Comments on: Youth Development in MLS: The Promise and the Problems http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/ Exploring football culture around the world. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:39:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: MLS http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-5255 MLS Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:04:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-5255 One little known rule that also stands in the way ... youth players must be at least 20 years old to be signed to a developmental contract. Teenagers can ONLY be signed as Generation Adidas players or directly to the senior roster. One little known rule that also stands in the way … youth players must be at least 20 years old to be signed to a developmental contract. Teenagers can ONLY be signed as Generation Adidas players or directly to the senior roster.

]]> By: Pitch Invasion » Lead Story » U.S. Development Academy — The Future? http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-5216 Pitch Invasion » Lead Story » U.S. Development Academy — The Future? Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:22:13 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-5216 [...] A further key consequence of the national academy system seems to be that it has spurred MLS teams to further develop their own academies, a move also prompted by the new ruling that allows MLS teams to sign directly two players from their own academy each year (we looked earlier this year at the MLS academies in depth). [...] [...] A further key consequence of the national academy system seems to be that it has spurred MLS teams to further develop their own academies, a move also prompted by the new ruling that allows MLS teams to sign directly two players from their own academy each year (we looked earlier this year at the MLS academies in depth). [...]

]]> By: Reed http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4840 Reed Wed, 28 May 2008 18:35:23 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4840 MLS has to raise the bottom end of the salary scale, both for developmental players and the regular minimum. The quality of play and overall success of the professional game in the US would benefit far more if the teams were all $60,000-$300,000 players, not a bunch making $30k and one making $2 million. The money that is going to DPs would be much better invested in the "rank and file" players. MLS has to raise the bottom end of the salary scale, both for developmental players and the regular minimum. The quality of play and overall success of the professional game in the US would benefit far more if the teams were all $60,000-$300,000 players, not a bunch making $30k and one making $2 million. The money that is going to DPs would be much better invested in the “rank and file” players.

]]> By: mapp training http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4802 mapp training Tue, 27 May 2008 08:58:34 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4802 [...] in American football, basketball, and baseball for some time now. In its first decade, MLS largelhttp://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/Chicago Fire Weekly Notes OurSports CentralThe Chicago Fire 4-1-1, 13 pts. return to the road for [...] [...] in American football, basketball, and baseball for some time now. In its first decade, MLS largelhttp://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/Chicago Fire Weekly Notes OurSports CentralThe Chicago Fire 4-1-1, 13 pts. return to the road for [...]

]]> By: Youth Football in the US http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4610 Youth Football in the US Wed, 14 May 2008 21:55:51 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4610 [...] See: Youth Development in the MLS: The Promise and the Problems. Related Items from [...] [...] See: Youth Development in the MLS: The Promise and the Problems. Related Items from [...]

]]> By: Susan http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4570 Susan Fri, 09 May 2008 15:43:36 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4570 Another obstacle is the mentality of the families of talented young players when it comes to sacrificing a college education for professional involvement as teenagers. Very few families of talented young athletes don't have their sights set a college scholarship. Fortunately, truly exceptional players like Altidore, Adu, Bradley, etc. do not go this route and waste four years. Having a youth academy system like you're describing would go a long way toward convincing suburban parents of somewhat less talented players that there's a viable alternative to college. This is another reason why it's imperative for the infrastructure to be developed outside the leafy suburbs that have the source of most American players. Great news about the Fire's academy providing a place for that young Mexican-American player to develop. Another obstacle is the mentality of the families of talented young players when it comes to sacrificing a college education for professional involvement as teenagers. Very few families of talented young athletes don’t have their sights set a college scholarship. Fortunately, truly exceptional players like Altidore, Adu, Bradley, etc. do not go this route and waste four years. Having a youth academy system like you’re describing would go a long way toward convincing suburban parents of somewhat less talented players that there’s a viable alternative to college. This is another reason why it’s imperative for the infrastructure to be developed outside the leafy suburbs that have the source of most American players. Great news about the Fire’s academy providing a place for that young Mexican-American player to develop.

]]> By: Dave's Football Blog http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4553 Dave's Football Blog Wed, 07 May 2008 15:29:38 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4553 The more I think about the Matt Kassel issue, the more I think it's something that could be solved with some concessions to players in the next collective bargaining agreement -- things like increasing the salary cap to $5 million, increasing roster sizes from 18 to 22, increasing minimum salaries to $60K, and increasing developmental player salaries to $40K and not having that money count against the cap. If developmental players aren't making a living wage, they're going to ply their trade elsewhere. Martin Nunez turned down an RBNY developmental contract to play for the Carolina Railhawks for more money. Matt Kassel left RBNY to be a fucking turtle, for God's sake. If MLS owners want more talented players -- players that will put more fans in seats -- they need to start paying for them, both by increasing senior player salaries and pouring more cash into their youth programs. My 2 cents, anyway. The more I think about the Matt Kassel issue, the more I think it’s something that could be solved with some concessions to players in the next collective bargaining agreement — things like increasing the salary cap to $5 million, increasing roster sizes from 18 to 22, increasing minimum salaries to $60K, and increasing developmental player salaries to $40K and not having that money count against the cap.

If developmental players aren’t making a living wage, they’re going to ply their trade elsewhere. Martin Nunez turned down an RBNY developmental contract to play for the Carolina Railhawks for more money. Matt Kassel left RBNY to be a fucking turtle, for God’s sake. If MLS owners want more talented players — players that will put more fans in seats — they need to start paying for them, both by increasing senior player salaries and pouring more cash into their youth programs.

My 2 cents, anyway.

]]> By: A. http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4550 A. Wed, 07 May 2008 08:12:08 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4550 In response to the coaching issues pointed to by Timoteo and Clayton, why not hire some knowledgeable people from regions which are know for their high level training of youth players (e.g. Argentina, Holland, Brazil etc) and have them head coaching development programmes? In response to the coaching issues pointed to by Timoteo and Clayton, why not hire some knowledgeable people from regions which are know for their high level training of youth players (e.g. Argentina, Holland, Brazil etc) and have them head coaching development programmes?

]]> By: Reid http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4493 Reid Sat, 03 May 2008 17:59:30 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4493 While raising the developmental salaries would be the best solution (I wouldnt want to be a professional making below the poverty line). MLS's hands are tied because of the CBA. Something needs to be done to both raise the # of squad players at the same time as raising the salary cap, VW $3.5mil a year for sponsorships of DC would almost cover most of the salaries. So they can't be crying poverty when they have multi-million advertising deals. The real question is how long this new CBA will last, when approved, and will teams have more individual freedom with their money and players. While I love the MLS it seems many of the decisions made that were intended to help end up hurting a couple years down the road. While raising the developmental salaries would be the best solution (I wouldnt want to be a professional making below the poverty line). MLS’s hands are tied because of the CBA. Something needs to be done to both raise the # of squad players at the same time as raising the salary cap, VW $3.5mil a year for sponsorships of DC would almost cover most of the salaries. So they can’t be crying poverty when they have multi-million advertising deals.
The real question is how long this new CBA will last, when approved, and will teams have more individual freedom with their money and players.
While I love the MLS it seems many of the decisions made that were intended to help end up hurting a couple years down the road.

]]> By: clayton http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4487 clayton Sat, 03 May 2008 09:46:31 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/05/01/youth-development-in-mls-the-promise-and-the-problems/#comment-4487 america`s efforts to develop better players is of interest to other parts of the world. including my patch, australia. how do you go beyond producing hard working, tidy players and develop world class players? that is the big question ... of course, tapping into the whole footballing community, including hispanic american fans and players, is a good start. you can point to a brazillian style of footy, an argentinian style, an english style, dutch ... and many others. i`m looking forward to seeing how the american style develops in the future. america`s efforts to develop better players is of interest to other parts of the world. including my patch, australia.

how do you go beyond producing hard working, tidy players and develop world class players? that is the big question …

of course, tapping into the whole footballing community, including hispanic american fans and players, is a good start.

you can point to a brazillian style of footy, an argentinian style, an english style, dutch … and many others. i`m looking forward to seeing how the american style develops in the future.

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