How Rankings Work
Computed from public MLS Next and ECNL match results — no opinions, just data.
Where the Data Comes From
Every ranking starts with actual match results from MLS Next and ECNL — scores, dates, and teams for each game played. No subjective ratings, coach surveys, or insider opinions. The only input is what happened on the field.
How Standings Are Computed
Two metrics drive the standings:
- Points Per Game (PPG) — 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss, divided by games played.
- Goal Difference Per Game — goals scored minus goals allowed, averaged across all games. Captures how dominant results are beyond just wins and losses.
How Teams Map to Clubs
Teams are listed individually by age group, but families care about the overall club. We match teams to their parent club using fuzzy name matching — for example, "FC Dallas 09" and "FC Dallas 08" both map to FC Dallas. When automatic matching is uncertain, we use manual overrides.
Two Platforms, Seven Leagues
Rankings cover two major youth soccer platforms, each with their own independent leagues:
MLS Next
- Homegrown Division (HD) — academy-level teams from MLS professional clubs alongside independent clubs.
- Academy Division (AD) — the primary division where most independent clubs compete.
- Pro Pathway — MLS professional clubs only, at the older age groups.
ECNL
- ECNL Boys — top-tier boys competition across independent and affiliated clubs.
- ECNL Girls — top-tier girls competition across independent and affiliated clubs.
- ECNL RL Boys — ECNL Regional League for boys, a second tier of ECNL competition.
- ECNL RL Girls — ECNL Regional League for girls, a second tier of ECNL competition.
Per-League Percentile Rankings
Clubs are ranked by percentile within each league. A club at the 91st percentile outperforms 91% of all other clubs in that division. The percentile is derived from team-level standings (PPG and GD/game), averaged across all age groups where the club fields a team.
What Coverage Means
Coverage measures how many age groups a club fields in a given league. "4/6 HD age groups" means 4 of 6 possible. A club with broader coverage demonstrates deeper organizational commitment to player development. Coverage is shown alongside the ranking as a separate dimension — not folded into the ranking itself.
Assessment Labels
Each club receives an assessment label combining performance ranking with coverage — a two-dimensional snapshot. No label is negative. Every one implies strength or forward motion.
| High Cov. | Mid Cov. | Low Cov. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Perf | Elite Program | Strong Program | Focused Performer |
| Mid Perf | Established | Solid Club | Promising |
| Low Perf | Building | Growing | Emerging |
Weekly Updates
Rankings are refreshed weekly during the active MLS Next season. Each update pulls the latest match results and recomputes all rankings and assessment labels from scratch.
What This Doesn't Measure
These rankings focus on on-field results. They do not account for:
- Coaching quality or philosophy
- Club culture or player development environment
- Cost of participation
- Training facilities or session quality
These factors matter — often a great deal — but they are subjective. Our goal is to provide the objective layer so you can combine it with your own evaluation.
Verify It Yourself
Your team's W/L/D record in our system should match what you see on the MLS Next or ECNL website. If it doesn't, contact us. Transparency is central to what we do.