Is MLS SuperDraft still relevant?

CHICAGO — When Major League Soccer began in 1996, there were no Homegrown Players or academies surrounding MLS teams. There were 10 teams. The player pool consisted of national team players, international players, college players and semi-professional players.

Today, the pool of players has evolved. There are 24 MLS clubs with two more on the way. Of those clubs, 23 have academies. FC Cincinnati will be the 24th. Homegrown Players now exist. A Homegrown Player is a player who has resided in the club’s home territory and played at least one year in its development academy. The player is then eligible to sign a Homegrown contract and will not have to enter the draft.

So, a question commonly asked in Friday’s MLS SuperDraft was: Is the draft still relevant? The answer — yes. From MLS commissioner Don Garber to the young men thankful for the opportunity, everyone relished the moment. The players enjoyed the opportunity to tell their stories. Coaches, technical directors, media, MLS staff and fans were all moved by individual stories. And players had their first moments in the spotlight.

“As I listen to young men telling their stories of growing up and wanting to play in this league, that makes me feel stronger that there is a place for this draft,” Garber said. “There always will be a role for young players not in our academies or purchased abroad. Listening to these speeches, these are mature young great men. I’m a big believer in the draft.”

The Chicago Fire selected California’s Calen Carr with the No. 10 pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Carr was fortunate enough to play in his inaugural season. During his eight-year career with the Fire and Houston Dynamo, Carr appeared in 117 matches, recording 14 goals and five assists. He credited the draft for his career, but also was grateful to Cal for his journalism degree. Carr now works for MLSsoccer.com.

“The academy system has shifted the dynamic,” Carr said. “A lot of people are quick to dismiss the draft or college soccer. There are still some quality players playing the college game. I have a degree and had a great run playing in MLS. College is a great avenue for a lot of players.”

As sporting director of the New York Red Bulls, Denis Hamlett had specific ideas in mind when the Red Bulls added to their roster Friday. They had a chance to watch players at the MLS Combine and during the collegiate season. On Friday, they knew what they wanted and were able to make it happen.

“There is still a lot of talent out there,” Hamlett said. “We picked four players today in the first two rounds. We’re extremely happy with our picks. It’s still a special moment for these kids. We can’t lose sight of that.”

The 48 players drafted in Friday’s MLS SuperDraft join clubs with mostly full rosters. They will all compete for a starting spot. But many could just provide competition in training. And that’s OK. It’s a starting spot for many. You never know when your number may be called.

“The league has grown so much, the majority of players in this draft are projects,” FC Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch said. “Players won’t have a lot of impact right away. You don’t know anything until you are with the players and help them maximize their abilities.”

Instead of discussing whether or not there should be a draft, the discussion should instead be: How do we bridge the gap between the college game and the professional game? Sure it’s the same game. But the rules are not the same. Coaches and league officials worry that the college season is just a few months long, where the professional season is now about 10 months long. Collegiate players now have the opportunity to play during the summer with a PDL or an NPSL club. Players can also take leave to compete in international competitions with their national teams. But is it enough? Only the powers that be can answer that question.

As to whether the draft is here to stay, the answer is yes. Garber summed it up best: “Our league needs special moments. Our sport needs special moments.”

Follow Kathryn on Twitter: @Katknapp99.

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