Loosely applying the theory of constraints....T Robinson has a good point.
Moving to a 10 month Academy is fantastic for development for 14-18 year olds. Great first step.
But what happens when most of these kids come rolling out of Academy and straight into NCAA programs? The Fall season is what......3 1/2 months? Time allowed on the ball in the spring....is another 2 months?
Does it make sense to train 10 months a year from 14-18 and then from 18-22 scale it back to 5-6 months?
NCAA needs to loosen up rules on practice.......or more likely talented kids will not go to college or leave early to compete professionally. Or......they will stay put and regress, as compared to their international peers.
The answer my friends......is club affiliation. In effect, a minor league system. A professional development environment that is more than a few months over summer break. Every Academy program shoudl be partnered up with an MLS club. Top players in Academy get pulled up to train with reserves and maybe 1st team. Lets assume SCU was affiliated with New England Revolution. At 18 a kid could sign a pro contract and be loaned to say, the Battery.
MLS could also form a developpmental league or an alliance with leagues in Mexico or other countires in the region. Outside of the MLS season.....younger players could continue to train and play. Just like winter leagues in baseball.
