Not everyone gets scouted. Some guys bloom late. Even if it's not the primary means of player acquisition, the draft will have a purpose for a long time.
I can honestly see the draft disappearing in the future. Perhaps one draft will stick around, but all the drafts we have now I don't see lasting. As teams get their academies going and putting out talent, there will be less and less need of a draft. Sure you might see some late bloomers in college, but I don't see why you'd need a draft for teams to scout and pick them up. The draft was something that was necessary at the start of the MLS, in the future it won't be needed at all.
In other countries they sign young kids to contracts, and the FIFA regulations allow for a transfer fee to cover the development costs. However, there are legal and social roadblocks in the US that prevent this for kids under 18. Salcedo's family are very close friends with Martin Vasquez, Team USA assistant and former RSL Academy Director. That's how he ended up with RSL-AZ.
to the first point - that is something I hadn't initially considred but it is a very valid point. I'm not current on my labor law - is there something you could do at the age of say 16 even? As for the second, I'm glad to hear that relationship has already paid dividends. We need to utilize it more. Any idea how many of the academy kids have used that connection?
In a recent conversation with some folks down there, I heard that he still had a position in the Academy, Executive Director or something similar.
Ha! Sounds like a great gig. It might be worth every penny to RSL if it gets RSL young players like Salcedo.
Hey guys it has been a while since I posted. I just wanted to say I saw Jordan Allen play many times and he is great player. Has all the potential in the world. What you don't know is what will be the ceiling . That is what you can't predict on a player and why it is so tricky. I could write a book someday on how vague and weird American soccer rules are. My son played for RSL his sophomore year actually had to have his rights traded to Portland timbers for his junior year where he played for the reserves 4 times and now his senior year he decided to stay home after being away since he was 15 and he will play for Viewmont High. I don't know who has his rights now or If he even can be homegrown but he will go to UVU this fall and see if he can help start their program and then turn pro. He also had to turn down a 3 month trial at an English club because he would. Have had to sign a contract making him intelligible for college soccer. Are you as confused as me yet ? Ha ha. Anyway glad to see two of Lucas teamates from RSL benji and Jordan have signed. Sure would love to see a real local kid like Lucas . Fito ovalle or bofo sauce do signed someday. That would be a real homegrown. . Go Vikes.
Please keep us updated on Lucas. Many here have been following you talk about him for a long time so we are now somewhat invested in him as well
this No matter what happens with the kid, let us know. I can only imagine spending all your teenage / high school years away on soccer like that kid. On the club team I was on I was gone fairly regularly - and your son makes that look like I lived a pretty nice "home life" in comparison. Hope he doesn't get burned out - to me that is one of things not discussed enough in youth soccer. Or at least not given enough respect. Best of luck to both of you guys.
Ok, on the topic of RSL academy keepers ... RSL has a pretty good track record in this spot. Lalo Fernandez has signed with the first team. Matt Bersano is a sophomore at Oregon State where he had 20 goals allowed in 17 starts, including 5 clean sheets -- a 1.18 GAA with 5.59 saves per game. Luis Barraza is starting for the U18s and did a pretty good job against the full team. Christian Herrera is starting for the U16s and playing w/ the USMNT U18s. Not to mention Chris Seitz and Kyle Reynish and the Homeboy himself.
Pate wrote up a great look at potentially what our rosters might look like for our USL Pro/PDL teams. http://ccb1212.blogspot.com/2014/01/rsl-development-team-squad-forecast.html
Great read. I hope you guys focus on this as things get officially announced and details slowly emerge. Also, for those that haven't read this blog post yet, some secrets are revealed... or are they?
Well the big moment has arrived and Lucas is officially a member of the 2014 Utah Valley University Soccer Team. Here is a link with all the details of the new program. A very impressive group of boys. Could this be the new sleeping giant of college soccer? Time will tell. http://www.wolverinegreen.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/020514aaa.html Great news for soccer in the great state of Utah.
Pate has mentioned former academy player R-So GK Matt Bersano. He had a great year at Oregon State University and set the new school record for most saves at 101. The team did not win one game in the Pac-12 but they tied UCLA twice, when UCLA was in the top 5 of the nation each time. Needless to say, Bersano did well and was recognized by being named All-Pac-12 Second Team. http://www.osubeavers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30800&ATCLID=209316540
Really excited about this please keep us posted with their schedule and such this coming season. To tie this back to RSL - I really hope the coaching staff will utilize Greg Maas and this setup. He's a tremendous coach and the facilities at UVU are pretty damn good. Hopefully we can turn it into a pipeline of sorts for the Arizona academy kids if they don't get offers from schools like Stanford.
One more article and yes I will keep everyone updated and this university should have a close tie with RSL and players from the academy. There second preseason game everyyear will be against the RSL reserves. Also someone that is better than me at this can you start a Utah Valley Mens Soccer thread? thanks And by the way Lucas could have gone to many of those Pac 12 schools he really believes in greg mass and also there is something to be said about wanting to play close to home. I think many top Utah players will stay an play at UVU regardless of the other offers. http://www.studentsports.com/soccer/2014/02/05/uvu/
Lucas will be playing what might be his last Youth Soccer Club tournament this weekend down in Phoenix. He will be guest playing with Forza u-18 and will be playing in the u-19 mens group in the Presidents Cup . Three fun things about it are that he will be playing against RSL Elite , number 2 most of the players on this team comprise the Viewmont team he will be playing on next month, and finally Forza is the team he played with his first three years of club soccer. Should be a fun trip! Lucas is looking forward to seeing some of his RSL coaches.
Doesn't look like anyone else has posted about it, the U-17s won the Central Region GA cup, and will move on to the national tournament. They went 4-1-0 with a +14 GD.