Last week, we reported on U.S. Soccer absorbing the 2.7 million-player USYS. Nineteen years ago, we reported on U.S. Soccer launching the Boys Development Academy Department after its Technical Committee, set up by then-Federation president Sunil Gulati, determined a “Need to eliminate clutter in the environment …” for players ages 13-17 and a “Need more free play, less structure … ” at ages 6-12.
From the July 2007 issue of Soccer America:
Taming the Wild West
Creating the U.S. Soccer Development Academy is the USSF’s first step in trying to take advantage of the strengths of American youth soccer while tackling its flaws.
IF BOYS YOUTH SOCCER CONTINUED ALONG its current path, it’s safe to say we’d be getting more of the same. Lots and lots of decent players, and a handful of brilliant players. Is that acceptable?
It shouldn’t be. The USA is a giant country with tremendous resources and millions of players. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t be churning out world-class players the way countries like Brazil and Argentina do. But with all the growth at the grass-roots, with all the self-proclaimed highly competitive leagues and tournaments that spread throughout nation like kudzu, with thousands of youth coaches earning good money to “teach” our kids how to play, how often do we produce the truly exceptional player?
Sure, we have more good players than ever. Guys who can play a role on the field and hold their own — those we have in abundance. But the rate at which we’re producing players who hit the field and truly offer something extraordinary has not been increasing in proportion to the growth of the youth game.
Two decades ago, we had Tab Ramos and Hugo Perez. Why aren’t we seeing scores of American players with such skill now? Why don’t we have more players like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey?
Those are the kinds of questions that prompted Sunil Gulati, shortly after being elected U.S. Soccer Federation President in March of 2006, to launch a Technical Committee to review all the Federation’s technical areas.
“Our players are not good enough at the highest levels — we need to get better,” reads the introduction to the Technical Committee’s Player Development Report.
The report outlined changes the committee believed are needed at different age groups. Notably, for ages 6-12, the assessment summary included “Need more free play, less structure … Encourage passion and experimentation.” At ages 13-17 (the development stages): “Need to eliminate clutter in the environment — elite players are stretched too thin.”
These aren’t revolutionary conclusions. U.S. national team coaches and the U.S. Soccer coaching staff have been saying such things for years. But the Federation has historically been reluctant to dive into the youth soccer arena — a free market that now offers so many different programs promising players a path to glory that it has been described as the wild west.
Now the USSF is taking action. This fall it launches the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for boys — its most ambitious move on the development front since it (in 1999) opened the U-17 boys residency camp in Bradenton, Fla., which houses 40 players. (The USSF is exploring a similar initiative “to enhance the development of female players.”)
SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP READING
Start for $0 & enjoy free unlimited access for 30 days.
- Daily TV listings for U.S. and global soccer.
- Exclusive interviews with players and coaches.
- Expert analysis of top soccer headlines.
- Cancel anytime.
Already have an account? Sign in here.
CHECK OUT MORE STORIES
Not ready to subscribe? Sign up here for our free newsletter.
Already have an account? Sign in here.
