MLS Teams Seek Future Stars in 2009 MLS SuperDraft

Published on January 5, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

NEW YORK (Monday, January 5, 2009) - Will this year's number one pick achieve domestic and international success akin to that of Brian McBride, the first pick in the inaugural MLS Draft? Will this year's No. 2 pick explode for more than 20 goals in his first season like Taylor Twellman did after going second overall in 2002?

Learn the names of those aiming to become the next MLS stars on Thursday, Jan. 15, when 60 young players will be selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The event will begin at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) in St. Louis, Mo., in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The first hour of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will be televised live on ESPN2.

Held at the St. Louis Convention Center - America's Center, the 2009 MLS SuperDraft will consist of four rounds of 15 picks each. The first overall selection belongs to Seattle Sounders FC, which is set to kick off their inaugural season in MLS this year.

St. Louis is home to many of the nation's best amateur soccer clubs, a rich tradition of collegiate excellence, a long professional history beginning with the St. Louis Stars, an original member of the NASL, and is one of six cities being considered for the next round of MLS expansion.

This will be the first time the SuperDraft has been held in St. Louis. From the inaugural draft in 1996 until the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, several south Florida cities served as the host for the annual event. Since 2003, the SuperDraft has moved to a new location each year in conjunction with the annual NSCAA convention. Previous host cities include Baltimore, Md., Charlotte, N.C., Kissimmee, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo.

All 15 MLS teams will select from more than 100 players. Only players on a list of draft-eligible players may be selected. The majority of draft prospects are graduating college seniors with no eligibility remaining at their NCAA schools.

Generation adidas players are also eligible for the SuperDraft. Generation adidas is a joint program between MLS and adidas that is dedicated to developing exceptional domestic talent in a professional environment. Each year, a handful of top underclassmen and youth national team soccer players are signed to League contracts and placed in the SuperDraft through this program. The 2009 Generation adidas class will be announced in the coming days.

Prior to the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, the adidas MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., allows approximately 70 of the nation's top prospects to complete a four-day evaluation by MLS coaches and scouts. All combine participants are automatically eligible for the SuperDraft. MLS teams may also submit more players for draft consideration.

The MLS SuperDraft is open to the public at no charge, and fans are invited to attend, however seating is limited, and fans are encouraged to arrive early.

Below are details on the selection order, rules and procedures for the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.

The 2009 MLS SuperDraft order follows (as of January 5, 2009):

1st ROUND:

1. Seattle Sounders FC

2. Toronto FC (from San Jose)

3. Los Angeles Galaxy

4. Toronto FC

5. FC Dallas

6. D.C. United

7. D.C. United (from Colorado)

8. Kansas City Wizards

9. Chivas USA

10. New England Revolution

11. FC Dallas (from San Jose, Houston)

12. Real Salt Lake

13. Toronto FC (from Chicago)

14. New York Red Bulls

15. New England Revolution (from Columbus)

2nd ROUND:

16. Seattle Sounders FC

17. San Jose Earthquakes

18. FC Dallas (from Los Angeles)

19. Chivas USA (from Toronto)

20. Colorado Rapids (from FC Dallas)

21. D.C. United

22. Kansas City Wizards (from Colorado)

23. Kansas City Wizards

24. New England Revolution (from Los Angeles, Chivas USA)

25. New England Revolution

26. D.C. United (from Houston)

27. FC Dallas (from Salt Lake)

28. Chicago Fire

29. New York Red Bulls

30. Columbus Crew

3rd ROUND:

31. Seattle Sounders FC

32. San Jose Earthquakes

33. Los Angeles Galaxy

34. Toronto FC

35. Colorado Rapids (from Dallas)

36. D.C. United

37. Colorado Rapids

38. New England Revolution (from Kansas City)

39. Toronto FC (from Dallas, Chivas USA)

40. New England Revolution

41. Houston Dynamo

42. Kansas City Wizards (from Salt Lake)

43. Chicago Fire

44. New York Red Bulls

45. Columbus Crew

4th ROUND:

46. Seattle Sounders FC

47. Colorado Rapids (from San Jose)

48. Los Angeles Galaxy

49. Los Angeles Galaxy (from Toronto)

50. Kansas City Wizards (from Dallas) $

51. Colorado Rapids (from D.C. United)

52. Chicago Fire (from Colorado)

53. Kansas City Wizards $

54. Real Salt Lake (from Chivas USA)

55. New England Revolution

56. Houston Dynamo

57. Real Salt Lake

58. Chicago Fire

59. Colorado Rapids (from New York Red Bull)

60. Columbus Crew

$ - Per a previous trade Colorado is to receive the lower of KC's 2009 4th round SuperDraft picks. This pick is to be determined 48 hours prior to the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. This trade will not include any future picks KC may receive in 2009 4th round SuperDraft.

Selection Order:

The MLS SuperDraft selection order is determined as follows: The first selection is awarded to Major League Soccer's expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC. The next six selections are from teams that did not qualify for the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs beginning with the team with fewest 2008 regular season points (3 points per win, one point per tie). The remaining eight positions are ranked by fewest regular season points among the teams that were eliminated in the same round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Procedural rules for the 2009 MLS SuperDraft

Draft Rounds: The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will include four rounds and 60 selections.

Selection Clock: Teams are permitted four (4) minutes to make a selection in the First and Second Rounds. Teams are permitted three (3) minutes to make a selection in the Third and Fourth rounds.

Intermissions: There will be a five (5) minute break between each round.

Timeouts: Each team is permitted one (1), five (5) minute timeout. Selections must be made immediately following the timeout (no additional time given). More than two (2) timeouts BY ANY TEAMS cannot be used consecutively.

Failure to Make Selection in Designated Time: Teams that fail to make their selection in time must wait until the next selection is made, regardless if their choice is presented prior to the next team's decision. The team that was delinquent with its selection must immediately have its choice in hand following the selection of the team that followed. If not, the original team must again wait for the next selection to be made.

Trades: Prior to being announced, trades need to be verified and approved by the Commissioner and/or his designee. Trade announcements should not reveal the identity of players until those players have been contacted by their respective clubs. For example, Team A trades a "player to be named later" for Team B's first selection.

Major League Soccer Stories from January 5, 2009

• Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
• Sounders FC Signs Keeper Chris Eylander - Seattle Sounders FC
• Chicago Fire Weekly - Chicago Fire FC
• MLS Teams Seek Future Stars in 2009 MLS SuperDraft - MLS
• New York Red Bulls Academy Joins North East Pre Academy League - Red Bull New York
• New England Revolution Update - New England Revolution
• Ivan Guerrero called-up to Honduras National Team - D.C. United

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