Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board East Coast based MLS NEXT clubs lead launch of National Academy League

A large contingent of MLS NEXT youth clubs are leading the launch of the National Academy League, which will begin play in Fall 2023.

Founding member clubs consist largely of current MLS NEXT member clubs who are not the official academies of Major League Soccer (MLS) organizations. In total, 54 clubs are featured on the first public list of National Academy League members.

The National Academy League’s initial membership spans from the Northeast down to the Southeast. Several high profile clubs listed as founding members include Players Development Academy (PDA), IMG Academy, Bethesda SC, three Cedars Stars Academy branches, Tampa Bay United and New England FC (NEFC), among many others.

Only one member of the founding group – Orlando City Soccer School Seminole – features the branding of an MLS club, and is not the official Academy program for the Orlando City SC MLS team.

Each of the National Academy League’s conferences will feature competition across the U13-U19 age groups. Directors of Coaching within each conference will have the autonomy to make additional sporting decisions. For example, adding additional ages or crafting specific events or formats that enhance their players’ growth opportunities.

Participating clubs will also have the opportunity to attend the NAL competition as part of the IMG Cup College Showcase in December and compete for a National Academy League Championship in June 2024. The league’s official website has been launched at nationalacademyleague.com.

See below for a look at each of the league’s five founding conferences:

New England Conference: Boston Bolts, IFA, NEFC, Seacoast United, Valeo, Bayside FC, NY Rush Select, SDA, NY Elite

Northeast Conference: BW Gottschee, Cedar Stars Academy North Bergen, Beachside SC of CT, FC Westchester, Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth, TSF Academy, Ironbound SC, New York SC, DUSC, Met Oval, Barca Academy Pro, Cedar Stars Academy Hudson Valley, FA Euro, LI Slammers

Mid-Atlantic Conference: Alexandria SA, Achilles, SACBA, Bethesda SC, FC DELCO, PA Classics, PDA, Real Jersey, Sporting Athletic, SYC

Southeast Conference: Hoover-Vestavia Soccer, Inter Atlanta FC, Kalonji Soccer Academy, Lanier Soccer Academy, Southern Soccer Academy, Wake FC, Triangle United SC

Florida Conference: Florida Rush, Tampa Bay United, Weston FC, Miami Rush Kendall SC, West Florida Flames, Jacksonville FC, IMG Academy, United Soccer Alliance, Ideasport Soccer Academy, Chargers SC, Plantation FC Academy, FC Tampa Rangers, SFFA, Orlando City Seminole

So, on the heels East Coast boys getting ECRL, they get trumped by the announcement on the boys side from this new expect superior boys league...IMO, ECRL doesn't compare. Your thoughts?

Does this replace the Northeast Academy League aka MLSNext2?

I guess this is boys only, leaving the Girls in the expanded ECRL.

I thought this was going to be an announcement about East Coast club, they are not involved it seems.

Why would you think they would be?

What is the youngest age group for this league? Does it start at U12?

U-13

LI slammers will participate in ECRL boys and this new league? That is interesting, wonder how that happened.

The u13 LI slammers team is an absolute joke. They are terrible, and are going to get absolutely destroyed in this new league.

Is this backed by US Club or US Youth ?

I'm going to go with US Youth. I have to take things a step further with all the chatter about ECRL right now. Looking at that second ECRL league that was added, as just a move by US Club Soccer to compete with the national side of US Youth.

I think it's obvious that there is a heavy duty national league(s) competitive war going on between US Club and US Youth. What are your thoughts?

Oh there is war being waged

These leagues and vaux academies are all watering down youth soccer and making it less competitive instead of more competitive. MLS Next is the only top level league and all others are just trying to make money and not help develop players. MLS agenda is money and they make money by developing players who sign pro contracts(very small #'s actually do sign pro contracts). But parents are going to eat up another new league that already existed under another name.

ECRL FKA NPL
National Academy League FKA NEAL

Real Groundbreaking stuff happening and the 🐑 will follow and put this exciting new bumber sticker on the back of the SUV.

This is all of the MLS Next club's 2nd teams plus new additions.

So this is essentially the Northeast Academy League, just under a different name? Or are all the mentioned clubs that are currently in MLS Next sending their A teams to this and dropping out of MLS Next?

Yes. None of these teams are dropping out of MLS Next

So again, this is a league of all these clubs "B" and possibly "C" teams?

Not sure whose C team would be in this but definitely the MLS Next clubs' B teams.