Top PDL clubs/teams

top pdl teams?

you need to ask the coach why your son is not playing. Is the team successful? Are other college players getting play time? How is the team funded? Do the owners have a say in who Plays? Good Luck.

 

Mid-Michigan has produced some good pros and the Colorado Rapids Reserves have a good track record (four MLS players from last year's team). Ed Puskarich with the Texas Spurs has a good rep and Casey Schmidt's development was enhanced playing at Cape Cod. The Chicago Fire Reserves also have a good track record.

Finally, the Bradenton Academics are a good PDL team that emphasizes young players instead of has-beens and never-weres, but I think a lot of their roster spots are for kids who came through their academy (which ain't cheap) so their could be some politics there.

As I understand it, yes.

 

I know I'll get slimed for this, and so be it.

IMO you need to take a realistic look at PDL and what you can expect to get out of it.

First, every team is different. The only common denominator is that somebody ponied up $45k to start a team.

So you've got soccer wannabes with more money than sense, big, successful age-group clubs that want to add another level, college coaches who want to work over the summer, guys who just want to play and found a couple fathers willing to chip in, etc., etc., etc.

Not that any of these are inherently bad. Indeed, virtually anything that puts teams on the field is a good thing. I'm just saying that different teams are coming at this from different places, and with widely varying motives.

Secondly, the title contains the words "development league", which creates some expectations which are not always met. Sort of like when politicians sponsor a "Save the Trees Act" that involves making furniture.

USL is a privately (VERY privately) held company, not a foundation of some sort. Again, this is not a judegement or a criticism of some kind, just a reality check).

The fact that they are sanctioned by USSF does not mean that they are in any way OPERATED by that organization. The league is run by a skeleton staff in Florida that works very hard and is totally dedicated, but their involvement extends to scheduling, management and dispute resolution.

Each team is very much on their own in terms of how they operate and what their goals are.

And frankly, their goals are of necessity rather limited. Just how much "development" is it realistic to expect of a two-month summer league where guys come and go and balance their summer jobs and travel plans wigh team activities.

(I know this will sound repetitive, but every time I open my mouth in this vein six people jump my ass about "hating" PDL or "attacking" USL or some such. So forgive me for saying again that the above is neither a negative or a positive - just a "truthative")

PDL is a terrific opportunity for out-of-season college players to play at a reasonably high level, get some solid game experience, work on their game and get ready for the NCAA season. It's a great and valuable addition to the American soccer panoply.

But don't expect it to provide lots of individual instruction or guarantee you playing time. It is what it is, and you have to take it that way. So if you're on a team and you're not getting PT, don't try to claim that the coach is somehow abrogating his responsibility to you as a player.

Above all, it is NOT a "Soccer Camp" of some kind charged with teaching you something. At this level and above, personal development is YOUR responsibility. This isn't the U14's anymore, Bunky. What you get out of it is up to you.

Finally, I have been involved in soccer for, well, for a long, long time, including the professional level. I have seen hundreds of teams and thousands of players. I'm not some big-time expert by any means, but if I had a nickel for every time somebody said they weren't playing because of "politics" I could retire tomorrow. Likewise, if I had a thousand dollars for every time I thought somebody really WAS not playing becuase of "politics" I'd still be going off to work Monday morning. Sorry if you don't like hearing this.

Just go find another team that can use you. If you have some game, somebody would be happy to have you.

 

I actually agree with Bill on this one. The name Development League is sort of wishful thinking. Is it a good thing for college kids to have a league to play in during the summer? Sure, but it's not "developing" them. If you want a league for developing players, the $$$ will have to come from somewhere besides these small-time PDL owners. To them it's a business (and usually, a money-losing business at that), and the development of players for some grander purpose or altruistic reasons is not generally their number one concern. The model in other countries is (or used to be at least) for small clubs to develop players and make money on selling them to bigger clubs. USL teams don't even have the possibility of doing that.

 

I'm going to go along with Bill and Sue on this one. There are something like 50 some teams in the PDL. And there is probably 50 different ways that they are run and why. I've advised players that I know that are interested in playing to ask a lot of questions. Find out how the team is run, what is invovled, what is expected from them and what they can expect from the team. And then try to talk to other players. It's like deciding where to go to school or going to work.



On your last question, as far as I know you can change teams during the season. I'm not sure everything that is involved, but it probably just having the current team release the player to through the league office. I know of at least a couple players that did it last season.

 

BRR

I would agree to an extent with the above comments. There are a lot ot teams in the PDL and all have different motives. I know that the Boulder Rapids Reserve sole purpose is to develop players. Only seven players did not return from last years team; 2 starting in A-league, and 4 in the MLS. As far as actually developing them, I guess that can be argued. Maybe a more appropriate statement would be giving them exposure. Jason Thompson and Nat Borchers were both unknowns. Nat is now a started for the Rapids...may actually end up being the best of the bunch...and Jason is now on the U-23s. Unfortunately, the PDL use to have a financial incentive to develop players but the USL and MLS did not extend their agreement.(My personal opinion is this is crap. Makes one wonder why clubs would not move towards bigger gates and older players. The PDL lost the one incentive, money, to remain "developmental".) So, in closing there are some teams that try to develop players but they are driving by the love of the game.....This love don't come cheap.

 

We at the Texas Spurs sent three players to the A-league this year. We do try to develop players. We also have a young US NAt player who plays with us until he leaves to spend the rest of the summer with them.It CAN be a good avenue for players who dont want to go or can't go to college.Some former PDL players have gone on to play in the MLS.Here in Dallas it's Ryan Suarez.And I guarentee you guys if a player is good and wants to do the work(traing,taking care of himself)then he WILL play..So tell your son to work harder and make it so the coach has no choice but to play him.. It can be done.And if you aren't impressed with PDL action you have seen to dat, stop by Dallas sometime and check out the Texas Spurs. You might like it.. Thanks. Ken

 

Maybe I missed something but I don't recall any agreement between USL and MLS that benefited PDL teams. The agreement between USL and MLS dealt with the movement of players between MLS and A-League/PSL teams and designating several USL teams to each MLS one. This did not include PDL teams. The only support that I've seen of PDL teams from the MLS are the sponsorship by the Fire and Rapids.

 

I didn't recall a PDL benefit in the A-League agreement either but wasn't positive.

I would think the biggest drawback would be that PDL players sign, IIRC, a short-term AMATEUR contract. It has no monetary value. Thus a) It can't be sold and b) it expires August 1 or so, making it useless anyway.

The Crew now have a team, owned by one of their investors, playing in Crew Stadium. It's not owned by Massah Lamar but there certainly are some strong ties there. The franchise announcement was made at the Crew's kickoff press conference, for example.

 

When the USL and the MLS had an agreement, money went to PDL teams for players that signed contracts with an MLS team....I think the amount was around $3500 per player. So, you can do the math and realize that some teams could help the bottom line with that type of money. What I thought was strange was that the PDL just blew over the fact that the agreement was not renewed. To me that is was a great incentive to encourage player development. In other words, concentrate on the younger players....it may pay off. This helped the owners, US Soccer (most college players only play 12 weeks or so...thank the NCAA), and the PDL. The PDL was able to push to the owners..DEVELOPE Players. Not sure what they tell them now. The Pro Select league is lost in the wilderness with no identity. The PDL may come to the same fate, except it can put a quality product on the field for cheap, ie do not pay players. However, it has lost its higher purpose. The league was originally going to continue to limit the number of players over 23. Just don't see this happening. The big picture was to entice US SOccer with this concept of a U-23 league and in turn US SOccer would give ODP Status and hopefully......money. They gave ODP status and mother Russia (NCAA) said "hell no." And obviously no money. SO, where does that leave the PDL?

I guess thats the question.

 

The Metrostars are planning or have already started a PDL side

 

Re: Re: Top PDL clubs/teams

Do you have a link about this? You're not talking about the New Jersey Imperials thing from a couple of years ago, are you? If so, the Imperials are not in the PDL anymore. I know the Metros have a Super-Y team, but wasn't aware of any PDL link since the Imperials.