! does edp also classify as tier 5 or does that move it up?
Where do you think the NAL will be in the next 5 years for girls? My Daughter is 7 and her current club (older girls teams) joined the NAL last year and did very well. There is a much larger club in the area that plays in ECNL.
At the younger ages its all about development and her current club is great versus the larger ECNL club where you can get lost along with all the ridiclous politics before they are even 10. I want her to focus on development, having fun, playing time #1 and see where NAL is in 5 years versus ECNL and go from there.
I think my logic makes sense, but if you think the NAL has limited upside - that might be an issue in 5 years. Thank you
yes upside is limited. ECNL club would be better most likely
Any info/ thoughts on Chicago Fc United MLSnext youth club?
Very good! Varies by coach though, but the club is good
@collegesoccerguy my kid got accepted to the top team that will play mlsnext U13 next year. Should we try to Chicago fire youth mlsnext club next year or just stay and develop the relationship and skills with the fc united? What's your opinion?
Thank you.
@@Maximumtrack not sure need more info. book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
What age should you start putting together highlight tapes? My son will be 12 in October and he was recruited and offered a spot on a MLS next team.
Now
What’s your ranking on EDP?
My sons are 8 and 6 years old. I am already thinking about which cities I need to move to so they can play competitive college soccer, or pro!
Love it!
I’m in edp I’m on eight grade and I’m looking fortryout it a any good teams you know near nj I’m trying to get to a better leauge
there are many different teams. Please look online in your area and visit the ECNL and MLS next websites. they explain where there are teams in your area
very informative. My son Jasper is U10 2015 boys playing at the local club level here in Plymouth, Michigan. What do you recommend i do for him to give him the best opportunity to advance his level and play MLS Next
Tough one can you book a call?
Go to a club that has MLS Next pathway…
If there isn’t then ECNL pathway…
If there isn’t that either then try to play up a year in whatever highest league there is locally…
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Hey coach wanted to know what you thought of the EDP1 league I recently tried out for the Liverpool international academy team in my state made the team and the team I’m on is at this league it’s also the highest lv of play they offer I’m 16 and a junior in high school thanks
Good job! Are you talking to college teams?
@@collegesoccerguy I have not started since it is my 2nd year playing club soccer I hoping this year I can collect film and then start speaking with them
what do you think of EAL in colorado
Tier 3
What’s better, NPL or E64
Varies per player book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Is EA2 in any of this brackets?
Tier 5 aim D3
Im in 9th grade and play state classic league what should i do and what division colleges should i look at? and what leagues should i try join
Good question. This varies per person and club. Please join the Discord for futher help (expires in 24 hours) discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr
Or book a call which is faster bit.ly/4e3bLPU
What about edp?
Varies per club. MLS NEXT & ECNL are top leagues. Join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hrs)
or Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
I know you are from the west coast but do you know the league pyramid in Florida?
what league are you in?
@@collegesoccerguy it’s my son he is 11 turning 12 next week he is playing with u14 in the premier leagues he was invited to play in the ECNL for his age group but it’s an 1:30 away which would be ok but I have to other girls playing so it really is impossible. I just don’t know how much better is ECNL compared to the Premier league
It is a much higher level. I drove two hours each way and i have two brothers who also played and had to go elsewhere. College coaches don’t care the situation they just care who they can see the most. This is what I do what I do. I help players get noticed even if they cannot travel
So how did you get on a college team if you only got accepted onto an MLS Next team afterwards?
Also, if you aren’t on the MLS Next level yet, how can you get noticed by colleges?
Playing mls next does not mean you will play college soccer. If not playing mls next there are other levels and camps, video are key
Solar? How about Americas FC they are coming up along with FC Dallas.
good club yes.
And where does the European teams stand at? I know there’s a few teams like Bayern that have academies in the US. Is that one way to go pro?
No. Not with out euro passport
My son is in day 2 of "open" tryout with MN Utd. U15. As 7th and 8th grader he played up with the HS team and was captain. They didn’t need the nbs so. We'll see how it goes 😃
How did it go!
@@collegesoccerguy He had a great first 2 days. He had a lot of touches and was making really quick/ smart decisions with the ball. Day 3, you could tell they were trying to seperate the cream and they pulled him over to play with that paricular group but he made two significant moves that ended up as turn orvers. (trying to be highlight reel) annnnd it was back to back touches. LOL. Day four I think he realized it. Played hard but I could see his frustration. 7 days later , no call back but. It looked like about 60-70 tried our and they were looking for eitght.
where is state league?? my team is playing d1 state league next year and i feel like that is pretty good? what is your opinion
Aim for D3 first coaches don’t go to state league events unless they are local and you message them
My son plays in national league and has played NL pro . They just got eliminated from national league playoffs . In the spring they play premier ncysa . He’s a u16 player . We haven’t sent any emails or done anything. Should he continue to stay in the NL or try to move up ?
It really varies per player. Please book a call
What do you think about USL Academy? It didn't make your pyramid.
Tier 2 its good level but does not get much exposure
2028 player with opportunity to go to Black Rock FC residential academy. For D1 recruiting exposure, is that better than my current ECNL?
That one is tricky. I need to speak to you. Can you book a call?
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
There aren’t any MLS teams on my state 😢but I play for the ODP team in my state, what tier would ODP be ?
ODP is considered 3-4 tier for boys. Start making video and email D3 schools. Then can work your way up
Im a u14 in npl super although i am capable of making my local ecnl team is that good
yes go do that!
@@collegesoccerguy we play them in 5 days so if I win should I still go
Do you think playing encl rl will help as much as other leagues to get you to d1?
It will not but we did just have one of our students commit D1 from ecnl rl
I am currently a junior and I currently play EDP, what are your thoughts on the league??
Aim for D3 and NAIA first
@@collegesoccerguy Yeah, I am currently in contact with about 5 D3 schools and one D2 school, my goal realistically is not to go D1 but do you think there is a chance I can push for D1?
Hi college soccer guy. I play ECNL and I want to play for Minnesota united academy but I don’t know if it costs money or no. I hope you answer soon
varies per player, book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Well what about EDP on the east coast
tier 4 focus on D3 first
Hi, I would like some assistance as my son is 11 but he does want to play college soccer and I’m trying to facilitate his journey for him. How may I reach you?
Please book a call
Here: collegesoccerguy.org and click on below 7th grade so we can help :)
What are your thoughts on north cal premier soccer League ?
Tier 4 not likely to get recruited unless you go to camps
What about Texas 2 the newer league
Because I was in an ecnl team that was not doing very well so I did some tryouts and made a better ecnl team but then the Texas 2 league popped up and I decided to tryout and make there team
ECNL is where to go, the exposure matters more then the team level in terms of playing college soccer.
what about inter county soccer leauge
is it just a local travel leauge
Yes
@@collegesoccerguyso its just a random league
hey im b12 in couple of months im gonna be Elite academy and thw next level after that for my club is mls next am i in a good spot? or should i change to ecnl
Great question. Varies per player & club. Please join the discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hrs) or Book a call for faster assistance bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Hi Jev, my child is a top student in a very competitive district with heavy community involvement and leadership roles since 3rd grade. Currently 8th and guaranteed to graduate high school at the top with many honors and roles he'll work towards. In EA1 and recently tried out for MLS Next. Would it be a possibility to be recruited for Harvard (has secondary legacy with college, grad school and law school), Yale and Stanford. Would it be a possibility? Would doing their summer clinics help starting next summer? Or is this summer better? We have vacation planned this summer. Is continuing in EA1 enough or would that discount him to be recruited by any of the top schools? We're in Southern California.
All great questions. Please book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
How does this come into play for GK's. I am finding the road is a lot more difficult because of the amount of GK's that a team carries.
Yes! You have to start way earlier because coaches already know what they need! Book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
From my experience, ECNL RL is not very good... and does not get very much exposure OR priority of your existing club. They focus on the top team 90% of the time. You are better off going to a different division E64, Academy, Midwest conference, and etc become a higher priority and develop.
Hi! My son is 12 years old and he started playing Elite academy with TFA.. Is that good? Or Elite academy is not that good enough?
Elite Academy is a good level, He should shoot for MLS Next or ECNL as that is where the big D1 schools are going to be recruiting from, but for now He should shoot for D3 and D2 Schools
By age 12, EA is not highest level for boys…. All the best talent have moved onto MLS Next or top ECNL clubs by 12 years old… not even counting the best of the best playing in MLS pro academies (not to be confused with MLS Next)
@johnyoung823 There is a bunch of talent in EA. No clue what you are on about.
@@finnesse_ftbl for U11 and U12 sure. Most of the top talent moves onto MLS academies, ECNL, or MLS Next by U13 though
so do you have to play college soccer to make it pro?
It helps
I'm 15 here playing US Club Soccer, lowest of the low. I'm trying to move up and are committing to trainings, but I can't move up since my club has all of their higher teams filled up. Really desperate to play in MLS Next because I really do love soccer, but I'm not confident that I can go from the lowest to the literal top. Are there any ways I can improve heavily? Even then I would like to move up to ECRL or ECNL, just really disapointed.
make video of yourself for your highlights then watch the video!
Just get out and practice with the coaches at higher teams and get in contact with them. Keep training hard, giving your best, and God will open paths for you. Good Luck my man.
I play in the npl do any of you guys?
yo how do i start when I live in malaysia and trying to play college soccer
we don't help internationals yet
What about USL and EA? Where do those rank?
USL Academy ranks amongst the higher tiers if the club is affiliated with ECNL or MLS Next. If they do not compete in either league the exposure will be minimal. Elite Academy is third tier.
what is the best way to get into mls academy’s
email them with video and ask for a tryout
My son is in the process of choosing between ECNL-RL and EA in the Denver area. Would you recommend one over the other? My son is hoping to make ECNL or MLS-Next, but for now these are his options this season. Would love your thoughts.
Thanks for your comment. It varies too much by region, coach, and your sons commitment level. Please book a call to speak further. Collegesoccerguyprograms.com is how we set that up
What age group is ur kid I might have played him before?
personally i think e64 is better than ecnl rl because first of all ecnl rl is a regional league and also I've made ecnl, ecnl rl, and e64 teams and I've played in those leagues and i would say out of those three the order from best to worst is ecnl, e64, and by far ecnl rl
At different teams the level could differ, but in terms of level and exposure ECNL-RL is better for college coaches to see you playing at. Another reason is because almost all ECNL-RL clubs have an ECNL Team linked with them which makes it easier to get moved up.
@@collegesoccerguy Oh, sorry I understand now, thanks for explaining that. I just realized you were talking about coaches seeing you, thank you.
Im a 16yo playing at the highest premier division (just below npl in cali). My team has been first in premeir 3 years in a row but just cant seem to win the npl qualifying tourneys. We are also in the EA league along with our normal league. I am one of the best if not the best player on my team and am thinking about playing at a higher level (ecnl/npl preferably) but what's holding me back is my coaches have a lot of connections with big names and college coaches, and that this is my home team and is in walking distance. What is your opinion on what i should do?
Book a call
I live in Georgia im 13 but i got a offer to join my the academy gsa , what level is this compared to higher ones ?
Varies per age level and club please book a call
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU
Can you rank PaWest? Here in Pittsburgh there is only one team in MLS Next, Beadling, one Ecnl team, Riverhounds, but there are a lot of PaWest Classics leagues. Can you explain how PaWest ranks comparatively to other leagues?
Would be tier 4 any thing not on that list is considered tier 4 by coaches and D1 is not realistic in most cases
how good do you think it is if coach tells you that you made it to the L.A Surf MLS next reserve team what is that even mean and is it worth it?
It is really good it could mean for now you might not get much game time, but you can work your way up and it is also good for colleges to show you are playing at a high level. If you need help call me link is in the description.
please join the Discord for further help discord.gg/cACd6eYvcr (expire in 24 hours)
or
book a call for faster help bit.ly/4e3bLPU