Behind the USL young player initiative - Soccerwarz on the youth side
It's a worthy move forward for USL
This week, USL announced a sporting initiative which permits the addition of two players to the home club's match day roster.
Honestly, the announcement took me by surprise because several clubs had been talking with me openly about this initiative as early as January and several teams have already named match day squads this season with 20 players in home matches. I had assumed therefore, it was formally announced a while back. But as it turns out, it was not.
First the press release and then below some analysis including how this impacts the ongoing youth front of the Soccerwarz between MLS Next and USL Academy.
Per a press release:
“The exception to the 18-man roster rule was passed by the USL Sporting Committee to promote and reward club investment into youth players. This exception to the 18-man game day roster only applies to the home club during the regular season and is intended to provide the home club with the opportunity to give valuable experience in the development of its young players regardless of professional or amateur status.”
“These two roster spots will allow for further development of youth players by providing the uncompromised opportunity to play them in a competitive match and ultimately increase their value,” said Oliver Wyss, USL Head of Global Football Development & Sporting Director. “Player safety is always top of mind when integrating young players into the First Team, so the decision to limit the exception to home clubs was made to ensure a safe and invaluable experience as they take their first steps into a matchday environment.”
As the rule reads, on matchday the home club is permitted to roster a total of two (2) players, for a max of 20 players on the gameday roster, who qualify under either of the following conditions:
For a player(s) signed to a Standard Player Agreement (SPA), the home Club is allowed up to two (2) players who were 17 or under at the time of signing their SPA; or
For a player(s) signed to an Academy Agreement, the home Club is allowed up to two (2) players regardless of the age of the player at the time of signing their Academy Agreement.
This initiative has been in use since the beginning of the 2024 USL men’s leagues professional seasons and further reinforces the USL’s commitment to developing young players in a safe, professional environment.
Some analysis below:
Does it impact competition?
I’ve heard some push back on this as traveling sides will only have the normal allotment of 18 players on a match day roster. But keep in mind, at the lower division level especially, traveling with more players leads to increased costs. Still some have complained that having nine bench players versus seven is an advantage for the home team - but keep in mind both sides will still only have five subs.
USL Academy success stories
For the last decade, USL Academy contracts have allowed Academy products at USL clubs to sign, train and compete in matches with professional senior teams without affecting their eligibility to play college soccer.
We’ve seen several USL Academy products guys move abroad to Europe, such as Louisville City FC’s Joshua Wynder ( Benfica) and San Antonio FC’s Jose Gallegos (Sønderjyske Fodbold).
But often times it’s been tough for those guys to get into a match day squad. This initiative incentivizes USL clubs to produce academy products and then use the two extra spots on the bench in home matches. It also makes it more likely those guys will actually get games.
Player poaching - MLS v USL
One area of the Soccerwarz many fans miss is the constant fight between MLS Next youth clubs and USL Academies for players. We’re seeing a situation where MLS Next as well as other youth programs tend to dominate younger age groups, but USL Academies are getting very good at poaching 16 or 17 year olds and then moving them into a professional environment quickly.
Part of the impetus behind MLS Next Pro is the desire of MLS to keep these prospects in an MLS club-based program. However, we’re finding plenty of guys that after being in an MLS Next academy, think the level of competition in USL whether its the Championship or League 1 is more beneficial for them.
USL has several clubs that have been aggressive in poaching of players aged 16-18- not that dissimilar to what MLS Next programs have done with younger age groups. This initiative gives USL the ability to add Academy plays to a match-day roster and further the “pathway to pro” that counters the fact that MLS Next clubs directly tied to MLS clubs now have Next Pro as a halfway house to park their academy products.
Bottom Line
This is a positive step forward for USL.
All of this really is the next front in the Warsz. USL clubs can cherry pick some prospects and they get more meaningful playing time than NextPro. NP is still filled with very young playere, who face each other and don't move forward as quickly, IMO.
The other thing I'm starting to see is players at 20-22 years old that haven't really caught on in USL, and were previously in NP, being basically discarded. We're going to see more and more players with decent experience just sitting without a club
Great article! I have commented elsewhere on this blog that it seems like a NO-BRAINER for a U.S.-based young player to play for a USL League One or Two team (and certainly USL Championship) over the MLS Next Pro, as the quality and toughness of play and exposure is superior in the USL. The movement between USL Teams and levels is far easier as well, not to mention the new benefit this article describes.
Related, in the ongoing U.S. Cup, we've seen USL League One teams all go through the opening round (except for one that lost to an US League Two team), whereas half of the MLS Next Pro teams have already been humiliated by NISA, NPSL, or amateur teams and out of the tourney!!