One of the big problems I see with the current MLS system is how MLS clubs hold homegrown rights of players while they are playing college soccer.

To begin with, there are many, many problems with this, but I think what this ends up doing is it stifles players who would otherwise choose to go the college route.

Even if it was only for a year or two, I do think there would be some players who would run down the clock until they graduate high school without signing any pro deals to then play college soccer, and they would eventually actually consider MLS as an option after another year or two, if they had more of a choice of which club in MLS.

Without that, they may end up in USL or Europe. They may try paths that don’t have particularly high success rates or many successful products of.

You see players all the time that’ll run down their time at Man City or Chelsea or PSG or Real Madrid to then sign with Bayer Leverkusen or RB Leipzig or Brighton or Ajax.

Players need the option of running down their time with their MLS academy, whether that includes college or not as a destination afterwards.

This should be something the MLSPA is advocating for, but are they really going to be advocating for future members? This is a problem you see with the whole “Players Association” notion within sports. They shaft the younger (or future) members to help the older guys on their way out.

The people who need to be advocating for this right now are agents. Many of you represent these players who are sifting through a limited set of options, and dealing with an MLS front office that wants to perpetuate the mediocrity of a select few ownership groups and a PA that couldn’t care less about the younger guys. 

Someone has to be pushing for the up and coming players to have more options in the landscape and against the archaic MLS homegrown territories concept.