MLS SuperDraft explained

The MLS SuperDraft is an annual college draft for teams of Major League Soccer in the United States and Canada. It takes place in January and is used by teams to select players who have graduated from college or otherwise been signed by the league. The SuperDraft was first instituted in 2000, as a combination of the MLS College Draft, in which players having graduated from college were selected, and the MLS Supplemental Draft, in which all other players were chosen. The draft is divided into three rounds in which each club has a selection, the order of which is determined by a combination of the teams' playoff and regular season positions, with the last placed team (or expansion teams) getting the first pick.

History

From 1996 to 1999, all American players graduating college were entered into the MLS College Draft, and were eligible to be selected by all Major League Soccer teams. Players who had already graduated from college were entered into a separate MLS Supplemental Draft. The division between the two was eliminated in 2000, when they were combined into a single MLS SuperDraft. Originally created to ensure strict parity in the league, the draft was designed to allow weaker clubs to develop their rosters. The first SuperDraft was held in 2000, and since then has become the primary draft of the league. Recently, the draft has been considered to be secondary to youth academies.[1] [2] [3]

The importance of the SuperDraft waned in the 2010s as MLS teams established their own youth academy systems and acquired young players from other leagues. The 2020 MLS SuperDraft was conducted exclusively by conference calls and online streaming for the first time.[4]

Eligible players

Only players from the American college sports system (e.g., the NCAA and the NAIA) are eligible to be drafted. Canadian U Sports men's soccer players are not included, despite numerous proposals and discussions in 2010[5] and 2012[6] when U Sports was Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). In previous SuperDrafts, a few players were drafted directly from clubs outside the U.S. or Canada.

Rules of draft selection

The draft process for the SuperDraft closely resembles the NFL Draft. Below is the process for the 2023 MLS SuperDraft:

  1. Any expansion club automatically gets the first pick; should there be two expansion teams, a coin toss determines who picks first in the SuperDraft and who picks first in the expansion draft.
  2. Teams that did not make the playoffs are ordered by their regular-season record.
  3. Teams that made the MLS Cup Playoffs are then ordered by which round of the playoffs they are eliminated.
  4. The winners of the MLS Cup are given the last selection, and the losers the penultimate selection.
  5. Remaining ties are broken by the goal differential, goals scored, goals conceded, and then the flip of a coin.
StatusDraft picks
Expansion clubs1
Non-playoff clubs2–17
Eliminated in knockout round18–21
Eliminated in conference semifinals22–25
Eliminated in conference championships26–27
MLS Cup finalist28
MLS Cup winner29

List of MLS College Drafts

YearDateCity
1996data-sort-value=1936-02-08March 4, 1996330Fort Lauderdale, FLdata-sort-value=McKeon, Matt Matt McKeonKansas City Wiz
1997data-sort-value=1936-02-08February 1, 1997330Fort Lauderdale, FLdata-sort-value=Jakins, Tahj Tahj JakinsColorado Rapids
1998data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 31, 1998336Fort Lauderdale, FLdata-sort-value=Cullen, Leo Leo CullenMiami Fusion
1999data-sort-value=1936-02-08February 6, 1999336Fort Lauderdale, FLdata-sort-value=Moore, Jason Jason MooreD.C. United

List of MLS SuperDrafts

YearDateCity
2000data-sort-value=1936-02-08February 6, 2000672Fort Lauderdale, FLdata-sort-value=Shak, Steve Steve ShakMetroStars
2001data-sort-value=1936-02-08February 5, 2001672Davie, FLdata-sort-value=Carrieri, Chris Chris CarrieriSan Jose Earthquakes
2002data-sort-value=1936-02-08February 10, 2002670Lake Buena Vista, FLdata-sort-value=Gbandi, Chris Chris GbandiDallas Burn
2003data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 17, 2003660Kansas City, MOdata-sort-value=Eskandarian, Alecko Alecko EskandarianD.C. United
2004data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 16, 2004660Charlotte, NCdata-sort-value=Adu, Freddy Freddy AduD.C. United
2005data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 14, 2005448Baltimore, MDdata-sort-value=Besagno, Nikolas Nikolas BesagnoReal Salt Lake
2006data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 20, 2006448Philadelphia, PAdata-sort-value=Wynne, Marvell Marvell WynneMetroStars
2007data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 12, 2007452Indianapolis, INdata-sort-value=Edu, Maurice Maurice EduToronto FC
2008data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 18, 2008456Baltimore, MDdata-sort-value=Myers, Chance Chance MyersKansas City Wizards
2009data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 15, 2009460St. Louis, MOdata-sort-value=Zakuani, Steve Steve ZakuaniSeattle Sounders FC
2010data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 14, 2010464Philadelphia, PAdata-sort-value=Mwanga, Danny Danny MwangaPhiladelphia Union
2011data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 13, 2011354Baltimore, MDdata-sort-value=Salgado, Omar Omar SalgadoVancouver Whitecaps FC
2012data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 12, 2012238Kansas City, MOdata-sort-value=Wenger, Andrew Andrew WengerMontreal Impact
2013data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 17, 2013238Indianapolis, INdata-sort-value=Farrell, Andrew Andrew FarrellNew England Revolution
2014data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 16, 2014477Philadelphia, PAdata-sort-value=Blake, Andre Andre BlakePhiladelphia Union
2015data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 15, 2015484Philadelphia, PAdata-sort-value=Larin, Cyle Cyle LarinOrlando City SC
2016data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 14, 2016475Baltimore, MDdata-sort-value=Harrison, Jack Jack HarrisonChicago Fire
2017data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 13, 2017481Los Angeles, CAdata-sort-value=Danladi, Abu Abu DanladiMinnesota United FC
2018data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 19, 2018481Philadelphia, PAdata-sort-value=Moutinho, João João MoutinhoLos Angeles FC
2019data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 11, 2019475Chicago, ILdata-sort-value=Amaya, Frankie Frankie AmayaFC Cincinnati
2020data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 9, 2020477via teleconferencedata-sort-value=Robinson, Robbie Robbie RobinsonInter Miami CF
2021data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 21, 2021375via teleconferencedata-sort-value=Pereira, Dani Dani PereiraAustin FC
2022data-sort-value=1936-02-08January 11, 2022379via teleconferencedata-sort-value=Bender, Ben Ben BenderCharlotte FC
2023December 21, 2022383via teleconferencedata-sort-value=Diop, Hamady Hamady DiopCharlotte FC
2024December 19, 2023387via teleconferencedata-sort-value=Spicer, Tyrese Tyrese SpicerToronto FC

Notes and References

  1. News: Walter. Tyler. MLS SuperDraft: Why the Rise of Youth Academies Causes the Draft To Be Obsolete. July 17, 2011. Bleacher Report. January 8, 2011.
  2. News: McCarthy. Kyle. Monday MLS Breakdown: Academy Programs Increasingly Influence SuperDraft Pool. July 17, 2011. Goal.com USA. December 13, 2010.
  3. Web site: Let's abandon the MLS draft. ESPN.com. July 17, 2011. January 14, 2011.
  4. Creditor . Avi . January 9, 2020 . The Highs and Lows of a Dwindling MLS SuperDraft . . January 9, 2020.
  5. News: CIS pushing for MLS draft entry: Coach. Canadian Soccer News. November 24, 2010.
  6. News: Road to pros may ease for university stars. Ben. Rycroft. February 15, 2012. CBC Sports. CBC.

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