Interview by Mike Woitalla
U.S. Soccer Development Academy club De Anza Force’s alums who have played for U.S. youth national teams include Marc Pelosi, whocaptained the USA at the 2011 U-17 World Cup after attending the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., and moved to Liverpool as a teen before joining the San JoseEarthquakes. De Anza is based in Northern California, a hotbed of Mexican-American talent, and its players are often courted by Mexican clubs.
We spoke with De Anza’s director of coaching Jeff Baicher, a former NCAA national championship player with Santa Clara (1989) and MLS midfielder (1996-99), about U.S. Soccermaintaining the Bradenton Residency program, despite the dramatic changes in the American soccer landscape since its launch in 1999, and the foreign option for young Americans.
SOCCERAMERICA: The U.S. U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, which was launched in 1999, is entering another cycle. With the U.S. Soccer Development Academy now in its ninth year, are players still betteroff going to Bradenton?
JEFF BAICHER: You always have to consider the player’s interest first.
If you are at a residency program, where you get goodeducation, you get trained two, three times a day. If you have physios, you have weight-lifting, you have nutritionists — that’s a pretty good environment.
If you’re a DevelopmentAcademy team, MLS or non-MLS, and you don’t have a residency program, then you don’t have the opportunity for a player to live and breathe soccer 24 hours a day. Then I would say the bestthing is for that player to go to residency. We will push our players to the residency program.
We do a good job developing our players, but it’s not like full-access to a residencyprogram.
SA: Is there a downside to taking a teenager away from home?
JEFF BAICHER: I guess you’re talking about the level of the maturity ofthat player — whether he can stay the course in an environment without his parents to support him.
Every player’s situation is evaluated both on and off the field to determine whatmakes the most sense for the individual. I would hope all clubs do that when deciding whether to move a player to a residency or from a youth club to Bradenton.
There are some who probablyneed to stay home longer. We’ve had a few who have gone to residency and it hasn’t worked out. Not because they weren’t great soccer players, but because probably they weren’tat the maturity level yet to handle themselves.
SA: The resultsof the last two residency cycles were: failing to qualify for the U-17 World Cup (in 2013) for the first time ever and not advancing to the second round of a U-17 World Cup (2015) for the first timesince 2001. Is that a gauge of whether it’s a necessary program?
JEFF BAICHER: That’s a tough question. I think someone has to do some serious evaluatingof the program. How it’s run, the scouting network, maybe relying more on youth clubs to help.
I don’t know what the answer is there. I think the concept, the residency program, isa good one.
I don’t really understand why the results haven’t been there, but I would say that U.S. Soccer is now putting a lot more focus on the youngers and youth development andwhat it means to be in the Development Academy and some of the requirements at the younger ages.
We were one of the first clubs to be evaluated by Double PASS [consulting firm hired by U.S. Soccer last year] and it’s pretty intense.
I think thereis a lot of momentum in youth development and I think it will play dividends down the road.
But there obviously has to be a platform when the kids get to the second level – when they’re14, 15, 16 — where they’re going to be national team players, and maybe the residency program still fits that mold. But maybe it needs to be adjusted. I really don’t know. I’m notin it day-to-day.
SA: Is it possible that the Bradenton setup prevents as much turnover on the squad as there should be? In a nation with so many players, and especially at this agegroup when players are growing and apt to progress at different rates, one would expect that the best 20-30 players in the country now could change quite a bit over two years, one year or even sixmonths. Maybe if you’re investing so much in certain players by bringing them to Bradenton, you might stick with them even if others are better come the qualifying tournament or the WorldCup?
JEFF BAICHER: That’s a good question. It’s one to ask the guys who are in it day-to-day.
Maybe the bigger question is, are we, the youthcoaches, the ones who are developing players, doing enough to develop players. …
The residency players are only a small percentage. Maybe the residency should rely a little bit more onyouth staff coaches like myself and others who are developing players to make recommendations.
But maybe if you’re only keeping a core of players and the others are rotated out, doesthat do something to the chemistry when you’re getting close to qualifying and the World Cup?
Those are questions they would need to answer.
SA: How difficult it is for anon-MLS Development Academy club to compete with MLS academy teams?
JEFF BAICHER: The only other step [above us] would a team with residency. To be honest, wedon’t lose too many players. We now have a program where the financial aid and scholarship program matches any MLS program.
SA: How do you manage that?
JEFF BAICHER: We work hard to do fund-raising and get sponsorships and [sell] advertising to raise money.
SA: How many players do you lose to foreignteams?
JEFF BAICHER: Too many to speak of. … Mexican clubs are coming here to scout kids and doing a lot of promising to these players. And when these playersget there, it’s not what they thought it was going to be.
We’ve lost a lot of players and a lot of players have come back once they’ve kind of figured it out. But then youstart dealing with, “Did you accept any money? What is your college opportunity now?”
We lose one or two a year to Europe but it’s mostly south to Mexico.
SA:Californian Edwin Lara played at De Anza and for the U.S. U-17s, but then went to Pachuca, played in the 2015 U-17 World Cup for Mexico, and in Mexico’s U-17 national championship final withPachuca. Does something like that inspire young Mexican-Americans to believe moving to a Mexican club is the right path for them?
JEFF BAICHER: A few years ago Mexicoscouts noticed there are a lot of fantastic players in this area 11, 12, 13, 14 years old. It’s happening all over. It’s just recruiting. Once one player makes it in some capacity, it canbe used as an example. “It could be you.”
But it’s really hard to judge what programs are legitimate and what is in the best interest of the player.
Not considered in the interview, but, in my humble opinion, a factor to be considered in deciding between Bradenton and a non-residential academy is the quality of education available other than soccer training. De Anza Force players, for example, can and do attend outstanding local high schools, such that, if their career path does not lead directly into the professional world, they are not limited in the array of colleges and universities to which they qualify for admission.
I find this interview very interesting. Just in this last USSDA season DeAnza lost a combined 10-12 players from U16-U18 to the local MLS club (SJ Earthquakes). The kids play for free at MLS clubs and get the promise of a potential homegrown contract. I don’t see how non-MLS USSDA clubs will survive in the coming years without additional support from US Soccer.
Thanks James, as I agree with you that kids playing in the De Anza Force club do attend better high schools, and after all De Anza is within the relatively lucrative city of Cupertino, very close to Palo Alto, and of course silicon valley, and thus parents can afford the cost of being De Anza Force club members. And yes, as Mike W points out, the area is in a “hotbed of Mexican American talent…” yet, it’d be interesting to note just how many of these Mexican American players are on scholarship as I am fairly sure the Club fees ain’t cheap. As for continuing with Bradenton, IMHO, that is waste of resources, to wit the recent poor showings of these young players. Perhaps, given the width and breadth of our country, what if there were other branches of Bradenton, e.g. adding a Western, Northern, and Eastern campuses? Is it doable, I think it would and it would behoove not just MLS but US Soccer to look into this concept, but if left alone, why waste the resources? There aren’t enough scouts, not enough money, etc. PDAs? MLS “farm teams” a la baseball minor league and farm teams? As for Liga MX scouts roaming the fields in the California and other southwest fields, they will continue to do so, and hundreds of players, boys and now girls, will continue to flock to Mexico, only and until US Soccer and other high-mighty clubs, leagues, pay for play clubs, so-called academies, etc., will make it more attractive to the unsuspecting players AND their parents! Until then, De Anza Force, et.al. will continue to see their players go elsewhere.
I’ve often wondered: Can something like junior hockey (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) work with soccer? It seems to be an accepted fact of life in hockey that fans will pay money to watch NHL-track teenagers play hockey. Teens in such programs receive reasonable tutoring, full-time training, professional exposure, and–good or bad–an early introduction to the fame that comes with being a pro player; because in essence, they are. They get paid, rather than the opposite, and they play before a paying audience. Some junior hockey teams regularly pack the house. Of course, it helps that Canada’s colleges and universities aren’t as stuck on shamateurism as the NCAA is; kids who play in such leagues are still eligible to play college hockey in Canada should they want to parlay their talents into a university education, or need additional seasoning before turning pro.
Thanks for the keen insight on “how its done in Canada” with junior hockey. Great concept, and unfortunately it would take a meteor strike for the system to change here, there is the group of Euro and Latino expatriates here plying their trade and pulling the wool over unsuspecting parents, and the archaic-pollyannish NCAA that is really more restrictive than constructive, that is as far as futbol-soccer is concerned! How about if US Soccer sends a delegation – say from the NSCAA – to study how it is done up there?
I’m sorry folks, but I find Jeff Baicher’s last comment a bit naive simply and because this has been going on now since the late ’80’s, not only here in my neck of the woods, but also in the San Francisco-San Jose area, two areas called “a hotbed of Mexican American talent.” And to say that he, maybe I am wrong, he just discovered this taking place a few years ago, I am wont to wonder where hes been and what has he been doing to also call it “just recruiting”??? All I can say, is “hay dios mio!”
If Earthquakes were smart they’d land one of their feeder teams down near Salinas/Watsonville. There is a bunch of talent down there as well but doubtful thoae parents will drive to san jose every day for academy practice. They’d better cast a wider net before another bay area MLS team arrives.
They can’t compete and won’t survive–that’s the plan.
Ric, I have to disagree with you, Jeff has trained many Mexican-Americans that have went to Mexico, he grew up in the Bay Area where there are many local Latinos that thrive in northern California. I think what is disappointing is that the US soccer community fails to keep Mexican American talent. I am a former soccer alumni at San Jose state and former assistant coach there, our coach had the brains to get players from San Jose, salinas, Watsonville, and what were our results, 20-1-1 in 2000, 9-8-6, 2001, 12-9-4 in 2002, and 12-7-5 in 2003, and a majority of our team were Latinos.
While junior hockey is mainly a Canadian thing, it exists in the US, too. Both the WHL and OHL have US teams (the only pro hockey in Portland and Seattle, believe it or not, are WHL clubs–though this is likely because Seattle doesn’t have a suitable arena, and while Portland does, the Moda Center is owned by the NBA’s Trail Blazers, who are uninterested in either buying an NHL franchise, or leasing the arena to one). And there are US junior hockey leagues. But hockey seems to be unique among team sports in North America in that there are semi-pro leagues for youth–both minor league baseball and lower-division pro soccer seem uninterested in teenagers, and Freddy Adu may well have soured anyone (with some good reason) on the idea of having a kid who isn’t old enough to drive, playing on a pro team with grown men.
I’d rather see local clubs in the development system. The USSF should participate in local programs and finance them. In the past I observed several local coaches that fielded top quality talented youngsters in Northern NJ. Quality coaches need to be identified and recruited. Putting all your eggs into a Bradenton leaves many more recruits with potential in the dark.
Y’all missed something, not seeing the Baicher and Bravo show with Foothill JC, Santa Clara, the Blackhawks, the Jaguars, the Earthquakes, …They were really something.
Hazing rookie players:From the Union’s filingsClaimant brought the Idea of spanking rookie players following training camps to the Philadelphia Union, as he had also spanked players when he was the head coach of DC United. Claimant admits that he participated in a practice following the training camps of 2010, 2011 and 2012 where players were spanked. Claimant also admits that this practice included Claimant dipping his hand in ice water and then spanking the rookie players, sometimes choosing to hit the players with a sandal. Claimant further admits that [redacted] participated in the [redacted] training camp. At that time, Claimant physically spanked Mr. [redacted], who, again, was [redacted].Importantly, Mr. Sakiewicz became aware of the “spanking” when he was shown a video of the ritual in [redacted].[…]Click to expand…From Nowak’s filingsMr. Nowak did not deny that rookie hazing took place during his tenure as manager of the Philadelphia Union, including joking, singing, dancing and paddling of rookie players. Mr. Nowak also testified that prior to engaging in this activity, he received pre-approval from former Philadelphia Union President Tom Veit and from Nick Sakiewicz. He did not deny sticking his hand in an ice bucket between paddling. In fact, he indicated that a videotape was taken each year by his assistant coaches, John Hackworth and Rob Vartughian, in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He further testified that he was present when those videotapes were shown to Mr. Sakiewicz and others and that Mr. Sakiewicz loved it and never instructed him after to stop the rituals:Q. Okay. And your testimony is that Nick Sakiewicz did not instruct you after 2010 not to conduct the slapping.A. Absolutely not. He saw it with Richie Graham in the lobby in the hotel in Costa rica. Like in Crete in Greece, the sponsors were there from Colonial Marble. His wife was there with his son Nicholas, the youngest son. As I said there was an investor, new investor, Rich Graham in the lobby. John Hackworth or Rob Vartughian showed the videotape or whatever the recording. That was every year he was with us and he saw it, what was happening.
You know Mike W. You be doing a great service and others like you, with the ability to reach an audience. To investigate the great rip off that is happening in this country with this game. I wish somebody could hold all of these so called “College Showcase” tourney directors accountable for the sleazy lure they are using to bait many families with. To lure kids and mostly parents on a budjet to tournaments with a list on there webiste of sometimes hundreds of college coaches that will be attending. When the reality is they will not be there, they will not come watch your kid. Even if they did… would they be able to recruit them by watching one game.
You have a point here–though I’m not sure the specific instances you mention are entirely relevant… at any rate, hazing and physical abuse are always unacceptable, and arguably more likely to manifest at a residential club (or a boarding school, or any situation where kids spend a lot of time away from parent, particularly if left unsupervised by any adults, or overly dependent on one person. (Since I mentioned junior hockey upthread; I should mention here that there have been several sex-abuse scandals in Canadian junior hockey, including one twenty years ago involving the Portland Winterhawks). There are, of course, rules and principals residential camps should follow to minimize such things–rule #1 being no kid and no adult (other than a parent) should be alone together. Kids should be trained in groups (even a group of 2 or 3 is sufficient for protection), and adults should be likewise paired up when with kids. Eyeballs and chaperones, always.
Wen,Thats not why the players left. They left for the new coaching staff at the Quakes at the 16s and 18s level. Beyond that, there is the opportunity for homegrown player status and generation adidas contracts. The ability to trial with clubs like Liverpool for more than a few weeks, due to Force not having a pro team, was an issue for one player as well (as they cannot be transferred).
My son was in residency for a half year under Wilmer C and although he enjoyed it, there were definitely some issues. I’m not sure if has changed, but they only trained with the ball once per day and were discouraged from training on their own (because of liability and supervision issues). They had additional strength training sessions. The high school that the kids attend isn’t very good. The biggest challenge in developing players is they never play games. A friendly here and there, an inter-squad (although Wilmer rarely did that) and an occasional trip or tournament, but players need regular games to develop. It is a really artificial environment.
The problem within US SOCCER from the club level thru the national team level is coaching and coaches focusing on the wrong thing. When I say national team level I am talking about U15 thru U17 on the boys side.Big and strong athletes vs players that are technically accomplished. If a kid tries to get creative and make a mistake they are crtisised. If a big strong and fast player runs like a deer and knocks the competition down and takes the ball away they are given an “Atta Boy” job well done. That will not get you anywhere in international play. We have proven that with play at the international level. As a result we keep pushing the same coaches up the line.
10-11 players leave a club (Deanza) at one time to go to another club. Whether it be Deanza or any other club the club itself and US Soccer should look into the reason something like this happens. Sounds very strange to me. Has to be some underlying reason.