any word/thought about how the tiered structure, if at all, would be at U17?
MLS youth league
- Thread starter Zvezdas
- Start date
jpeter
PREMIER
Still not decided or the amount of games but they are aiming for more games than what da used to be.
I will take a simple basic assumption if a fall league happens: MLS teams will match up with other MLS or liked teams more often vs the Non-MLS ones depending on participation. Teams like TFA, Albion, City, Nomands play each MLS club once for example while LAFC & Galaxy play each other 2-3x per seasonal split.
If fall league doesn't go due to economics, C19, or other factors there will be scrimmages, mini tournaments, and some kinds of games or showcases.
Or, perhaps league games in the fall will be confined to games vs. other teams within driving distance, with a plan for more travel next spring?
Kante
PREMIER
First, this kind of insight is unique, so please subscribe today to SoccerAmerica (again, not at all affiliated w/ SA, just an admirer of their excellent work)
Here's some significant details on the MLS/USYS partnership:
MLS and U.S. Youth Soccer unveil massive U.S. player identification project
MLS and U.S. Youth Soccer have announced plans to launch one of the ambitious player development projects ever undertaken in the United States.
While the exact details are being worked out, and the COVID-19 pandemic adds a layer of uncertainty about just what the program will entail and when it will take place, there are two key elements to the plan:
1. Boys and girls will be invited to regional camps and then have a chance to go to a national event. They will selected by a network of scouts MLS sets up with USYS and its state associations.
2. All the costs -- transportation and room and board -- at both the regional and national events will be paid for by MLS.
"This is a large undertaking," Gordon Bengtson, MLS's senior director of player development, said in an interview with Soccer America. "but one that we feel is an absolutely necessary. The diversity and size of our country has historically been viewed as our biggest weakness. This makes sense to us that this should be our greatest asset and we have to do what we can do to make it our greatest strength."
What is the size and scope of the program?
With the proviso the details still need to worked out and the pandemic and its economic fall-out might dictate changes in the scope of the program, Bengtson outlined some of the general thinking about the program on the boys' side. (MLS and USYS will be talking with the NWSL and college coaches about the best approach in terms of age groups and location of events on the girls' side).
1. Players in the program can come from anywhere. This is not simply a USYS program, like ODP. Players could play for affiliated or unaffiliated teams, play in adult or youth leagues, play for USYS, U.S. Club Soccer, USSSA, AYSO, SAY or any other youth organization, or they could play for only their high school.
-- The success of the program will depend on the ability of MLS to develop and manage a scouting program that finds players in places where they were overlooked before and indeed identifies the best players.
2. The age groups will be U-14s and U-16s. The reason for that is that the national event will be held in conjunction with the Generation adidas Cup for U-15 and U-17 MLS and foreign teams that is held in spring at the FC Dallas complex in Frisco, Texas. This creates an aspirational aspect to the program, giving players the incentive that they could move on next year and play for an MLS academy team at the GA Cup.
-- Rosters for the national event will be in the range of 18-25 players, and the organization of the event will have to flexible to give everyone an opportunity to be seen.
3. The four regional camps will each include about 250 players. That's on the order of a thousand players whose costs will be paid for.
This contrasts with the ODP program, a pay-to-play program. Depending on the state association, state ODP fees, regional ODP camp fees and transportation costs can exceed $2,000.
"The ODP program has been adrift for probably the last 10-15 years," said Bengtson. "It used to be the channel for the youth national teams. That changed since the DA came in and they really only scouted in that environment."
Bengtson said the new program will give USYS's youth initiatives "a fresh coat of paint" and a new aligned vision on player development and how to grow the game.
"Most important," he said, "it will afford every player the opportunity, no matter where they are, to have a very clear pathway and remove as many barriers as possible."
Here's some significant details on the MLS/USYS partnership:
MLS and U.S. Youth Soccer unveil massive U.S. player identification project
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, 7 hours ago
MLS and U.S. Youth Soccer have announced plans to launch one of the ambitious player development projects ever undertaken in the United States.
While the exact details are being worked out, and the COVID-19 pandemic adds a layer of uncertainty about just what the program will entail and when it will take place, there are two key elements to the plan:
1. Boys and girls will be invited to regional camps and then have a chance to go to a national event. They will selected by a network of scouts MLS sets up with USYS and its state associations.
2. All the costs -- transportation and room and board -- at both the regional and national events will be paid for by MLS.
"This is a large undertaking," Gordon Bengtson, MLS's senior director of player development, said in an interview with Soccer America. "but one that we feel is an absolutely necessary. The diversity and size of our country has historically been viewed as our biggest weakness. This makes sense to us that this should be our greatest asset and we have to do what we can do to make it our greatest strength."
What is the size and scope of the program?
With the proviso the details still need to worked out and the pandemic and its economic fall-out might dictate changes in the scope of the program, Bengtson outlined some of the general thinking about the program on the boys' side. (MLS and USYS will be talking with the NWSL and college coaches about the best approach in terms of age groups and location of events on the girls' side).
1. Players in the program can come from anywhere. This is not simply a USYS program, like ODP. Players could play for affiliated or unaffiliated teams, play in adult or youth leagues, play for USYS, U.S. Club Soccer, USSSA, AYSO, SAY or any other youth organization, or they could play for only their high school.
-- The success of the program will depend on the ability of MLS to develop and manage a scouting program that finds players in places where they were overlooked before and indeed identifies the best players.
2. The age groups will be U-14s and U-16s. The reason for that is that the national event will be held in conjunction with the Generation adidas Cup for U-15 and U-17 MLS and foreign teams that is held in spring at the FC Dallas complex in Frisco, Texas. This creates an aspirational aspect to the program, giving players the incentive that they could move on next year and play for an MLS academy team at the GA Cup.
-- Rosters for the national event will be in the range of 18-25 players, and the organization of the event will have to flexible to give everyone an opportunity to be seen.
3. The four regional camps will each include about 250 players. That's on the order of a thousand players whose costs will be paid for.
This contrasts with the ODP program, a pay-to-play program. Depending on the state association, state ODP fees, regional ODP camp fees and transportation costs can exceed $2,000.
"The ODP program has been adrift for probably the last 10-15 years," said Bengtson. "It used to be the channel for the youth national teams. That changed since the DA came in and they really only scouted in that environment."
Bengtson said the new program will give USYS's youth initiatives "a fresh coat of paint" and a new aligned vision on player development and how to grow the game.
"Most important," he said, "it will afford every player the opportunity, no matter where they are, to have a very clear pathway and remove as many barriers as possible."
GoolRonaldo7
BRONZE
I have been hearing from parents from various clubs that the clubs will know what age groups they will have and be part of with this new MLS Elite league next week. Has anyone else heard something similar, or is it all speculations/rumors.
texanincali
SILVER ELITE
Can anyone confirm that this new MLS Youth League will begin in January 2021 and not in the fall of 2020? It is a little discomforting that clubs are wanting commitments from players without sharing any information on what the league will look like.
jpeter
PREMIER
Have not heard about fall or January yet. Some earlier talk about spring 2021 being the first tournaments but nothing specific lately.
MLS owners have said they will lose somewhere around $1b this year even with a Florida tournament like what the NBA is moving forward with.
Without the teams back in thier home stadiums playing I would say youth teams are a long shot to get going in a league before they do. Between the economics, restrictions, and aim to align with the first-team this youth league is likely to follow what they do. In others words when you can attend a LAFC or Galaxy home game the youth league should be going at the same time.
Fall may end up just being training, scrimmages on a smaller scale than what a league would normally be
A January start wouldn't surprise me. In defense of the clubs I don't think they really know what's going on either. Our club has not asked for any prepayments for next season, nor would I be comfortable making such payments. However, I know of other clubs that have been requiring payment for next season for a number of weeks.
jpeter
PREMIER
Started small group training today.
They decided no home games just a tournament:
That plan is not finalized yet, but is expected to take the form of a tournament in Orlando
MLS return: Commissioner Don Garber optimistic about potential tournament, remainder of 2020 | MLSSoccer.com
MLS return: Commissioner optimistic about potential tournament and beyond
www.mlssoccer.com
Desert Hound
DA
Rock...hard place.
Until states, etc open up, planning is shall we say rather difficult.
jpeter
PREMIER
Well looks like Nplwest is going to be another league involved to supplement or until the MLS-EYSL gets going
2020-21 NPL West
U11-U19
Clubs committed so far to participate:
LA Galaxy
LAFC
Arsenal FC
Beach SC
City FC Carlsbad
Chula Vista FC
FC Golden State
LA Breakers
LA Surf
LAUFA
Legends SC
Murrietta Surf
Pateadores
Real So Cal
San Diego SC
Slammers FC / CDA
Strikers FC
Surf San Diego
West Coast SC
2020-21 NPL West
U11-U19
Clubs committed so far to participate:
LA Galaxy
LAFC
Arsenal FC
Beach SC
City FC Carlsbad
Chula Vista FC
FC Golden State
LA Breakers
LA Surf
LAUFA
Legends SC
Murrietta Surf
Pateadores
Real So Cal
San Diego SC
Slammers FC / CDA
Strikers FC
Surf San Diego
West Coast SC
It’s actually amusing at this point. Not judging anyone, but still...
Will this league encompass all age groups or only youngers like u11-13?
jpeter
PREMIER
Yeah there are age gaps in MLS-EYDP/SL so those clubs need a place for there players.
Galaxy & LAFC not in the ECxx platform and the others in a variety so might be the only one you actually see cross league type of match ups. Both USclub leagues so that gives some tournaments and other player movement opportunity, how it all shakes out? Who knows
jpeter
PREMIER
What role is NPL West supposed to play in the alleged hierarchy? It seems that it will be for Flight 2 teams for the MLS league clubs and possibly Flight 3 teams for the ECNL/ECRL (other than at the younger ages where it may be the flight 1 teams for both leagues)? Or am I just super confused?
jpeter
PREMIER
Yeah don't really know how that will shake out
First teams in some cases for the younger in NPL.
There are age gaps in MLS-EYDP/SL so a strict calendar year u16 team might be in NPL while a combo team u16/17 in the MLS. Some non MLS clubs don't necessarily have the full spectrum of teams ready for a MLS League.
The ECxx groups besides the first team in ECNL not sure RL or NPL won't be a mashup. Locations, travel, and costs all factor in so a strict hierarchy may not really be realistic just yet.
The Philadelphia Union Academy Director suggests more local and regional play in the new league
https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/you...6AZAHLNKH6LR3OGI67M&__twitter_impression=true
Do you think this new league will have more games against local and regional teams than the Development Academy did?
Yeah, I think that was part of the work that we [did]. I’m all for, and I really enjoyed the games against, LAFC, etc., and the L.A. Galaxy — apart from when they beat us. But I don’t think that a continental youth league makes sense. The young boys spend too much time on planes and in hotels, and it costs the clubs too much money.
https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/you...6AZAHLNKH6LR3OGI67M&__twitter_impression=true
Do you think this new league will have more games against local and regional teams than the Development Academy did?
Yeah, I think that was part of the work that we [did]. I’m all for, and I really enjoyed the games against, LAFC, etc., and the L.A. Galaxy — apart from when they beat us. But I don’t think that a continental youth league makes sense. The young boys spend too much time on planes and in hotels, and it costs the clubs too much money.