Some MLS Teams Want to Kill Academies

[Unregistered]

Some want out, some want much more control. It is crazy for them to have to train 80-100 kids a year, when maybe in an exceptional year they get 2 home growns. Many years will have none. There's talk that the clubs that want to stay want to only run 1-2 teams instead of 4. They want to dictate who they play, how often they play. Problem is, if MLS clubs pull out then DA becomes just another league with more restrictions. One of the appeals of BDA is even if you're not on an MLS team you get to play MLS teams.

I just don't get how this is going to pencil for a MLS only league; that is an unbelievable amount of travel. We are kind of use to in the NW, but East Coast/Chicago/NY/So.Cal they have plenty of teams they can play without getting on a plane.

Apparently they have shot down the MX model - where u17s travel with first team and play against corresponding youth academy of senior team (i.e. if Chivas is playing America on Saturday, corresponding youth teams play on same weekend).

[Unregistered]

I just don't get how this is going to pencil for a MLS only league; that is an unbelievable amount of travel. We are kind of use to in the NW, but East Coast/Chicago/NY/So.Cal they have plenty of teams they can play without getting on a plane.

Apparently they have shot down the MX model - where u17s travel with first team and play against corresponding youth academy of senior team (i.e. if Chivas is playing America on Saturday, corresponding youth teams play on same weekend).

They could do things like regional round-robins. If MLS clubs are training far fewer players economically it becomes more feasible. MLS clubs have been the ones pushing for non DA games so they could find local competition, attend non DA tournaments, as well as play outside the country.

[Unregistered]

They could do things like regional round-robins. If MLS clubs are training far fewer players economically it becomes more feasible. MLS clubs have been the ones pushing for non DA games so they could find local competition, attend non DA tournaments, as well as play outside the country.

That is plausible - they get further flexibility without having to run everything through DA.

On the other hand, without DA they lose some of the structure/efficiency that comes with one outfit driving scheduling/rules/etc.

Actually reminds a little bit of what happens in the regular old neighborhood clubs when you start talking USYSA v US Club - US Club gives you flexibility, but be careful what you ask for; USYSA associations are bureaucratic and some times inflexibility, but the do the heavy lifting on planning/scheduling, etc; sometimes clubs are better at doing that stuff, sometimes they are not.

[Unregistered]

They could do things like regional round-robins. If MLS clubs are training far fewer players economically it becomes more feasible. MLS clubs have been the ones pushing for non DA games so they could find local competition, attend non DA tournaments, as well as play outside the country.

Wonder if this will happen on the girls side now that they can schedule non-DA games. Will Thorns only schedule games they can win or will they schedule say the Thorns ‘02 team v ***c02 and risk getting pummeled?