New to the game
Soccer terms and pathways
Short definitions for following the game and comparing opportunities. A pathway is a possible route, not a promise of selection, a scholarship or a professional contract.
Leagues and competitions
- MLS
- Major League Soccer, a professional men's league in the United States and Canada. Official MLS site.
- MLS NEXT
- A youth player-development and competition platform. It is different from the professional MLS NEXT Pro league. About MLS NEXT.
- MLS NEXT Pro
- A professional men's league connecting development pathways with first-team opportunities. About MLS NEXT Pro.
- USL
- United Soccer League. Check the named competition: different USL leagues serve different levels of the game. USL coverage.
- NPSL
- National Premier Soccer League. Explore the NPSL lane.
College soccer
- NCAA
- National Collegiate Athletic Association. Eligibility and recruiting rules depend on the sport and division. Official recruiting guidance.
- NAIA
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a college athletics association separate from the NCAA. About the NAIA.
- HBCU
- Historically Black college or university. HBCU describes an institution, not a single soccer league or competitive level. Explore HBCU programs.
- SWAC
- Southwestern Athletic Conference. About the conference.
- Conference
- A grouping of teams or schools within a competition structure. A conference position is not necessarily an overall league position.
Development and recruiting
- Academy
- A player-development program, often linked to a club. The name alone does not confirm its level, fees or selection policy.
- ID camp
- A camp where players may train and be evaluated. Attendance does not guarantee recruitment. Confirm coaches, costs and eligibility with the organizer.
- Trial
- A period of assessment by a team or club. Ask for written details of the opportunity, requirements and any costs.
- Pathway
- A possible progression between playing environments. Players can take different routes; moving between levels is not automatic.
Player movement and rosters
- Transfer
- A player's move between clubs, subject to the applicable registration and competition rules.
- Loan
- A temporary move under an agreement between clubs. The duration and return conditions depend on that agreement.
- International slot
- A roster place governed by a league's international-player rules. Nationality alone does not establish a player's roster classification.
- Homegrown
- In MLS, a specific player designation subject to league development and eligibility rules, not simply a description of a local player.