What is next for our Soccer Nation?

U.S. Soccer News: U.S. World Cup Bid

Where do we go from here? That is the question most soccer fans where asking after the US bid for the 2022 World Cup was scuttled by the mighty Qatar, with a little help from FIFA’s executive committee.

Well the answer to the question is easy. The bid process is now history and a thousand words have been written about how unjust the end result was but the real issue is now what happens next. Soccer in this country is stronger that any time in this or the last century. 

We have to get past the World Cup bid and on to winning the World Cup. That’s it in a sentence. Well the question is now how do we accomplish a feat that only the Brazil’s and Germany’s can pull off on a regular basis.

It starts with a true dedication to skill development. Sounds easy, we have a thousand grassroots programs all over the country. AYSO, USYSA, US Club all the way up to the US Soccer Development Academy Program. What stands in the way of true development is winning. Parent want to win or they move on from one club to another.

It’s not only the parents, although they are the ones who drive the bus. Coaches are also to blame. Medal chasing is rampant among our younger coaches and parents. Winning a medal every week is more important than learning how to play the game. If we are to ever win a world cup we have to start here. US Soccer talks the talk but does not walk the walk when it comes to implementing programs to encourage learning versus just winning at the youngest ages.

Tons of money has been spent to build the game at the top. The MLS has put a lot of resources into building their model. The single entity model has kept the league viable but not enough has been invested into the real future of the game. US Soccer has invested in the U-17 Academy program in Bradenton, Florida. They have also implemented the National Youth License in their licensing program, but more is needed to strengthen the game at the entry level.

On the women’s side of the game the same problems exist. Former Women’s National team coaches, Greg Ryan and April Hendricks both have joined current head coach Pia Sundhage in saying that the women’s game is rapidly becoming second best.  The Brazils and Koreas of the world due to the fact that they are developing more technically sound players than the US are about to overtake us. We still have fantastic athletes but that will not be enough for us to continue as the dominant team in the world.

The model we have to follow is the Spanish game. Their players are all comfortable on the ball, exhibit great spacial awareness and can pass and receive the ball with the greatest of ease. I took a u-12 team to Spain last year and we got a lesson on how to play the game. We survived because of our kid’s superior athletic ability but their players of all sizes and shapes passed and moved off the ball with uncanny ease.

The Spaniards will to win was no less than ours only it seemed that they were willing to sacrifice to play the game in that fashion. Also they took winning and losing in their stride. To lose a game was not the end of the world and there was never a quest to find a winning team they all played for their local teams and the idea that they would look else ware was a nonstarter.

Well the answer to the question is easy. Well hold on a minute what about all the tournaments and the financial stability of the clubs that depend on having two or three tournaments a year to survive. No doubt the American model is way on down the road and to change it will take a tremendous sacrifice.

Two or three years ago playing one game a day was a pipe dream and no re-entry after a substitution was also taboo. We now have those things introduced into our game for the greater good and we survived. So some sensible rules as to the size of teams at the entry level, No goalkeepers etc., would allow the youngest players to flourish.

At the older age groups we can invest in bringing out the best in our players by having more showcase events instead of tournaments that have to have a winner. That distinction can be accomplished in State Cup or elite competitions. US Soccer can implement an all-encompassing scouting system that, yes, will cost money, but it would be money well spent. The players selected can be brought in at no expense to be coached by a real US Soccer staff that would have enough coaches to do this all over the nation. You are right this will cost money maybe even as much as was spent on our World Cup bid.

The MLS teams can and should invest in farm systems geographically. For instance, the LA Galaxy as well as having their own reserve team and academy should sponsor a couple of PDL teams. Chivas USA can also do this along with the rest of the MLS clubs. US Soccer can also help establish local PDL and or USL teams at least to get them of the ground.

There is a tremendous amount of adult soccer played in this country. Here in San Diego you can travel from Oceanside down to the Mexican Border every weekend and see games being played in middle schools and public parks like Robb Field. In LA take a tour of Griffith Park or many other locations on a Sunday afternoon to see the amount of games being played. ESPN’s Jim Rome and others like him like to tell their audiences that soccer stops a 15 and the only adults playing the game are Hispanic, How wrong they are.

How do we get all these soccer aficionados on the same page? Well we could start by US Soccer establishing a National Calendar. I’m personally sick of seeing all our games and even national teams competing against each other for attention. How do we have MLS games competing against State Cup and Club America playing in the LA Coliseum the same night the LA Galaxy are playing at the Home Depot Center?  US Soccer cannot control any of those things you say! Well it’s about time they change whatever rules they need to solve these problems.

You say who cares if State Cup collides with MLS games the Kids don’t like watching soccer anyway. Well you might be right but Columbus believed the world was flat before he stepped off the boat on Ellis Island or wherever he landed. Cultures change and that is maybe our legacy.... get the ball moving. Its Kickoff time, are you ready to play GO USA!