Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Understanding the Club's role in Player Development
Is it our Infrastructure? Coaching? Connections? Politics? Knowledge of the various processes? The simple answer is yes and it is equally important to consider when determining the club your child should play for. Tim is on the US Club BOD, Doug is the V.P. of the ECNL and I was an original member of the MRL Commission (all volunteer positions btw). These are not coincidence.
While training and coaching are the most important and the best parts of our job we spend an equal amount of time away from the field ensuring these opportunities for our players. When proper programming doesn't exist, Tim, Doug and myself have a proven record of helping to create them. The EPL was the first league in Cincinnati to have small-sided games while myself and other area directors worked with other league administrators to adopt it a year later.
Ohio Elite was the only club in Cincinnati to apply for the Development Academy when U.S. Soccer announced it was accepting applications during the spring of 2007. While other clubs made the decision not to apply (I personally made such a decision) or took a wait and see approach, Ohio Elite was once again the leader with its acceptance into a League. U.S. Soccer continues to show a commitment to the inaugural clubs and accepted only 5 clubs out of a pool of 250 applicants for year number three.
There are many qualified trainers in Cincinnati, each with his/her own strengths, but clubs have a responsibility to its membership off the field to help create the right environment for its players on the field. The game is evolving with technical people having a greater influence in policies and programming. In a two-week period in the middle of May, Tim, Doug and I were involved in nearly 30 conference calls and meetings - local, regional and national - directly related to League play and programming.
Membership in these Leagues and the opening of the new 30-acre facility confirm Ohio Elite's commitment toward meeting ALL the demands of players development.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Too Much Emphasis on State Cup
I say this after we advanced six teams to the final weekend on the girls side second only to OP who has seven. Next closest Cincinnati club was CUP with four. Having said that, isn't a greater indicator of success a team competition that lasts over an extended period of time like the Midwest Regional League or the new Elite Clubs National League. This is where you play the top competition in the region and nation everytime out. Our U18 girls won MRL for the fifth time and the U15 and U16 girls still have a legitimate chance at the wild-card to regionals.
Individually, I look at the kids we have going to the next level (college/pro) as an indicator. I am happy to say every one of our U18 players (Academy and Gold) is going to play in college. Now that's something to be proud of. How are our players doing when they leave us for college, high school and US National Team duty? We have seen great success from Ohio Elite girls players in all of these arenas.
Unfortunately, we do and probably will continue to live in a world of youth soccer that rewards short term success and often fails to see the big picture. Good luck to all of our teams this weekend in the State Cup semi-finals and finals. We will be working as hard as we can to win as many as we can, but it won't be the end of the world if we don't.
Monday, May 4, 2009
U.S. Soccer Delays U-14 Development Academy League
The Northeast and Southeast have decided to move forward with a U.S. Club Soccer Pre-Academy League this fall and several clubs in our Region are interested in discussing the concept. The Columbus Crew has taken the lead on the project for our Region and we have expressed our interest in the discussion. Depending on who joins the League travel will be very similar to the Midwest Regional League - Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Columbus - with travel outside the Region for tournaments only, not League games.
At this time, we have decided to reserve a decision regarding the program pending further discussion. While I believe that programming for high school freshmen capable of playing at the level of the Academy should exist, I have reservation about taking that stand for the 2009-10 year without legitimate support from enough capable players and other clubs to make the programming worth their while.
The majority of high school freshmen should play high school soccer. This would be for serious soccer players ONLY and those with a long-term goal of playing in the full U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
More to come...