Can someone explain how the 32 playoffs spots are filled? Does a team qualify automatically when the win their division? Group in Maryland? What if a team wins both their division and their Maryland group? There are 16 groups in Maryland. Sure, the top 16 advance to the playoffs. But, is there no reward for winning league? There are 13 divisions. In theory, the 16 division winners could all win their Maryland groups. Would playoffs then only be 16, giving everyone a bye?
Anyone know how many teams qualify for playoffs? 16 will come from group winners at this weekend’s event. I had heard rumors that regular season flex division winners also would auto qualify. Not sure if that’s true. If so, that would be 8 more teams for u17. I think last year there were 10 groups of 4? Haven’t seen anything written about it.
For the 16s and 19s, the 16 group winners move on, and the top 2 from each division from league play move on. If the group winners are in the top 2, then the next team in league moves on. For the 15s and 17s, it's the 16 group winners, the top 8 teams from the non-mls groups from league play, and the other 8 MLS I don't know yet.
is there a standings table from the Maryland tournament happening now? I see the link to the games, but not the brackets and standings
Apparently Obed Vargas' brother, Abad, has joined the Sounders Academy. He's an 08.— Jeremiah Oshan (@JeremiahOshan) May 16, 2022
Now that the flex event is over, can anyone clarify how the qualification works for the other 16 spots notably in the U15 & U17 age groups? Is it the best 8 MLS teams and 8 best Non-MLS teams that qualify based on total points in the regular season?
If they take the 16 u15s that qualified and then take 8 MLS teams and 8 NonMLS teams ranked on PPM... It would look like this: MLS 1 Chicago 2.22 2 Union 1.92 3 San Jose 1.85 4 FC Dallas 1.44 5 Atlanta 1.27 6 Charlotte 1.18 7 Colorado 1.17 8 Portland 1.08 NONMLS 1 Sac Republic 3 2 PDA 3 3 Houston Youth 2.75 4 Sockers 2.67 5 Wake 2.63 6 Weston 2.56 7 TFA 2.38 8 NYSC 2.17 Qualified via Flex Event RSL, Cedar Stars, Austin, NYCFC, NYRB, FC United, LAG, Solar, LAFC, RSL, Cedar Stars, Austin, NYCFC, NYRB, FC United, LAG, Solar, FC Cincinnati, BW Gottschee, SKC, NE Revs, Orlando, Breakers, Miami If they just straight up take the top 16 non-qualified, ranked on PPM: 1 Sac Republic 3 2 PDA 3 3 Houston Youth 2.75 4 Sockers 2.67 5 Wake 2.63 6 Weston 2.56 7 TFA 2.38 8 Chicago 2.22 9 NYSC 2.17 10 Strikers 2.15 11 Ventura 2.15 12 FL Rush 2 13 LAUFA 2 14 FC Delco 2 15 Springfield 2 16 Union 1.92 If they pick based on what club directors they like best... lol
This isn't how it will work. 16 qualified through Flex. The next 16 qualify through their conference/league standings (either the first place or sometimes the first and second place depending on age and size of the division). If a team has qualified in both Flex and conference/league then that team will qualify through Flex and the next team in their conference will qualify in the league (ie if a team qualifies through Flex and conference/league as first place then the 2nd place team in that conference/league will qualify. If that conference/league gets 2 spots then the 2nd and 3rd place will qualify)
Don’t take as questioning/insult…. How you hearing this? I’ve talked to staff at a couple different MLS academies and they are saying they haven’t been told. I’m fairly optimistic they were telling the truth. Lol. I prefer the method you describe because it rewards winning your division. Only downside… some divisions are more difficult. For example, the West could have 4-5 in the playoffs…
Then they haven't been paying attention. This has been the announced format since day 1 of the season and has been announced in multiple all club meetings since the spring began
This is my understanding as well. Players at some of the top MLS academies have also been told this by their coaches. Agree with the concern that some divisions are tougher than others (the West MLS Division is BRUTAL at the U17 level), but there is no perfectly fair way to do it.
The MLS next website has been updated to show teams and how each group is picked. Looks like the top Elite League group is taken (8). And then the other 8 come from the top 2-3 for each MLS Pro league (East, Central, West). Some leagues for MLS Pro League like central are split into north and south. In both the U15 and U17 ages with true academies there are 18 academies. Pretty even split of Academy and non-academy teams. The Flex tournament definitely favored MLS academy teams with 11 for the U15 and U17 of the 16 Flex spots going to MLS academy teams.
Are Both Dc and Houston 15’s and 17’s set to miss playoffs? Wow. There are other mls academies as well but these two missing would be incredible.
Was just perusing the standings. Can anyone offer any insight on Sacramento's U-13 team? They've won 30 of 31 matches so far this season. Very impressive, particularly for a USL club.
Some of those young top players will probably head to MLS clubs such as San Jose or others. The younger the age the more dispersed the talent. They then start searching and get recruited by higher level MLS clubs. After 13/14 they start proving themselves as better players and prospects then moving on...
Hmm. Plenty of kids with well developed face hair? So who am I to guess, if I don't believe that U-15 success or failure is related to anything.