Soccer recruiting glossary

Every acronym you'll meet in U.S. youth soccer — in plain English.

Last reviewed: August 2026

MLS NEXT

Top-tier U.S. boys youth soccer league launched by Major League Soccer in 2020, replacing the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Hosts MLS academies and elite independent clubs.

ECNL

Elite Clubs National League — top competitive youth league for both boys and girls in the U.S., with a strong college-recruiting pipeline.

USL Academy

Youth development league run by the United Soccer League, feeding into USL Championship and USL League One clubs.

GA Cup

Girls Academy Cup — championship event for the Girls Academy league, a top-tier U.S. girls youth league.

NCAA D-I / D-II / D-III

Three divisions of NCAA college athletics. D-I and D-II offer athletic scholarships; D-III does not but offers academic and need-based aid.

NAIA

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics — separate college athletics association, often offering scholarships at smaller schools.

JUCO

Junior college soccer — a two-year pathway often used to develop and transfer up to D-I or D-II.

ID Camp

Identification camp run by a college program where coaches evaluate prospective recruits in-person, usually over a weekend.

NLI

National Letter of Intent — the binding agreement a recruit signs to attend an NCAA D-I or D-II school on athletic aid.

Contact Period

Window in the NCAA recruiting calendar when coaches may have in-person contact with a recruit or their family off the college campus.

Verbal Commitment

Non-binding agreement between a recruit and a college program, typically made months or years before an NLI is signed.

Showcase

Multi-team event scheduled specifically so college coaches can scout many prospects in one location over a weekend.