The United States Soccer Federation provoked reactions throughout American youth soccer circles late last week,
when it announced that clubs participating in its U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USDA) will be transitioning to a 10-month schedule beginning this fall and that players participating in the USDA will no longer be able to play for both their USDA clubs and their high schools.
Amid the various
debating points and
virtual arguments, though, one thing is clear: High school soccer throughout the United States
will look different beginning this fall. The question is, How different will it look here in Maine?
From my perspective, not much different--at least in the short-term.
That's because if a Maine soccer player were to participate in the USDA, he would most likely play for Seacoast United. As of today, though, neither the U-16 nor the U-18 Seacoast United Development Academy teams
have a Mainer on their rosters. So--for this fall at least--there don't appear to be any upperclassmen here in Maine who will be forced to choose between playing for club or for city.
In the long run, though, the USDA's new 10-month schedule will no doubt have an effect on high school soccer here in Maine.
Obviously, the conflict will become more apparent when Mainers represent a USDA team at that level. However, a more subtle--but consequential--point: Even though the USSF's new policy applies only to the 78 club teams participating in the Development Academy, I wouldn't be surprised if other competitive premier clubs not affiliated with the USDA adopt a similar policy of exclusivity. And its these ripple effects that could cause the shift of some of the better players in the state playing exclusively for his club side.
So, even though the short-term impact of the new policy seems neglible and pretty small, the long-term impact could be a big one for high school soccer in Maine. The complementary relationship between high school soccer and club soccer has been debated for about the last decade now, and last week's news could very well signal the end of that symbiotic relationship.
- John C.L. Morgan
