Office Hours - Tue – Thurs – 10am – 4pm
MLS
About the Program
MLS NEXT
Elk Grove Soccer’s MLS NEXT program provides a professional, high-performance environment for ambitious players who aspire to compete at the highest levels of youth soccer. As the premier platform for elite player development in North America, MLS NEXT challenges players through top-level training, meaningful competition, and a proven pathway to collegiate, professional, and national team opportunities.
Ages U13–U19 • Born 2013–2008
3x
Trainings Per Week
2–3
National Showcases
Program Director
Dan James
Training & Schedule
- Three to four team training sessions each week led by Elk Grove Soccer’s Technical Staff
- Position-specific and individual player development opportunities throughout the season
- Age-appropriate strength, speed, agility, and injury prevention training
- Athletic training and sports medicine support available during training sessions and matches
- Competition in the MLS NEXT league against the nation’s top academies
- Participation in MLS NEXT Fest, Flex, and other league showcase events (age group dependent)
- League schedules, event information, and team calendars available through PlayMetrics and the MLS NEXT platform
Goalkeeping
- Three goalkeeper-specific training sessions each week in addition to regular team training
- Position-specific curriculum delivered by Elk Grove Soccer’s Goalkeeper Coaching Staff
- Ongoing individual evaluations and development plans throughout the season
- Match analysis and personalized feedback to support continued growth and performance
- Technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development tailored to the modern goalkeeper
- Integration with team training to maximize game-realistic learning and decision-making
- Individual mentoring and regular communication between goalkeepers, coaches, and families
MLS NEXT Program fees include professional coaching, Technical Department oversight, league affiliation fees, coaching travel and education, field rental and maintenance, athletic training support, administrative services, and access to Elk Grove Soccer’s comprehensive player development resources.
Players joining the program after the start of the seasonal year may be eligible for prorated fees based on their date of acceptance and roster availability. Please contact the MLS NEXT Director for current pricing and program details.
College Commitments
Elk Grove Soccer has a proven history of helping players achieve their collegiate soccer goals. The club has consistently placed players at every level of collegiate soccer—from NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III to NAIA and junior college programs.
Under the leadership of Elk Grove Soccer’s Technical Department, more than 200 players have advanced to collegiate soccer, including 23 players from the club’s two most recent graduating classes. In addition, Elk Grove Soccer has developed numerous Youth National Team players and former players who have gone on to sign professional contracts in the United States and abroad.
Whether a player’s goal is to compete at the collegiate, professional, or international level, Elk Grove Soccer provides the coaching, competition, guidance, and exposure needed to maximize every player’s opportunities.
- UCLA
- University of Portland
- UC Davis
- San Jose State
- Fresno State
- Oregon State
- San Diego State
- Domincan University
- CRC
- UNC Greensboro
- UC Santa Barbara
- San Francisco State University
- Folsom Lake
- UC Irvine
- University of Pacific
MLS League Information
MLS NEXT is the highest level of youth soccer in the United States and Canada, created by Major League Soccer to provide the country’s top young players with the best possible environment for long-term development. The league brings together many of the nation’s premier academies, creating a challenging and meaningful competitive platform for players who aspire to reach the collegiate, professional, and international levels.
Unlike traditional youth leagues that often emphasize short-term results, MLS NEXT is designed around player development. The league promotes high-quality coaching, consistent standards, meaningful competition, and an environment where players are challenged every day to improve technically, tactically, physically, and mentally.
At Elk Grove Soccer, our MLS NEXT program combines these national standards with our commitment to developing exceptional people as well as exceptional players. Players train in a professional environment, compete against many of the top academies in the country, and receive the guidance, support, and resources needed to maximize their potential.
Why Families Choose MLS NEXT
- The highest level of youth soccer competition in North America
- Regular competition against the nation’s top clubs and professional academies
- Professional training environment led by licensed Technical Staff
- Clear pathway to collegiate, professional, and Youth National Team opportunities
- Focus on long-term player development rather than short-term results
- National showcase events that provide exposure to college and professional scouts
