Part 1
Part 2
Since the turn of the century, soccer has truly become a global game. With improvements in technology, marketing tactics and the drive of FIFA to make it the world's game, most of the truly Elite players (Ronaldo, Messi, Iniesta, Zlatan) are known in every country throughout the world. The US is no exception to this, with young players often adorning the jerseys of these well known stars...yet, subjectively of course, it seems the US is still to develop that truly Elite player who transcends the game, especially on the men's side of things. The Women's game has had more success in this field, Carli Lloyd showing just how good she is in her World Cup Final performance (all the more impressive considering 86 million people worldwide watched the game) and Alex Morgan being a face and name that most soccer fans recognize.
Having coached here for 12 years, I have always maintained that depending on certain factors, the US could dominate the men's game. The amount of pure athletes in this country is ridiculous. Only last year I was coaching a U14 boys team and at least 5 of the players were at eye level with me (I'm 6'0) and in much better shape physically. Coupled with the combination of ancestry in the US (everyone is part something or other) and it seems these elite athletes are gaining the best physical traits from the land of their grand parents/great grand parents. Despite this, the men's national team doesn't seem to be competing at the level it needs internationally. Is this a cultural thing? Is this due to the coaching? Or is there a problem with the system?
The US Soccer Development Pathway looks something like this
Although the Pro game is fairly direct - start at one level and work your way up - the youth level seems to have no consistency or clear pathway at all. AYSO want to keep their players, US Youth Soccer want to keep theirs, High School train 57 Hours a week and play games (it's not 57 hours, but it is 5 days. Even pro teams don't do this) and from the outside, there seems to be no clear step up. Is ODP better than Academy level? Which national championship holds the most weight when college coaches are scouting players? Too many questions for parents to find answers to.
Compare this to the English Girls and German models
Very simple, very structured. Start with your club team, if you are good enough, you will get a chance with a pro academy. If you shine there, an opportunity to play for your national team age group will arise etc.
With this being the case, how do parents know which is the right route to take? Looking at the rosters for the UNC Men's and Women's teams, the make up of both rosters comes mostly from those who have played US Developmental Academy (Boys) and Elite Clubs National League (Girls) - aka the Academy route.
Academies were introduced to make sure the "Elite" youth players were receiving year round training in soccer, rather than being taken away to do other sports or compete for their High School. Based on the European model, where each pro club has it's own academy to develop players and eventually bring them through into the 1st team, in terms of making sure truly Elite players are competing against the best the country has to offer, it can certainly be argued that it is a success. Mallory Pugh is evidence of this, making her debut for the National Team while still playing for her ECNL club.
Where the US differs from the European model however, is funding. In Europe, academies are part funded by the club and part funded by the national association. Players receive uniform, training, travel, facilities and all other extras at no cost. This allows players of all social status the opportunity to excel and progress. In the US, academies are awarded "US Developmental Academy" status by the USSF after meeting certain criteria. They are however, provided minimal or no funding from the governing body. Therefore, costs have to be covered elsewhere - generally the parents, who in some cases, could be spending over $2,500 a year for their kids to play soccer, not taking into account additional tournament fees and travel costs, which in itself could total a further $2,000 when traveling to high level tournaments at Disney or in Las Vegas. Though scholarships and financial aid is available at these academies, whether or not players are being selected due to their ability or due to their financial status is up for debate.
The US also has the issue of a number of other sports on offer to young athletes. Football, Basketball, Baseball and Ice Hockey all have rich histories in the US. In the early years, it can be argued that this is good for the Elite Players' athletic development. Ajax Amsterdam, talked about previously, have their young soccer players taking part in other disciplines such as Judo (to help with balance), Track (endurance and running technique) and Basketball (movement, rebounds, positioning). At the age of 13 however, this stops and players place their focus firmly on soccer. In the Netherlands this is far more feasible, as outside of Darts, there isn't really another sport where Elite players have consistently emerged. In the US however, this is a different story.
If multiple sports have a positive impact on a young players athletic development, from teenage years (where it is widely thought a decision can be made on whether or not a player can take their game to a higher level) it will have a negative effect. Non-soccer related injuries can occur, time dedicated to becoming a better player technically is limited, travel here, there and everywhere becomes an issue and increasing costs to parents. On top of this, children are more likely to make a decision on which sports their future lies in. From a female standpoint, this seems like an obvious choice. The US women's team are well known around the nation, offering role models for young girls to aspire to. On the men's side however, one would imagine that Carson Wentz or LeBron James are far more realistic sporting idols than Clint Dempsey or Jozy Altidore. Not to mention that the Superbowl is a worldwide event, compared to the MLS Cup which I'm sure most around the US do not know when it is taking place.
The US also faces the challenge of the amount of time players spend away from the training ground where they are working on their skills. Zinedine Zidane, arguably the world's greatest soccer player between 1998-2006, didn't sign for an Academy until he was 14. Though he played club soccer, it was widely reported that a lot of his immense ball mastery came from playing street soccer with his friends, away from the watchful eye of parents and coaches, where he was free to express himself and try new things. Growing up, it was a sight on most English streets to see a bunch of kids playing games such as headers and volleys, Wembley, 2 v 2, slam and making up their own scrimmages using the famed "Jumpers for Goalposts" with scores of 23-21. While this image has changed in England also in recent years, it is more glaring in the US, where it seems players rely on training and training only, being under constant observation from adults and unable to make mistakes and attempt tricks and skills that the likes of Messi and Neymar display on a regular basis in the pro game.
If the US are to ever create a truly Elite men's player, more must be done to encourage play away from training. Players must be allowed the chance to develop these natural instincts that there athletic capabilities are no doubt capable of. Compared the the majority of US Sports, soccer is a player's game as opposed to a coaches game, where quick thinking and creative play are to be encouraged. Despite the fantastic things in place at club level (facilities, twice a week sessions, enthusiastic boards and volunteers) the correct coaching environment needs to be provided to help to bring more creativity out of players in games. If I was to see a player attempt the Rainbow Flick in a game, such as Jay Jay Okocha v Arsenal a few years ago, whether it worked or not, I would be thrilled, but this isn't something I will be teaching my players to do...it has to come from them.
Looking at a former PUK Elite player who is now playing ECNL and taking part in USWNT U13 training, this environment was certainly encouraged by both the coach and her parents, allowing her to use inventive bits of play (variety of finishing, chipping the goalkeeper when 1 on 1, experimenting with different types of passing, taking players with fakes in 1 v 1's) in her game. it didn't always come off, but she was confident enough to attempt these more than once and the proof is the pudding regarding her progression over the past 2 years. If more young players are given this environment, one has to believe that the talented young players will stick to soccer when the time comes, with the ownership that comes with being able to make their own decisions on the field.
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