Is Bradenton The Answer?

On the heels of the worst World Cup result of a USA under-20 team in over a decade, Goal.com's Andrea Canales reports that a transition in development in Bradenton, Florida and the lack of an MLS reserve league could be the root of these problems.

I wasn't terribly surprised when the USA under-20 team, a squad where many members do not see regular playing time (partly as a result of MLS having no reserve league right now), had its worst performance of the World Cup against a South Korea team known for speed and fitness.

Inevitably, though, the failure to advance out of the first round brings up a few questions about the developmental pipeline of the U-20 team.

One aspect that should be scrutinized is the residency program at Bradenton run by U.S. Soccer. It has long been a cradle of development for elite youth players.

"Eventually, we should move away from (residency) and our professional clubs should take the lead in player development, quite frankly, like it’s done in the rest of the world," Rongen said.

Here's where MLS, which may have negatively impacted the U-20 squad the most through killing the reserve league, has a chance to redeem itself through the academy systems its clubs are developing.

"Our development in most instances has been done through U.S. Soccer," Rongen explained. "The professional teams need to take a vested interest in developing players. Obviously the academy teams now are younger teams - they’re three or four years in - so it’s going to be a while before we bear the fruits"

However, a few clubs are already reaping the benefits of youth teams, and have signed players to their full rosters. Thus, they could also directly benefit from a reserve league that develops such players.

"Some teams have already signed some academy players from their respective teams," Rongen noted. "I would like to think that that will continue and that’s a good trend and a healthy trend. And again, that’s the model of the rest of the world, where pro clubs are the frontrunners in player development and not necessarily the soccer federations. At this point we’re still the frontrunners and still producing more national team players through that than MLS does."

http://goal.com/en-us/news/2617/youth-soccer/2009/10/04/1541847/canales-daily-despite-some-success-bradenton-isnt-the-answer