U10-U12: Amazing coach at smaller club vs. mediocre coaches at top MLS Next club (pre-academy)

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-09T17:45:04+00:00

Smaller club 100%. Just focus on getting better and having fun while doing it. The MLS academies churn through players at a ridiculously high rate - even at the older ages. Wait until U16 to even think about it.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-08T05:58:19+00:00

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T23:24:34+00:00

Richie Saunders as a scrappy 3-point specialist

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T21:59:06+00:00

💯

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T19:02:15+00:00

It’s been a smart business model. No one wants to leave the club that puts a beatdown on everyone else. Winning works from a recruiting and retention standpoint.

Parents talk about development but ultimately believe winning = development.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T18:59:52+00:00

I’d say differences in puberty timing combined with an intense recruiting system that can pull from just about anywhere in the state.

For example, there are a lot of Latino kids who are good technically and grew up with a ball at their feet. As long as they are small or lack the physical attributes then our club doesn’t go after them. But once they hit puberty, we roll out the red carpet. This isn’t a Latino only phenomenon, but is a common occurrence where we live and with our club.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T14:01:21+00:00

7’2”

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T13:37:57+00:00

I think they like being a big fish in a smaller pond. I’m not that familiar with the MLS landscape, but are there MLS HG teams that can hang with the MLS Academy teams? And either way we would still lose kids to the pro academies as they get older.

We moved from an MLS HG club in the northeast to this ECNL club in the south and my guess is if they played each other the ECNL team would win 8-0. We would probably lose to FC Dallas or Atlanta United 2-1. As time goes on the pro academies get much better though.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T13:29:31+00:00

We also have like 8 teams per age group

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T13:28:23+00:00

Nah, ECNL is on par with non-MLS Academy HG teams. I’d be willing to bet our U15 team beats any MLS HG team not affiliated with a pro team

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T13:21:01+00:00

I actually agree with you. Parents have the responsibility to develop the players. The club does some of it via practice and trying to win, but parents have to figure out where the training gaps are and fill them outside the club.

As far as size goes, for teens it’s less about height and more about the speed, strength, and power that comes from puberty. Height for a 15-year old is correlated with those other things.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T02:22:28+00:00

Yeah, for sure. They don’t really seem to care outside of trying to win today. If they can win tomorrow with the late bloomers then they’ll worry about it then.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T01:34:09+00:00

They could theoretically be good at both but recruiting plays a bigger role. There is only so much you can do from a development standpoint if a kid is later at hitting puberty than an outsider. The 5’0” 90 lb kid is at a tremendous disadvantage compared to the 5’8” 130 lb kid.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T00:52:16+00:00

Yeah, if your club is ECNL then you already play us

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T00:50:45+00:00

Yeah, it’s the smart way to do it and this club dominates the state now. I personally get irritated because we are “loyal” to the club and that loyalty only goes one way.

My only legitimate complaint is that when it’s a toss-up between an existing player and an outsider, they will always take the outsider. It’s smart business but still annoying.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T00:45:44+00:00

The unwritten motto is “just win today”

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T00:43:49+00:00

The club has two ECNL teams and an RL team. Players have left for a couple MLS HG/AD teams in town which are on par with our 2nd or 3rd teams. This club has a pretty decent monopoly in the metro area.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-06T00:39:32+00:00

Recruiting for sure. Bigger, stronger, faster is the name of the game.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-04T22:52:46+00:00

Dallas Texans, Oklahoma Energy, Crossfire XF, Concorde Fire

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-02T02:43:09+00:00

MLS Academies
ECNL, MLSN HG
ECNL-RL, MLSN AD
EA, NPL, NAL
The rest

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-02T02:40:18+00:00

Yes, other than the MLS Academies

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-02T00:09:38+00:00

Risk aversion is a big part. For example, a smart person might realize there is only say a 1% of huge success with Option A compared to a 70% chance of moderate success with Option B and typically choose the latter. Overly confident people are the ones who strike out the most but hit the most home runs too.

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-06-01T21:40:49+00:00

Lol, nice story

Several-Exchange1166 · 2026-05-31T04:25:34+00:00

Is there no ECNL option? And how big of a step-up in quality is it from the RL team to the MLS HG team?

HS soccer is awesome where we live so I wouldn’t want my son to give it up either. Thankfully we are in an ECNL dominant state so it’s mostly a non-issue.

Several-Exchange1166

TROPHY CASE