Major League Soccer unveiled the schedule and rules for the 2007 MLS Reserve Division on Thursday. Now in its third year, the Reserve Division was developed in partnership with the Generation adidas program to help facilitate the development of the nation's top young talent.
Just as in years past, the Reserve Division will be on a single-table format, with the overall champion earning a $20,000 team bonus. Each team will play 12 matches during the Reserve Division schedule, evenly split between home dates and road dates. No two teams will face off more than twice during the season.
Twenty players may be placed on each team's gameday roster for Reserve Division games, with a total of six substitutions permitted per team. Any MLS player may compete in both first-team and Reserve Division games, provided he does not exceed more than 120 minutes of action (not including stoppage time) within a 60-hour period. Teams may all call up guest players to take part in Reserve Division games, provided the guest player is registered with U.S. Soccer.
Disciplinary-related suspensions will be applied in the league in which the infractions occurred, meaning that a player suspended for yellow card accumulation or a red card in first-team action will be required to serve his suspension in his next first-team match. Similarly, a player who receives four yellow cards in Reserve Division play will be forced to sit out his team's next Reserve Division match, while an ejection in the Reserve Division will also result in a Reserve Division suspension.
The 2007 MLS Reserve Division will kick off play on the league's First Kick Weekend. Toronto FC will play their inaugural Reserve Division match at Chivas USA on April 8. The season will conclude on Oct. 21 when the reigning Reserve Division champion Colorado Rapids play to host Real Salt Lake. D.C. United won the league's first Reserve Division season in 2005.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story is not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
