For Luis Robles, change is just fine.
The Technical Director of MLS NEXT wants to be on the cutting edge of things as he tries to figure out how American soccer can solve its problem with player development. Sound complicated? It is, Robles admits. The United States is very large, and it is the mission – if not duty – of MLS NEXT to bring everyone to the professional game, not just those who are affiliated with MLS clubs.
“We know that we can’t solve all the problems, but everything within our realm, we will do our best to solve those problems, and then in that process, we just invite more people to be part of our community. It’s not going to be an overnight thing. It’s going to take time,” he tells GOAL.
That means taking a few risks. MLS NEXT is now bigger, with 43,000 players involved. More players might mean more talent.
And then, there’s the technical aspects. MLS NEXT has been open to tinkering with things, drawing inspiration from Europe but also spending some time looking inwards. The organization has made headlines for introducing “quality of play” rankings – effectively removing wins and losses from U-13 soccer. But that’s not the only shift they’ve made. Pitches have gotten smaller at youth levels to address the issues that come with physical growth and soccer skill.
“The one thing that was really interesting about being in this space is that growth and maturation is not a perfect science. If anything, at that age, it’s like a lottery,” he explains.
The other one might be even more significant. Now, U-13s won’t play two halves. Instead, this MLS NEXT season – which kicked off in full earlier this month – will feature games that have three 25-minute periods. Every single player on a matchday roster must play for at least one full period.
Some might describe it as inauthentic. For Robles, it’s openness to change – even if there are a few detractors.
“There’s a lot of noise. This is why it’s so important to have the right North Star. And our North Star goes to the ends of what’s best for the player. We’re not thinking about what’s best for the player at this exact moment. We’re thinking long term, through the objectives like, how do we develop the next generation of talent? How do we continue to grow the game?” he says.
And that’s the crux of it all. American soccer is at a key moment. There is a World Cup to play on home soil in nine months. And in Robles’ mind, there are many, many more that can be won sometime in the future. The former MLS star sees every single change – big or small – as yet another step to doing just that.
Robles spoke with GOAL about where MLS NEXT is heading next in the latest GOAL Convo, a recurring Q&A with central figures in the American game.
NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Source: https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/luis-robles-mls-next-america-future-us-soccer/bltf1859fa0e25e0087
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