A college soccer advisor explains why playing for MLS NEXT or ECNL matters for reaching D1, D2, or D3 programs. Club choice gets made by 8th or 9th grade and shapes what level scouts will notice you. Many talented kids are stuck in lower clubs like NAL when they should move up to catch recruitment windows.
Why do you need to play MLS NEXT or ECNL in order to play at the highest levels of college soccer? I'm the college soccer youth guy, and I'm here to help you play MLS NEXT or ECNL. If you're a 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and you want to play at these levels, it's important because when you come to me as a high schooler and you say, what level are you playing? I'm going to make decisions on that. I will tell you whether or not you can play Division 1, Division 2, or Division 3 by the time you're in 8th, 9th grade, and what club level you're at is going to play a role. Now, I've had students before that come to me in 8th, 9th grade, they're not playing MLS NEXT, and they're playing NAL, but I watch their video and I go, look, you're better than the level you're playing. We need you to move. The problem is when I have them move at that age, they are going to miss out on opportunities because, right, they have to go try out for club teams while other players aren't trying out for our club teams. They're already on the MLS Next or ECNL teams, so they're already talking to schools or sending out emails to their colleges. If you're trying out for teams, right, you can't be doing that because you don't know what team you're on. Trying out and switching teams is very normal, but it's something I'd like to get done earlier. The other thing is if you play on an MLS Next team at any point, you can put that on your resume and it's a big deal. We had a student who played for New York City FC in their youth. They got cut, but now for the rest of their life, they'll be able to say that. And college coaches and club coaches alike will always want to know who they are. I never played for any big team, so I was trying out and they'd be like, where'd you play before? I'd mention a small team, they go, you can't try out. I'd do it again, and it was very difficult to break in. But kind of like when you get your first pro contract one day, like I did, uh, it makes a lot easier. So similar to the MLS Next, once you get your first one, it can be a lot easier to go to other ones. If you want more help, give me a DM. I'll talk soon. Bye.
