It will be interesting to see how this impacts the top level. Years ago ODP was supposed to be the solution... then State League... then Super Y... then Region 3 Premier League... then ECNL... now a 10-month DA schedule.
By the way, how much does US Soccer charge for this privilege? If you want to really mirror what the rest of the world is doing perhaps you should start there.
Ding, ding, ding ... we have a winner!
I agree with this statement. 5-10 years from now, we'll have a 'new solution' to this issue. I still believe the best way to achieve quality soccer growth is for the MLS teams (which still are not totally solvent on their own terms in some cases) to anchor residential programs that recruit/attract the top 1% of players to train in a professional development free of cost to the player.
As for what the S.C. United Battery (DA team) will charge, who knows, but I would be very surprised if it was fully funded. If you end up charging $2,000-$4,000 per player to be involved for a 10-month season, will you truly attract the top 1% or just those that think they're in the top 1% because their parents can write the check. What are the advantages for a #15-20 player on a DA roster? Are they "guaranteed" at least a DI college scholarship? If so, are they full-ride players, or are they only going to garner $2,000-$4,000 per year in scholarship money?
Those are the questions that need to be asked of DA and what it means to all the players involved -- not just the top 2-3 ringers on each squad that would be able to play DI soccer regardless of involvement with DA.
