Episode Details

Is Moving Up in MLS NEXT Worth Risking Playing Time?

MLS NEXT Homegrown or Academy: would you move your child up if his place on the field became less certain?

The offer sounds like progress. But your child already plays regularly, likes his coach, and enjoys his team. A longer drive and a higher division might bring opportunity. They also leave parents with a hard question: what are we giving up?

Luis Robles, General Manager, Sporting, MLS NEXT, returns to work through that choice with Liron and Matt. He recalls a mother whose son was happy, playing, and loved his coach. For that player, in that setting, he thought the environment was right. Age and local options mattered to his answer.

The conversation also gets into what happens beyond the division name: how clubs are evaluated, why travel costs matter, and what Luis saw as a dad that helped shape his thinking about U13 playing time. He also questions the pressure to fill every free afternoon with organized training.

In this episode:

• Weighing a Homegrown offer against an Academy team where your child already plays
• Why a player's age and local options change that decision
• What watching U13 players sit out made Luis want to change
• Why Luis sees tied Flex matches as a chance to experience penalty pressure
• How he watches game video with his son without making mistakes the whole story
• What he says MLS NEXT looks at when evaluating clubs
• The connection between fewer overnight trips and a family's soccer costs
• Why he says children do not need structured training all the time

High school eligibility note: Luis mentions the waiver in this conversation. The published 2026-27 Homegrown rules require an approved waiver, with eligibility conditions and application windows, and describe returning to matches after the high school season ends. Playing high school without approval can prevent Homegrown participation until the following fall. Before making plans, check the current rules and confirm your child's eligibility with your club and MLS NEXT. Rules and waiver: mlssoccer.com/mlsnext/resources

Chasing the Game is a weekly show for parents trying to navigate youth soccer in America: the money, the leagues, the pressure, and what actually develops a player.

• (00:00) - Why Luis Came Back
• (06:10) - Making Games More Competitive
• (08:49) - Penalties, Pressure, and Playing Time
• (14:02) - Quality of Play and Learning From Video
• (17:55) - Why MLS NEXT Added the Academy Division
• (21:19) - Homegrown or Academy for Your Child
• (23:52) - Who Checks Your Club
• (25:56) - Less Travel and Time to Just Play
• (29:34) - High School Soccer and Eligibility
• (34:56) - Scholarships, Player Lists, and Grants
• (43:22) - What Luis Sees as a Soccer Dad
• (46:35) - What Parents Can Ask Next

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