Atlanta United’s Garth Lagerwey: How Homegrown territories work

Atlanta United's defender Caleb Wiley (26) makes a shot on goal during the first half in a MLS soccer match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Atlanta United's defender Caleb Wiley (26) makes a shot on goal during the first half in a MLS soccer match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Atlanta United President Garth Lagerwey will answer a question posed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution each week about the team, MLS or soccer in general.

This week’s question: Can you explain how Homegrown territories in MLS work, and how Atlanta United scouts those territories?

A: Each team has a designated Homegrown territory that is regulated by MLS and will vary in size based on market. For the most part, territories consist of a 75-mile radius from a respective city or, in some cases like ours, an entire state. A recent change to the system is an implementation of a protected list, where MLS teams protect 45 of its own academy players, plus nine other players from within its territory. Aside from that, players can be recruited freely. For Atlanta United, we will prioritize our region when it comes to youth development, evidenced by the fact that the State of Georgia is an extremely fertile area for developing young athletes.

Previous questions:

On hammering the Golden Spike

On how transfers work

On improving team psychology

On temporary concussion substitutions

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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule

Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1

March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1

March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0

March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1

March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1

April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0

April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1

April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.

April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1

April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox

May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.

May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.

May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.

May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.

May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1

June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.

June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.

June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox

July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1

Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA