The old joke is that soccer is America’s sport of the future… and has been since the 1970s.
But this assessment may not be totally fair. Great strides have been made since the formation of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYS) in 1974. Since these governing bodies were created, the number of kids registered to play soccer has grown from 100,000 to over 2.5 million.
The United States Soccer Federation oversees not only USYS, but also the United States Club Soccer and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). So, why has this incredible growth rate not catapulted the US into the upper echelons of soccer?
The highest that the US men’s national team has been ranked is 11th in the world, leaving fans somewhat disappointed. True footballing success will come with a higher ranking, deeper World Cup runs, and American players filling the rosters of European teams. Or, even better, foreign players will seek to join Major League Soccer while still in their prime.
In order to get there, we must take a hard look at the youth soccer programs in this country and make some serious changes
Structurally, the youth soccer system in the US is extremely complicated. The US Soccer Federation recognizes three different youth organizations: USYS, US Club Soccer, and AYSO. Kids become interested in soccer with accessible organizations such as AYSO, which is a fun way to get hooked on the game. AYSO ensures continued interest with six core philosophies: Everyone plays, balanced teams, positive coaching, good sportsmanship, open registration, and player development. Players then typically start to either phase out of playing soccer or, if they like it, will join club soccer.
When starting out in club soccer, there is a daunting “pyramid” that has many leagues. This “pyramid” is also extremely unorganized, which leads to a lot of confusion about which team or league is right for a specific player based on their skills.
Take the leagues NPL, EA, and ECNL, for instance. All three leagues market themselves as “elite” leagues where college and professional scouts will be watching and evaluating players. There are other leagues, such as E64 and Premier, which also have opportunities to be scouted, but usually only at national and regional events, which is again a huge expense and extremely inaccessible. Having so many leagues makes it very difficult to know which one is right for the player, and what will help them develop the most effectively, as well as play competitively.
Additionally, club teams tend to be inaccessible to players due to club fees, uniform costs, and travel expenses. It costs approximately $1,472 per child to play on a club team. For most families, this is either an enormous expense or it’s just flat out unrealistic. Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović observed about soccer in this country,“First they think about money, then about quality and results.”
In contrast, top youth teams in most European countries are free of cost.
Ajax Academy in the Netherlands, renowned as one of the premier academies in the world, only requires a charge of 12€ a year, which covers the cost of insurance for the player; the club covers all other expenses. The American league that is closest to that in most European countries is called MLS Next, which includes every MLS team, the highest level of professional soccer in the US, as well as many independent teams. However, the cost of joining one of the MLS Next teams is enormous and can range from $450 to upwards of $5,000.
Now the question arises, how do we convert this enormous growth and interest in soccer into a meaningful talent pipeline?
The US Soccer Federation needs to adopt a European-type system that allows for development from a young age. We need a straightforward, financially accessible academy system where youth teams are actually able to give all players good exposure while ensuring that they continue to progress and hone their skills.
Landon Donovan, one of the best American soccer players of all time, has his own strong opinions on the youth system. “Look, my kids are in youth soccer, and I see the youth soccer environment. It’s a disaster, it is, it’s an absolute disaster,” he said.
If even our most esteemed and accomplished players think that the system is broken, what is the solution to this countrywide issue?
I think that AYSO is great for young players until they get to be ages 7 or 8, at which point, players who wish to proceed should start to be given serious and high-quality coaching. There would be a structured “pyramid” that has one league for every skill level and all of which focus on development and exposure to professional teams and colleges. Teams would be implemented in all regions of the country to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play.
This system would give the US everything it needs to succeed on the international stage. By eliminating financial barriers and creating a clear, unified pathway, we would be able to find talent from every background and not just those who can afford it. If the U.S. wants to become a true soccer powerhouse, we must stop treating the youth soccer system like it is a business and start treating it like a nationwide investment.
That is when we will finally see America and Americans dominate soccer.
