Good Read (Dec 18th)

"U.S. Youth Soccer strikes back at Washington state for seeking sole USSF registration"

By Mike Woitalla

In response to Washington Youth Soccer announcing its quest to register its players solely with the U.S. Soccer Federation, U.S. Youth Soccer announced that it has “formally accepted WYSA's resignation from U.S. Youth Soccer effective as of January 1, 2017" -- a move WYSA states it has not taken.

The Dec. 15 USYS memo to its state associations also announced it was rescinding its offer for Washington Youth Soccer (WYSA) to host the 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships in June and is revoking from WYSA “any and all benefits” associated with U.S. Youth Soccer, including competitions such as the USYS National Championship and the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

The USYS memo stated its actions were a response to a Nov. 21 memo sent to USYS from Washington Youth Soccer in which WYSA advised that its Board had directed staff to begin the process of sole registration with the U.S. Soccer Federation “as soon as possible.”

(Washington Youth Soccer has responded that the USYS memo included "untrue allegations" and that it has not "resigned" from U.S. Youth Soccer.)

On Nov. 30, Washington Youth Soccer CEO Terry Fisher sent a letter to U.S. Soccer CEO & General Secretary Dan Flynn requesting that Washington Youth Soccer “proceed hand in hand with U.S. Soccer in the creation of a NEW 21st Century national youth soccer organization that addresses the critical needs to grow the sport in America.” Fisher’s letter was accompanied by a six-page proposal on the “Sole Registration of Youth Players to the U.S. Soccer Federation,” which included these complaints about the current multi-governing body system:

• “Too many participants at the youth level spend far too much time, energy, and resources chasing false inducements and not enough time in influential and aspirational development situations.”

• “Many technical and coaching experts … have recognized, studied, and discussed the unhealthy focus on results and ‘pay for play’ models that have diminished our ability to enhance performance, increase participation, and raise the level of play in the United States.”

• “The disconnect between the grassroots participants, member organizations, and the Federation is unique when compared to other NGBs [national governing bodies]. Nearly every other NGB offers direct linkage and member benefits associated with that membership.”

• “The current membership programs (namely National Championship Series, Presidents Cup, National League, Regional Leagues, ODP and ODP Championships, American Cup, Awards, ECNL, Premier Leagues, Workshop, etc.) have greatly varying degrees of participation and usefulness to their respective members and do not typically align with Federation best practices.”

• “With the prevalence of self-described academies and national leagues other than the Federation-directed Development Academy (“DA”), the youth soccer landscape has drastically changed in the past decade, however US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer’s elite player programming has largely been constructed and implemented to protect business aspects, financial considerations, and geographical territory rather than being aligned, cooperative, and complementary to what has clearly become the new tip of the player development pyramid.”

The Washington Youth Soccer suggested a 2018 launch for the U.S. Soccer instituting direct programs.

U.S. Youth Soccer’s response in accepting what it described as “Washington Youth Soccer’s written notice to withdraw US Youth Soccer” as of Jan. 1, 2017, prompted a “Letter to our Membership” posted on Washington Youth Soccer’s web site on Dec. 16 in which Fisher and WYSA president Daren Mancini wrote that Washington Youth Soccer “has not resigned as a State Association member of US Youth Soccer and is taking a measured approach and framing its response. The sky is not falling. Programming continues uninterrupted.”

The letter states that “Due to the complexity and nature of US Youth Soccer’s letter, Washington Youth Soccer has retained legal counsel to address the comments and assertions made.”

U.S. Youth Soccer, founded in 1974, is one of four U.S. Soccer Federation national affiliate members for youth soccer along with U.S. Club Soccer (founded in 2001), AYSO (1964) and SAY Soccer (1967).

In U.S. Youth Soccer’s announcement that it was terminating Washington Youth Soccer’s membership, the memo signed by USYS chair Jesse Harrell and USYS CEO Christopher Moore stated:

“The consequence of WYSA’s action, and the manner in which it was taken, not only threatens their 90,000 registered players, but undermines US Youth Soccer nationally. The future success of US Youth Soccer depends on the ability to attract and keep our members.”

For its part, Washington Youth Soccer says it has for years expressed concerns about the leadership of U.S. Youth Soccer and has been working with "similarly situated State Associations that share a common view … Not one organization with whom we have spoken disagrees with our premise."

What's comical about this, is that the bigger the pissing contest these 2 organizations get into, the faster they'll come to the realization at how irrelevant they both are...

Anybody want to explain to me exactly what is going on with the above? I get all the organizations mixed up and can't tell anymore who is throwing shade on who (or why).
Gimme the cliff note version, and use small words.

My predictions for the new year that this will not be the last confrontation between club and organization. The power struggle has just begun. The fireworks are inplace and ready!

timmyh wrote:Anybody want to explain to me exactly what is going on with the above?  I get all the organizations mixed up and can't tell anymore who is throwing shade on who (or why).
Gimme the cliff note version, and use small words.

We actually moved from NTX to Seattle and have two kids involved in this. We were surprised to hear we were getting kicked out of US Youth Soccer this week! (surely they won't do that midyear, right?!) My daughter plays on a team that registers with US Soccer and plays in Regional league etc so this is the group that would be affected. We are wondering if we'll have our spring games. I have a younger son who would lose the opportunity to play in State and President Cups also because these feed into the US Youth Soccer National Cup program. Washington has ECNL teams who register through US Club, but the state also has other premier level teams who have created another thriving league though US Club that is a direct competitor with US Youth Soccer programs. The Washington Youth director is trying to get rid of all of these competing organizations and problems associated with a pay-to-play system. They want to register directly with US Soccer and eliminate all of these middle level options that divide good players and are a waste of money to families. I think they really want to try to get all of the players back into the same organization so there is a true hierarchy in levels of programs. I don't think it's possible at this point when these groups are making so much money from youth soccer. It will be interesting to see how this turns out... just wish we weren't in the middle of it!

bwgophers wrote:What's comical about this, is that the bigger the pissing contest these 2 organizations get into, the faster they'll come to the realization at how irrelevant they both are...  

Exactly. On the Washington forum someone suggested they should have pushed California in to making a stand and then maybe it would mean something!

weatherbug wrote:
Exactly. On the Washington forum someone suggested they should have pushed California in to making a stand and then maybe it would mean something!

With California threatening to secede, they might just start their own Federation.

USSF wants to copy the rest of the world with age pure and the like, but wont step in and dictate the rest of the pyramid like other top feds. Only concerning themselves with the top 2% DA or YNT level player seems like recipe for more of the same. Nonsense from these competing orgs just gets more ridiculous every year.

Maybe Trump can fix it. Ann Coulter to replace Gulati. MAGA.

HomeStretch wrote:USSF wants to copy the rest of the world with age pure and the like, but wont step in and dictate the rest of the pyramid like other top feds. Only concerning themselves with the top 2% DA or YNT level player seems like  recipe for more of the same. Nonsense from these competing orgs just gets more ridiculous every year.

Maybe Trump can fix it. Ann Coulter to replace Gulati. MAGA.

Even if they want to, USSF couldn't dictate it in the US. Too much money being made by clubs to be a part of the much larger player funnel that is college soccer.

HomeStretch wrote:USSF wants to copy the rest of the world with age pure and the like, but wont step in and dictate the rest of the pyramid like other top feds. Only concerning themselves with the top 2% DA or YNT level player seems like  recipe for more of the same. Nonsense from these competing orgs just gets more ridiculous every year.

Maybe Trump can fix it. Ann Coulter to replace Gulati. MAGA.

Where else in the rest of the world does a National Federation get to dictate in a PAY TO PLAY model?  

Thinking if they want to dictate they will need to FUND it.  

Problem is that in Womens' soccer there is no other significant funding model that works other than PAY TO PLAY.

Lefty wrote:

HomeStretch wrote:USSF wants to copy the rest of the world with age pure and the like, but wont step in and dictate the rest of the pyramid like other top feds. Only concerning themselves with the top 2% DA or YNT level player seems like  recipe for more of the same. Nonsense from these competing orgs just gets more ridiculous every year.

Maybe Trump can fix it. Ann Coulter to replace Gulati. MAGA.

Where else in the rest of the world does a National Federation get to dictate in a PAY TO PLAY model?  

Thinking if they want to dictate they will need to FUND it.  

Problem is that in Womens' soccer there is no other significant funding model that works other than PAY TO PLAY.

Try Germany. Since their reset in early 2000s, they do not depend on clubs to develop talent the way other nations with strong pro leagues do (i.e. England)

They put kids in competitive situations starting at u12....where teams can be relegated...the horror!!...somehow they teach and identify great technique and new generation skills while still selecting for kids who handle pressure and know how to win.

They don't fully fund every level, but they do set the structure. They also send national coaches down into the grassroots to train youth. Their affiliated coaching network is massive.

USSF is not lacking funds. They are lacking the vision to realize the top of our pyramid cannot produce world class players if the base is left to total chaos with money grubbing youth orgs fighting each other for parent wallet market share.

HomeStretch wrote:

Lefty wrote:

HomeStretch wrote:USSF wants to copy the rest of the world with age pure and the like, but wont step in and dictate the rest of the pyramid like other top feds. Only concerning themselves with the top 2% DA or YNT level player seems like  recipe for more of the same. Nonsense from these competing orgs just gets more ridiculous every year.

Maybe Trump can fix it. Ann Coulter to replace Gulati. MAGA.

Where else in the rest of the world does a National Federation get to dictate in a PAY TO PLAY model?  

Thinking if they want to dictate they will need to FUND it.  

Problem is that in Womens' soccer there is no other significant funding model that works other than PAY TO PLAY.

Try Germany. Since their reset in early 2000s, they do not depend on clubs to develop talent the way other nations with strong pro leagues do (i.e. England)

They put kids in competitive situations starting at u12....where teams can be relegated...the horror!!...somehow they teach and identify great technique and new generation skills while still selecting for kids who handle pressure and know how to win.

They don't fully fund every level, but they do set the structure. They also send national coaches down into the grassroots to train youth. Their affiliated coaching network is massive.

USSF is not lacking funds. They are lacking the vision to realize the top of our pyramid cannot produce world class players if the base is left to total chaos with money grubbing youth orgs fighting each other for parent wallet market share.

Thanks. It is great that they are able to do that for their GIRLS.

Any idea how the German Federation deals with any conflicting direction or philosophy coming from college coaches who may be offering up to $200k in scholarship $ to 18 year olds as the payoff to follow their approach?