So it looks like the MLS and Don Garber have finally seen the light on creating a proper development model for youth players.
In a bold (yet not so unexpected move) the MLS has announced that Rosters will be expanded from 24 to 30 players. Restrictions will no longer be placed on a club as to how many players a club signs from it's youth system, and the league will be relaunching it's reserve league.
All three of these new rule changes will greatly affect how clubs grow themselves from within. No longer will youth development be left to civic clubs and universities.
Step 1
Relieving Restrictions on how many Homegrown Players a club can sign to it's roster.
A Homegrown Player is defined by the following guidelines.
All players must reside in a team's "Home Territory" for at least one year prior to being added to the team's Home Grown Player List.
Players must be added to an MLS team's Home Grown Player List prior to entering a four-year college, but can maintain their Home Grown Player status during college if registered before entering that institution.
Members of the U17, U20, and U23 U.S. National Teams cannot be added to an MLS team's Home Grown Player List, but a player already on a Home Grown Player List can maintain that status if selected for a U.S. National team at a later date.
Now Vancouver's territory stretches from Vancouver Island all the way to Manitoba. This rule bodes well for the 'Caps as they have been developing players for sale to bigger European clubs since Greg Kerfoot purchased the club in November of 2002. Most recently we watched Marcus Haber go from lighting up the USL in 2009 to making the move to Scotland and playing with St. Johnstone (on loan from West Brom).
This new rule adjustment means that we will likely see more 'Caps players from this past season get a chance at the MLS then we had previously expected.
Step 2
Expanding club rosters from 24 to 30 players.
We all saw what happened to TFC this past year as they tried to compete in the Nutralite Cup, Concacaf Champions League, and MLS Regular Season. By the end of the year I could have run faster then Adrain Cann. The expansion means that roster spots 26 through 30 will be reserved for players 24 years old and younger. These 6 spots will not count against the the teams salary cap either.
Step 3
Re-Launching the Reserve League.
After attempting the same thing several years ago to have a reserve league, (which only a few teams really took seriously) the MLS is having another kick at the can. This time, teams that don't comply and take it seriously are supposedly going to face sanctions or fines. Again if we look at TFC's past season we can look at a guy like Ibbi Ibrahim who could have really used some time playing, rather then watching, so that when he finally got into the game he didn't look so out of place. If you look at a player like Chris Wondoloski this past year in San Jose, he spent several years in the reserve league and was able to make a successful leap to playing against grown men.
The league is supposed to consist of 3 regional divisions. The teams will play 10 regular season games. The top 8 teams will make the playoffs.
With all the changes taking place, look for clubs like The Whitecaps to be able to take advantage as they already have systems in place that meet this new vision for the league. This new more organic development plan is a going to make the league stronger, and make the national player pools stronger in both the US and Canada.