Evolving the US Youth Soccer Elite Level Environment · There are 66 ECNL Clubs; not all are “Elite.” Only 28 Clubs Play in Both USDA and ECNL. MLS - Girls: FC Dallas (ECNL),

Evolving the

US Youth Soccer Elite Level Environment

February 2011

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure


Coaching Committee

Chairman: Dr. Tom Turner, Ohio North Region I Representative: Jim Kelly, Rhode Island Region II Representative: Ian Mulliner, Illinois

Region III Representative: Mike Strickler, Florida Region IV Representative: Mike Smith, Oregon

Board Liaison: Bob Singer, North Carolina

Coaching Department Liaison: Sam Snow , Texas Special At-Large Member: Dr. Lew Atkinson, Delaware

National League Committee

Chairman: Chris Christoffersen, Kansas Commissioner: Paul Luchowski, Ohio North

Region I Representatives: Ann Thompson, Virginia; Sue Ryan, New York Region II Representatives: Bud Manley, Ohio South; Tom Turner, Ohio North

Region III Representative: Lance Chapel, Georgia; Charlie Slagle, North Carolina Region IV Representatives: Dave Lamb, California-South; Nate Shotts, Colorado

Board Liaison: Larry Monaco, Virginia

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Your Presenter

Dr. Tom Turner Ohio Youth Soccer Association North

Director of Coaching and Player Development (1993- Present)

US Soccer National Instructional Staff (1994 – Present) US Youth Soccer National Instructional Staff (2001 – Present)

US Youth Soccer Region II Boy's ODP Head Coach (2007 – Present) US Youth Soccer Region II Girl’s ODP Head Coach (1994 – 2004)

US Youth Soccer National Coaching Committee (2008 – Present) US Youth Soccer National League Committee (2006 – Present)

US Youth Soccer Region II Midwest Regional League Committee (2002 – 2007) Ohio Youth Soccer Association North State League Commissioner (2004 – 2006)

3554 Brecksville Rd. Richfield, OH 44286

Web: www.oysan.org Office: (330) 659-0989 * Fax: (330) 659-0993 * Cell: (216) 496-4683

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http://www.oysan.org/


Defining The Elite Level

Quality and Mentality of Players

Quality and Frequency of Competition

Quality and Structure of the Environment

Quality of Coaching

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Youth National Teams

US Soccer Development Academy

US Youth Soccer National Championship Series US Youth Soccer Regional & National Leagues

Elite Clubs National League

************

US Youth Soccer State Leagues

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The “Aspiring” Player

Changed Persona Emotionally Different

Self-Motivated Committed to Playing and Training

Prodigies / Age Factor

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One of the primary goals of elite level soccer is to prepare players to compete at the higher levels…

Senior National Teams

Professional Level Amateur Leagues

College Level Youth National Teams Representative Teams

Older Age Divisions

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Defining the Elite Level

No Development Without Peers!

Balanced competition with, and against like-skilled and like-motivated players improves

learning and development.

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Defining the Elite Level

Competing in too many games, or in too many meaningless games, dulls the thrill of anticipation

and reduces the gains in emotional intelligence associated with preparing to compete against

talented opposition.

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The coaching and playing environment that challenges players to constantly operate on the boundary of their comfort zone best serves to

promote learning and long-term development.

An elevated level of anxiety is important for learning. The prospect of playing good opposition

raises the anxiety necessary for optimal performance and improvement.

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US Youth Soccer values soccer as the “The Game For All Kids”

The US Soccer Development Academy was created to overcome inertia and raise the standard of play

in the boy’s youth soccer environment.

US Youth Soccer is no longer the main conduit for Boy’s Youth National Team or top Division I

college selections.

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The Development Academy consists of 78 clubs.

The Development Academy has spawned an

independent USCS U-14 pre-Academy league that threatens to further minimize US Youth Soccer’s

connection to elite level players.

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The ECNL now threatens to erode US Youth

Soccer’s role as the preferred soccer environment for elite level girl’s clubs and top Division I college

recruiting events.

On the international level, the dearth of top female American players is being exposed.

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US Youth Soccer values soccer as the “The Game for All Kids”

Requests for change have gone unanswered. Competition has now changed the landscape.

As a result, US Youth Soccer is in danger

of losing the

ENTIRE LEVEL of elite level players.

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Following formal membership approval at the Federation AGM in Las Vegas, US Club Soccer is

now actively marketing to entry-level soccer groups – primarily on the basis of Registration

simplicity and ease of process!

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League

Structure



Competitive Triggers

Competing soccer organizations (USDA, ECNL, Y-League, USCS) have emerged for five reasons…

1. Poor Soccer Environment (USDA) 2. Prohibitive / Obsolete Rules (USCS) 3. Strategic College Marketing (ECNL) 4. Pace of / Ability to Change (All) 5. Failure to Compete / Gain Access to Events (ECNL)

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Poor Soccer Environment (USDA)

Impact on NT Development Training to Games Ratio Volume of Games Quality of Games Style of Play Style of Player Style of Coaching Absence of Periodization

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Prohibitive / Obsolete Rules (USCS)

No voice for Professional Coaches Required Paperwork / Petty Costs Constraining Rosters / Transfer Fees No Club Registration Multiple Carding State Association Borders Travel Permissions Phantom Insurance Restrictions Multiple Coaching Passes

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Strategic College Marketing (ECNL) Youth Soccer = College Scholarships Control College Coaches = Player Monopoly Small = Exclusive / Growth = Achilles Heel

Parallel USDA Program Clubs vs Teams vs Competitive Quality

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Pace of / Ability to Change (All) Professional Coaches Now Drive Youth Soccer

Change

Single Registration System Club Carding / Single Carding Substitution Rules Game Schedules ODP Identification / Selection Process

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Failure to Compete / Gain Access to Events There are 66 ECNL Clubs; not all are “Elite.” Only 28 Clubs Play in Both USDA and ECNL. MLS - Girls: FC Dallas (ECNL), Crew and Fire.

ECNL Clubs ECNL & USDA “Elite” Clubs

Region I 18 7 ~11 (60%)

Region II 12 5 ~4 (30%)

Region III 14 9 ~7 (50%)

Region IV 22 7 ~16 (70%)

66 28 ~53%

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Vision

The following presentation outlines the views (in whole or part) of the US Youth Soccer National League

Committee, the US Youth Soccer Coaching Committee, and the 55 State Association Technical Directors.

The goal is to create a vertically integrated league

structure within US Youth Soccer that also addresses the realities and promise of elite level players.

Much Of This Structure Already Exists!

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The Root of our Problems!

US Youth Soccer ECNL USDA

League Structures Independent Integrated Integrated

Player ID Structures Independent Integrated Integrated

“Showcase” Events Independent Integrated Integrated

National Championships Independent Integrated Integrated

Governance Structures Independent Integrated Integrated

Coaching Input Limited Integrated Semi-Integrated

Player Registration System Independent Integrated Integrated

Playing Rules Independent Integrated Integrated

Calendars and Events Independent Integrated Integrated

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The National League Model

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http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/


National League Structure

Level (B & G)

Age Groups

Tiers Divisions Per Tier

Teams Per

Division

Games Per

Season

Season Duration

State Leagues

U-13 U-18

As Needed 1 4-12 3-11 3-11 Weeks

Regional Leagues

U-14 U-18

2-3 2-4 8-10 7-9 Variable

National League

U-15 U-17

1 4 8 7 Two Weekends (HS Season Issues)

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Regional Leagues National Landscape

Age Groups

Number Of

Tiers

Premier Divisions

Premier Division

Teams

Total Premier

Divisions Teams

Prom &

Rel.

Entry Points

Reg. Wild Card

Total 2nd Div. Teams

Total Teams 2010 / 2011

Region I Premier League

U-14 U-18

2 2 8 160 Yes NCS-RC RL

Yes 354 514

Region II Midwest Regional League

U-14 U-18

2 2 8-10 176 Yes NCS-SC NCS-RC

RL

Yes 569 745

Region III Premier League

U-14 U-18

1 3 10-12 319 Yes Yes 0 319

Region IV Far West Regional League

U-14 U-18

1 1 12-16 238 No Yes 0 238

893 923 1816

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By Comparison

ECNL Clubs

USDA Clubs

USCS Members

US Youth Soccer Members

Region I 18 (27%) 24 (31%) 1,000,000

Region II 12 (18%) 14 (18%) 630,000

Region III 14 (21%) 23 (29%) 660,000

Region IV 22 (33%) 17 (22%) 670,000

66 78 150,000 2,960,000

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State Leagues

National Landscape

Conservatively…

250 Teams per State

x 55 State Associations

~14,000 Teams

STATE LEAGUE

R-I R-II R-III R-IV Totals Connecticut Indiana Alabama Arizona

Maine Iowa Arkansas California-North New York-East Michigan Louisiana Colorado

Pennsylvania-West North Dakota Mississippi Montana West Virginia Ohio-North North Carolina Oregon

Wisconsin Oklahoma Utah Minnesota South Carolina Washington Tennessee Wyoming Texas-South Georgia

5 7 10 8 30

33% 50% 83% 57% 55%

NO STATE LEAGUE

R-I R-II R-III R-IV Totals Delaware Illinois Florida Alaska Maryland Kansas Texas-North California-South

Massachusetts Kentucky Hawaii New Hampshire Missouri Idaho

New Jersey Nebraska Nevada New York-West Ohio-South New Mexico

Pennsylvania- East South Dakota Rhode Island

Vermont Virginia

10 7 2 6 25

67% 50% 17% 43% 45%

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*Includes State Association Leagues and State Association Designated Leagues


National League Potential?

Boys & Girls Boys & Girls Boys & Girls

4 Teams/State 6 Teams/State 8 Teams/State

U-13 (440) (660) (880) U-14 440 660 880 U-15 440 660 880

U-16 440 660 880

U-17 440 660 880

U-18 440 660 880

Totals 2200 3300 4400

Boys & Girls Boys & Girls

4 Teams/Region 8 Teams/Region

2 Divisions x 8 4 Divisions x 8

U-15 32 64

U-16 32 64

U-17 32 64

Totals 96 192

Regional Leagues National League

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National Championship Series Wild-Cards

The Wild Card Concept One Loss and Out / Back Door Qualification (4-team brackets)

Regional Leagues to Regional Championships National League to National Championship

Helped Kill Super-Y Has kept US Youth Soccer in the Elite level – For Now! Top Teams Need Opportunities to Advance

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National League Integration with National Championship Series

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National Championship Series Evolution

Year Competitions (Final Four)

1935 B-19

1976 B-16 + B-19

1980 G-19 + B-16 + B-19

1985 G-16 + B/G-16 + B-19

1991 B/G-17 + B/G-16 + B/G-19

1994 B/G-18 + B/G-16 + B/G-17 + B/G-19

2001 B/G-14 + B/G-15 + B/G-16 + B/G-17 + B/G-18 + B/G-19

2009 National League Wild Cards (2) for U-15 + U-16 + U-17

?? National League Wild Cards (4) for U-15 + U-16 + U-17

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National Championship Series Regional Wild-Cards

Wild Cards States Per Region

Regional League Premier Numbers

Region I 1 U-14 through U-18

Best Teams

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16

Region II 2 U-14 through U-18

Best Teams

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16-20

Region III 4 U-14 through U-18

Geographical Winners

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30-36

Region IV 2 U-14 through U-18

Best Teams

14

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Stand-Alone National League Championship

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National League Operating Principles

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Transparency

The most important consideration in the creation of a US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure is

qualification Transparency.

Admission by committee undermines the fundamental need for elite teams to compete on a level playing field.

To establish and maintain credibility, the qualification and

subsequent movement of teams between levels must be determined by Results on the field.

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Promotion and Relegation

The US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure integrates state, regional and national levels,

based on performance.

Promotion and Relegation is the accepted international norm for the organization of soccer leagues at all levels.

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Player and Team Advancement

Pyramid structures naturally filter the better players towards the most competitive levels.

Pyramid structures naturally serve to ability-match teams.

Pyramid structures clearly differentiate playing

Performance from Marketing.

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Club Carding

Players Register to a Club, not a team.

The restrictive US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Roster Rules have been rendered obsolete by the

evolution of our youth soccer competitors. Examples…

National Inequities in Roster Formation Roster Inflexibility

No Provision for Injured Players No Provision for National Team Call-Ups

Cup-Tied Definition

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NCS Roster Deadlines

Round Current Base Roster (+/- 5)

Suggested Roster Freeze

State Championship 1st League Game August / September?

April / May?

1st NCS-SC Game State-by-State

Regional Championship 1st League Game August / September?

April / May?

1st NCS-RC Game June

National Championship 1st League Game August / September?

April / May?

1st NCS-NC Game July

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Cup Tied

A player is cup-tied only..

Within an “age group” when playing for the same club within the NCS. When competing for another club within the NCS.

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Registration

The use of standard electronic processes (on-line registration, academy rostering, game rosters, tournament

rosters, player movement, marketing potential, ODP, coaching education, risk management, etc.,) must evolve to advance US Youth Soccer into the soccer-digital age.

A single National Registration System is essential.

Club Registration is essential.

Roster Flexibility is essential.

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Roster Size

The maximum game roster is 18 players.

The eligible pool of players for any game or event is determined by the number of age-appropriate players

registered to the club.

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Earned Status

Clubs qualify a team – not a roster - from season-to- season, or from year-to-year.

As a general operating practice, the national league’s

member clubs retain their earned status at any level until relegated or removed for disciplinary reasons.

This philosophy protects against player or team recruiting

and accommodates the realities of losing players to the Development Academy (eliminate 51% Rule).

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Substitution Rules

Until the national and regional level schedules provide for no more than one game per day and no more than three

games followed by a rest day, No Re-entry Per Half (NR/H) is the national standard for elite level competition.

NCS Regional League ODP Inter-Regionals

Region I NR/H NR/H FIFA-7

Region II NR/H NR/H ODP Regional Camp

Region III Unlimited Unlimited NR/H

Region IV NR/H NR/H

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College Recruiting

Identification with college showcase events is a critical pressure for the top club teams.

Create Event(s)

Build a College Database Make Events Coach Friendly

Manage the Quality of the Competitions Manage the Quality of the Events

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Showcase Event(s)

Fall (Thanksgiving) + National League Weekends

ODP Inter-Regional Event Boys and Girls

U14 / U15 / U16 / U17

National League Weekend

Regional League Showcase

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Coaching Education Standards

The quality of the coach is the most significant factor in the development trajectory of the aspiring soccer player.

Level Minimum Coaching Qualification

Projected Timeline

State Leagues D License 2012 / 2013 Season

Regional Leagues B License 2016 / 2017 Season

National League B License 2016 / 2017 Season

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Coaching Education Standards

Initial Qualification Established

Final Qualification Established

National League Yes (Available) No

Region I PL No No

Region II MRL Yes (89% / 50%) No

Region III PL No No

Region IV FWPL No No

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Governance and Administration

Professional Commissioner Regional Managers

Coaching Representation (Membership) Digital Support

One Set of Playing Rules

One Set of Administrative Rules

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ODP Scouting Network

ODP is Primarily a National Team Identification Process.

ODP is Secondarily a Player Development Experience.

ODP is a Significant College Recruiting Program.

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ODP Scouting Network

The national league structure must integrate with state and regional and national ODP programs to identify players not competing in the US Soccer Development Academy (assuming boys and eventually girls) and

provide national and international experiences of value.

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ODP Funding

Geographically, incorporating more teams into the national league pyramid reduces travel costs, increases

local rivalries, and provides avenues for aspiring clubs to compete.

The upper tiers of the NL have the potential to

accommodate ~4000 teams and provide for more varied competition amongst clubs.

An ODP player surcharge is one solution to the rising cost

of funding Regional / National ODP.

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Referees and Referee Development

The national league structure provides a natural opportunity to integrate referee training and development

programs at all levels.

The national league structure must enforce international standards for limited sideline coaching and strive to

eliminate player and referee abuse.

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A Thought in Closing…

Mission Statement

US Youth Soccer is non-profit and educational organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth

through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition.


We are in danger of becoming

“The Game for All but the Best Kids”

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Thank You For Your Interest In This Presentation.

Questions? Comments? Criticisms? Witticisms?

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Documents

Evolving the US Youth Soccer Elite Level Environment · There are 66 ECNL Clubs; not all are “Elite.” Only 28 Clubs Play in Both USDA and ECNL. MLS - Girls: FC Dallas (ECNL),