How to Join an MLS Academy: A Step-by-Step Guide

Joining an MLS academy is the most direct route to a professional soccer career in the United States and Canada. It is also one of the most misunderstood processes in American youth sports. Parents research it obsessively. Players dream about it from age eight. And yet the actual mechanics of how a young player moves from recreational soccer to an MLS academy roster remain opaque to most families.

This guide breaks the process into concrete steps. It covers the full journey -- from a child's first organized soccer experience through the identification, evaluation, and selection processes that lead to an MLS academy offer. It also covers the pathways that exist outside the traditional tryout model, because the tryout is only one of several ways players end up in MLS academies.

The uncomfortable truth is that most players who aspire to join an MLS academy will not reach that level. That is not a reason to avoid pursuing it -- it is a reason to pursue it with clear eyes, honest self-assessment, and an understanding of what the process actually requires.

The Development Pyramid: Understanding the Levels

Before diving into the steps, it helps to understand the structure of youth soccer in the United States. Think of it as a pyramid:

Level 1: Recreational soccer. The broad base. Millions of kids play rec soccer through local leagues, AYSO, and community programs. The emphasis is on fun, participation, and basic skill introduction. No scouting, no selection, no pressure.

Level 2: Competitive club soccer. The middle tier. Players who show talent and interest in rec soccer move to competitive club teams that play in state and regional leagues. Training increases to 2-4 days per week, and teams compete in tournaments and league play. This is where most players who will eventually try out for MLS academies spend their formative years.

Level 3: Elite club soccer (ECNL, MLS NEXT non-MLS clubs). A higher tier of competitive club soccer. These clubs have been accepted into national elite platforms and compete against other elite clubs across the country. Scouting visibility increases significantly at this level.

Level 4: MLS academy. The apex of youth development. MLS-affiliated academies competing in MLS NEXT, with direct pathways to professional contracts. Daily training, national competition, and full integration with the professional club.

The path from Level 1 to Level 4 is not strictly linear. Players can skip levels, enter at different ages, and move laterally between organizations. But understanding the general pyramid helps contextualize where a player is and where they need to go.

Step 1: Build a Technical Foundation (Ages 5-10)

The first step toward an MLS academy has nothing to do with MLS academies. It has everything to do with developing a love for the game and building basic technical competence.

What This Looks Like

At ages 5-8, the focus should be on:

Playing as much as possible. Organized practices, pickup games in the backyard, futsal, street soccer -- volume of touches on the ball matters more than the structure of the activity.
Developing coordination. Running, jumping, climbing, swimming, playing other sports. General athleticism at this age translates directly to soccer ability later.
Learning to love competition. Not winning at all costs, but enjoying the challenge of competing, dealing with losing, and pushing to improve.

At ages 8-10, the focus shifts toward:

Competitive club soccer. If a player is showing talent and enthusiasm for the game, joining a competitive club team is the natural next step. This introduces structured training, tactical concepts, and regular competitive matches.
Technical skill development. Ball mastery, passing accuracy, receiving skills, and basic 1v1 attacking and defending. These skills are best developed through high-repetition practice -- hundreds of touches per training session.
Small-sided games. Playing 4v4, 5v5, and 7v7 formats develops game intelligence faster than 11v11. The ball finds each player more often, decisions must be made more quickly, and technical skills are tested more frequently.

Common Mistakes at This Stage

Specializing too early. A 7-year-old should not be playing only soccer. Multi-sport participation develops general athleticism, prevents overuse injuries, and keeps the player engaged with physical activity broadly. The research on this is clear: early specialization in soccer does not produce better outcomes than multi-sport participation until at least age 12.

Prioritizing team results over individual development. A U-9 team that wins its league by playing long balls to its fastest player is not developing anyone. Look for coaching that emphasizes technical development, creative problem-solving, and playing out of the back, even if it means losing some games.

Over-scheduling. A player who trains with a club team three times per week, attends private coaching twice, plays in a futsal league, and does weekend tournaments is likely to burn out before they reach the age where MLS academies are evaluating. Rest and unstructured play are essential for development.

Step 2: Move to Competitive Club Soccer (Ages 10-12)

By age 10-11, a player with MLS academy aspirations should be playing on a competitive club team. This is the stage where the development environment starts to matter significantly.

Choosing the Right Club

Not all competitive clubs are equal. When evaluating clubs for a player with academy aspirations, consider:

Coaching quality. Are the coaches licensed? Do they have experience developing players who have moved on to higher levels? Do they emphasize technical and tactical development, or just winning? The best youth coaches in the country are often at clubs you have never heard of, not at the biggest brand-name organizations.

Competition level. Does the club compete in strong state or regional leagues? Are they part of national platforms like ECNL or MLS NEXT? Higher competition levels provide better development environments and greater scouting visibility.

Training environment. How many hours per week does the team train? What is the coach-to-player ratio? Are training sessions structured around skill development, or are they just scrimmages?

Player development track record. Has the club produced players who have moved on to MLS academies, college soccer scholarships, or professional careers? A club's track record is the best predictor of its development capability.

Proximity to an MLS club. Clubs located near MLS academies often have informal relationships with those academies. MLS scouts attend their games, coaches communicate about talented players, and the pathway from club to academy is shorter. Check our teams page to find MLS clubs near your location.

What Happens at This Level

At competitive club soccer, players typically:

Train 3-4 times per week
Play in a league schedule with 15-25 matches per season
Attend 4-8 tournaments or showcases per year
Begin to specialize in positions (though versatility is still valued)
Start receiving exposure to scouting from higher-level programs

This is also the age range where MLS pre-academy programs operate. Many MLS clubs run development programs for players aged 8-12 that feed into their formal academy at U-13. These pre-academy programs are an excellent pathway because they familiarize players with the club's coaching philosophy and give the club early access to developing talent.

Step 3: Get on the Radar (Ages 11-13)

This is the critical transition period. MLS academies formally begin at U-13 for most clubs, which means the identification and selection process for academy entry is happening when players are 11-12 years old. Getting "on the radar" of MLS academy scouts requires some combination of the following:

Play Where Scouts Can See You

MLS academy scouts attend:

Elite club league matches -- Particularly ECNL and MLS NEXT non-MLS club matches
Major tournaments and showcases -- National-level events that attract top clubs from across the region
State and regional cup competitions -- Championship-level matches in strong soccer states
National team identification camps -- U.S. Soccer conducts youth national team identification events that MLS scouts also attend

The most reliable way to be seen by scouts is to play for a competitive club in a strong league and attend high-profile tournaments. Scouts cannot evaluate what they cannot see.

Attend Open Tryouts

As described in detail in our MLS academy tryouts guide, most MLS academies hold annual open tryouts. These are the most accessible pathway into an MLS academy. Monitor the websites of your nearest MLS clubs for tryout announcements, register early, and prepare thoroughly.

Leverage Existing Relationships

Youth soccer is a small world. Club coaches often have relationships with MLS academy staff. If your club coach has connections to an MLS academy and believes your child has the ability to compete at that level, a personal recommendation or introduction can be more effective than an open tryout.

This is not about nepotism -- it is about informed referrals. An MLS academy coach who trusts a club coach's judgment will pay attention when that club coach says "I have a player you should look at." The referral gets the player a closer evaluation, but the player still has to earn the spot on merit.

Create Video

In the modern scouting landscape, video is increasingly important. A well-edited highlight video (2-3 minutes of game footage showing the player's best moments in competitive matches) can be submitted to MLS academy staff alongside tryout registration or as a standalone introduction.

Effective highlight videos:

Show full-speed game footage, not training clips
Include a variety of skills -- passing, receiving, dribbling, defending, finishing
Show the player in competitive matches against strong opposition
Are recent (within the last 6 months)
Include the player's name, age, position, current club, and contact information

Attend MLS Club Camps and Clinics

Many MLS clubs offer youth soccer camps and clinics that are staffed by academy coaches. While these are primarily educational programs rather than tryouts, academy coaches are always evaluating. A player who stands out at a club camp may receive an invitation to train with the academy or attend a formal tryout.

Step 4: The Evaluation Process (Ages 12-14)

If a player has been identified through scouting, tryouts, or referrals, the evaluation process begins. This is where the rubber meets the road.

What MLS Academies Evaluate

The evaluation criteria are covered in depth in our tryout guide, but in summary, academies assess:

Technical ability -- Ball control, passing, receiving, shooting
Game intelligence -- Decision-making, positioning, spatial awareness
Athletic potential -- Speed, coordination, endurance, physical projection
Character and coachability -- Response to coaching, work ethic, competitive mentality
Positional fit -- Ability to play roles the academy needs to fill

The Extended Trial Period

Most MLS academies do not make selection decisions based on a single tryout session. The standard process involves an extended evaluation period -- typically 2-6 weeks of training with the academy team. During this period, academy coaches observe the player in daily training, internal scrimmages, and sometimes external matches.

The extended trial is where evaluations become accurate. A player might look exceptional in a two-hour tryout but prove inconsistent over a month of daily training. Conversely, a player who was nervous at the tryout might reveal their true ability when they become comfortable in the training environment.

Communication During Evaluation

MLS academies vary in how they communicate during the evaluation process. Some clubs provide regular updates to families; others are deliberately opaque until final decisions are made. If you are in an extended evaluation and have not received communication, it is acceptable to ask the academy director or coordinator for a timeline -- but avoid being pushy or demanding detailed feedback during the process.

The Decision

At the end of the evaluation period, the academy will either:

Offer a roster spot -- The player is invited to join the academy for the upcoming season
Place the player on a reserve list -- The player is not offered an immediate spot but will be considered if spots open
Recommend continued development -- The player is not ready for the academy at this time but is encouraged to continue developing and try again
Decline -- The player is not a fit for the academy

Rejections are difficult but common. Remember: an academy that accepts 15 players from a pool of 300 tryout participants is rejecting 95% of the players who tried. The rejection rate has nothing to do with a player's worth as a person or even their potential as a soccer player -- it reflects the extreme selectivity of the process.

Step 5: Life Inside an MLS Academy (Ages 13-18)

For players who earn an academy spot, understanding what the commitment entails is essential.

Daily Schedule

A typical MLS academy player's day looks something like this:

Morning -- School (most academy players attend regular public or private schools; some clubs have partnerships with schools that accommodate training schedules)
Afternoon -- Training at the academy facility (2-3 hours, including warmup, technical work, tactical sessions, and small-sided games)
Evening -- Homework, rest, recovery
Weekends -- MLS NEXT competition matches, with travel for away games

Upper academy players (U-17, U-19) may train in the morning and attend school in the afternoon, or attend schools with flexible scheduling that accommodates the training calendar.

Competition

Academy players compete in the MLS NEXT platform -- a national competition structure with regular season matches, showcases, and a postseason championship (MLS NEXT Cup). The competition calendar runs from September through June, with training continuing through the summer.

Travel for away matches and showcase events is significant, particularly for older age groups. U-15 and above teams may travel nationally for competition, missing school days in the process.

Academic Requirements

MLS clubs take academic requirements seriously -- not out of altruism alone, but because NCAA eligibility rules require minimum academic standards for players who may pursue college soccer, and because the league's reputation depends on demonstrating that academies develop well-rounded individuals, not just soccer players.

Most academies require players to maintain a minimum GPA (typically 2.5-3.0) and provide academic support services including tutoring, study hall, and coordination with schools around travel schedules.

The Pathway Forward

From inside the academy, the pathway to professional soccer becomes concrete:

Develop through MLS NEXT competition -- Excel at the academy level across U-13 through U-17
Earn a Homegrown Player contract -- The club offers a professional contract, typically between ages 16-18
Develop through MLS NEXT Pro -- Play professional matches in the development league to bridge the gap to MLS
Reach the MLS first team -- Earn minutes with the senior squad

This pathway is detailed in our guides to MLS NEXT, MLS NEXT Pro, and MLS Homegrown Players.

Alternative Pathways to MLS Academies

The traditional route -- recreational soccer to club soccer to open tryout to academy offer -- is the most common pathway, but it is not the only one.

The Scouting Pathway

Some players never attend an open tryout. They are identified by MLS academy scouts watching club matches, tournament games, or national team events. A scout contacts the player's family and club coach, and the player is invited directly to train with the academy.

This pathway is more common at older age groups (U-15+) and for players who are already competing at elite levels in ECNL or other high-level platforms. It is also more common for players who play for clubs with established relationships with MLS academies.

The College Pathway

Not every professional soccer player was in an MLS academy at age 13. The college soccer pathway -- playing NCAA Division I soccer and entering MLS through the SuperDraft or as a free agent -- remains viable, though it has become less common as academies have matured.

For players who develop later physically or technically, college soccer offers a structured development environment with scholarship opportunities. Several current MLS players took the college route, and clubs continue to scout NCAA competition actively.

You can explore player profiles to see the mix of academy products and college players on MLS rosters.

The International Pathway

Players with dual nationality or international connections may have access to academy systems outside the United States. Some players develop in European, Latin American, or other international academies before returning to MLS. This pathway is less common but can be effective for players with the right connections and circumstances.

The USL and Lower Division Pathway

The USL Championship and USL League One operate their own academies and development programs. For players who are not near an MLS club or who are not selected by MLS academies, USL academies can provide competitive development environments with their own pathways to professional soccer.

Some players use USL as a stepping stone -- developing in a USL academy or first team before earning a move to MLS through the transfer market or open tryouts.

Late Bloomers

The most important alternative pathway is time. Players develop at different rates. A player who is not ready for an MLS academy at 13 may be ready at 15 or 17. The key is to continue developing in the best competitive environment available and to remain open to opportunities as they arise.

MLS academy rosters are not static. Players leave due to injuries, family relocations, loss of motivation, or selection to other programs. Spots open throughout the year, and clubs are constantly evaluating new talent. A player who was not selected last year may be exactly what the academy needs this year.

Practical Advice for Families

Financial Planning

The financial commitment of pursuing an MLS academy pathway varies widely. At the club soccer level (Step 2), families should expect to spend $2,000-$5,000 per year on fees, equipment, and travel. At the elite club level (Step 3), costs can increase to $5,000-$10,000. If accepted into an MLS academy (Step 4-5), costs often decrease as the club covers training and competition expenses.

Plan for the club soccer expenses as a known cost and the academy acceptance as a potential cost reduction, not the other way around. Do not spend beyond your means on private coaching, travel teams, or expensive showcase events in the hope of an academy offer that may not materialize.

Managing Expectations

The statistics are worth repeating: fewer than 5% of players who try out for MLS academies are selected. Of those selected, a minority will ultimately sign professional contracts. Of those who sign professional contracts, a fraction will have long MLS careers.

This does not mean the pursuit is worthless. Academy-level training improves players regardless of whether they reach professional soccer. The discipline, work ethic, and competitive mentality developed through elite youth soccer are transferable to any endeavor. But the pursuit should be driven by love of the game and the desire to compete at the highest level available -- not by the expectation of a professional career.

Supporting Your Child

The most valuable thing a parent can do is provide unconditional support -- transportation to training, encouragement after tough games, celebration of effort rather than results, and a stable home environment that allows the player to focus on development.

Do not coach from the sideline. Do not pressure the player about outcomes. Do not compare your child to other players. Do not invest your own emotional wellbeing in your child's soccer trajectory. Be the calm, supportive presence that allows your child to love the game and pursue it with joy.

Explore our teams page to research MLS academies near you, check player profiles to understand the backgrounds of current professionals, and visit individual club pages for academy contact information and tryout schedules.