EDITORIAL – Two years ago I examined one of the most polarizing practices taking place annually in Major League Soccer, the MLS SuperDraft. One of the hot topics at that point in time was the potential signing of an MLS draftee to an NASL side for its guaranteed contract, which at the time was something MLS couldn’t really offer to all of its draft class. MLS realized that they needed to address not only more enticing offers for its draftees, but how it would coexist alongside the Academy system. How did they fare?
As was stated two years ago, MLS is the only league which hosts a draft in the world of footy for its prospects. Much of what MLS strived for then remains the same – parity amongst its clubs. It’s also important to note that this is the only system in the world where collegiate players are a factor, and as such, it is important that their specific needs are met. Many critics point to the SuperDraft as being unnecessary simply because no other league has one, and that it adds to the confusing terminology that MLS is associated with. Indeed, the concept of a “Generation Adidas Player” remains as bizarre as ever.
There have been instances in which SuperDraft eligible players have signed for clubs on homegrown deals based on technicalities to avoid having their rights granted to another club. The best example of this is Toronto FC’s Jay Chapman, the projected 2nd or 3rd overall pick in the 2014 edition of the event. He signed for them the evening before the draft, despite how briefly he played for the Reds academy squad. Yeah, he bypassed the potential to end up in Montréal.
With the Academy system, players have the advantage of breaking through to the first team younger, the ideology of the club already embedded within them. Yet the issue several years ago happened to be the lack of playing time that these academy graduates and draft picks were receiving. MLS attempted unsuccesfully to implement a loan system, along with its clubs creating partnerships for its youth players in lower division clubs or even rival NASL teams.
What they did next is nothing short of spectacular – they added teams to an already existing league, the USL, for the sole purpose of creating feeder clubs. The 3rd division expanded at an insane pace, with teams either attaining affiliates from pre-existing clubs or creating new franchises (with original names suffixed such as “II”). Forget the complications of having feeder teams stocked with youth playing alongside non-affiliated professional sides, albeit in the third division; this was and remains a major coup for the league.
It’s clear that MLS is aware of the criticisms of their SuperDraft; they responded effectively to all of them. Draft picks on the lower end of the spectrum now have a chance to prove themselves in a competitive, professional environment – forget wasting away on the bench or having to look for work elsewhere. What MLS has done, frankly, increased the competitiveness of the North American game. Can one really ask for more?
