Going Full Soccer/Academy Nerd...

Kante · Nov 15, 2019

One the best - and important - articles on the current state of the USMNT is below. Here's the article - https://theathletic.com/1379646/2019/11/15/no-country-for-usmnt-fans/

(One point that is missed a bit - is that at the youth level - the window for the kids is small, and waiting out the US Soccer dysfunction, the way one might wait out a pro sports team's run of poor performance, is not really an option imo.)

And for your info, the stakes are high for the USMNT match vs Canada this evening, in a way they haven't been for the USMNT since last WC qualifying, and we all know how that went. Coverage for the USMNT vs Canada starts at 4pm pst on ESPN2, Unimas and TUDN.

Kante · Dec 6, 2019

Another outstanding interview by Woitalla at SoccerAmerica (i.e. worth subscribing for). Woitalla interviews the University of North Carolina's women's soccer head coach, Anson Dorrance, and Dorrance addresses a variety of US Soccer issues on both sides of the boys and girls aisle. Good stuff.

Here's link to the interview: https://www.socceramerica.com/publi...dorrance-on-us-soccers-good-moves-its-ba.html (fyi, can access up to three articles/month by providing SA an email address)

Kante · Jan 13, 2020

An interesting read. Some of it is not on point for this forum, but maybe a starting point for an important conversation for the new year.

There's a reference to what Germany did after they lost in the Euros in 2000, expanding their scouting to every corner of Germany looking for talent. (emphasis added)

How Do We Fix Youth Soccer In America? We Found One Club That Has Figured It Out

Portland Community Football Club represents everything and everyone U.S. Soccer has failed to support.

the18.com

Kante · Jan 17, 2020

interesting article. don't necessarily agree w/ all the points but it's worth a read.

definitely do agree with the need for regionalization, the downside of requiring A or B coaching certifications and the possibility that resources spent administering the DA league (which is to some extent redundant w/ existing leagues) might be better leveraged for expanded scouting and more training centers.

also of concern is the observation that the USSDA folks who first created the DA system - which has resulted in a lot of benefits - are no longer w/ USSDA. And it's fair point to make that the MLS clubs are now exerting a disproportionate influence (albeit while making some reasonable points) on USSDA, and that the relationship between non-MLS DA clubs and MLS DA clubs might best be described as often one-sided.

U.S. Soccer should retreat from youth soccer

The soccer from the young teenage boys thoroughly impresses me – as does the entire scene at the Boys Development Academy games that I check out from time to time. Already have an account? Sign In. Get all the news Become a Soccer America Pro member Subscribe from $5.95 Unlock immediate access...

www.socceramerica.com

Kante · Jan 22, 2020

If you haven't heard about the college coaches looking to extend the college season to full year, this is a good introduction.

A fairly long time in the making, the rationale for extending the season to a full year is that:

1) it's better for student academics (train all year but only have one game per weekend enables students to actually be students rather than having to take full weeks off from school during the season)
2) it's better for players' health during college
3) it's better for the game

Here's the link to an overview article: https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/col...i-maryland-jeremy-gunn-stanford-20200122.html

Here's the link to a more in-depth look: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blo...college-soccer-from-becoming-irrelevant-.html

(if coach comp can be figured out, maybe high school soccer could follow NCAA's lead...)

espola · Jan 22, 2020

Kante said:
If you haven't heard about the college coaches looking to extend the college season to full year, this is a good introduction.

A fairly long time in the making, the rationale for extending the season to a full year is that:

1) it's better for student academics (train all year but only have one game per weekend enables students to actually be students rather than having to take full weeks off from school during the season)
2) it's better for players' health during college
3) it's better for the game

Here's the link to an overview article: https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/col...i-maryland-jeremy-gunn-stanford-20200122.html

Here's the link to a more in-depth look: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blo...college-soccer-from-becoming-irrelevant-.html

(if coach comp can be figured out, maybe high school soccer could follow NCAA's lead...)

View attachment 6273

High school would have to build more fields or drop some other sports to make fields available.

focomoso · Jan 23, 2020

I think this makes sense. All of the kids are playing year-round anyway, so why not let them play at school the whole time rather than having to go back to club in the spring.

Though... my college roommate was on the soccer team and it was a pretty sweet deal. He worked hard for the first semester and then got to coast in the spring...

I don't see this working for high-school, though, as it would cut into the club season and the better competition is at the club level.

Kante · Jan 23, 2020

focomoso said:
I think this makes sense. All of the kids are playing year-round anyway, so why not let them play at school the whole time rather than having to go back to club in the spring.

Though... my college roommate was on the soccer team and it was a pretty sweet deal. He worked hard for the first semester and then got to coast in the spring...

I don't see this working for high-school, though, as it would cut into the club season and the better competition is at the club level.

[am chiming in in the hope of genuine discussion/input]

If the high schools went to full year - assuming coach comp and fields were addressed (not sure how but for sake of discussion) - then wouldn't the high schools then provide the same/more consistent level of training and comp as the clubs purportedly do now for less money, more geo accessibility and a better/more sustainable coach career path?

High school age players now have essentially three seasons - fall, high school, spring - and play/train with two different teams.

Let's say just CA made high school soccer year round, could see the pro clubs continuing DA/DA level development but everyone else would just feed into the high school teams after u13/u14.

Seems like that would be a significant advantage to CA players getting into college, which is the goal of 95%+ of the families paying club fees and travel costs.

Do the benies make sense? What's wrong w/ this (besides coach comp and fields)?

focomoso · Jan 24, 2020

Kante said:
[am chiming in in the hope of genuine discussion/input]

If the high schools went to full year - assuming coach comp and fields were addressed (not sure how but for sake of discussion) - then wouldn't the high schools then provide the same/more consistent level of training and comp as the clubs purportedly do now for less money, more geo accessibility and a better/more sustainable coach career path?

I don't think so. Kids go to schools because they're local or fit academically or socially, not based on the soccer team. Unless you're at a private school that recruits, you're never going to get 18 kids as good as those on your kid's club team and the teams you play against aren't going to be as strong either. When you spread the talent that thin, it makes it hard to improve.

The second issue is pure economics. Club teams charge $$ to fund their coaches and fields. Public schools can't do this.

Kante · Jan 29, 2020

An item that might have big ramifications. JR Eskilson w/ TDS reported this morning (1/29) that the UCLA coach indicted as part of the soccer admissions scandal has alleged, as part of his legal defense, that UCLA not only was aware of the pay for admissions practices as far back as five years ago but also condoned the practice, considering it a "strategic" way to raise money for underfunded programs.

The very important caveat is that a participant in legal dispute may make assertions which, in a different context, might be described as libelous, that is, assertions that are false and/or malicious. Having said that, the claims Jorge Salcedo, the UCLA men's soccer coach in question and also former TFA Director of Coaching (no knock on TFA, just informational), is making seem, on their face, to be intuitively reasonable.

Short version is that Salcedo says that the UCLA compliance officer investigated UCLA athlete related admission five years ago in 2014, and found that "UCLA has strategically used its student-athlete admissions process as a vehicle to raise funds to pay for its many expensive and underfunded athletic programs."

Here's the link to article:

Former UCLA men's soccer coach fires back | College Soccer

Former UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo is in the news again after his attorney filed a motion with the court last week that shines the light on his former employer.

www.topdrawersoccer.com

Screen Shot 2020-01-29 at 11.30.52 AM.png

espola · Jan 29, 2020

Kante said:
An item that might have big ramifications. JR Eskilson w/ TDS reported this morning (1/29) that the UCLA coach indicted as part of the soccer admissions scandal has alleged, as part of his legal defense, that UCLA not only was aware of the pay for admissions practices as far back as five years ago but also condoned the practice, considering it a "strategic" way to raise money for underfunded programs.

The very important caveat is that a participant in legal dispute may make assertions which, in a different context, might be described as libelous, that is, assertions that are false and/or malicious. Having said that, the claims Jorge Salcedo, the UCLA men's soccer coach in question and also former TFA Director of Coaching (no knock on TFA, just informational), is making seem, on their face, to be intuitively reasonable.

Short version is that Salcedo says that the UCLA compliance officer investigated UCLA athlete related admission five years ago in 2014, and found that "UCLA has strategically used its student-athlete admissions process as a vehicle to raise funds to pay for its many expensive and underfunded athletic programs."

Here's the link to article:

Former UCLA men's soccer coach fires back | College Soccer

Former UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo is in the news again after his attorney filed a motion with the court last week that shines the light on his former employer.

www.topdrawersoccer.com

View attachment 6305

I am surprised to learn that any UCLA athletic program has to act as if they were "underfunded".

Kante · Feb 3, 2020

More USSDA comings and goings. Henry Brauner - first of Sounders Academy and then USSDA West Talent ID Manager - is now reportedly going back to head up the Sounders Academy.

Anyone have any word on who the new West USSDA Talent ID Manager will be on the boys side?

Former U.S. youth national team scout will lead Sounders Academy

Henry Brauner had previously worked for Sounders Academy prior to time with U.S. Soccer and will effectively replace Marc Nicholls.

www.sounderatheart.com

Screen Shot 2020-02-03 at 12.35.08 PM.png

messy · Feb 4, 2020

Kante said:
More USSDA comings and goings. Henry Brauner - first of Sounders Academy and then USSDA West Talent ID Manager - is now reportedly going back to head up the Sounders Academy.

Anyone have any word on who the new West USSDA Talent ID Manager will be on the boys side?

Former U.S. youth national team scout will lead Sounders Academy

Henry Brauner had previously worked for Sounders Academy prior to time with U.S. Soccer and will effectively replace Marc Nicholls.

www.sounderatheart.com

View attachment 6334

So which talent did he scout that now competes at a high level in international soccer? Do we have any names? Or do we continue to set our sights very low by recycling the same group of folks who have us locked in mediocrity?

Kante · Feb 13, 2020

An interesting item from soccerwire talking about the MLS expanding the GA Cup. Of particular note, they're adding a handful of MLS affiliate clubs - i.e. non-MLS clubs - to the competition. These include Met Oval, RSL-AZ, Rio Rapids New Mexico, Sporting St Louis and the Toronto FC Affiliate All-Stars.

MLS announces details for expanded 2020 Generation adidas Cup - SoccerWire

Major League Soccer announced the details for the 2020 Generation adidas Cup.

www.soccerwire.com

View attachment 6383

Kante · Feb 21, 2020

a great article - and success story - from the Texas Rio Grande Valley. hard not to see some application to CA's Central Valley and border towns.

Rio Grande Valley's young talent trove is finally provided with a pathway

A "street soccer" environment, long been cited as the USA's missing ingredient, has been in abundance in the extreme south of Texas.

www.socceramerica.com

Kante · Feb 27, 2020

An interesting write-up from a source that's different than the usual suspects. Short version is that player development - as many have experienced - can be a real hit or miss where there is a ton of "luck/good fortune" involved.

Probably the biggest example is Clint Dempsey who got noticed while his older brother was trying out, and then, but only after family tragedy, was able to keep developing in a team environment.

Ironically, despite the focus on "deliberate" practice being key to individual player development, the overall practice of player ID and development in the US seems to not be at all deliberate or systematic, but, instead, crazy reliant /dependent on who knows who.

But, because the US has such a relatively large population to ROW, we are able to "adequately" get by with this current old boys network for player ID and development.

As a result, in communities with an average of 250k to 500k people - which studies indicate are significantly more efficient at producing pro players - hundreds of players go unnoticed every year. And players who are late developers or young for their birth year go by the wayside as "experts" come to a consensus on the player pool by u14 (more 2-3 years before boys begin to even out re: from a physical and mental development pov). But those points are digressions...

Here's the article (fyi, not generally a fan of 343 because of their collective prickly temperament (i.e. they can be prima donna dicks) and suspect many share that feeling, but give it a read anyway):

Episode 252: Who Can Claim Credit For American Player Development? - 3four3

There are more American players making waves in European club soccer than ever before. More and more teenagers are signing professional contracts, domestically and abroad. It is safe to say there hasn’t been this much excitement about an entire generation of American players in many, many years...

343coaching.com

Kante · Mar 16, 2020

been heads-down for bit, but came across this article this evening. normalizes the whole DA thing for both parents and players. well written and a good read.

In soccer, unlike basketball, there aren’t a lot of scholarship dollars. But the money chase is still hectic.

It was time to have “the talk.” We both knew it. Max’s sunken shoulders said everything his quivering lips couldn’t. We’d just gotten home from a fourth night o…

theundefeated.com

Kante · Mar 26, 2020

Snaves - aka Adam Snavely - is one of the great poets of current American soccer writing. Here's a recent post of his from his personal website - Dead Ball Daily. Right now, Snaves is taking it on the head as sports have shut down and evidently he's not yet a salaried employee of theathletic.com.

Check this piece out and maybe, just maybe, sign up for a subscription - $5 per month or $50 per year (a deal!). Have zero financial interest in Snaves other than he's one of the best writers we've got these days, and, thus, is to be treasured. Times is tough these days. help a brother out.