RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Canales Corner: Youth Movement Making MLS Waves
As the youth divisions of Major League Soccer grow, so does the credibility and quality of the league.
Apr 5, 2010 11:40:00 AM
By Andrea Canales
The Liverpool Echo waxed positively nostalgic about the memories of Landon Donovan raised by Los Angeles Galaxy uniforms arriving at Goodison Park.
"The sight of the LA Galaxy’s youth team taking their seats at Goodison was an arch reminder of what Everton are missing as their bid for European football stutters at its crucial stage."
Though I'm in general agreement with my colleague Allen Ramsey's argument that Donovan's loan deal at Everton didn't change the world of soccer in any significant way, it might well have served as a push to help USA players like those under-18 Galaxy youth players visiting England. The bit of extra attention comes at a good time for the Academy squads, which are gaining momentum as a pipeline into the pro game.
Consider that the only non-foreign champion in the older age divisions of the competitive Dallas Cup tournament was the Houston Dynamo's U16 squad.
Youth soccer in America has long been dominated by independant clubs with no ties to a pro team. Many convinced parents to send talented kids their way by touting how many players they were able to send to university teams on scholarships.
With professional teams providing training on fields next to players who make their living in the game, and with youth talent sharing the coaching, facilities and equipment of the pro players, the college route to pro soccer has been relegated to a secondary option by many hopefuls.
The move directly to a pro contract has been laid out by talents such as Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen. At only 16, Bowen first signed with the Los Angeles team's youth program back when it was getting put together. Now he is signed to the club's senior roster and is already showing signs of having a breakout season. Bowen showed off his versatility in the club's preseason, playing as a midfielder.
"It's a little bit different," Bowen acknowledged. "You don't have the pressure of scoring goals, but at the same time you have to get good service into the box and try to pick out runners."
The tall, athletic player was using his experience as a goalscorer to inform his midfield play.
"You kind of know where the forward might want the ball," Bowen explained. "It's easier, being able to think as a forward."
Of course, at 16, Wayne Rooney was already seeing regular game time in the English Premier League as a member of Everton, so if some aren't very impressed with the youth team improvement in MLS, that's to be expected. More might begin to pay attention, however, when both the quality and quantity of talent in the league grows exponentially.
It won't happen right away, though, especially because there is a critical gap in the development ladder of MLS right now. As much as MLS has improved in the development stages, the lack of a reserve league (it was dissolved in 2008) means that players lack a meaningful transition phase from the youth levels to the professional ranks.
Bowen, for example, spend much of last season on loan, as the Galaxy sought to find him important game time to keep his skills sharp.
After the players' union signed a contract with the league earlier this season, it was announced that part of the agreement included a provision to "study the re-launch of a reserve division".
In other words, nothing concrete is being done to provide games to help the youngest professionals in the game keep improving.
With the limited time-span for a career in the game, those players whose skills might be stunted to the dithering of MLS about the reserve teams can be considered a Lost Generation.
The tough slog may force others to learn new discipline, however. Bowen certainly seems focused for a teenager.
"You're a professional," Bowen stated of his thoughts when called upon for the Galaxy. "You come on the field and you do your job."
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game!
"The sight of the LA Galaxy’s youth team taking their seats at Goodison was an arch reminder of what Everton are missing as their bid for European football stutters at its crucial stage."
Though I'm in general agreement with my colleague Allen Ramsey's argument that Donovan's loan deal at Everton didn't change the world of soccer in any significant way, it might well have served as a push to help USA players like those under-18 Galaxy youth players visiting England. The bit of extra attention comes at a good time for the Academy squads, which are gaining momentum as a pipeline into the pro game.
Consider that the only non-foreign champion in the older age divisions of the competitive Dallas Cup tournament was the Houston Dynamo's U16 squad.
Youth soccer in America has long been dominated by independant clubs with no ties to a pro team. Many convinced parents to send talented kids their way by touting how many players they were able to send to university teams on scholarships.
With professional teams providing training on fields next to players who make their living in the game, and with youth talent sharing the coaching, facilities and equipment of the pro players, the college route to pro soccer has been relegated to a secondary option by many hopefuls.
The move directly to a pro contract has been laid out by talents such as Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen. At only 16, Bowen first signed with the Los Angeles team's youth program back when it was getting put together. Now he is signed to the club's senior roster and is already showing signs of having a breakout season. Bowen showed off his versatility in the club's preseason, playing as a midfielder.
"It's a little bit different," Bowen acknowledged. "You don't have the pressure of scoring goals, but at the same time you have to get good service into the box and try to pick out runners."
The tall, athletic player was using his experience as a goalscorer to inform his midfield play.
"You kind of know where the forward might want the ball," Bowen explained. "It's easier, being able to think as a forward."
Of course, at 16, Wayne Rooney was already seeing regular game time in the English Premier League as a member of Everton, so if some aren't very impressed with the youth team improvement in MLS, that's to be expected. More might begin to pay attention, however, when both the quality and quantity of talent in the league grows exponentially.
It won't happen right away, though, especially because there is a critical gap in the development ladder of MLS right now. As much as MLS has improved in the development stages, the lack of a reserve league (it was dissolved in 2008) means that players lack a meaningful transition phase from the youth levels to the professional ranks.
Bowen, for example, spend much of last season on loan, as the Galaxy sought to find him important game time to keep his skills sharp.
After the players' union signed a contract with the league earlier this season, it was announced that part of the agreement included a provision to "study the re-launch of a reserve division".
In other words, nothing concrete is being done to provide games to help the youngest professionals in the game keep improving.
With the limited time-span for a career in the game, those players whose skills might be stunted to the dithering of MLS about the reserve teams can be considered a Lost Generation.
The tough slog may force others to learn new discipline, however. Bowen certainly seems focused for a teenager.
"You're a professional," Bowen stated of his thoughts when called upon for the Galaxy. "You come on the field and you do your job."
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Become a fan of Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything the related to the beautiful game!
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
6 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February
The Swedish striker traditionally struggles in February. Facing a three-match ban this month, the jinx looks set to continue.
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
Advertisement
Advertisement