“Right now, it’s so expensive. I have a friend who spent $30,000 a year on her daughter. That’s out of reach for a lot of people, and we’re not doing enough to change that.When we were playing, we had Briana Scurry, Saskia Webber, Thori Staples andLorrie Fair. There still weren’t enough back then. No Hispanic players. Around the world, it’s played in under-served communities. In America,it’s a middle class, white sport.”
— Former U.S. national team star Julie Foudy on the lack of women of color on the team that startedin Monday’s Women’s World Cup match against Colombia and the general lack of diversity in women’s soccer, which is largely a suburban sport. (
There is a lot of talk about how other nations have “caught up” to the US Women. And a lot of comments on this site about whether specific coaches or coaching strategies will help the US Men advance in the World Cup. The bottom line is that we will never have consistent international success until we have a player development program that benefits more than the small percentage of players whose families can afford it. We already have to compete with other major sports for the best athletes. As long as 90% of US youth players cannot afford to participate beyond recreational programs we will struggle on the international stage. Too many people in US soccer programs see the $$$ first.
Pay to Play boomball recreational soccer. If you don’t have a British accent, fake it, you’ll make a great coach.
Ba Luh D L .!!! The Yanks have figured us out…Don’t they know, We Won the World Cup in 1966??? …Spot on Mis Amigos
**Santiago 1314 commented on: August 6, 2014 at 12:04 p.m.***@Karl, Unfortunately, Our once Dominating, Dynamic Women’s Program is a Shadow of itself… Granted that other Countries have improved, BUT, Instead of Developing more Attacking minded players, Over Coaching has Breed Out these players… No more Turning with the Ball (“PLAY THE WAY YOU ARE FACING”!!!)..No more Taking On 1v1(“PASS THE BALL”).. You Watch … In a few years we will be talking about US Women’s team, Like Brazil is talking about there Men’s team.. SAD!!!***…6-24-15… Looks Like a few Years has already Arrived… I Repeat Today…SAD !!!
So, When is Julie Foudy going to be appointed National Team Coach???
I agree with all of these comments. This is not a new development. This has been going on for decades now. Pay to play leads to the make up of the team we have now. William Anderson hit the nail on the head. Based on Julie Foudy’s comment it looks like the USWNT has actually gone backwards in recent years. When is Foudy going to be hired. The changes needed have to start from the top.
It took the French – 17 years – they made the commitment at the end of the 1998 World Cup … 2 club teams got on board – PSG + Lyon … and voila … ranked in the top two just in time for the 2015 Women’s World Cup! I wouldn’t want to compare this to the USA program – Apples and Androids – however, it is the ownership groups of the Professional Ligue 1 teams that made the investment and contributed the resources. In the USA this is something relatively new for the MLS – the homegrown rule – 2008 – which provides top flight resources to a newly developed feeder system. I guess the NWSL is not quite so financially inclined to have these types of investments. Probably the MLS should take up the slack – they already have the capacity – all they need are some committed players from their local area.The NWSL would then roll into the MLS and game nights would be back 2 back … I know – Genius! – just give credit in 17 years. The capacity management of: stadiums / practice facilities / trainers / nutritionists / marketing / etc etc etc all these things would be better utilized – once the women’s game receive the invite.
Julie Foudy is spot on with her comments, and I wholeheartedly applaud her and am proud of her! Consider this: when I first decided to not only become a licensed/certificated coach in early 1971 I also decided to also REALLY know the game by also LEARNING how to officiate the jogo bonito. Long story short, by the mid ’70s I was assigned to do some games, employing the dual system, in the San Fernando Valley, and I also was assigned to youth club games. Sadly, then there were virtually NO girls games, except for a club here and there that fielded girls teams, including some universities, e.g. UCLA, CSUN, Westmont College, Biola College. By the time my kids went into recreational football, girl teams expanded into the club scene, high schools and colleges and universities, all helped along by Title IX, and as CSUN’s first NCAA men’s coach I was asked by some women students to organize and coach that university’s first women’s club, which later was elevated to varsity NCAA status. From the competitive club scene, girl’s club have exploded, yet as Ms. Foudy says, yes they’re in the more affluent suburbs, although I must tell you that in the past eight years, I have seen a growth in the number of female teams in the inner city schools, especially Latina players. As we know they’re not as affluent as those from other areas, but more importantly is the strong desire to play, not withstanding the cultural restraints many parents place on their daughters. The $30,000 Ms. Foudy alludes to is NOT a fabrication of her imagination, in fact right in my own back yard I can point out to local clubs that unashamedly charge these offensive and obscene cost, as well as I can point out to our niece who is an up and coming goalie in another state, whose parents have schlepped her to participate in the more and well known youth tournaments, e.g. Surf Cup, San Diego Nomad, etc. So bottom line, will the US women’s national teams become even more inclusive, will there be scouts to identify these players, much like their male counterparts such as the vaunted academies? And BTW, where does the scouting group, ALIANZA, in this? Given time, it is my fervent hope that it will come to pass, and all it will take, is a little elbow grease to ID the players and try not to have the now small exodus of female (and male) players go and play for their parent’s country of origin, such as Leo Cuellar HC of the Mexican Women’s National team has been doing. So as they say, hope springs eternal!
@ Si, Si, Señor Ric…Title IX has created many great Advantages for Women’s College Soccer…And this has Turned into the Money Mill of Pay-to-Play Suburbia Soccer that is Coached by inferior “PRO” Brits, who don’t even Believe in Women’s soccer, but they can Fake it by Winning at all cost and getting a Scholarship for the player
Funny thing is…After about One year of playing in College, most of these women quit…Seems it was more Mommy or Daddy who wanted to Waive the Scholarship in front of the Faces of the Neighbors. ..
30, 000 x 6 years 180, 000 $$$…Would be better to invest in a Colleg Fund
Where Foudy’s comments fall short is saying soccer is predominately a “middle class” sport. Actually, for the most part it’s an “upper middle class/upper class” sport. At one time (don’t recall which players, and not sure about today) at least three of the USWNT players were daughters of cardiologist.Not to single anyone out, and she’s a great player, but Becky Saurbrunn grew up in the St.Louis suburb town that has the highest per capita income in the U.S> of any town with a population over 1000.And if there’s any weak link in soccer development, and costs, it’s the acceptance of these upper middle class families of paid coaches that really don’t deserve it, and have too many teams because it’s lucrative, and most people are too ignorant to realize they’re getting short changed.Honestly, if a team is in their local league’s 4th division, or lower, should they be paying $60/month or more for a coaching fee merely on the possibility that their child will move up to a higher level team in their club next year?If a person’s motivation is anything other than the love, and enjoyment of the game, they’ll likely be unhappy with the result.That’s one reason a lot of college players transfer, or quit before theyplay out their eligibility. It just stops being fun.
. . . and speaking of diversity, why hasn’t Leroux been in the lineup at the WWC yet?
I am reading alot of good comments. James e Chandler is right it is not a middle class sport but an upper middle class/upper class sport. Julie Foudy is a courageous lady. You see youth development from MLS teams is beginning to take root and have some success. How is this going to work for the Women’s game when they don’t really have a viable pro league yet. I definitely see many of the young women who go to college getting burnt out. Many of them are choosing to not take that root. The Pay to Play has got to go as far as development of youth soccer is concerned for both sexes.
Thanks James e Chandler! Indeed Julie Foudy is not just a “courageous lady,” but a great visionary and hope that the so-called powers that be wake up, listen, smell the roses, and coffee. And yes, why hasn’t Leroux been in the lineup? In my earlier post above I asked where is the likes of the group “Alianza” that has supposedly produced quite a few young men of Latino ancestry for Mexican and some Central American teams, that is do they have a similar program for young women? Or how has Leo Cuellar been successful of recruiting girls of Mexican heritage to play for the Mexican National Team? Did anyone pay attention to the commentators mention the fact that about 40% of the Mexican WNT play for US colleges/universities? So if he was/is successful in recruting them for the MexWNT, then why haven’t the US WNT even bothered to invite them for a tryout? Amy Rodriguez and Leroux are an exception (didn’t A. Rod play for Stanford?) still, Julie Foudy, I’ve your back and please call me, email me, for any help and support. I’ve been there and done that and would like to do some more!
@James e,..Actually it is a Middle/Lower Middle class Suburbia sport…What is driving the Decline is; Suburbia Parent’s that are trying to One-Up there Neighbor…Many of theses Parents are Middle/Upper Level Management, that live beyond their means… They think that that can “Save” money by getting a Scholarship to College for their daughters…But they spend 30, 000 a year on Traveling teams (Whether it’s Soccer, Volleyball or Softball)…All opportunities created by Title IX, and its Need to Offset the 96 Scholarships in Men’s Football… What they Really want is to be able to wave their Scholarship Offers from “Oklahoma School of The Immaculate Conception”, “And your kid got What Offers”???
@Ric,… Which Overlooked AMERICAN-Mexican players are you talking About??? The Ones from Mexico’s Team, That beat WHO?? In the Quarterfinals!!! HUMmmm… My BAD, Mexico didn’t make it Out of the Bracket…Try again as to why our US Players are getting Weaker…”Rodriguez” Hummm, Sounds Hispanic to Me, Pero yo no se nada…Maybe because she has White Skin and went to Stanford, She No Count as Hispanic… Check your Racism at the door. .
RIC…Disculpame..That last sentence came out incorrectly… I meant to insert, “Thoughts of” Racism… Forgive me.. Santiago..
I don’t think the Women’s National Team is Racist against Hispanics… I just think We lack Good Young Players of ALL colors…Because of the Pay-for-Play system…