Evolving the US Youth Soccer Elite Level Environment · The ECNL now threatens to erode US Youth...

Evolving the US Youth Soccer

Elite Level Environment

February 2011

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure


Coaching Committee

Chairman: Dr. Tom Turner, Ohio NorthRegion I Representative: Jim Kelly, Rhode IslandRegion II Representative: Ian Mulliner, IllinoisRegion III Representative: Mike Strickler, FloridaRegion IV Representative: Mike Smith, Oregon

Board Liaison: Bob Singer, North CarolinaCoaching Department Liaison: Sam Snow , Texas

Special At-Large Member: Dr. Lew Atkinson, Delaware

National League Committee

Chairman: Chris Christoffersen, KansasCommissioner: Paul Luchowski, Ohio North

Region I Representatives: Ann Thompson, Virginia; Sue Ryan, New YorkRegion II Representatives: Bud Manley, Ohio South; Tom Turner, Ohio NorthRegion III Representative: Lance Chapel, Georgia; Charlie Slagle, North CarolinaRegion IV Representatives: Dave Lamb, California-South; Nate Shotts, Colorado

Board Liaison: Larry Monaco, Virginia

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Your Presenter

Dr. Tom Turner (Education / Psychology / Exercise Physiology)

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 (2002 – 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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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-MotivatedCommitted 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 TeamsProfessional LevelAmateur Leagues College Level

Youth National TeamsRepresentative 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 / National Premier League that now 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 Registrationsimplicity 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� Purposeful 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 Club Coaches now drive all significant changes to the Youth Soccer Environment

� 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 ~12 (55%)

66 28 ~50%

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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

Marketing 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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National League Structure

Level(B & G)

AgeGroups

Tiers DivisionsPer Tier

TeamsPer

Division

GamesPer

Season

SeasonDuration

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-15U-17

1 4 8 7 Two Weekends(HS Season Issues)

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Regional Leagues National Landscape

AgeGroups

NumberOfTiers

Premier Divisions

Premier DivisionTeams

TotalPremier DivisionsTeams

Prom& Rel.

EntryPoints

Reg. WildCard

Total2nd Div.Teams

TotalTeams2010 /2011

Region I Premier League

U-14U-18

2 2 8 160 Yes NCS-RCRL

Yes 354 514

Region II Midwest Regional League

U-14 U-18

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

RL

Yes 569 745

Region IIIPremier League

U-14U-18

1 3 10-12 319 No NCS-SCNCS-RC

Yes 0 319

Region IV Far West Regional League

U-14U-18

1 2 12 238 No NCS-SCNCS-RC

RL

Yes 0 238

893 923 1816

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By Comparison

ECNLClubs

USDAClubs

USCSMembers(Estimated)

US Youth Soccer Members(Rounded)

Region I 18 (27%) 24 (31%) ~80,000 (30%) ~1,050,000 (33%)

Region II 12 (18%) 14 (18%) ~50,000 (19%) ~633,000 (21%)

Region III 14 (21%) 23 (29%) ~50,000 (19%) ~658,000 (22%)

Region IV 22 (33%) 17 (22%) ~90,000 (33%) ~675,000 (23%)

66 78 ~270,000 ~3,017,000

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State Leagues National Landscape

Conservatively…

250 Teams per State x

55 State Associations ~14,000 Teams

STATE LEAGUER-I R-II R-III R-IV Totals

Connecticut Indiana Alabama ArizonaMaine Iowa Arkansas California-North

New York-East Michigan Louisiana ColoradoPennsylvania-West North Dakota Mississippi Montana

West Virginia Ohio-North North Carolina OregonWisconsin Oklahoma UtahMinnesota South Carolina Washington

Tennessee WyomingTexas-South

Georgia

5 7 10 8 3033% 50% 83% 57% 55%

NO STATE LEAGUER-I R-II R-III R-IV Totals

Delaware Illinois Florida AlaskaMaryland Kansas Texas-North California-South

Massachusetts Kentucky HawaiiNew Hampshire Missouri Idaho

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

Pennsylvania- East South DakotaRhode Island

VermontVirginia10 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/StateU-13 (440) (660) (880)U-14 440 660 880U-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

� Top Teams Need/Value Opportunities to Advance � One Loss and Out / Back Door Qualification

(League vs Cup Format / 4-team brackets with QF vs SF)

� Regional Leagues to Regional Championships� National League to National Championship

� Halted rise of Super-Y � Has kept US Youth Soccer in the Elite level – For Now!

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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 League Integration with National Championship Series

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National Championship SeriesRegional /National League Wild-Cards

States Per Region

Regional League Wild Cards

RC Odds1/16

RLOdds

NL Odds1/8

Region I 15

1U-15 through U-17

Best Teams

6%(5 games)

1/16 6%

(9 games)

13%(7 games)

Region II 14

2 U-15 through U-17

Best Teams

6%(5 games)

2/16-20 10%

(10 games)

13%(7 games)

Region III12

4U-15 through U-17

Geographical Winners

6%(6 games)

4/30-36 11%

(8 games)

13%(7 games)

Region IV14

2U-15 through U-17

Best Teams

6%(6 games)

2/25 8%

(11 games)

13%(7 games)

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Stand-Alone US Youth Soccer National League Championship

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Solving the 16-Team Bracket?NL Showcase Event

Four Games in Five Days

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Consol.Finaland

4th Round

SemiFinalsand

3rd Round

QuarterFinalsand

2nd Round

Out-of-RegionSemi-Blind

Draw

QuarterFinalsand

2nd Round

SemiFinalsand

3rd Round

Champ.Finaland

4th Round

Sunday Saturday Thursday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday

A vs I A (1) vs E (0) A (1) vs C (0) A (2) vs B (3) B (3) vs D (1) B (1) vs F (0) B vs P

E vs M I (2) vs M (1) E (2) vs G (1) C (0) vs D (1) F (2) vs H (1) J (2) vs P (3) D vs N

C vs K C (2) vs G (1) I (4) vs K (3) E (1) vs F (1) PK’s J (4) vs L (2) D (2) vs H (1) F vs J

G vs O K (1) vs O (0) M (2) vs O (0) G (2) vs H (5) N (1) vs P (4) L (2) vs N (3) H vs L

I (0) vs J (2)

K (3) vs L (4)

M (1) vs N (1) PK’s

O (1) vs P (3)

Top Eight (future) Seeds Determined by Point Totals


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 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 InflexibilityNo 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 GameAugust / September?April / May?

1st NCS-SC GameState-by-State

Regional Championship 1st League GameAugust / September?April / May?

1st NCS-RC GameJune

National Championship 1st League GameAugust / September?April / May?

1st NCS-NC GameJuly

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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.

� A Transfer is only cup-tied when they have played for another club in 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 FriendlyManage the Quality of the Competitions

Manage the Quality of the Events

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Showcase Events

Fall (Thanksgiving) + National League Weekends

ODP Inter-Regional EventBoys and Girls

U14 / U15 / U16 / U17

National League Teams (Boys / Girls)

Regional League Teams (Priority to Best Placed)

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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 QualificationEstablished

Final Qualification Established

National League Yes (~100% / ?) 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 CommissionerRegional 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 a 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?

[email protected]

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