Women's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

[LASTMAN14]

Sitting and watching the USA women's team for the last few years and especially the last three years has been terribly disappointing. It’s not the players. It is US soccer's most current regime. US soccer is in a downward trend. Yea, we have athletic players, which most coaches like. But lack technique and intelligence. USWNT also sticks to players that need to be dropped and some many years ago. Which goes hand in hand in how so many college coaches pick players. It’s sad. US Soccer is terrible at identifying talent and colleges as well. Spain women’s program is in its infancy when we compare it to ours yet is head shoulders well past what we do here. They have an 1/8 of the pool. And please don’t argue they have had men’s soccer longer. They were adverse to growing the game. But now have changed their approach, obviously. My question is what can we do to change the game here working within our pay to play system. Please don’t comment on pay to play either, I now it, you know it, no need to remind us.

 

[Brav520]

There is a ton of young talent on the team

integrating them with some of the veterans is the challenge , and I’m not sure there is enough time to do it before the WC

losing Pugh-Swanson is a huge blow , there really isn’t a like for like replacement for her . She just is so dangerous with the ball at her feet.

On another note , I’ve seen Girma play multiple times with the Wave and couple of times with WNT. She is a really special player ( if defendera interest you as a fan )

 

[Soccerfan2]

US soccer evaluates players that are on the bubble with other players that are really unlikely to roster/start. I have never understood this approach. Why wouldn’t you look at a potential player in the best possible lineup? A couple of the players he gave minutes to tonight…eh.

I thought Rodman looked pretty good in many moments, Krueger looked very motivated and Alyssa is insanely fast - it’s like a gift to get to watch it! With the confidence to make one last body feint on two separate occasions, she’d have had dangerous shots off.

 

[sockma]

We've developed a lot of great individual players, that's why our top is great. We've had a hard time developing strong midfielders (lavelle is the exception, but lavelle does need more team play to create more space) and Centerbacks (Girma is the exception) because we're not looking at the totality of a player: the soccer IQ, technical abilities, strength, speed, quickness, determination, etc. For our midfielders and CBs, we need to develop players all around with the ability to pass and create space quicker, but most importantly, defending as a team. Soccer is the ultimate team sport but most of our players are not team oriented on the field. Spain and Japan have less raw athleticism but their players are able to play as a team. It's how our society is these days. We don't work together, we just yell at each other about how our ideas are better. Our players need to be complete players with a team oriented focus, not just good at 2 or 3 things.

I would like to see clubs create training programs that focus on all these different aspects.

 

[NorCalDad]

Sitting and watching the USA women's team for the last few years and especially the last three years has been terribly disappointing. It’s not the players. It is US soccer's most current regime. US soccer is in a downward trend. Yea, we have athletic players, which most coaches like. But lack technique and intelligence. USWNT also sticks to players that need to be dropped and some many years ago. Which goes hand in hand in how so many college coaches pick players. It’s sad. US Soccer is terrible at identifying talent and colleges as well. Spain women’s program is in its infancy when we compare it to ours yet is head shoulders well past what we do here. They have an 1/8 of the pool. And please don’t argue they have had men’s soccer longer. They were adverse to growing the game. But now have changed their approach, obviously. My question is what can we do to change the game here working within our pay to play system. Please don’t comment on pay to play either, I now it, you know it, no need to remind us.

I've mulled over this quite a bit over the years. I think there are two core issues:

- I'd venture to guess that less than 5% of all competitive youth soccer coaches in the US actually coach the game right. There's probably more that know how to, but don't due to my next point.

- Clubs are essentially providing what people are demanding. It's a business. Certainly clubs have framed that narrative by their fancy veneer; "pathway to pro", "elite", yadda yadda yadda. At the end of the day if enough people demand McDonald's bring back the McRib, McDonald's will do so. The problem is parents/players aren't demanding a different, more intelligent style of play. Some of that is self serving, in that if the style of play was more demanding tactically and technically, their player might not even make a first team. But, I suspect the more common issue is people don't know what they don't know. What they do know is the fundamental point of any sport is to try and win the game. To teach the game differently parents/players would have to be ok with losing for the sake of learning. If the entire industry shifted this direction then it could work, but a lone coach here and there will struggle to convince people this is the right direction.

So maybe the solution is more education -- or perhaps seeing the USWNT eventually losing their dominance.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

I've mulled over this quite a bit over the years. I think there are two core issues:

- I'd venture to guess that less than 5% of all competitive youth soccer coaches in the US actually coach the game right. There's probably more that know how to, but don't due to my next point.

- Clubs are essentially providing what people are demanding. It's a business. Certainly clubs have framed that narrative by their fancy veneer; "pathway to pro", "elite", yadda yadda yadda. At the end of the day if enough people demand McDonald's bring back the McRib, McDonald's will do so. The problem is parents/players aren't demanding a different, more intelligent style of play. Some of that is self serving, in that if the style of play was more demanding tactically and technically, their player might not even make a first team. But, I suspect the more common issue is people don't know what they don't know. What they do know is the fundamental point of any sport is to try and win the game. To teach the game differently parents/players would have to be ok with losing for the sake of learning. If the entire industry shifted this direction then it could work, but a lone coach here and there will struggle to convince people this is the right direction.

So maybe the solution is more education -- or perhaps seeing the USWNT eventually losing their dominance.

Agree. We could use some top-down direction on expectations for national team-level expectations for technical and tactical skills. Maybe US soccer can create a certification for coaches on age-appropriate training. That might promote better training and encourage parents to pursue it as well.

Separately, leverage what Americans love most - tournaments. Divide the country into geographic regions and create regional "National Teams" at various age groups and have a tournament each summer with teams from each region. It will also allow a larger pool of players to be evaluated in highly competitive games.

 

[Soccerfan2]

Agree. We could use some top-down direction on expectations for national team-level expectations for technical and tactical skills. Maybe US soccer can create a certification for coaches on age-appropriate training. That might promote better training and encourage parents to pursue it as well.

Separately, leverage what Americans love most - tournaments. Divide the country into geographic regions and create regional "National Teams" at various age groups and have a tournament each summer with teams from each region. It will also allow a larger pool of players to be evaluated in highly competitive games.

Wait a minute…that sounds like a developme…ah nevermind.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

Wait a minute…that sounds like a developme…ah nevermind.

No. The National Team should keep its focus on those who truly have shown the potential to play at that level. Getting in too deep - as the DA did - doesn't serve its primary purpose. Let ECNL take care of developing the players. There's a nice break in ECNL starting in early July. Have the 8 regions each call in 20-25 girls to train for a week and have a 4-game tournament over the next two weeks.

 

[Kicker4Life]

No. The National Team should keep its focus on those who truly have shown the potential to play at that level. Getting in too deep - as the DA did - doesn't serve its primary purpose. Let ECNL take care of developing the players. There's a nice break in ECNL starting in early July. Have the 8 regions each call in 20-25 girls to train for a week and have a 4-game tournament over the next two weeks.

I like the idea, but it isn’t financially feasible. Do you realize how much staff and money that would take? There are roughly 8 staff members at a given camp. Now add travel, room and board and facilities then multiply it by 8. Just isn’t feasible for a single age group much less across multiple age groups.

 

[espola]

No. The National Team should keep its focus on those who truly have shown the potential to play at that level. Getting in too deep - as the DA did - doesn't serve its primary purpose. Let ECNL take care of developing the players. There's a nice break in ECNL starting in early July. Have the 8 regions each call in 20-25 girls to train for a week and have a 4-game tournament over the next two weeks.

What is the ECNL method for developing players?

 

[kickingandscreaming]

What is the ECNL method for developing players?

What was the DA's?

 

[espola]

What was the DA's?

As I remember it, the DA's method was to recruit the best players to place on teams that played in a closed system. Is that how ECNL works?

That's a genuine question. I had some exposure to the early days of DA (my sons were the objects of local DA recruiters), when it was rising with the prediction of producing world-class players so we could win the World Cup in 2022 or so. My only exposure to ECNL is what people post here.

 

[crush]

Agree. We could use some top-down direction on expectations for national team-level expectations for technical and tactical skills. Maybe US soccer can create a certification for coaches on age-appropriate training. That might promote better training and encourage parents to pursue it as well.

Separately, leverage what Americans love most - tournaments. Divide the country into geographic regions and create regional "National Teams" at various age groups and have a tournament each summer with teams from each region. It will also allow a larger pool of players to be evaluated in highly competitive games.

Love this bro. Team Cali would win Team TX would be 2nd place. The rest of the country can divide into two teams for a four team tournament.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

I like the idea, but it isn’t financially feasible. Do you realize how much staff and money that would take? There are roughly 8 staff members at a given camp. Now add travel, room and board and facilities then multiply it by 8. Just isn’t feasible for a single age group much less across multiple age groups.

Yes, it will be expensive. I have to think that with some promotion they can get a lot of that money back. Look at the Little League World Series. Promote it. ESPN will be asked why it doesn't cover the event the way the Boys Little League WS is covered. Make it an event. Remember what Surf Cup used to be like when it was "The Best of the Best"? I think the environment is good for something like this.

How many age groups play on the big field? It probably makes sense to combine 2 years and have each group play every other year.

 

[kickingandscreaming]

As I remember m it, the DA's method was to recruit the best players to place on teams that played in a closed system. Is that how ECNL works?

That's a genuine question. I had some exposure to the early days of DA (my sons were the objects of local DA recruiters), when it was rising with the prediction of producing world-class players so we could win the World Cup in 2022 or so. My only exposure to ECNL is what people post here.

From my perspective, ECNL and DA were not demonstrably different on a macro-level - local clubs, local coaches, local players --> local development. Neither organization played a significant part in actually developing players. DA coaches were influenced by National Team reps, but again, development was done by the club team.

 

[espola]

From my perspective, ECNL and DA were not demonstrably different on a macro-level - local clubs, local coaches, local players --> local development. Neither organization played a significant part in actually developing players. DA coaches were influenced by National Team reps, but again, development was done by the club team.

You are using the word "development" as if it were an established program different from the typical local pay-to-play club method of lines, laps, and lectures. Am I mistaken?

 

[crush]

Yes, it will be expensive. I have to think that with some promotion they can get a lot of that money back. Look at the Little League World Series. Promote it. ESPN will be asked why it doesn't cover the event the way the Boys Little League WS is covered. Make it an event. Remember what Surf Cup used to be like when it was "The Best of the Best"? I think the environment is good for something like this.

How many age groups play on the big field? It probably makes sense to combine 2 years and have each group play every other year.

You're on fire today. BTW, ECNL and the GDA was all the same coaches, just new signs out front. As the world watched and turned, we made soccer even worse for the females. What a complete mess. The male Ego is to blame, moo!

 

[Carlsbad7]

Heres an idea that will drive everyone crazy but will generate development over wins.

GA, ECNL, USNT, etc make all parents / spectators pass a certification test before clubs / leadership respond to their questions. The "Parent / Spectator" certification program would test on general soccer, posession, and development concepts. (over wins alone)

As I said super annoying but this would change everything if clubs adopted and stuck to it.

Coaches + Refs go certification programs why not parents / spectators.

 

[Kicker4Life]

Yes, it will be expensive. I have to think that with some promotion they can get a lot of that money back. Look at the Little League World Series. Promote it. ESPN will be asked why it doesn't cover the event the way the Boys Little League WS is covered. Make it an event. Remember what Surf Cup used to be like when it was "The Best of the Best"? I think the environment is good for something like this.

How many age groups play on the big field? It probably makes sense to combine 2 years and have each group play every other year.

YNT doesn’t start till u15 so it’s all 11v11.

There are barely enough people to watch NWSL or MLS so I wouldn’t expect much revenue generation for a youth expedition. Can’t really compare it with Little League baseball simply based on the popularity of baseball in the US.

If the point is to have a broad net to find the best talent for the YNT’s respective age group, why would you combine age groups? (Or did I miss something)?

maybe 4 regions rather than 8?

 

[espola]

Yes, it will be expensive. I have to think that with some promotion they can get a lot of that money back. Look at the Little League World Series. Promote it. ESPN will be asked why it doesn't cover the event the way the Boys Little League WS is covered. Make it an event. Remember what Surf Cup used to be like when it was "The Best of the Best"? I think the environment is good for something like this.

How many age groups play on the big field? It probably makes sense to combine 2 years and have each group play every other year.

The LLWS is entirely run by volunteers. Even the umpires get no more than travel expenses.