Will do a few threads on US Soccer but first on the Development Academy system and the fact it is being ended. First I think the idea behind a DA was a good one. To centralize all top players playing against each other to create the best environment for Player Development.

The fact that many MLS clubs funded the Academy helped move away from the Pay to Play model and allowed the club to focus on the best player....not the player with the best financial situation. This was an important step and a necessary one. Having worked in the system as a

coach and a US Soccer scout I can say that the level of coaching at clubs continued to evolve and improve. This isn't to say clubs at other levels didn't create a good environment.... not at all. I'm sure there are great coaches at all different levels and leagues but DA

brought this together to create competition at the highest level of competition. Now in other countries it is easy to halve a full Academy of pro teams but it's nearly impossible for MLS to do that so each region had to create their own level of competition.

and for the most part they did. Look at So Cal with the likes of Pateadores, TFA etc. Crossfire in the Northwest taking on Sounders etc. I believe the level of competition and coaching has improved.....not at every club, but for the most part it has. This should have been

the first step. The next should have been to align with other leagues to create tiers and look for the teams that do well to move up the chain etc. Incentivize the other clubs to really compete. Don't let them simply play in other leagues and make it solely about money.

Not saying this would have been easy because there are egos at every level and a lot of highly paid Directors who lets just say are stealing a living that may not have wanted this but it should happen. It would be best for the players Best for development of these players

But instead we have come away from a system that, I believe, in time would elevate the play at the youth level in American soccer. Instead it will be back to clubs playing in their own leagues and no centralized system What does it do for MLS Academy clubs? Who do they play?

And above anything else, How does this benefit the players? I'm not sure it does. And if the decision is based solely on the financial outlay .........

I've seen tweets saying it will allow kids to play high school soccer again etc. Is this great for development. I have nothing against it nor would I have stopped it but I'm asking is this what is going to help the player develop? How will the coaching be? How will the level be?

Lots to digest but ultimately I think this time could have been used to allying the leagues we have instead we have gone back to square one