This is not speculation.
It has already happened.
Now, it’s all about how we disseminate the information that is about to start flowing.
This is going to be an amazing opportunity to see precisely how decisions that are made in the boardroom directly impact our living rooms. Our families, our players, our coaches, our livelihoods are going to be impacted by the decisions of the beancounters and suits at USSF.
A lot of families, coaches, and clubs are going to feel this.
The total destruction of the DA is rightfully being framed as a doomsday scenario by a lot of people. Because to a certain extent, it really is a disaster. But if I’m being honest, it isn’t ALL bad news. Believe it or not, there will still be a light at the end of the tunnel even if USSF exterminates the DA. Some players, coaches, and clubs might even benefit from this happening.
Did I think this would happen? Yes.
For quite some time, there have been rumors that changes to DA were in the works. There were complaints that the competition between MLS teams and the run-of-the-mill youth clubs wasn’t good enough. Certain teams were perennial losers. Certain teams were actually getting slaughtered. Travel costs were frequently cited as a big issue. Pay to play vs. fully funded academies became a bigger and bigger talking point.
We could go on and on about what the teams were complaining about. But even with all of the complaints it still appeared that the DA was going to carry on and it would just be business as usual.
Then, out of nowhere, a big change actually happened.
Without warning, plans for a tiered DA were not only unveiled but executed.
In essence, all MLS teams, plus a few other non-MLS teams, were placed (or promoted) into the top tier of this new DA. All other teams – the majority of teams – were placed (or relegated) into the second tier.
(A quick disclaimer: I have no clue how this played out on the girls side of the DA. I need to do my research on that. If anyone has insight I would love for you to share it with me.)
Wow! A two-tiered system!
In theory, it sounds great. One tier with “stronger” teams and one tier with “inferior teams”. The problem with this is, well, there are a lot of problems. I’ll cite two of them.
1) It was executed by arbitrarily separating the teams. Nothing was merit-based. All MLS teams ended up in tier-one even though tier-two teams finished higher than them in league play. In years prior.
2) Once separated into tiers, there was no mechanism in place for movement. If you were unlucky and banished to the second tier – that was it. And if you were in the first tier, awesome. You’re there to stay!
A lot of people seemed shocked by this move.
I wasn’t. I won’t lie and say I knew it was happening, but I could definitely see the writing on the wall.
The coordinated consolidation of power between USSF and MLS has seemed like an ongoing operation for years. This tiered system appeared to be just another step in that direction. It is naive to think the youth game is exempt from being used as a pawn by those attempting to gain total control over soccer in this country.
The announcement of a tiered system did shock a lot of people, though. It appears that clubs had no warning about the changes happening. It appears that clubs were not even consulted.
They were basically told, “This is how it’s going to be. Take it or leave it.”
Clubs asking questions like:
- Why did my teams end up in tier 1 and not tier 2? We beat some of the tier 1 teams.
- Who made these decisions?
- Why weren’t we consulted?
And it left everyone else wondering things like:
- What does this mean for my kid(s)?
- Is this good for American soccer
- How/why were they able to do this?
All valid questions.
This Coronavirus shutdown has actually provided an opportunity to accelerate that consolidation by USSF and MLS. Additionally, it’s provided a way for it to be done and everyone to walk away with clean hands. US Soccer can shut it down and say it’s the best decision for everyone involved and MLS gets the opportunity to insulate itself further without having to worry about the ramifications of pulling all of its teams out of the *prestigious DA. In their eyes, it’s a win/win.
I’d imagine there are legal benefits to shutting it all down in this fashion during this time, but I’m not qualified to speak on that, so I won’t.
What will likely happen from here is this…
Former DA clubs will have to find a place to play. There are a number of different gaming circuits they can join, most of them are small and local, but bigger clubs will likely consider national gaming circuits like the ECNL.
MLS, on the other hand, will likely form their own league comprised of only their 26 franchises and add in their expansion franchises over time. Some people will look at this as a positive that MLS is doing this.
The idea that professional academies will only be playing against each other, week in week out, seems like a great idea. I have thoughts on this that I provide in a future episode.
Let’s say that MLS does, which I suspect they will, start their own gaming circuit for their youth academies. And let’s say they start in a similar fashion as the Development Academy did with just U18 and U16.
That’s 26 teams x 18 players per roster x 2 age groups (u18 and U16) which equals 936 total players. That’s an outrageously small number.
To put it in perspective – 936 total players in a country of 330 million people.
If and when that comes to fruition, more people will be living in my neighborhood than will be in the nationwide MLS academy system.
As I said, this will seem like a disaster, or doomsday scenario to a lot of people. A lot of people are going to be impacted by the decision to shut down the Development Academy. A lot of people are going to shutout of the MLS pathway. But this isn’t the end of the world for players.
Keep in mind, Christian Pulisic made it to Europe without being at an MLS academy. In fact, it helped that he wasn’t. Others have navigated their way to the pro game as well. What I’m trying to say is that this isn’t the end of the road for players that are not on MLS academy rosters.
The closing of the DA is not the end of development in American soccer. In fact, it could be the birth of real player development here in America.
To do the topic justice, I need to do more research and come back here before I speak to you again. So in future episodes, we will talk about what the closing of the development academy means for American soccer. We’ll also discuss why this is all able to happen and how this ties into the structural problems we suffer from here in American soccer.
Additional reading:
- The 1 Soccer Policy that Cripples the National Team all the way to 9-Year-Olds
- MLS Academies Need More, and Better, Competition
- The Most Undermining Phrase in American Soccer
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Considering Pulisic’s circumstances, seems like 1 of 936 is better odds. Recent Keph tweet mentioned challenge to get a legit overseas trial for a YNT player. Conspiracy theorist would suggest, with no DA, YNT will only select from MLS academy – kinda like now. Life of mediocrity will continue as clubs will create a shiny new league that suburbia will clamor to pay $K’s to join.
Hi there,
A couple of thoughts…
1) Keph is right, getting trials and getting signed is not easy. But if the players are *legit, those outside of the MLS DA will have a much easier time actually transitioning to Europe. (This subject will be discussed in future episodes.)
2) Yes, I agree the YNT player pool will likely continue to be comprised of mostly MLS academy players. This has been the trend for quite some time.
I’ll add one more thought related to 1 & 2…
The only way for a player outside of the MLS network to get attention from the NT program is to be undeniably the absolute best. Again, Pulisic is a great example. MLS has zero control over Europe. By becoming a star at Dortmund, the NT could not ignore him.
From what I know about the tier system, it was based on facilities. In order to be in the top tier you had to meet their facilities requirement. I want to say the number of “A” License coaches might have also have been a criteria.
Thanks for the insight, Eric! I had not heard that, but considering how MLS and USSF conduct themselves it makes sense.
It will be interesting to see which non-MLS teams will be selected for the new MLS youth league. I doubt we’ll see the criteria used for selection, but we should all be paying close attention.
The DA end was bound to happen, for many reasons Certain New Jersey DA teams had become social clubs of the wealthiest and the ones with good connections.
All DA teams have very high-priced elite academies with few or no scholarships available for the average worker.
In certain cases the DA was “free” but if you did not go to the academy and did not pay the thousands of dollars previously, you had very little chance of playing on that DA team.
Most DA-affiliated teams did not have the best players on their rosters, and this was seen on the court and in score boards, certain teams ended down by 12 goals and more in a single game.
One of the aspects of this difference is that they do not have coaches with experience in child development, or even in a professional soccer club.
One of the things that they are not interested in, is perhaps the most important, the ethnic variety of our area, which is actually a plus for the teams that aim to be competitive.
But instead they take the English model (which has not won a world cup in 54 years)
Physical + Speed = Potential Player
When in the rest of the world of football
Talent + desire to succeed = Potential Player
In New Jersey there are few or no coaches who are products of child development program themself, this is important because if they are a product of child development, therefore they will know how to work or at least they have the experience and the idea how to implement a productive program
How do third world countries become exporters of elite footballers?
First, soccer academies are free, the important thing is to discover talents, train them to be an elite players and then the economic benefit will come for the club and the player once he becomes a professional
Once he id being sold to clubs
In 2019 Brazil exported more than 1,300 players, Argentina more than 800 players, USA only 18 players
If the reality was different, only New Jersey would be exporting or creating more than 20 professional players annually.
It has always been said New Jersey is the capital of soccer in America (Well.. Kearny) this was used by certain clubs to enrich themselves without caring about the well-being of soccer itself.
I think that the cancellation of this program is good, this way a program that discriminated against many good players due to their economic status, lack of connections or required physical standards (which has already been proven, the important fact in soccer is talent)
If Iniesta, Xavi and Messi had been born in New Jersey they would not be footballers “sorry guys too short”
Hopefully, the remaining leagues take DA as an example to implement better management systems for their children’s teams.
Hi Farley,
I am interested in the stats you provided.
You said: “In 2019 Brazil exported more than 1,300 players, Argentina more than 800 players, USA only 18 players”
Can you provide a source for this information? I think it paints a beautiful picture of how poorly we are actually performing in regards to the global business of soccer. But I’d like to know that these are facts.
Thanks!
I’ve personally seen really good players with usl DA teams, but somehow only MLS players make it to finals YNT camps
That’s right, Jorge. There are even players in the MLS academies and second teams that are ballers. But the people doing the player selection have no clue what they’re doing. Incompetence is off the charts.
Stack our f’d up system on top of these coaching/scouting incompetencies and… well…
The bottom line is that this country is loaded with talent. We’re still an untapped gold mine! Other countries started digging here and found gems like Pulisic, Richards, Llanez, Mendez, Ledezma, Reyna, and more. And then MLS reacted and is making life more difficult for players, families, and clubs that are realizing their full potential.
A lot more to come on this topic in future episodes.
When life gives you lemons make lemonade …
The challenge is good
Being out of a comfort zone is good
Exiting times ahead
That’s a very positive attitude, Bernard. Let’s hope for the best (but always be alert so we’re not caught off guard).