By Richard Snowden

Ever since Major League Soccer's inception, soccer purists have been criticizing certain aspects of the league's unique (some would probably say bizarre) way of doing things.

Many weren't particularly fond of the shootout, the league's now-defunct method of breaking tie games. Even several years after the fact, the practice of lining up players 35 yards from goal and giving them five seconds to put the ball past the goalkeeper surely still inspires gnashing of teeth for some.

Many have long criticized the league's conference system as well, demanding a switch to the single-table format used by the rest of the world. Of course, one should note that the Mexican league needlessly divides its clubs into groups as well, but why let trivial things like facts get in the way of your argument?

To be fair to MLS, the use of conferences actually made sense until recently. With only a handful of teams, double-booking fixture dates for in-conference opponents made a nice way to bulk up on games while simultaneously cutting travel costs.

But with MLS now at 15 (and soon 16) franchises, allowing for a sufficient number of games without double-booking each team's conference counterparts, the conference system has been rendered as useless as the Electoral College (although on the upside, at least the conference system doesn't effectively disenfranchise anyone.)

Then, there is the playoff system, which no doubt aggravates some purists more than any other aspect of MLS. On one hand, playoffs can add some end-of-season excitement in a league that is often rather less than exciting during much of its regular season, but when horrible teams end up winning championships (Los Angeles, 2005) or come perilously close (New York, 2008), the downside of the playoff system becomes clearly evident.

In any event, neither conferences nor playoffs will be disappearing for the foreseeable future, as MLS commissioner Don Garber made clear during this year's state-of-the-league address.

"We believe in the playoffs," Garber said. "And as much as many of you sitting around – particularly those that are writing blogs – don't believe in the playoffs as much as we do, we believe that perhaps the most exciting part of our season has been the last couple of weeks."  

Possibly the single biggest complaint about MLS, however – and one not necessarily limited to purists – is the league's lack of a relegation system. And unlike many of the other common gripes against MLS, this one is in fact detrimental to the league.

In the absence of relegation, which sees one or more teams drop to a lower league and suffer significant financial losses, teams who perform poorly have little motivation to give their best in every game. This dynamic is evident every year in MLS, as teams frequently mail in half-hearted performances for lengthy stretches of the season, secure in the knowledge that a playoff berth is always just a couple of wins away.

As MLS expands, the theory goes, this dynamic will be alleviated as teams encounter stiffer competition for playoff spots. Still, even in the face of increased competition, the rampant parity inherent in MLS's quasi-socialist business structure will likely allow most teams to remain within spitting distance of a playoff spot for most of the season, thus continuing to encourage lackadaisical play during the middle portion of the season.

Clearly, there are no easy answers to this problem. But in light of the fact that MLS's investors aren't forking over tens of millions of dollars only to see their teams get bumped down to the USL, relegation is never likely to happen in the United States.

Garber confirmed as much in a recent address at the University of Southern California's Marshall Sports Business Institute. "Our fans are screaming for [relegation]. Our coaches are screaming for it," he said. "[But] we're not structured for it."

This being the case, it would seem that there are no solutions to the problem. However, there may yet be a viable alternative to relegation, one that would never see any MLS team booted to the minor leagues: a points-deduction system.

Here's one example of how it might work: Each team that finishes a given season with one of the three lowest points totals in the league would begin the following season with negative points. In a 16-team league, for instance, the team that finishes 14th might start the next season with -3 points; the team that finishes 15th might start out with -6 points; and the last-place team might start out with -9 points.

Naturally, there are several possible variations on this theme. There could be more teams penalized or fewer, more points deducted or fewer, and so forth. But regardless of the structure, a points-deduction system would provide at least some extra inspiration for MLS players who are too often tempted to give less than their best in mid-season under the league's current format. 

Such a system would hardly be ideal, of course, but in a league where relegation simply isn't an option and teams have too little incentive to stay off the bottom of the standings, it might just prove somewhat helpful. Teams would certainly want to avoid starting the following season in the hole, and the system might even add a bit of extra excitement as teams battle to stave off a point deduction, similar to other leagues' relegation dogfights.

Given the unorthodox nature of a points-deduction system, a number of purists (and quite probably others) will no doubt cry foul over this idea as well. But we live in an imperfect world, and it is therefore better to do something – regardless of how odd it may seem – to minimize the negative effects of its imperfections than to do nothing at all.

HAVE YOUR SAY…
Would a point deduction be a good way to ‘relegate’ teams each season?  Or would it be better to reward teams not finishing below a certain level eg allow top 10 teams a higher salary cap?  Do you have a good method to create more incentive to play at the highest level in every game?  Send your opinions to Soccer 365 by CLICKING HERE.

READER FEEDBACK

I couldn’t agree more that what the MLS needs is a one table system and also relegation but, it's not going to happen. MLS  should be working with the USL to raise their standards in order to make relegation more feasible. I like the idea of point reduction for the bottom two or three clubs but, only say 3-2-1 for the bottom three teams otherwise, it might prove to difficult for thoes teams to overcome the next year. I was a bit surprised to see that Montreal failed in it's bid for a MLS franchise even though the already have a team in place. It didn't stop Seattle from getting in next year. could it be bias against Canadian teams?

Louis M

I find it particularly difficult to apply relegation in this country, until we have soccer as the number one sport.  Playoffs has always and will always be the way to go for sports.  BCS is not an option.  If something resembles the BCS, then you got something.  The issue is infrastructure, two it is the culture and three how will owners handle it.

One - we only have 16 MLS teams, we have plenty of PDL and USL teams.  It makes since to drop MLS teams and promote USL teams, but how many owners will buy into that.  And do we have enough teams to do this.  Do we have enough players to handle 3 leagues.

Two - Americans are unfamiliar with the single table system that has been engrained in their heads for hundreds of years.  You have the big tourney for college basketball, where unknowns have a chance to beat the best teams, you have American Football, Hockey, even baseball with a playoff system.  How do you convince typical Americans who rarely go to soccer or understand soccer rules alone to agree and enjoy a system of relegation.

Three - Owners pay lots of money to see their team succeed.  Unless they are able to increase the money to invest in their club to increase roster sizes, then I doubt they are willing to spend millions to drop a level.  Right now we dont have the attendance to really make relegation exciting or do we have the best product out there right now.  I thought I read something about them removing the reserve league which does not make since at all.

Mike P. Dallas

Valiant effort.  Regardless, no matter whether you have a "negative point system" or a "salary cap bonanza", I think you are just whistling Dixie.  (If you want promotion and relegation, then go after it!)  If the fans, the players, and coaches want it, why not just encourage MLS to "structure" the league correctly?  We have waited this long and this will give the league an excuse to continue its single enitity management system a little while longer.  The problem is not so much MLS as it is the USL brass - they must accept that they are the minor league.  MLS should either take over the USL professional set-up or strongly encourage an amiable merger.  This is all set to go if you look at it the right way...
 
Keep MLS at 18 teams on a single table with 34 league matches (2x each team); take the USL 1 and USL 2 teams and create "MLS D2" with 24 teams split into 2 conferences (2x your own conf + 1x the other conf = 34 league matches).  Then a limited promotion and relegation system could be arranged between MLS D1 and MLS D2 only.
 
Each "MLS" club (42 teams) would field a "U25 Reserve Squad".  These teams, along with the current PDL teams could comprise two "new" leagues: USL D1 - 40 teams equally split into 4 regions with 2x your own region = 18 league matches; USL D2 - 80 teams equally split into 8 divisions with 2x your own division = 18 league matches.  Then, these two leagues could create their own limited promotion and relegation between USL D1 and MLS D2 only.
 
Now, some weeding out of a few ownership groups may have to take place at the USL D1/2 levels for this to work, but apparently there are several potential MLS ownership groups that will not be awarded a franchise anytime soon.  Remember, with very minor tweaking, almost all of the teams and players are available NOW to make this happen... it is only a matter organization.
 
Thanks,
 
Jason V, Chicago

I like the idea of having a player bonues system. with players from each team getting a bonuses from first place to nesx to last place.

First place splits $500,000  second from last splits $15.000. Last place gets nothing

G&M S

I like your idea of the point system.

What about giving the first round draft choice the first team above the relegation zone as well?

Mark S

I was just wondering where your writer Richard Snowden came up with the idea for his relagation? I've been pitching that idea around for the past 3 months or so, sending it to every and anybody. i sent it to steven goff, soccerbyives, espn, mls... anyone, like i said.  so i was just wondering how mr. snowden came up with this idea? all i ever wanted was for my plan to come into fruition or to atleast be recognized. and all that is now happening. i just wanted to hear it from Richard that this was not an "original" idea and that he had heard it from someone who had heard it from someone. just so that i can have the gratification of sayin "you know that relegation alternative? yea... that was my idea"

thanks,

Pete W

I've always liked the idea of relegation / promotion primarily because no other American pro sports league uses it. I think for so long, we've tried to convince the mainstream sports fan that American pro soccer is like all the other American pro sports ("We've got conferences and playoffs and ,hey gosh darn it, we even have a draft.")  Sheesh.  We already have a second division in place (USL1). MLS could purchase USL1 from Marcos and designate it MLS2.  Once a designated number (say... 18) of teams has entered MLS, all subsequent teams applying for entry into MLS would have to start off in MLS2. I'm aware of all of the arguments against relegation and the inherent negative aspects of this (especially to the owners), but this would add a lot of excitement to League play and make MLS extraordinarily unique in the American professional sports scene.

Wayne C

I think everyone is a little off base with promotion/relegation.  You have to understand how it came about around the world.  There was essentially a greater demand for club ownership than positions available in the top divisions, so naturally, as a means to allow everyone to have a chance…promotion/relegation was established.  The MLS doesn’t have that problem….yet.  For most of the league’s history,  it had to beg owners to buy teams.   Now we are just starting to see an interest in additional ownership.  Six teams put in bids in the latest expansion sweepstakes, if the league took all six that would make 22 teams, still not enough for a second league.  However, if the league continues to improve and do well financially and the demand for ownership continues to increase, it could easily allow the additional owners to buy into a “B-League” and set up promotion/relegation.  Using the USL is not feasible.  Outside of Montreal and Vancouver (who both put in bids for the MLS spots) the league has virtually no money in it.  Their stadiums are the equivalent to high school football fields – complete with bleacher seating – and while the talent level isn’t that different from the MLS, USL teams can’t compete with the MLS where it counts – revenue.   The best way to do it would be to wait until serious owners are willing to buy into the league, that way when B-League teams get promoted, they can actually compete with the MLS in talent, stadiums, and revenue.  Now I have no confidence that Don Garber is the man to do it.  His head is shoved so far up his ass he can’t see what he’s doing.  Even if the situation I just described becomes possible, Garber will not part with his beloved “Americanized” soccer – he’s going to have to go.  If the fans are serious about promotion/relegation (and a single table for that matter – and a different playoff format for that matter), we need to oust Garber.  But for the time being, the league just needs to continue to grow financially. 

Chris P

Given the league structure, the MLS could try to ease into relegation.  It could go something like this.  Once the league reaches 19 teams, it could play two years with that number letting the most recent expansion teams settle.  After season three, though, the league could send the last place squad down to USL 1.  That team would stay down for one year only.  After that, the dropped team from season three would return to MLS.  It's replacement would be the last-place MLS squad from season four.  At first, the relegated (or temporarily exiled) MLS team would be the only team from USL-1 eligible to return to MLS.  One downside is that the dropped team would be playing for nothing but pride during the year in USL-1.

Over time, the league could continue adding teams to get from 18 to 20.  The next two expansion teams would be exempt from relegation/exile for their first two years also.  After that grace period, the expansion squads could join the mix for a one-year visit to USL-1.

Then, to expand further, the league would send down two teams rather than just one after the season before expansion.  That would mean with each expansion one more relegated/exiled MLS-eligible team would be added to USL-1.  Then, there would be competition among the dropped MLS-eligible teams to return to the league. 

While the league eases into relegation, it could also establish an alternative way to expand the league.  Why not set criteria for any USL-1 team to become promotion eligible?  For instance, MLS could require stadium capacity of at least 14k and deposit of some percentage of the expansion fee.  Once qualified, such a USL team would then compete with dropped MLS squads for a top-tier slot each year.  Creating a path for existing USL-1 squads to join the promotion mix would be a way to build those franchises.   

Eventually, MLS and USL-1 could even add a relegation and promotion playoff system like Holland.  We Americans love our playoffs after all.

Gerry B

I think there is a relatively reasonable way to solve the problems with the MLS playoff system.  The regular season is relatively meaningless since the only goal is to get to the playoffs.  Relative rankings are insignificant once the playoffs start.  My suggestion is to go to a single table and the team with the most points wins the league title.  That way, every game is meaningful.  Playoffs would be replaced by a single-elimination tournament, or cup, at the end of the season, open to MLS clubs only, unlike the US Open Cup.  We create a true 'Double" opportunity (or treble if you include the Open Cup).  It may take a few years for the non-soccer fans to catch on, but it works everywhere else in the World.
 
Relegation, as desirable as it is from a competition standpoint, is probably years (and Commissioners) away for the MLS.
 
Joe B.
Harrisburg

I don't like the relegation idea but here is what i would do, first thing would be here in the MLS is (with 15 teams now) teams 14 & 15 would get all their players contracts terminated with the exception of 4 to 5 players (they would be called "Protected Players"), the guys that don't make the magic list would have to give it a 101% each year or face the facts of not having a job or lower wages the fallowing year due to poor performance. This gives teams also a away of getting rid of some one that did not work out, but then people 8would say you are doing with 66 - 75% of the team! but here comes the beutty of my idea and thats getting the champ and runner up of the A league teams and promoting the players not the team, who would not like to have the players from the Islanders or Impact on their team (also these 2 teams are in the quarter finals of the Concacaf Champs League, remember that), so right now San Jose E.Q. who finish last would end up with 40 to 60% of a champ team, LA Galaxy (13th) with runner ups. It would work look at  LA and its visit to the capital in 08 a 4 to 1 lost when DC had a final from hell in the open cup final just winning by one goal to "A" team (not the TV show). A fine will be applied to those MLS teams which money would go to the lower division team as a compensation plus first pick on this out of contract now former-MLS'ers.
The other thing would be the expandsion team would get a team that has been competing already, like Seattle had a team already why not move 50% of it up and not suffer the Expandsion Blues like all have by ending in last place each 1st year and its not fun seeing guys playing together for the first time ever for one full season, like Phili would get the Battery, Miami FC or Puerto Rico would be the new Barcelona USA base. If the new boys from the North West would have carred of any early fame or stardom they would have inje cted 4 to 5 of their own players in to Seattle or Portland or even the Wildcats and pulled them out in the MLS 09 post season. Phily dont make the same mistake. And again this will lead to a conpensation from MLS to the A.L. The money would make a better second division and then we could talk about promoting/relegating.
 
Karla R
If i mis spelled, sorry!