https://ussoccerplayers.com/2019/01...?platform=hootsuite&__twitter_impression=true
MLS eyes the DA
One sign that MLS and USSF are no longer in lockstep would be the league pulling their top academy teams out of the DA, or perhaps competing in their own division. The concept has been a rumor for years, one that finally emerged in public discussion this month in Chicago.
“Nothing’s decided yet. We are talking about that, in a continuous process of evaluating how to create the best schedule for our clubs,” said USSF Chief Sport Development Officer Nico Romeijn when the topic came up during Lepore’s session. “It’s a big challenge when we are looking at the size of our country.”
Many MLS academy coaches believe playing less-talented opponents who sometimes have a different mindset or philosophy inhibits their players’ progression. They’d generally rather be competing with other pro academies, including more international opposition. Yet travel costs and logistics would make an all-MLS youth league like Liga MX’s very expensive to execute.
“Certainly no decision has been made,” said Garber. “There have been lots of discussions about, what do we need to do to ensure that we are developing players in a way that is efficient, that is utilizing our resources effectively, and with all the changes that are going on with the soccer landscape, taking our responsibility to ensure that we’ve got the best possible competitive environment.”
And yet…
Some MLS clubs might just throw in the towel
Even as the league as a whole claims to spend nine figures annually on development, rumors abound of member clubs who’d eagerly shut down their youth academies if they had the choice. I’ve heard this said about several franchises, some based in large markets with ample talent in their backyard.
Why? For some, youth development is more time, trouble, and expense than it’s worth. Investor/operators could spend those millions on established players, mostly from abroad, with more immediate return on investment, as MLS’ recent outlays on various allocation money mechanisms suggest.
“If they can take that money and say, 'Give me that money in TAM, or a Designated Player, so I can satisfy my fans,' then that’s something that is counter, perhaps, in the long term to decisions we have to make in youth investment,” said Garber. “We do need to see more return.”
On first blush, at least, the idea of MLS retreating from the youth space to any extent sounds like a problem for the US national teams. As of now, every club in the league has to operate an academy. Could that change? What aftershocks might it send reverberating across the wider ecosystem? Or would those lacking full commitment be doing everyone a favor by bowing out?
That’s one of many areas in which we’ll have to watch and wait as 2019 unfolds.
MLS eyes the DA
One sign that MLS and USSF are no longer in lockstep would be the league pulling their top academy teams out of the DA, or perhaps competing in their own division. The concept has been a rumor for years, one that finally emerged in public discussion this month in Chicago.
“Nothing’s decided yet. We are talking about that, in a continuous process of evaluating how to create the best schedule for our clubs,” said USSF Chief Sport Development Officer Nico Romeijn when the topic came up during Lepore’s session. “It’s a big challenge when we are looking at the size of our country.”
Many MLS academy coaches believe playing less-talented opponents who sometimes have a different mindset or philosophy inhibits their players’ progression. They’d generally rather be competing with other pro academies, including more international opposition. Yet travel costs and logistics would make an all-MLS youth league like Liga MX’s very expensive to execute.
“Certainly no decision has been made,” said Garber. “There have been lots of discussions about, what do we need to do to ensure that we are developing players in a way that is efficient, that is utilizing our resources effectively, and with all the changes that are going on with the soccer landscape, taking our responsibility to ensure that we’ve got the best possible competitive environment.”
And yet…
Some MLS clubs might just throw in the towel
Even as the league as a whole claims to spend nine figures annually on development, rumors abound of member clubs who’d eagerly shut down their youth academies if they had the choice. I’ve heard this said about several franchises, some based in large markets with ample talent in their backyard.
Why? For some, youth development is more time, trouble, and expense than it’s worth. Investor/operators could spend those millions on established players, mostly from abroad, with more immediate return on investment, as MLS’ recent outlays on various allocation money mechanisms suggest.
“If they can take that money and say, 'Give me that money in TAM, or a Designated Player, so I can satisfy my fans,' then that’s something that is counter, perhaps, in the long term to decisions we have to make in youth investment,” said Garber. “We do need to see more return.”
On first blush, at least, the idea of MLS retreating from the youth space to any extent sounds like a problem for the US national teams. As of now, every club in the league has to operate an academy. Could that change? What aftershocks might it send reverberating across the wider ecosystem? Or would those lacking full commitment be doing everyone a favor by bowing out?
That’s one of many areas in which we’ll have to watch and wait as 2019 unfolds.
