MLS Next 2 showcases like Flex and Fest will give college coaches direct access to middle and high school players. If you're in grades 8-10, targeting MLS Next 2 teams with direct MLS affiliations offers better visibility than ECNL or RL over the next year and a half.
Are there going to be MLS Next 2 showcases where the college coaches can see you? So as of right now, according to the gentleman who's in charge of MLS Next, who spoke to me not that long ago, there are definitely going to be MLS Next 2 events. More than likely, most of them, if not all of them, are, are going to be MLS Next Flex and MLS Next Fest, and they're going to be at the same places as the MLS Next events. Now, who is going to compete with who? It's still to be determined, but odds are it's going to be mixed. So right now, if you had to pick between ECNL, RL, and MLS Next 2, I would probably tell you, assuming all the coaches are the same and the distance is the same and those types of factors, I would probably tell you that there will be more exposure in MLS Next 2 within the next year and a half. For the time being, as of this very moment, it hasn't happened yet. So if you're in 8th grade, 9th grade, or 10th grade, and you get to choose between aiming for an MLS NEXT 2 team that has a direct affiliation with an MLS team, or an MLS NEXT, or an ECNL RL team that has a direct connection with an ECNL team, I would aim for the MLS NEXT 2 team. Now, NAL is still technically the foundation is gonna run MLS NEXT 2, but they're gonna be called MLS NEXT 2. So if you're playing NAL, there's a good chance that will eventually switch. but it has not happened yet. And NAL teams cannot go to MLS NEXT Fest or FLEX events. But MLS NEXT 2 is going to be a huge deal because again, this is where the coaches will eventually show up. If you want more help playing college soccer, give me a call. Links in the bio. Talk soon. Bye.
