MLS Youth Development Initiative Is HUGE For St. Louis

[Mack_Dundee]

Here's a bit of information that I totally missed, but I think it is very significant for success of the sport in St. Louis:

"Next season, MLS teams will establish a youth amateur program, separate from the pro club. These youth teams will give talented young players with professional aspirations an excellent opportunity to pursue their dreams while continuing their education. Players registered for at least 24 months in an MLS youth program become eligible to sign a professional contract with that team without entering the MLS SuperDraft."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?id=391065&type=story&cc=4716$%3E

If St. Louis gets a team, again that's IF St. Louis gets a team, this could be HUGE in selling the sport in the city. Imagine if at least most of the St. Louis guys in the league now were playing with the St. Louis club. That would go a LONG way in building a passionate fan base as St. Louis seems to love its own homegrown athletes (Ryan Howard is the latest) and has a soccer community that is so proud of its history. So much of selling a franchise in a market, as the Blues have learned as they re-connect with their fans after the lockout and bad feelings left by the previous owners, is connecting with fans on a grassroots level. You can't get much more grassroots than local guys who develop and then play at the highest level in the country within the very same community.

[Sport Billy]

I think you are absolutely correct.

But... this is the one area that concerns me regarding the Collinsville location.

90% of the youth players are on the Missouri side. I'm not certain those parents are going to cross the river for their kids practices, etc.

Also, while I think Metro United have done a wonderful job with their program, I would hope that an MLS team would not allign itself Metro just because of the location. I would like to see MLS go with either Scott Gallagher, St. Louis SC, or Fusz. Chosing one of these established programs would strengthen soccer not only locally, but nationally as well. I just read that SG is the #8 club in the country. A match up with MLS could only strengthen that.

[pemurill]

I actually started a thread about this. It is my opinion that not just one club should be the sole part of the youth development. I would hope that all clubs would be brought under one umbrella, included all the local clubs, Fusz, SLSC, SG, and Metro, and develop the best of the best in a ODP-like youth system that would be above the youth clubs. We shall see I guess!

[Sport Billy]

I actually started a thread about this. It is my opinion that not just one club should be the sole part of the youth development. I would hope that all clubs would be brought under one umbrella, included all the local clubs, Fusz, SLSC, SG, and Metro, and develop the best of the best in a ODP-like youth system that would be above the youth clubs. We shall see I guess!

Fantastic idea, I just don't know how you would pull that off.
Would it just be a training center? or who would this team compete against?
I cannot see the big clubs being excited about their best players training with someone else.

[JoseP]

I'm no expert on this, but the program for DC United is closely associated with the Super Y League. So, players come in from a lot of different clubs and play for, what is supposed to be, a super team. The Super Y League is a summer league, but have their national championship in the fall or early winter. Thus, the players are supplementing what they do with their regular team rather than go entirely over to a new team. Many of the top clubs encourage their players to join these teams.

[pemurill]

Because Saint Louis has a strong club culture, I would want to supplement this rather than create more potential political divisions in the St Louis soccer community. They way I would envision the "Academy" for lack of a better word, is that the top 20, or 30 or even 50 boy and girls from ages U15 to U-18. Would be chosen during their high school and club seasons which for most clubs finishes in May at the latest (for a few Club regionals will go on during the summer however I believe that can be overcome) assembled for the summer months, similar to what DC United looks to be doing. These age groups would train at least 3 to 5 times a week and many of these sessions I would hope would align with the MLS Team. That is what is the potential of any MLS team in Saint Louis is watching professionals train. Watching that in person almost immediate will make an impact, especially in that you could actually be in that team in a couple years! I would also picture these elite teams competing in just a few select tournaments such as the Dallas Cup, Super Y League, and possible overseas against other Club Teams.

From a marketing perspective the advantage to this umbrella/club like academy is that Saint Louis clubs would not be alienated because they are not the "chosen MLS club." Instead hopefully the area clubs can work together in terms of scouting and helping to identify the best talent. Also each club can work with the MLS team on a grassroots level to create a club like atmosphere with regards to the soccer playing Saint Louis public. Lets face it no professional team can really make this happen like an MLS team can.

Again this is my humble vision, however I think it could work!

[Monarch Bay Beachbum]

Metro FC is nothing to sneeze at.

They have developed some pretty good players. They also put on a nice College Bound Soccer Tournament in the Spring. One of the better teams from our area (Orange County, CA) is going to be playing in Collinsville in March.