This is what I think is wrong.

I dont know if this is been said before.

My latest conclusion is simple.

Our second and third division only play about 4 months in the year... I think this is the biggest reason why we are not doing that much better at any level.

Relegation could also be a big factor.

In nations that are dominant at soccer, their second and third division are very strong and they play all year round just like their first division.

Our second and third division suck.

This is where I stopped reading.

why do our second and third division only play 4 months?

They're too busy doing crunches. Can't play a proper season without good abs, right?

If I could marry a comment, I would marry this comment.

NASL started in early April and ended in late October. That's almost 7 months. USL-Pro started in April and ended in September for a 5 month season.

Why are the seasons so short? There aren't many teams yet. There isn't enough money; longer season means you need to pay players for longer.

There are a whole host of reasons why the seasons aren't longer, but they're not only 4 months. And the brevity of the seasons certainly isn't the main thing holding us back.

Well the league format of NASL will change next season, no playoffs, ever team has to give their best to be #1.

sadly I think this is the main reason, if we dont have strong second annd third division, we are not going to be a powerhouse any time soon.

relegation may also be something to look forward in the future.

play off are great, last thing we want is new york and la winning every season.

L.A will probably win two years in a row.

The only way you will get pro/rel is if MLS has a cooperation with NASL probably renaming the league MLS2 and having the NASL owners each pay $30 million expansion fee as well as every team must have their own SSS.

Relegation cannot and will not work in the US. I don't know why people can't or won't understand this. It works elsewhere because most of those clubs have been around over 100 years. Those clubs get support regardless of division because they have HISTORY. They also already have all the necessary facilities and resources. Here in the US, you can't just start a club from scratch and expect to get any financial backing knowing that one bad season you're done: "Fans" would simply stop caring. That's the way it would work here, because again, the clubs have no history. Anyone that suggests pro/rel simply has no grasp on American sports fandom and the way teams are financed here.

Not only that, but just how, in specific terms, would pro/rel help advance US soccer in any way? This seems to be conveniently skipped over by it's advocates. Oh wait....they do it in Europe so I guess we should, too. Good enough for me.

Im aware of that, but I do believe play-off make more of a "fair" competition, unlike Europe where teams like Getafe or Everton have absolutely not chance of ever winning their league.

Play off are great, one of the greatest things on mls.

and this is exactly why I said that is something we should look for in the future.

the second and third division def need to be longer and stronger, if no, there is very little hope on truly being dominant at a global stage.

No, you still don't get it. Overseas, pro/rel happened ORGANICALLY. It was necessary simply because they had so many clubs. They didn't come up with it after the fact like you are suggesting.

And you didn't answer my question: What does pro/rel have to do with advancing US soccer? BE SPECIFIC.

in every country, every team from every small town has a chance to play at the highest level, to be national champions.

Villareal, a little suburb from Spain made it to the semifinals in Europe, in El Salvador a small town named Metapan has a team in first division that has dominated the league for a while.

for instance... lets think about it, a third division team from nebraska makes it to the second division, then first division, wins a national championship... how great would that be? who doesnt love cindirella stories?

small towns are more passionated about sports, there is not much to do in those places...

a lot to be said...

the main focus of this thread was making second and third division longer and stronger, it was my mistake to mention relegation i guess, it should be left for another discussion, you can open up a new thread if you want, I will participate.

That's great, but you didn't answer my question.

Out of fairness you could ask that about a lot of things and their correlation with advancing US soccer. People just think it's a better model for the MLS, that's all.

more fans involved with the league.

more opportunity for players from small towns..

that any many more.

Well with relegation you force teams to dig deep to be their best and you have owners who spend money on players so they don't get relegated.

Promotion for lower leagues is the same effect owners pump money so teams can get to the next level.

Overall improving the quality of the league.

im not a business guy so im not sure how bad can it be in the short term.

in the long term it may be beneficial but again, im not a mathematician and i know nothing of econmics, i just know about soccer, in my opinion as a journalist, I think it could help.

like I said my main focus was to have longer seasons in both, 2nd and 3rd division, for them to be able to move up the ladder may be extra-motivation...

I remember so many people talking of a Salvadoran team that won 2nd division, 1st division and they also were central american champions in 2 years I think, it was back in the 70s...

Small towns breath sports...

I think you have cause and effect mixed up. 2nd & 3rd divisions in these nations are strong because the nations have a deep talent base for one and a large enthusiastic fan base that is willing to watch soccer at these levels.

well, games such as ucla vs santa barbara can get up to 15,000 fans, clemson vs south carolina can get up to 7,000...

the question is, can second and third division have longer seasons? if not, when will they be able to do this?

The season isn't that much shorter than MLS's season but the answer to this question like just about every question in this subforum is "when soccer becomes more popular".

And forget about your college examples. Just as typical in the US is the SEC which I believe doesen't have mens soccer and Univ of Richmond which is getting ready to drop mens soccer.