MLS is re-introducing the Reserve League, with some changes, as well as placing an emphasis on clubs developing their own players. Both developments are good news.
After Tuesday's conference call with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, I realized that he didn't mention the College Superdraft or the NCAA.
Much of the 90-minute call dealt with a number of initiatives designed to help clubs produce their own talent.
The re-introduction of the Reserve League for instance, is critical. Even more critical will be the way it is formed. The problem in the past was that reserve league matches "piggybacked" on the league games themselves, sometimes starting less than an hour after the conclusion of the big game.
Since players who featured only a little in that match were eligible for the reserve game as well, there were situations where a player would wrap up the main game, head to the locker room to get chewed out by the coach, move to another locker room, hook up with the rest of the reserves and go out and play again. Not the best preparation either physically or mentally to put your best foot forward to try and impress the boss.
Here's hoping the reserve games next season take place midweek. Perhaps they will since the divisions will be organized on a geographical basis and travel will be less onerous. Increasing the roster size will be huge. Ditto the lifting of restrictions on how many homegrown players can be added to the roster. It's all good news.
Now back to the Superdraft. Although it went unsaid by anyone at the league this week, it seems to me there's a new philosophy taking shape. Yes, the Superdraft, held every January will still hold a place in the league's schedule of events. It kick starts the new season, and there are always a few decent players who find their way onto MLS rosters.
But the bottom line is this. The league has just announced a number of initiatives designed to encourage teams to develop their own players and at the same time makes no mention of how the NCAA fits into the picture. Wouldn't you call that a seismic shift in league philosophy? And it makes sense. It made me think back to what Toronto FC consultant Jurgen Klinsmann said at his unveiling last week. He talked about the good and bad of the college system. The good is that graduates come out with an education. The bad news is they've missed four years of properly structured development within a professional environment.
With all due respect to the college system, clubs prefer to have them wrapped up at a younger age when coaching principles have more influence. It appears as though MLS is finally getting there.
