Developing game
Pareja has nothing but praise for the new MLS academy network
ORLANDO CITY
Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja has long been passionate about the importance of youth academies. He got his start in coaching by fostering the FC Dallas youth teams and he was part of Orlando City’s moves to revamp its academy structure.
Now the Lions will be part of Major League Soccer’s new elite player development program, with 65 former U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams joining the national system.
The federation’s development academy was disbanded April 15 amid financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving about 200 youth teams nationwide with an uncertain future. Launched in 2007, the USSF academy fielded competitions in five age groups.
The new program will include teams from all 26 current MLS franchises, the four planned expansion clubs, five USL teams and 60 nonprofessional clubs, and involve some 8,000 players, according to details provided Wednesday by MLS, which had previously said it would fill the void left by the shuttering of the federation academy.
“The decision from the federation has created a bit of a chaos. For me, that’s probably what we all need,” Pareja said. “Some shaking movements that can just provide us an opportunity to create a good model, or a better model, for the development of our academies.
“… I see it as a great opportunity for Major League Soccer to have a structure that could be more suited to the clubs.
“I think development of the players is going to happen no matter what. The structures may change here and there, but I don’t think kids or parents or associations should be worried about it. I think Major League Soccer is going in a great direction and they have the people around who can make this the soccer country that we all want. I see it very positive.”
Todd Durbin, MLS executive vice president of competition and player relations, said it made sense for the league to jump into the fray quickly because it already had a player development structure in place.
“We realized, No. 1, that we needed a competition for our teams to participate in. And, No. 2, that it wasn’t just our teams that were affected, but it was a whole bunch of other teams and kids and families that were affected as well. We decided that in this crazy time that it made sense for us to just step forward and take a leadership role,” he said.
Member clubs will collaborate on the competition format and league structure for the year-round program aimed at developing elite players in the United States and Canada. The league is expected to include under-13, -14, -15, -17 and -19 age groups. The collaboration is the key, Durbin said.
“We really have a moment right now that I really think is unique in history,” he said. “I give enormous credit to all of the clubs, that they decided to take this step, and for them to take the risk and to trust that this is going to work. They’ve put a lot of trust in this process. And it’s up to all of us to deliver on that.”
The start of play remains uncertain because of the pandemic. MLS launched its club academy initiative in 2007. All the teams had participated in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy.