Why should the MLS launch the Reserves League as soon as possible?

Various sources agree that Major League Soccer, after 6 years, will launch the reserves league in 2021. Although the goal is for it to start playing next year, details about the clubs that will participate and the competition format still need to be finalized before indicate the start date.

The new reserves league will see many MLS teams withdraw their alternate teams from other minor competitions such as the USL’s Championship and League One competitions, although USL affiliates will be allowed to stay if they wish. In this sense, youth academy players will have many chances of showing what they are capable of.

Why should it start as soon as possible? Because it will function as a U23 league that will help unite the MLS Next Generation academies with the MLS first team and thus help young players to start taking their first steps together with professional first team footballers so that later they adaptation isn't that difficult.

Another function that the reserves league will have is to give the players from the professional squad who got injured the chance to gain minutes before coming back to the MLS. It will also be more attractive for spectators because it will offer a higher level of competition than what today can be found in the minor leagues of American soccer.

The MLS should not repeat the mistakes of the reserves league that had been held until 2014. Back then, the MLS did not provide enough resources and the teams did not gave much importance to the initiative. If they don't make these mistakes, a reserves league could be beneficial for teams to develop players and keep footballers in shape if they are not having minutes with the first team.