USL United Soccer League Championship

USL Scouting Network Grows in Fourth Year

Published on April 26, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - After a record-setting 2017 - and entering its fourth season - the USL Scouting Network grows and expands its scope ahead of the 2018 PDL season kickoff next Friday.

With an increased number of scouts - including coaches, general managers and more from around the country - a more thorough national coverage and ever-increasing standards, the Scouting Network is posed for its strongest season to date since launching in 2015.

2017 showed the massive steps taken by the program since its launch, with a record 66 PDL alums selected in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and more than 500 alumni playing professionally across the U.S. and Canada.

"The USL Scouting Network has been one of the primary drivers of the PDL's success in producing professional talent in recent years," said PDL Co-Director Chris Madden. "Our incredible 2017 season in terms of player development is a testament to the network's ability to identify, track and evaluate thousands of PDL players every season."

The USL Scouting Network continues to evolve, with new behind-the-scenes systems used to evaluate both a wide scope of players and provide a deep picture of each athlete analyzed. The results of the labor of each of the network's scouts and the system can be seen in the PDL's ongoing Top Prospects list, which will be featured in biweekly updates during the season, providing valuable data to fans, followers and professional clubs as they seek top-level talent.

"Our Top Prospects list has been a key feature of the USL Scouting Network over the past few years," said Madden. "It has helped many professional teams identify future players, including current MLS and USL rookies such as Chris Mueller, Jon Bakero and Francis Atuahene. Professional teams are reaping the benefits of the scouting system to fill their rosters and we're proud to see so many of our alumni making impacts at the professional and international levels."

The 2018 PDL season kicks off next Friday, May 4 as the FC Golden State Force host San Diego Zest FC.

"The USL Scouting Network provides a key component for USL teams looking to add talented available PDL players to our rosters presently and in the future. The quality, standardized information and analysis provided by a committed and experienced group of scouts strengthens the caliber and depth of the connection between PDL and USL teams. This connection increases the opportunity for PDL players to find the right opportunities to sign immediately with USL teams for those ready to take that step.

"The network also greatly aids USL head coaches, technical directors, and general managers in the identification and tracking of talented PDL players who have not completed and wish to complete their college careers. USL technical staffs can offer opportunities to see those network-scouted underclassman PDL players in their specific USL environment to evaluate them for future selection.

"The USL scouting network will serve to truly expand the PDL-USL connection by improving the number and quality of opportunities for deserving PDL players to move on to USL teams. In turn, USL teams will be able to better identify and track players that suit their team needs, both immediate and future."

"The PDL Scouting Network is made up of people with vast histories of playing, coaching and educating in youth soccer, college soccer and the professional game here in the United States and abroad. Many of the USL scouts that produce the Top Prospect lists that are handed to MLS Head Coaches and General Managers have experience in the college game and professional game through all its incarnations here in the United States to present-day MLS. This experience includes leagues and institutions at all levels over a huge country.

"MLS and USL teams have scouts and coaches that have played and coached with the current scouting network so constant communication happens and trust is established in terms of what the highest level professional teams and coaches are looking for in players. With each year, there is a bigger pool of soccer people with knowledge of the highest level as both MLS and USL grow and expand.

"The evolution of the scouting network and the development of players is on a positive track and we help the professional teams because we can both help them find new players that play through the PDL teams as well as validate some of what they see when they scout these players in college soccer games and youth academy, regional teams and national pools.

"The beautiful thing about the PDL is you have a mix of the top college soccer players getting their summer work in, local players looking to break into the professional soccer pyramid and players from abroad working their way into U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues. This is a unique mix of players competing at the highest level of amateur soccer in front of a network of scouts that can help change their life overnight with the right phone call or addition to a list. That is a positive evolution of the player development pathway and it continues to get better each year."

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