U.S. Soccer presidential election: Candidates take on key youth issues at Chicago event
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Nov 29, 2017
Four candidates attended the forum in Chicago -- Paul Caligiuri, Kyle Martino, Michael Winograd and Eric Wynalda -- and a fifth, Steve Gans, participated by telephone.
The discussion touched on the role of the federation in youth soccer, its operation of the Development Academy, accessibility of youth coaches to coaching programs, allocation of federation surpluses, solidarity payments and value of high school soccer. There were questions to the candidates about whether the job of U.S. Soccer president should be a paid position and how they planned on handling the role of president.
Of note, U.S. Club Soccer CEO and executive director Kevin Payne, who moderated the event, asked in his final multi-part question whether the candidates had received the three letters of endorsement from member organizations they need by Dec. 12 to be eligible for the election slated for Feb. 10 in Orlando, Fla., during U.S. Soccer's AGM.
Gans and Wynalda said they had. Martino said he had been offered and accepted two endorsements. Caligiuri said he had not yet officially declared his candidacy while Winograd did not respond.
Here are a few excerpts reflecting the views of the candidates on some key issues:
.@PaulCaligiuri20: "Is it (the Federation) meant to build revenues? Or is to develop players, clubs, coaches, referees? Those are the four areas to focus on... My objective is: 'let's do everything we can do to build this game, so we're leaders in the world.'"
— US Club Soccer (@USClubSoccer) November 28, 2017
.@stevegans2018: "The kids play in a test tube (in DA games). There's no pizzazz in the game at all..." Points to USSF "institutional arrogance" for mandates like this. Mentions "social growth and playing in front of a crowd" as benefits to high school soccer.
— US Club Soccer (@USClubSoccer) November 28, 2017
.@kylemartino: "We can create solidarity situations through grants. Give them (clubs) grants to bring in more kids into their structure. Clubs should have an incentive to develop players the right way."
— US Club Soccer (@USClubSoccer) November 28, 2017
.@WinogradUSSF: "U.S. Soccer's growth has outpaced its governance. I see this all the time with start-ups. When something starts in a garage, it requires different governance than a billion-dollar company... It absolutely has to be paid."
— US Club Soccer (@USClubSoccer) November 28, 2017
.@EricWynalda: "If this becomes a paid position, so be it, but I'm prepared for either... The truth is it is a job that requires a lot more attention than it is getting right now."
— US Club Soccer (@USClubSoccer) November 28, 2017
Where is Sunil? Isn't it rude to be late to your own party? At this point should we just assume he isn't running? Isn't this guy supposed to be a leader? He's not running for re-election in Chicago--why the intrigue?
I like Gans and Pauls comments. The DA is a showcase for the organization not for the players or the clubs and the games are almost chorographed all across the country. US should have never stuck their paws into the HS programs. I know that there are many on here who will say HS soccer is bad. But there are many parts of this country where HS coaches are some of the best out there and instead of trying to separate them from DA they should be spending some time trying to bring them into the DA program. The DA program is out of hand and need to be corrected quickly.
I liked Caligiuri's opening comments. No surprise that the candidates criticized the DA program in front of a US Club Soccer forum.
I think USSF has a good group of candidates to pick from. What we don't need is a fresh coat of paint on the same old house. We need to look forward, not backwards.