Louisiana Elite Soccer Program (LA-ESP) is designed for elite players from U13 to U19 to compete at the highest level of play in the country. This program assembles top talent from the region, offering greater exposure to high-level training, competitive play, and increased opportunities for identification by college and professional scouts.
Players from any club, in or out of state, are welcome to attend tryouts. The Louisiana Elite Soccer Program includes:
- MLS NEXT 2 – for male players
- Girls Academy (GA) – for female players
We also develop the future boys interested in the program (ages U10-U12) during the winter break with a Pre-MLS NEXT Program.
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the premier youth development platform in North America, replacing the U.S. Development Academy. It provides top-tier competition, training, and personal development opportunities for aspiring players.
Currently, MLS NEXT features:
- 113 clubs
- 489 teams
- 9,000+ players
- Over 90% of current youth national team player pools
It is the highest level of youth soccer in the U.S. and Canada, preparing players for collegiate, professional, and national team opportunities.
Louisiana Elite Soccer Program includes boys and girls teams across six age groups:
U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19.
To help develop younger players, we also offer:
- Pre-MLS NEXT for U-11 and U-12 (boys)
- Pre-Girls Academy for U-11 and U-12 (girls)
These programs introduce players to the coaching, training, and competitive environment of the full LA-ESP experience.
LA-ESP boys' teams (U13 - U19) will compete in MLS NEXT 2’s South Division, allowing Louisiana’s elite players to compete against the best in the region and nation while still maintaining high school eligibility.
Participation in MLS NEXT 2 provides:
- Competition against top players in the country
- Increased exposure to scouts and college coaches
- The ability to balance club and high school soccer
Tryouts are open to all U-13 to U-19 boys from Louisiana and the Gulf-South region. Open tryouts ensure access to all elite players looking to compete at the highest level.
Tryout registration typically opens at the beginning of the calendar year. Links to tryouts will be available on the LA-ESP home page.
Playing up is determined on a case-by-case basis by the coaching staff.
Player evaluations are conducted by Louisiana Elite Soccer Program coaches, with additional support from BRSC staff.
The selection process includes two stages:
- Identification Tryout: Players selected in this stage are invited to MLS NEXT training.
Final Selection: Players may undergo further evaluation at training before final roster decisions are made.
- 16-18 full-time players per team
- Part-time players may be selected, allowing them to train with the team and be eligible for MLS NEXT games as needed.
- Full-time LA-ESP players will be rostered exclusively with their LA-ESP team and will not compete for their home club.
- Part-time players can play for their home club when they are not competing with LA-ESP.
- LAESP Full-time player only fee: $2,200
- Part-time to LAESP Player fee: $1,300
- LAEPS Registration fee + Part-time to BRSC Black ($300)= $2,500
- *all full or part-time spots are by invitation only
Team expenses vary based on each team’s travel schedule. We anticipate those fees to be approximately $500 for the year. Part-time players are responsible for their portion of expenses when they travel with the MLS NEXT 2 team.
Yes, a six-month payment plan is available through Playmetrics for registration fees.
- All payments must be completed within six months of registration.
- Team expenses are managed separately by each team.
Yes, financial aid is available for those who qualify, covering up to 50% of registration fees (subject to availability). Payment plans are also offered.
- Payment Deadline: December 1st
- Apply through: Hannah Gill at hgill@brsoccer.org
Financial assistance form: [Available here]
The MLS NEXT 2 South Conference, which includes teams from:
- Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.
Top teams in the conference can advance to Regional and National Events. Select age groups will also compete in MLS NEXT-approved tournaments in December, January, March, and June (dates TBD).
Each team is led by a licensed professional head coach and assistant coach. A full staff list is available on the LA-ESP website.
MLS NEXT teams compete year-round (10 months), including league matches, tournaments, and playoffs.
Teams will train on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Baton Rouge. Additional sessions may be scheduled based on team needs.
Home games will take place at:
- BREC’s OLOL Burbank Soccer Park (Baton Rouge)
Neutral-site games may be scheduled to help minimize travel for teams.
Yes, participation in the MLS NEXT 2 provides significant exposure to college coaches through league play and showcase events. MLS NEXT events and showcases feature hundreds of college coaches and scouts. We regularly see a significant number of coaches at each of our showcase matches.
High school eligibility is not impacted for players participating in our MLS NEXT 2 Program. The younger teams will often train through the winter break (at least once a week). We often build in a break following the High School season to allow the players to rest and recover before returning to full participation in the spring.
REIGN SUPREME.
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