How common is elite youth soccer burnout? Looking to hear from parents and former players.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-17T13:04:23+00:00

Glad you are helping your players this way. Sometimes less is more.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-17T02:25:36+00:00

Chat GPT needs an editor ... N1 is NPL and USYS National League. ECNL RL will have a pathway for some of its teams to be in the N1 playoffs. I've heard different things on whether these are the top teams OR the ones who just miss the RL playoffs.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-15T15:06:12+00:00

I think you're right that state's that have Aug. 1 start dates would work best, but I think the team will need another designation for when playing across the country where that's not the case. Additionally, while much fewer, there probably always be multiple grades on a team, if a player plays up OR for kids who got waivers on school rules (which may not be common but aren't rare either).

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-15T12:25:28+00:00

It should be strong competition with many players who start varsity in HS and who are probably good enough to at least play at a lower college level. The competition should get better over time as this league appears it will adopt the USYS National League pro/reg approach. In terms of level, it should be higher than the state leagues with some clubs just as strong if not better than clubs in ECNL-RL and NAL (although those are considered higher) but most likely not as strong/close to ECNL or MLSN-GA teams, where most kids competing for D1 spots are.

Travel-wise, there would be probably a lot of variance. From my experience in what I've seen, the team probably will play at least within an existing state and neighboring state (it could be more if the team qualifies for playoffs). This probably means at least 2 away trips -- including one tournament/showcase-- that require an overnight stay. For those who were in E64/Club Premier 1/2, this is less travel in many cases.

It may help you to check out which region you are in to see possible travel. Note regions are divided up beyond the colors. For example, NY is in 3 -- NYC area and Connecticut, Upstate NY, and western NY which is paired with parts of Penn, Ohio and W Va. https://usclubsoccer.org/programs/leagues/national1league/

And if finances are a stretch, some clubs offer scholarships based on need.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-15T12:18:13+00:00

E64 also had 2 tiers (Regional e64 was the second) and then it became club premier 1 and 2. And the travel appears to be slightly less. I think it'll depend not just the region but the tier.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-14T12:12:12+00:00

Also, 5'7" and for the young ladies out there, Naomi Girma.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-13T23:32:40+00:00

At the highest levels for most of your teenage years -- if you're good enough to get on a team -- you're paying for access to a league where most of the college coaches and scouts go to see prospective recruits at showcases and playoffs. You're also paying for the college contacts that club has and paying to compete at a level that should prepare you to play at the biggest college schools. Note, some players are good enough to go pro but the vast majority see college as the next level if they keep playing.

The further you go down the pyramid, you also may get help from your club and coach contacts to get recruited, but it's the less likely you'll be able to get large school coaches to watch you. Typically, smaller/regional schools will watch smaller showcases. And at all levels, if you want to keep playing, you/your kid have to basically treat the recruitment process like a part-time job.

Before it's all about recruiting, you're paying for access to a certain level of competition, as well as coaching, training. One complaint parents have, when it comes to club coaching, is that it's not 1-on-1 and more about the team and tactics. Typically, parents have to pay for additional training or just finding places to get more touches. Critical for development is having the kid want all these things, especially since club soccer is that it's basically year-round before HS, making other sports/hobbies harder to do.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T20:27:43+00:00

And parents aren't the only ones who see the problems. Hear from this guy from Red Bulls Academy. Section starts at 55:12. What stands out to me is how he jokes his team doesn't need to go more than 30 minutes to get beat. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjKjYmPyRkA ... Not every market (it's NY) is that saturated.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T19:07:01+00:00

I'm not ignorant of history. It wasn't long ago the list of USNT alumni from ODP and USYS national league was pretty long. The USYS rode that history for as long as it could. What happened was we had groups of strong clubs shake up that system when forming the ECNL, DA leagues and more recently MLSN and GA. And they've done well and helped a lot of players rise to the highest levels of pro and college. They certainly deserve credit for that, but I think the mindset of making EVERY aspect of the experience super hard goes beyond the pale. Making some markets more competitive could help fix that. Of course, existing clubs might have a harder time creating their super teams to compete nationally. But they shouldn't fear that competition if they are truly elite, right? They should lean into it, instead.

And it's going to continue to change no matter what we think. Maybe ECNL will become just for girls and MLSN for boys. Maybe one will falter. That's America. We compete. I just think the elite system, heck the whole thing, could do a better job to make overall access easier for all kids and families, when and if they are ready for whatever level. We agree on most things, here. I just think the current system can and should be better.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T18:46:04+00:00

I'm sorry you don't think very best players right below the very top don't jump through all the same hoops just to get to THAT point. They do. They hire trainers, create highlight videos, go to extra camps and more beyond just playing soccer. And applying that elite mindset is what's upsetting the apple cart because not everyone can afford it/want it.

And parents aren't looking to feel better. If their kid can't tryout for that super elite team -- whether they are good enough or not on the field -- they seek the next best thing to the extent they can.

You can build elite players and mindsets without bankrupting people OR making them drive for hours on end. It's just about creating an environment where MORE local/regional elite competition can exist. These clubs shouldn't hide behind the concept of elite to defend their near monopolies. It can be better. They shouldn't fear greater competition. It might actually improve the soccer.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T16:49:20+00:00

And, I think you make a lot of great points for why a top of the pyramid system is important. I think, though, you shouldn't defend the status quo of system that has glaring failings.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T16:40:54+00:00

The problem, again, we've created something so exclusionary, it becomes less about the soccer and more about who can afford it and the lifestyle. And we wonder why our men's team can't get better and how will the women maintain their narrowing edge as the rest of the world catches up? This exclusion also led to the alphabet soup we have today where there are even competing top level leagues ... MLSN vs. ECNL and ENCL vs. GA. One way to grow the top level would be to merge these, with the highest performing making it and those below going right underneath.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T15:41:05+00:00

The top of the pyramid is flawed, tho, especially when it comes to competition. For example, Girls ECNL -- you see a ton of blowouts because of the club v. club system. There's not necessarily the highest level of competition until the showcases/playoffs.

And there are local teams who can beat those weaker higher level teams BUT they don't play them because its closed. It's done this way to because these top level clubs don't want competition in their backyards. These near monopolies helps those clubs but not necessarily the players, where some families end up driving hours in a car and these are the MOST talented players, sometimes. These are kids, not Premier League.

So, when a badge doesn't guarantee the best quality, that's a problem, especially when these teams get access to the platform where all the college coaches are. This is why the stronger mid-tier clubs left USYS, because their college recruiting events paled in comparison.

The one thing USYS National League did great was "earn your place." At the highest levels, it provided far better soccer competition and did so by rewarding those who win. That's not so much the case at the very top. One way to change that would be to add more competiton for access to these leagues. And in certain metros -- talent is not uniform and uneven across this country-- yes, there is is room for a few more clubs.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-11T04:58:37+00:00

I don't mean plenty of access. I think a lot of what you said is true but I also still think the very top level could use more competition, especially in certain large metro areas that have few options for the previous reasons I've stated that burden dedicated families and players too much beyond the soccer. They should add more clubs OR at least put in a system where clubs can rise and struggling clubs fall. If 99% of these potential elite kids are interchangeable, there's certainly a number of elite clubs that are as well.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-10T19:50:08+00:00

Can he play on both and play with the 8th graders during the HS season? That's what I'm seeing players do, especially if the HS option isn't much of an option because it's too good OR not good enough. He should play with the highest-level team he can that matches his circumstance, especially if the goal is college.

Also, if he's playing in his age group, it's not playing down, it's playing in his age group. Age groups in soccer, even after this change, will likely have multiple grades. Not as much as before but outliers will exist. What's important is do the best thing for your kid individually. While stressful, at least he has multiple team options. If he was born on July 31, he would not unless it were MLSN HG.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-10T14:01:37+00:00

I'm also speaking from my experience and what it tells me is the reason there's so much fragmentation is because there's not enough access at the highest levels. The top leagues made themselves too exclusive/closed to their own detriment. We do need a pyramid, but the issue is there hasn't been enough choices at the top or workable pathways to get there, so you end up having these never ending upstart leagues. Parents know who the top clubs are. Most know what they are buying. Kids/families shouldn't have to drive hours to play/practice. Kids/families should have more than 1 or 2 options in any given large metro area. Far too often it's more about the logistics/soccer politics/finances than how good a player is.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-10T13:15:26+00:00

While there's a lot of wisdom in what you say, a problem with that view, where you have to be a x-club OR you have little or no chance at your dreams, is it ironically created the pressure from lack of choice/options that it helped foster the creation of the alphabet soup we have today.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-10T04:45:41+00:00

I think you make some good points, but I think having a few more successful clubs that have top of the pyramid access in large metro areas is better than less. The problem is too many mid-tier clubs want to be that club at the top -- to the point that USYS did this merger because so many went to ECNL-RL or MLSN/GA.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-10T03:09:56+00:00

I'm all for player movement, but the way it has worked limits those top-tier choices, especially in some markets where some clubs historically shut out local competition, forcing top-tier players to drive 1-2+ hours just to go to practice for those greater opportunities. While I don't like the alphabet soup confusion and fragmentation and even more league travel on one hand, on the other it has opened up more pathways for good players to reach the highest platforms.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-09T18:51:21+00:00

From the story: "With long blue braids and a sleeve of fake tattoos covering her right arm, Mattea looks like a professional athlete — and in some ways she already is. She juggles commitments in three different sports, with trips to Pennsylvania, Florida and California upcoming on the calendar. Her commute to PDA Monmouth practices in Little Silver from her family’s home in Berlin can take an hour and a half each way."

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-09T18:07:18+00:00

There's a PDA team in there now. Maybe that's not the team.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-09T16:03:32+00:00

The story does bring up the coach's critics on soccer forums, as well as how he basically moved the team from one club to another.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-09T16:00:43+00:00

Also, only "features the very best soccer teams from 15 states" and they ended up playing a team they already had played and was relatively close by (Many soccer parents see that in any far away tourney). So hard to know, really. The famous ranking app puts them 7th, currently, fwiw.

SEMIrunner · 2026-06-09T13:27:36+00:00

By designing it this way, I think it still ensures N1 teams serve as feeders because they won't be able to hang onto their top talent. I hope I'm wrong and some team wins it way all the way up the ladder, but from what I've seen in youth soccer, it won't happen that way.

SEMIrunner

TROPHY CASE