What @GKUnion has said is easily verifiable, and true. Not sure why you are arguing with someone who’s son both played MLS Next and is currently playing D1.
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Well, I think the airing of the different perspectives might have helped the OP. Now she knows that as of a couple of years ago, MLS Next made exceptions to the rules for boarding school players/schools who were willing to stipulate that for admission or financial reasons the player had to play for their schools.
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@foundationp7 Keep in mind that non-MLS Next players make D1 rosters as well. My son’s team has 7 non-MLS Next players, including one player that walked on, which isn’t common.
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@GKUnion Most grateful. I am not sure if I am allowed to ask but do you mind telling me your sons team. If not, I understand. Thanks a mill
@GKUnion if you are unable to respond, no intention to offend –
please ignore. Most grateful.
I’ve met a few parents with kids in New England Boarding schools (particularly the Boston area) who also have kids playing MLS Next - so it appears to be happening in Boston, the question is whether they are also likely to give these waivers in Philadelphia. Again, I do not have a background in this area but it seems to me that the market in Boston - wanting to recruit talented players - has put pressure on them to grant the waivers. Again, not sure about Philly. My son is still very young - I need to educate myself further prior to speaking with the Coach at my own university. Most grateful for everyone’s advice.
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@cinnamon1212 @GKUnion @gardenstategal @ameridad, Tagging you because you were kind enough to reply previously - I am seeing three schools where the MLS Next program also appears to have a FULL TIME SCHOOL (leaving aside IMG) - YSC Academy (Philadelphia), Barca Residency Academy (Arizona) and Shattuck St Marys (Minnesota). If there are any that I might have missed that you know of, please tag me - I am continuing to research one by one. Most grateful
If you are looking for schools focusing on high level soccer at the MLSNext level, I would add the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut, and the Northwoods School in Lake Placid. Reach out to Coach Finberg at Woodstock. He’s kind of a legendary coach beloved by his players. He built South Kent into maybe the best US high school team (they regularly scrimmaged MLS Next teams). A fair number of his players went pro (I vividly remember introducing myself to a young man on the South Kent sidelines, only to find he was a professional scout!). And certainly a ton of players went d1. So I would reach out to him for guidance.
One aspect to consider, though, is the “broken leg” test – what if your son is injured cannot play soccer any more? If he’s at an academic boarding school he still has an excellent education, which maybe can’t be said for the MLS residential academies.
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@ameridad you set me thinking - just posted a fresh question! Forgive me for picking your brain again!
Do you mean the question in which you mention YSC Academy and Barca, as well as Shattuck St. Mary’s? I think cinnamon1212 answered that well. I think, though, your family needs to address a question of whether you want a soccer academy that also has a school, or an academic boarding school that has a good soccer program (e.g., Milton or Taft) and where your son could also play MLS Next or at least high-level club.
I would say it probably also depends, however, on the physical characteristics of your son. If he’s big, tall, fast and powerful, he could be more likely to attract attention from college coaches even if he doesn’t play in that tough of a league. But if he’s a smaller, less naturally athletic technical player, he will need to prove to D-1 coaches that he can play against top competition before most will give him a look. At least, that’s what I’ve been told by professionals in the field.
Sorry, I was in Nashville for work and unplugged from the online world for a day. I’ll pm you.
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@cinnamon1212 I really appreciate it - this is a very good point - he’s a multiple sport athlete (we’re US now but originally from the Caribbean and Caribbean people are all about speed - which helps in multiple sports - he plays another sport at the national level in our home country). I really wish he would pick another sport but he’s addicted to soccer. I’m a prof so God knows I would really prefer if he would take an academic path like my older kids but he’s all about sports and as a parent, you have no choice but to follow your children’s dreams. I figure that if the soccer does not work out, I will be able to transition him back to another sport because of his speed, as long as it’s not too late. And then if he breaks his leg and the sports don’t work out, he’ll have to go the academic route - just like I did and his older siblings did - academics never fail you in life! Again, really appreciate your wonderfully thoughtful response
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Thanks @ameridad - just responded to cinnamon 1212 - fast and powerful - plays multiple sports but has decided he wants to focus on soccer - in the caribbean where we are originally from, we are all about speed. We’re totally committed to the soccer, but worst case scenario, the soccer doesn’t work out, I think his speed could help him transition to another of the sports that he was originally playing. And then if the sport doesn’t work out, I will have to put on my professor hat and try to make sure that the academics work out, like his older siblings! I really appreciate your help!
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@cinnamon1212 I re-read your message again - really so helpful. I found this article which mentions Finberg at Woodstock and Northwood - the platform does not allow me to include web links (Title: New prep school league features elite boys programs) but there is a new league with Woodstock and Northwood and a few other schools Do you have the same view that the other schools in this new league have really high quality soccer? These are the schools: High Mowing Academy (N.H.), Hoosac School (N.Y.), Immaculate Heart Central (N.Y.), Kiski School (Pa.), Phelps School (Pa.), and Western Reserve Academy (Ohio)
I am really not familiar with all those schools. Northwoods, High Mowing, and Western Reserve all are programs under the umbrella of Jon Moodey, who has a track record of very high level soccer, excellent recruiting and outcomes. However I wonder if he’s spread thin; his club/programs keep changing year to year. He used to head Black Rock, which had a prep school arm, and which was the team/club my son played for. We had an excellent experience with Black Rock.
Has he been playing organized soccer for a club team somewhere, or just kicking it around with neighborhood boys, etc.?
@cinnamon1212 Please ignore. I now understand that 3 of these are Black Rock academies. Northwood appears to be doing better than the rest. Thanks
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