MLS-NASL Partnership Critical for Youth Development

I think it would behoove SKC to restart a St. Louis team in USL Pro to keep their players close but open up a huge city their brand, product, and young exciting talent.

 

Might see some of the more successful PDL teams move up to the USLPro. Des Moines has routinely drew very well and could make sense for KC or even Chicago.

West Texas, Ventura, Fresno other possibilities as well perhaps.

And a possibility even though not near the same area, El Paso Patriots for Chivas USA since the Patriots are affiliated with the parent Guadalajara club.

 

I know business marketing but not alot about sports marketing but I think your right. When you segment your demographic markets you'll have fans that want to support the 'local' team but not really care about the development aspect and then you'll have to fans who wants to see and judge just how good the MLS teams prospects are. You don't want to alienate either segment and by calling them the KC Reserves may turn off the one segment that wants to support their local St. Louis team without care that KC is supplying alot of their talent.
Your other point is good too but should have more to do with marketing heft, infrastructure, playing and practicing facilities, coaching, open to positive affiliate relationship and the like.
It just dawned on me this is also a great way to introduce alot of MLS veterans into the world of coaching working with young professionals on their craft in the lower leagues. We need to start the ex-player coaching pyramid almost as much as the player pyramid.

 

I think the lack of clubs on the West Coast is a good thing, more of an encouragement for expansion, like in Vegas or San Diego.

 

This could also open the door in a few years to maybe an expansion of the Super-20 League featuring MLS clubs, which is under the USL umbrella.

Play in the Spring/Summer so kids from college can play and 18 y/o's who are maybe signed to an MLS contract but not quite USL Pro ready. Although will college players, some would still be in school in the Spring. Which is also why I think MLS clubs need to promote to their DA players going to college that if possible, try and choose a program that isn't far away.

Or replace that idea with the PDL instead of Super-20.

 

I thought there was a thread last year dealing with an NCAA ruling approving amateurs not losing eligibility by only playing with or against professionals as long as they themselves don't reap any benefits from professionalism. Being the moderator you're probably better than I at the advanced search functions. During the summer alot of HG kids play with their MLS teams during the summer to accrue practice time to equal the one year eligibility plateau.

 

This is correct.

 

Men's hockey and skiing are excluded from the new NCAA rules regarding participation on professional teams.

 

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArc...fessionalism+proposal_10_15_09_ncaa_news.html

 

As JG's post mentions hockey is excluded almost as a form of protectionism. If not a great number of NCAA D1 spots would be filled by Canadians that weren't good enough for the NHL but are still better than their American counterparts.

 

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Reliable source has informed me that MLS and USL PRO have reached agreement on incorporating reserve league into D3. News likely next week.

 

As we've repeated ad naseum on these boards.....................this could be a big step for the league & its young players.

It also offers stability to USL PRO, which they need badly.

 

It's hard to follow some of these NCAA rules/proposals, I found the NCAA manual & here are some of the pertinent rules (assuming they haven't been amended again):

As others on the site here have explained to me, a player can play on a pro team before entering an NCAA institution as long as he isn't paid (MLS Reserve teams are okay in that case). But once they enter the school, he can no longer play on a team with pros being paid to be there, but he can, however, practice with the team while he is still in school.

 

this is such good good news. stuff like this will help our players development.

we need regional leagues next. I would say splitting the country into 8 regions is a wise idea. it would make it easier to play each other and for development to grow.

 

Just keeps getting better and better...

 

It really is. the more avenues available to play the better our players will become.

 

I think it would also be important for every MLS club to have a PDL team as well, and not just in name like say the Fire's PDL team.

It'd have a much more professional approach compared to most of the current PDL teams, and provides training/games for Academy players returning home from the school year.

Which is also why I think MLS clubs need to establish a relationship with colleges nearby and try to persuade their players to go to these schools. There's already examples of Crew players going to Akron, Galaxy players going to UCLA and other So Cal schools.

 

One thing they have to watch out for -- another NCAA rule:

A member institution may permit not more than five student-athletes with eligibility remaining in intercollegiate soccer to practice or compete out of season on an outside, amateur soccer team (competition on an outside team permitted only during the summer, except as provided in Bylaws 17.20.8.1.1.1 and 17.20.8.1.1.2). (NCAA Bylaw 17.20.8.1.2)

 

Well that just sucks, what a dumb rule.

Wonder how these big programs decide which 5 can play in the PDL.

 

Excuse my ignorance on the topic, but what kind of impact is the USL-MLS agreement likely to have on the NASL? I know loan agreements to the NASL were few and far between, but it seemed like it was becoming more popular. Will all youngsters be sent to the USL?