Welcome to the world of professional soccer – Louisville City FC! With the announcement on Wednesday by USL-Pro CEO Alec Papadakis that Louisville has been granted a professional soccer franchise, it only strengthened the idea that Grassroots Soccer is the way to build talent here in America.
The rights to the USL-Pro franchise that is owned by Orlando City FC will be transferred to Louisville beginning in 2015 when Orlando enters Major League Soccer. Louisville City FC will automatically become an affiliate to Orlando City FC and that will add to a growing list of affiliations between MLS Clubs and USL-Pro Clubs.
The USL-Pro is the third tier in American Soccer behind Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer League. The league began play in 2011 and in January of 2013, an announcement was made that there would be an agreement between both the USL-Pro and MLS in regards to player development. The relationship between the two leagues would strengthen league competition for the USL-Pro and it would build a stronger relationship between American Soccer Divisions.
In the past, many American born players who aspired to be a professional soccer player took their talents to Europe, England in many cases, or countries that had strong Academy Teams that would enable the player to strengthen their skills. These players would train with the academy team and in a few years, have a chance at playing for the pro club or the team’s second division club. These days, more and more “homegrown” players are staying in the United States and playing in a number of leagues that exist throughout the country.
The advent of creating a development league began in the early 1990’s with the formation of the PDL (Premier Development League). The main objection of this league is to define the skills of the player and give these individuals a chance to be noticed by the MLS, the NASL or the USL-Pro and be rewarded with a professional contract. The PDL consists of stand-out high school players, junior club players and even former professional players who suffered a career ending injury and would still like to play soccer at a high level. Each PDL team may not have more than eight players over the age of twenty-three and must have three or more players eighteen years of age or younger on the squad. Roughly twenty years later, those initial development players are mainstay on many MLS or NASL Clubs today.
The new generation of American Soccer Players has grown up with America having a stable professional league, academy teams and a league where they can play and develop into a player that could compete on the world stage. Having three professional leagues with teams spread across the country, a young player has an equal opportunity to play on a team and rise through the ranks of American Soccer and one day, play in MLS. The proof that MLS Clubs have exceptional talent lies with this year’s United States Men’s National Team. There are ten players on the squad that call MLS home and that is a testimony that America’s Grassroots Soccer Movement is making a difference here at home.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @lwosEric. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at sports injury alert.
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football.
