MLS Receives Expansion Bids...What Does That Do To The Player Pool...

In the past I've blogged about the expanding pool of players in MLS as expansion teams are brought into the fold. Well folks, here we go again.

NEW YORK (Wednesday, October 15, 2008) – Seven prospective ownership groups from markets throughout the United States and Canada have submitted an application for a future Major League Soccer expansion team, MLS President Mark Abbott announced today on the League’s official web site, www.MLSnet.com.

MLS intends to add two more clubs in the next few years, bringing the League to 18 teams. Seattle Sounders FC begin play next year as the 15th team in MLS, and Philadelphia will join in 2010 as the League’s 16th team.

Recap of the player rules:
• 28 total players on the roster
• 18 senior players
• 10 developmental players
• 8 International Player slots per team, and the distinction between Youth International and Senior International has been removed

Remember Canadian teams (only TFC right now) play by different rules since they're in Canada, ehh.

Let's do the math:
14 current MLS teams * 28 players per team = 392 players currently playing in MLS. Expand by an additional four teams (which is how many are currently being discussed if the league is going to 18) and you get 504 players in MLS at the end of expansion. A 29% change.

Where are those additional 112 players going to come from? If rules don't change, 32, roughly 30%, are going to be international, coming from different countries. 40, or 36% will be developmental (recent college grads and other youngsters) and the remaining 40, again 36%, will be other American players presumably with some playing time under their belt in Europe or other foreign leagues. Hopefully by 2010 more players will be joining MLS teams out of their development academy.

Another aspect to consider is the youth development league below the MLS club roster. Here is the Rapids' pyramid of soccer development. Just think of all the kids who will get a chance to play the game in a club environment with this expansion.





As I've said in the past, I'm not sure College Soccer is producing enough players to meet this demand. There will certainly need to be more done to keep young pros in MLS as expansion occurs. There will also need to be more done to encourage boomerangs.

All in all I am for expansion, however MLS will need to be careful that it is bringing along players to fill the available roster spots without diluting the quality of play.