RSL AZ proudly announces the appointment of Tom Durkin as its new MLS Next Director, marking a significant stride forward for the club.
The appointment of Tom Durkin signifies RSL AZ's unwavering commitment to excellence and underscores its dedication to fostering the next generation of soccer talent in Arizona.
Bringing over four decades of coaching expertise across academy and collegiate levels, along with notable stints in Major League Soccer, National Women's Soccer League, and the U.S. Men's U17 National Team, Durkin embodies a wealth of experience and leadership in American soccer.
MLS NEXT will provide the best player development experience in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition and to training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life.
The rules, regulations and format of MLS NEXT competitions are designed with the best interest of the player’s development. While team success is important and will be rewarded, the primary objective of the platform is to push individuals outside of their comfort zone, accelerate their growth and showcase their talents.
Environment
The daily environment is where the majority of development takes place. Quality coaching at high frequency with top players in high performance environments will better prepare players for meaningful competition. As one of the few year-round, domestic youth training programs, MLS NEXT not only provides high quality training environments, but more repetitions in those environments than any league at any level in the U.S. and Canada.
High quality coaching is central to the development and growth of players. MLS NEXT coaches are committed to the development of players and receive continuing education specific to the best approaches to player development. We work and collaborate with global leaders in the space, including the French Football Federation, who has provided their world class training to over 100 coaches, and that number increases every year.
Importantly, while winning games will always be important, MLS NEXT coaches are measured by the growth and development of each player – becoming a better player, growing as a person, attending college and signing a professional contract are the true benchmarks of their success.
An often-overlooked segment of elite player development in youth sports is the implementation of plans for individual growth. Each MLS NEXT player will receive a holistic plan for personal growth, including on-field, strength and conditioning, academic, college placement and specific support tailored for the needs of the individual.
MLS NEXT recognize the challenge of COVID-19 and the cancellation of many men’s soccer college Fall seasons raises questions and concerns related to college recruiting by many players and their families. We understand the importance of the college pathway and appreciate that participation in our platform provides a unique opportunity for talented players and college coaches to better evaluate this decision. This dynamic also applies to prospective National Team players. Therefore, we have been developing and will be implementing innovative approaches to address this issue, including:
MLS NEXT will also aim to provide more opportunities to more players to broaden the pool of talent entering the elite youth landscape. No cost and low-cost programs will be introduced around the country to reduce barriers for new players to enter the pathway to professional soccer.
For more information please contact:
Tom Durkin
RSL AZ MLS Next Director of Coaching
tdurkin@rslaz.org