MLS NEXT: A Parent's Guide to the Homegrown and Academy Divisions
MLS NEXT runs two divisions: the MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division at the top and the Academy Division beneath it. Which one your child’s club competes in changes almost everything that matters day to day — whether they can play high school soccer, how far they travel, what it costs, and which age group they land in. This guide explains how the two divisions differ and what to ask your club.
If you’re the parent of a youth soccer player with big dreams, you’ve probably heard of MLS NEXT — Major League Soccer’s boys’ youth development platform, and the league most often named when people talk about the top of American youth soccer.
What many parents don’t realize is that MLS NEXT is not one competition. It is two. The Homegrown Division sits at the top and includes the MLS club academies. The Academy Division sits beneath it, is run regionally by partner organizations, and opened the platform to hundreds of clubs that were never part of the MLS pipeline. Parents commonly call it “MLS NEXT 2,” though the league maintains it is a division of the same platform rather than a separate or lower league.
The distinction matters more than the name. Here’s how the two divisions actually differ, and what to ask your club.
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1. MLS NEXT: More Clubs, More Teams, More Opportunity
MLS NEXT Structure & Divisions
MLS NEXT operates two official national competition tiers:
MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division (Top Tier)
- Features the official MLS Academies and highest-level non-MLS clubs.
- Pathway to professional contracts, national team selection, and D1 recruiting.
Academy Division (Launched 2025-26)
Operated by partner organizations (e.g., NAL, EAL, SDL, Cobalt Sports, Cal North), delivering regionalized competition.
Open to a wider variety of clubs, including those outside the traditional MLS pipeline.
Players retain the option to play high school soccer.
Both divisions participate in national events, including MLS NEXT Fest, which now serves 1,000+ teams annually.
2. Recruiting, Movement & Pathways
- Player Movement: Runs in phases, not one window. The Homegrown Division calendar moves through an Open Period, an Initial Registration Period, a Closed Period, an In-Season Trial Period, a Player Movement Period, and a Roster Freeze — each with different rules about who may contact whom. For 2026-27, the initial registration period closes July 31, 2026 — clubs must submit initial rosters by that date and finalize all player designations by August 28. Clubs also have one in-season window to add primary players, running June 22, 2026 through April 15, 2027. MLS NEXT has not yet published updated Player Movement Guidelines, so open-period and trial dates still reflect 2025-26.
- Transparency: Clearer written approval and communication requirements for inter-club movement.
- Homegrown Rights: Clubs may list up to 45 registered players (U-15, U-17, U-19) and 9 “non-registered” prospects from within their territory.
- College/Pro Pathways: Both divisions provide exposure through national showcases and the expanded MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
- Playing Time at Younger Ages: U13 games now use three 25-minute periods instead of two 35-minute halves, and every rostered player must get at least one uninterrupted 25-minute period, with exceptions for injury. Coaches have more flexible substitution rules at U14, and MLS is extending its Pro Player Pathway support into younger age groups, which can push top prospects into older brackets earlier.
Parent Tip: Players and families should confirm with their current club which division, Homegrown or Academy, the club will compete in.
Scholarship Requirements and Access
MLS NEXT requires each member club to provide at least one fully funded opportunity per season, with the goal of improving access for talented players who cannot afford full fees.
Questions to ask your club: How are scholarship slots awarded? How many total players receive aid? Is support limited to tuition, or does it include travel and events?
3. Homegrown Player Rights: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Homegrown Territories
Each MLS club has a defined “Homegrown” territory, allowing them exclusive rights to sign local youth players to professional contracts. This system incentivizes MLS clubs to invest in their communities and develop local talent.
Homegrown Player List: Clubs can claim up to 45 registered academy players (U-15, U-17, U-19) and an additional 9 non-registered players from their territory. These players cannot be signed by other MLS clubs.
What this does not mean: Being on a Homegrown list affects which MLS club can sign your player professionally. It does not limit which youth club they play for.
Development Grants: When a youth club develops a player who signs a pro contract, MLS provides a Development Grant to that club, supporting continued grassroots investment.
Parent Tip: If your child is on an MLS club’s Homegrown list, ask the club what that means for college and pro opportunities, and about its history of moving players to higher levels.
The High School Waiver: How Homegrown Players Get Approved
Homegrown Division players who want to play high school soccer need a formal MLS NEXT High School Waiver. This is a league process, not a club decision, and it is reviewed by Player Development, L.L.C., the entity that administers the Homegrown Division. Your club submits it on your player’s behalf, so the conversation starts with your academy director.
- Three signatures are required. Your high school principal or headmaster, your club’s academy director, and you as the parent or guardian.
- Supporting documentation is required. If the waiver is based on financial aid tied to soccer participation, or on admission to the school based on soccer, you need a letter from the principal or headmaster on school letterhead.
- Approval does not mean playing both at once. An approved waiver keeps your player on the Homegrown roster while they play high school soccer, but they still cannot play Homegrown Division competition and high school soccer simultaneously. They compete in Homegrown before the high school season starts, or after it finishes.
- Events are still open to them. Players with an approved waiver may take part in Homegrown Division events across the season.
- There are fixed filing windows. Waivers are only reviewed if they are submitted inside the league’s fall, winter or spring window. For 2026-27, the fall window closes September 9, 2026, the winter window runs October 15 to November 15, 2026, and the spring window runs January 4 to February 13, 2027. These dates change each year, so confirm the current window with your academy director before the high school season begins.
Parent Tip: Do not wait for your club to raise this. Ask your academy director in writing whether a waiver is being filed for your player and which window they are filing in.
4. Expanded Pathways: College, Pro, and National Team Exposure
What does this mean for your player?
More Exposure: With more clubs and national events, players have greater chances to be seen by college coaches, pro scouts, and U.S. Soccer national team staff.
High School Soccer: This depends on division. Academy Division players retain the option to play high school soccer. Homegrown Division players need an approved MLS NEXT High School Waiver, filed by the club inside a league deadline window. Ask your academy director whether one is being filed for your player.
National Events: MLS NEXT’s showcases and playoffs are among the most heavily scouted events in the country.
Parent Tip: Attend regional showcases and talk to college recruiters. Many families find these events valuable for networking and learning about scholarship opportunities.
5. Practical Advice for Families
- Know Which Phase You’re In: MLS NEXT runs player movement in phases across the year, not one open window, and each phase has different rules about who may contact whom. Check the current Player Movement Guidelines before you approach another club.
- Communicate Clearly: If you’re considering a club change, always inform your current coach and follow MLS NEXT’s written approval process.
- Understand Your Rights: Ask your club about its Homegrown policies and what support is available for college recruiting.
- Balance Academics and Athletics: High school eligibility depends on division, and in the Homegrown Division it depends on a league waiver your club has to file for you. Confirm that first, then consider what environment best supports your child’s academic and athletic growth.
Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to club directors or MLS NEXT representatives for clarification on rules or opportunities.
6. What to ask your club now
Which division are our teams in, Homegrown or Academy, and why?
Does that mean my player follows birth-year or school-year age groups this season?
Can my player play high school soccer, and if we are in the Homegrown Division, will you file the league’s High School Waiver for us and in which window?
How many scholarship spots does our club offer, and what is the process to be considered?
How will the U13/U14 playing-time rules be handled on our team?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: The top division is the MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division. The regionalized division beneath it is the Academy Division. Both are part of the same MLS NEXT platform.
A: It depends on the division. Academy Division players retain the option to play both high school and club soccer. Homegrown Division players need an approved MLS NEXT High School Waiver, which the club submits to the league with signatures from your high school principal, your club's academy director, and you. Approval keeps your player on the Homegrown roster, but they still cannot play Homegrown competition and high school soccer at the same time — only before the high school season begins or after it ends. Waivers are only accepted inside fixed filing windows, so ask your academy director for this season's deadline.
A: That also depends on the division. The Homegrown Division uses birth-year age groups, January 1 to December 31. The Academy Division uses school-year age groups, August 1 to July 31. Players born in May, June and July are the most affected by the difference.
A: Ask your club director, check the club's website, or consult the official MLS NEXT club directory linked in the resources below.
A: MLS NEXT runs player movement in phases across the year rather than one open window, and each phase has different rules about who may contact whom. Check the current Player Movement Guidelines for this season's dates.
A: Yes. Both divisions participate in major national events, including MLS NEXT Fest.
Resources & Official Links
| Resource | What you'll find there |
|---|---|
| MLS NEXT Official Site | League news, events, standings, and the club directory. |
| Forms & Resources | Player Movement Guidelines, technical standards, and current season PDFs. |
| Rules & Regulations | Roster rules, registration requirements, and player movement policy. |
| High School Waiver Form (2026-27) | The official waiver form, required signatures, and this season’s filing windows. |
Bottom Line
MLS NEXT’s two-division structure has widened access to the boys’ elite pathway, but it has also made the platform harder to read from the outside. The division your club competes in determines whether your player can play high school soccer, which age group they’re in, how far they travel, and what it costs. Those are not small differences, and the division name alone doesn’t tell you which you’re getting. Ask the questions above before you commit a season.