HVS BOYS INFORMATION

MLS NEXT Homegrown (HG)

MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division - For Year-Round Players

Purpose:

The MLS NEXT Allstate Homegrown Division is the elite tier within MLS NEXT. It operates on a birth-year age grouping (January 1 to December 31), the same format used in professional and international development pathways.

Designed for:

1. Players committed to year-round development
2. Those seeking the most direct pathway to college soccer, MLS NEXT Pro, and professional environments
3. Athletes ready for a professional style competitive calendar

Age Group Format:

• Birth-year cut-off: January 1 to December 31.
• This format remains consistent through the 2025 - 2026 season and beyond.

MLS NEXT Academy (AD)

MLS NEXT Academy Division - For School-Year Players

Purpose:

The MLS NEXT Academy Division is tailored for players who are pursuing high school soccer and MLS NEXT competition.  This division uses a school-year-based age grouping (August 1 to July 31) starting with the 2026-2027 season, aligning MLS NEXT Academy teams with traditional U.S. youth soccer and school schedules.

Designed for:

• Players competing with their school-year peers
• Athletes who want high-level competition, but are also committed to their high school teams
• Balanced development with local and regional competition

Age Group Format:

• School-Year Age cut-off: August 1 to July 31
• Example: A player born on September 1, 2012, will remain in the same age group with classmates after the transition.