Reply to MLS announces expansion to its Elite Youth Development Platform

Forum Index » Soccer

Reply to "MLS announces expansion to its Elite Youth Development Platform"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]MLS academy parent here... I think many of these clubs will play in the new league only at younger ages, at least at first. They want to have a critical mass of clubs regionally, especially for the pre-HS years (U13, U14), so travel is reduced. Not sure which of these newly added clubs will play above those ages right away. I agree with some of the comments above that these previously-EDP clubs were "available" in a way that the previously-DA clubs (Arl, VDA, Rich) weren't, after jumping to ECNL so quickly. I could see those clubs joining the MLS league in the years ahead, once it's a bit more proven and the risk is lower.

MLS academies are only required to field teams at U15 and U17. Indeed, that is all DCU is fielding this year. If they field teams at the other ages, they will play a schedule just like the non-MLS academies. But at U15 and U17, the plan is that MLS academies will play a different schedule weighted much more towards other MLS academies, with less frequent "crossover" games against non-MLS teams. You may have seen reference to the "professional player pathway" vs. "elite player pathway"--that's what these terms mean.

So, in some ways, it is less important than in the DA that the other clubs in the league be the *absolute best* clubs today. The MLS academies are going to play their top teams (U15 and U17) against other MLS teams and international competition (with *some* games against regional non-MLS teams). So they have substantially "solved" their complaint about level of competition in the DA with this unbalanced schedule in the new league, even before the other clubs were penciled in.

Also, a few comments make it sound like MLS is adding clubs just "for the money". I don't think there's much truth to this. I think the whole point is to get to a critical mass of clubs in key regions. Before this week, Bethesda and Armour U13 academy teams would have had to drive two hours or more for every game that wasn't against each other. Now there are five clubs in the DMV (plus DCU).

Finally, a major caveat: none of this might matter in 2020-21! Might not be able to play any games outside the local area; might not be able to play any games at all. So let's all be thankful for the boys playing any soccer at all this year, even if it's just training and friendlies.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics