In watching the NASL match between Tampa Bay and Carolina, the commentators brought up some important points.  First the quality of the second division is enjoyable to watch.  The match flows with quality play on both ends.  Here are players that grew up with a dream of apply their skills at the highest level possible.  The clubs have chosen regional college players to form the core of the team.  Add the carefully chosen internationals to teach those intangible elements learned from inside the culture where soccer is the sport.  The Railhawks have players on loan from A USLPro team.  The USLPro season is a third division league who has an agreement with MLS to help develop young players.  There were also past MLS players for both teams.

Colleges are reaping the benefits of the Fourth division summer leagues already.  The PDL, also under the USLPro umbrella, and the NPSL, an independent league, have teammates from the summer playing for Div 1 and II programs. That familiarity of play is providing early success for teams across the country.  The rules are such that players are exposed to different coaches both on and off the field.  The NCAA rules keep players from playing has much has Europeans of the same age.  That is something I would like to see tweaked.  Will most of these play professionally at the top levels?  The odds are against them.  Most will keep playing and/or coach at many levels.  Not all of them can be Jay Demerit.  Has with most college graduates that play sports, they will go professional in some other field.  

Has a soccer fan who has waited decades to see soccer get to this point,  I couldn’t be happy that an NASL player got a call up to the USMNT.  All this means that high quality soccer is being played somewhere I can actually go to.  Being in the stands is a addiction.  There was a time having an addiction was something of a mystery to me.  DCFC withdrawal has destroyed that ignorance.  The supporter culture still has shallow roots but that’s changing too.  

Now if the MLS and USLPro will stop claim jumping the ground work the NASL has done in under served cities, soccer will really grow.  Look I understand a perfect storm is happening.  Huge egos are driving investment in a sport that is unprofitable in the cold light of reality.  Sports owners had never been accused of being rationale.  MLS is the big bully with deep pockets.  The NASL imploded once.  Version 2 is where the MLS was ten years ago.  USLPro is the latest manifestation of an organization founded in 1982.  The NPSL is a work in progress.  

Atlanta has a successful NASL club with a supporter culture that is becoming known for their passion.  So the MLS starts making it announcement of adding 4 more teams starting with Author Blank in Atlanta.  Orlando City SC and Miami with Beckham.  Funny thing the Southeast is where the NASL and USLPro are strongest.  The talent pool is the joker in the equation.  The depth is not uniform in quality. There are places where the bottom is exposed in a good wind.  My fear is a rapid expansion will lead to a repeat of history.  Perception is funny.  Very successful businessman and women can become kid millionaires where sports ownership is involved. 

The lack of depth is most critical in the off field organization.  The Patriots are successful for the strength of the organization behind the scenes.  The product on the field is the end result not the starting point.  All these new organizations will need soccer people who understand the tea leaves of the world game. Many have said the American game is a different animal.  So why is it so important to have viable and healthy lower leagues?  Players only get better by playing against quality opponents.  Intriguing competitive sides create buzz.  Casual fans are interested in that buzz.  Casual fans, families and supporters pay the bills.  Supporters and Ultras are the colorful spice that expand the atmosphere for a one of a kind event every match.  Passion brings sponsors.  Sponsors pay the club money to get in front of passionate fans.  

Break any link of this chain and the club fails. The Beautiful Game grows best with deep roots.  Those roots are the matches that aren’t covered by major media.  Dr. J played his best games before TV found the NBA/ABA.  Every league below the MLS level is critical to the success of the spreading of the sport in America. My club is Detroit City FC.  City Till I Die.