Another US Soccer idea...

this thread...
 

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I'm thinking of both men and women. I was thinking of a true "blank page" re-think of youth soccer in general. To me, DA is a compromise where US Soccer is trying to do what I expressed in an earlier comment: feeding solutions (various mandates about age grouping, training time vs game time, development initiatives) into a broken machine. In other words, these are just the same DoC's, same coaches, clubs, same economic system as before, same values, now just dancing to USSF's drum. And not really getting any lasting positive traction from it. So, I would say for the purposes of setting up a straw-man proposal, just take over the existing system, burn it down, start from scratch.

Ok, so let's say the DA takes over the existing DA teams from all the clubs on the men's and woman's side as it currently exists. The DA is now responsible for:
  1. Paying Admins (Academy Directors and Technical Directors across nation at each club) (about $13.2 M)
  2. Paying Coaches ($43.8M)
  3. Training Fields ($4.3M)
  4. Games and Referees ($2.4M)
  5. Travel (U15+) ($15.3M)
  6. Residential Education (MLS teams only) ($20.1M)
This would conservatively add about $99.3M in expenses to the USSF budget assuming it took over the existing DA teams and players. Here is my DA-TakeOver spreadsheet and assumptions. There would likely be around $25M to $30M in takeover costs, but let's ignore those.

It currently receives right around $4M in Youth membership fees according to its 2016 Audited Financials.

The USSF's net assets as of year end 2017 are $148M (Form 990)

Taking over the existing DA system would require the USSF add an additional $100M in revenue or basically double its existing revenue per year to support the DA program because it would be bankrupt by year 2, if not earlier.

Since the USSF cannot add more dollars through existing broadcast rights until 2022, its stuck.

Speaking of broadcast rights, the USSF receives about $30M per year as part of the joint MLS/USSF Sum deal, the MLS receives about $60M. Its likely a little undervalued, but its guaranteed and the USSF comes out a winner especially with the failure of the men's team to make the World Cup.

To put this into perspective, the domestic broadcast rights that the Premiere league receives is $1.5 Billion per year v. $60 Million per year for the MLS. Heck, NBC pays nearly $167M per year to broadcast the Premiere league in the US market.
 
Since the topic has shifted a bit to money and funding.
Did anyone see this Deal announced?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...tor-the-performance-of-4-million-players/amp/

US Soccer signed multi year with for a little over $1 billion to outfit DA players with smart bras with fitness tracking technology.
$200 million per year. But I still gotta pay $550 for a “D” license.

@timbuck, if you read the article, US Soccer paid "zilch" for the technology and STATSports is outfitting the DA players for free, with the hopes that the rest of the 4M registered soccer players across the US will say "whoaaaa I need that, here is my $100." Again, the USSF isn't paying a dime for this technology.
 
Ok, so let's say the DA takes over the existing DA teams from all the clubs on the men's and woman's side as it currently exists. The DA is now responsible for:
  1. Paying Admins (Academy Directors and Technical Directors across nation at each club) (about $13.2 M)
  2. Paying Coaches ($43.8M)
  3. Training Fields ($4.3M)
  4. Games and Referees ($2.4M)
  5. Travel (U15+) ($15.3M)
  6. Residential Education (MLS teams only) ($20.1M)
This would conservatively add about $99.3M in expenses to the USSF budget assuming it took over the existing DA teams and players. Here is my DA-TakeOver spreadsheet and assumptions. There would likely be around $25M to $30M in takeover costs, but let's ignore those.

It currently receives right around $4M in Youth membership fees according to its 2016 Audited Financials.

The USSF's net assets as of year end 2017 are $148M (Form 990)

Taking over the existing DA system would require the USSF add an additional $100M in revenue or basically double its existing revenue per year to support the DA program because it would be bankrupt by year 2, if not earlier.

Since the USSF cannot add more dollars through existing broadcast rights until 2022, its stuck.

Speaking of broadcast rights, the USSF receives about $30M per year as part of the joint MLS/USSF Sum deal, the MLS receives about $60M. Its likely a little undervalued, but its guaranteed and the USSF comes out a winner especially with the failure of the men's team to make the World Cup.

To put this into perspective, the domestic broadcast rights that the Premiere league receives is $1.5 Billion per year v. $60 Million per year for the MLS. Heck, NBC pays nearly $167M per year to broadcast the Premiere league in the US market.
Interesting stuff. Given the sheer numbers involved, it would be great to see some combination of the three suggestions you listed earlier and a pilot program utilizing some of that unused funding in some of the larger cities that would be targeted at the younger age groups and keep player costs at a minimum to broaden the footprint of the game and depth of talent in the pipeline. A larger scale takeover as imagined above would have to wait on the revenue to line up. Bottom line, it seems most of the things I don't like about youth soccer and the top level players (or lack of) the US produces as a result of that system will remain in place for a long time to come.

Back to the point of this thread, this kind of reinforces for me that bio-banding is a good solution for a problem that much better soccer countries than the US have the luxury of facing. Not that it can't be tried and found helpful, but US soccer issues are much deeper.
 
Interesting stuff. Given the sheer numbers involved, it would be great to see some combination of the three suggestions you listed earlier and a pilot program utilizing some of that unused funding in some of the larger cities that would be targeted at the younger age groups and keep player costs at a minimum to broaden the footprint of the game and depth of talent in the pipeline. A larger scale takeover as imagined above would have to wait on the revenue to line up. Bottom line, it seems most of the things I don't like about youth soccer and the top level players (or lack of) the US produces as a result of that system will remain in place for a long time to come.

Back to the point of this thread, this kind of reinforces for me that bio-banding is a good solution for a problem that much better soccer countries than the US have the luxury of facing. Not that it can't be tried and found helpful, but US soccer issues are much deeper.

If I was President of the USSF, here is what I would do:
  1. Implement and support Solidarity and Training Fee tracking and payments, which will create incentives for the DA clubs to identify and scholarship talent.
  2. Leave the DA "club" system alone because having solidarity and training fee payments gives it some new revenue sources. Let's see what effect that might have.
  3. Get all MLS DA clubs to become fully funded residential (eliminating pay-2-play at this level).
  4. Go after FIFA's article 19 to allow an exception by guaranteeing USSF support. Article 19 exists to prevent trafficking of minors and the negative consequences that exist when clubs terminate minor's agreements/training. Eliminate the negative consequence through national support/guarantees.
  5. Reform the National Team youth program as follows:
    A. Recognize that the US is 325M people, whereas England 66M. We can fit 5 Englands (population wise in the US). We create 5 Youth National Team Regions, each with a Residential Training Center and full roster of coaches and trainers (U15, U16, U17, U18/19). Regional DA programs feed into the Regional National Team "elite" training. Cost would be about $4M to $5M for each ($20M-25M).
    B. The youth in these programs (H.S. Age), would represent roughly the top 125 players in each age group (500 players).
    C. This program would eventually be funded through changes to Article 19 and Solidarity/Training fee payments to the extent the youth turn pro.
This would create the following player path:
1 National Team per age group for international competitions.
5 Regional National Teams per age group for residential training (500), these kids would also become likely acquisition targets by European and Latin American professional academies.
20 DA-1 Residential MLS teams for residential training (1,400 players)
150 to 90ish (U12-U19) DA-2 Non-Residential teams for regional training (60,000 players)
Competitive Leagues/Clubs (4,000,000 players)
Recreational (20,000,000 players)
 
... US Soccer signed multi year [deal] ... But I still gotta pay $550 for a “D” license.

Just for the record, US Soccer only administers the A and B licenses. State Associations administer the C, D and E (now Grassroot), using US Soccer curriculum. On the licensing front in 2017, US Soccer reported:

$4.662 M in expenses arising out of the Coaching Programs and Training.
$2.857 M in revenue attributed to the programs
Net Loss of $1.805 M for coaching programs and training.

Cal South (who got most of your $550) typically averages about a net $70k loss with regard to the coaching education program (expenses v. revenue).

Aside from the fact that only a small portion of your $550 went to US Soccer, are you arguing that you should pay more so neither Cal South nor US Soccer are taking loses on the coaching programs?
 
If I was President of the USSF, here is what I would do:
  1. Implement and support Solidarity and Training Fee tracking and payments, which will create incentives for the DA clubs to identify and scholarship talent.
  2. Leave the DA "club" system alone because having solidarity and training fee payments gives it some new revenue sources. Let's see what effect that might have.
  3. Get all MLS DA clubs to become fully funded residential (eliminating pay-2-play at this level).
  4. Go after FIFA's article 19 to allow an exception by guaranteeing USSF support. Article 19 exists to prevent trafficking of minors and the negative consequences that exist when clubs terminate minor's agreements/training. Eliminate the negative consequence through national support/guarantees.
  5. Reform the National Team youth program as follows:
    A. Recognize that the US is 325M people, whereas England 66M. We can fit 5 Englands (population wise in the US). We create 5 Youth National Team Regions, each with a Residential Training Center and full roster of coaches and trainers (U15, U16, U17, U18/19). Regional DA programs feed into the Regional National Team "elite" training. Cost would be about $4M to $5M for each ($20M-25M).
    B. The youth in these programs (H.S. Age), would represent roughly the top 125 players in each age group (500 players).
    C. This program would eventually be funded through changes to Article 19 and Solidarity/Training fee payments to the extent the youth turn pro.
This would create the following player path:
1 National Team per age group for international competitions.
5 Regional National Teams per age group for residential training (500), these kids would also become likely acquisition targets by European and Latin American professional academies.
20 DA-1 Residential MLS teams for residential training (1,400 players)
150 to 90ish (U12-U19) DA-2 Non-Residential teams for regional training (60,000 players)
Competitive Leagues/Clubs (4,000,000 players)
Recreational (20,000,000 players)
Impressive. I like your thinking on the 5 regional YNT and the fully funded MLS DA's. Very smart way to broaden the exposure to more players, put more eyes on the pool and decrease the odds of a diamond slipping through the cracks. I'd vote for this. You shoulda thrown your hat into the ring when Sunil stepped down. Missed opportunity, bro. ;)
 
Just for the record, US Soccer only administers the A and B licenses. State Associations administer the C, D and E (now Grassroot), using US Soccer curriculum. On the licensing front in 2017, US Soccer reported:

$4.662 M in expenses arising out of the Coaching Programs and Training.
$2.857 M in revenue attributed to the programs
Net Loss of $1.805 M for coaching programs and training.

Cal South (who got most of your $550) typically averages about a net $70k loss with regard to the coaching education program (expenses v. revenue).

Aside from the fact that only a small portion of your $550 went to US Soccer, are you arguing that you should pay more so neither Cal South nor US Soccer are taking loses on the coaching programs?

True. Cal South Adminiaters c and d license. From a small sample that I’ve looked at, CalSouth is considerably more expensive than many other states.
 
Impressive. I like your thinking on the 5 regional YNT and the fully funded MLS DA's. Very smart way to broaden the exposure to more players, put more eyes on the pool and decrease the odds of a diamond slipping through the cracks. I'd vote for this. You shoulda thrown your hat into the ring when Sunil stepped down. Missed opportunity, bro. ;)

I would have never made it because my platform is opposed by both the Players Council and the MLS/SUM, which represent a controlling interest of the votes.

By the way, the real A-Holes in this whole solidarity/training fee issue are the players who vehemently oppose it, believing it will reduce potential compensation to them. They have threatened to go after youth soccer organizations if US Soccer begins to administer it.
 
True. Cal South Adminiaters c and d license. From a small sample that I’ve looked at, CalSouth is considerably more expensive than many other states.

Not that it much matters, but according to the US Soccer Coaching Education website you and MWN are both wrong on this... A, B and C are all US Soccer run. Cal South does just the D and grass roots (formerly e). Their website is very clear on this. Are the other "stats" posted more accurate as it was interesting reading but now I'm not so sure...
 
Not that it much matters, but according to the US Soccer Coaching Education website you and MWN are both wrong on this... A, B and C are all US Soccer run. Cal South does just the D and grass roots (formerly e). Their website is very clear on this. Are the other "stats" posted more accurate as it was interesting reading but now I'm not so sure...

For the record you're likely more in the know than me...I'm a lowly E-holding parent from my AYSO coaching days and that license no longer exists ....I just looked at the website as I remember back when I took mine the E and D were the only ones offered...but I even balked at the D so there's that :)
 
Not that it much matters, but according to the US Soccer Coaching Education website you and MWN are both wrong on this... A, B and C are all US Soccer run. Cal South does just the D and grass roots (formerly e). Their website is very clear on this. Are the other "stats" posted more accurate as it was interesting reading but now I'm not so sure...

I can't believe somebody is questioning me. Its shocking and very distrurbing.

[googling, googling, rechecking, googling, rechecking ... close browser]

No. A & B are administered by US Soccer. C, D and E (now Grass Roots) are administered by Cal South (effective a few years ago).

Evidence:

  1. US Soccer's 2017 990 - See page 2 of PDF (page 3, Section 4c), which states that US Soccer does A & B, States Associations do C-E, and F is online.
  2. US Soccer Digital Coaching Website - https://dcc.ussoccer.com/courses/available/16/details/1546 - If you look at the "C" course (Dec. 15-22) Stephen Hoffman (Cal South) is the Instructor. Looking at the B course, Jan 7, 2018, GIANNA MILARO of US Soccer is the instructor.
Now, I do not doubt that you saw something on a website that is inconsistent with US Soccer's representations to the IRS and the current coaching courses that have Cal South personnel teaching/instructing the C-E/Grassroots courses.

I would love to see a link.
 

I can't believe somebody is questioning me. Its shocking and very distrurbing.

[googling, googling, rechecking, googling, rechecking ... close browser]

No. A & B are administered by US Soccer. C, D and E (now Grass Roots) are administered by Cal South (effective a few years ago).

Evidence:

  1. US Soccer's 2017 990 - See page 2 of PDF (page 3, Section 4c), which states that US Soccer does A & B, States Associations do C-E, and F is online.
  2. US Soccer Digital Coaching Website - https://dcc.ussoccer.com/courses/available/16/details/1546 - If you look at the "C" course (Dec. 15-22) Stephen Hoffman (Cal South) is the Instructor. Looking at the B course, Jan 7, 2018, GIANNA MILARO of US Soccer is the instructor.
Now, I do not doubt that you saw something on a website that is inconsistent with US Soccer's representations to the IRS and the current coaching courses that have Cal South personnel teaching/instructing the C-E/Grassroots courses.

I would love to see a link.

This is some most awesome researching, and it seems I am in over my head!

Link is this one from the current us soccer site https://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/licenses/national-d

Not an impressive link but includes this is the final paragraph "As demonstrated in the past, member organizations will be empowered to organize and host the in-person grassroots courses and the updated D course on behalf of U.S. Soccer." A-B-C omitted from this.

From what I can gather the C did indeed used to be conducted by Calsouth when it was just a 9 day course but since it spread out over several months (from 2017 onwards according to their website) that has changed. This would maybe be supported by the IRS document link which pertains to 2016, but would undermined by your other link which does indicate it's regional....If it were important I'd have a headache!

Im probably wrong...Id never heard of the dcc until you linked to it! Thank the lord my dad "coaching qualifications" finished at my "e"... I'd be too confused to go any further even if I could muster paying for it!
 
This is some most awesome researching, and it seems I am in over my head!

Link is this one from the current us soccer site https://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/licenses/national-d

Not an impressive link but includes this is the final paragraph "As demonstrated in the past, member organizations will be empowered to organize and host the in-person grassroots courses and the updated D course on behalf of U.S. Soccer." A-B-C omitted from this.

From what I can gather the C did indeed used to be conducted by Calsouth when it was just a 9 day course but since it spread out over several months (from 2017 onwards according to their website) that has changed. This would maybe be supported by the IRS document link which pertains to 2016, but would undermined by your other link which does indicate it's regional....If it were important I'd have a headache!

Im probably wrong...Id never heard of the dcc until you linked to it! Thank the lord my dad "coaching qualifications" finished at my "e"... I'd be too confused to go any further even if I could muster paying for it!
Why not beat a dead horse and continue off topic on a subject I can care less about I asked myself....

Here is the link to the current 2018 C License training and in fact Steve Hoffman is the instructor this weekend. My daughter volunteered for it and she was informed she was getting a gift from Cal South for doing it.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...cation-announces-2018-c-course-schedule-dates
 
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Why not beat a dead horse and continue off topic I asked myself....

Here is the link to the current 2018 C License training and in fact Steve Hoffman is the instructor this weekend. My daughter volunteered for it and she was informed she was getting a gift from Cal South for doing it.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...cation-announces-2018-c-course-schedule-dates
Hoffman aka Hoffy is the CalSouth DOC for ODP and generally the top dog Coach for CalSouth.

I don't know his position on bio banding
 
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