MLS: 3 potential pitfalls of Elite Player Development Platform
2. What about travel?
Peter Vermes, who has been at the forefront of MLS’ plans for a development-style league, raised a salient point in April about the need for travel.
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“I think your competition has to change,” Vermes told 810WHB. “14 and below should be local and regional. I don’t think kids should be flying all over the country at 12, 13 and 14. It’s not necessary. We should be training and playing games. We can do that in and amongst our local and regional markets.”
His point is correct. Developing young players in America is different from almost every other country in the world, especially those in Europe, because of the sheer size of the country. In England, a five or six-hour drive covers the majority of the country. In America, that might barely you get out of some states.
Of course, reducing travel also reduces the quality of play, which was something that MLS teams struggled with previously. If you cast your net over a smaller area, you will catch smaller fish. The same applies here. There is, then, a balance to be found, between high competition of play and travelling large distances. MLS must get it right.