US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level 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 55

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level The “Aspiring” Player Changed Persona Emotionally Different Self-Motivated Committed to Playing and Training Prodigies / Age Factor

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level 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 7

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining the Elite Level No Development Without Peers! Balanced competition with, and against likeskilled and like-motivated players improves learning and development.

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level 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 Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level US Youth Soccer values soccer as the “The Game For All Kids” 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level US Youth Soccer values soccer as the “The Game For All Kids” 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 Integrated National League Structure

Defining The Elite Level 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. 14

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers Competing soccer organizations (USDA, ECNL, Y-League, USCS) have emerged for five reasons… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers 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 19

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Competitive Triggers 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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! 23

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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

Limited

Integrated

Semi-Integrated

Player Registration System

Independent

Integrated

Integrated

Playing Rules

Independent

Integrated

Integrated

Calendars and Events

Independent

Integrated

Integrated

Coaching Input

The Root of our Problems! 24

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

The National League Model

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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

923

1816

893

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

By Comparison ECNL Clubs

USDA Clubs

USCS US Youth Soccer Members 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure STATE LEAGUE R-I Connecticut Maine New York-East Pennsylvania-West West Virginia

5 33% NO STATE LEAGUE R-I Delaware Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York-West Pennsylvania- East Rhode Island Vermont Virginia 10 67%

R-II R-III R-IV Totals Indiana Alabama Arizona Iowa Arkansas California-North Michigan Louisiana Colorado North Dakota Mississippi Montana Ohio-North North Carolina Oregon Wisconsin Oklahoma Utah Minnesota South Carolina Washington Tennessee Wyoming Texas-South Georgia 7 10 8 30 50% 83% 57% 55% R-II Illinois Kansas Kentucky Missouri Nebraska Ohio-South South Dakota

R-III Florida Texas-North

7 50%

2 17%

R-IV Alaska California-South Hawaii Idaho Nevada New Mexico

Totals

6 43%

25 45%

State Leagues National Landscape Conservatively… 250 Teams per State x 55 State Associations ~14,000 Teams

*Includes State Association Leagues and State Association Designated Leagues

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

National League Potential? Boys & Girls 4 Teams/State (440) U-13 440 U-14 440 U-15 U-16 440 U-17 440 U-18 440 Totals 2200

Boys & Girls 6 Teams/State (660) 660 660 660 660 660 3300

Boys & Girls 8 Teams/State (880) 880 880 880 880 880 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

National League Integration with National Championship Series

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

National Championship Series Regional Wild-Cards Wild Cards Region I

Region II

Region III

Region IV

States Per Region

Regional League Premier Numbers

1 U-14 through U-18 Best Teams

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16

2 U-14 through U-18 Best Teams

14

16-20

12

30-36

4 U-14 through U-18 Geographical Winners 2 U-14 through U-18 Best Teams

14

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Stand-Alone National League Championship

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

National League Operating Principles

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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 40

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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. 43

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Earned Status Clubs qualify a team – not a roster - from season-toseason, 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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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. 54

US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

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.

US Youth Soccer values soccer as the “The Game for All Kids” We are in danger of becoming “The Game for All but the Best Kids”

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US Youth Soccer Integrated National League Structure

Thank You For Your Interest In This Presentation. Questions? Comments? Criticisms? Witticisms?

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