THE AMERICAN PROBLEM

The success of the USMNT in the World Cup in Brazil, where they were eliminated in the second round by Belgium, after finishing second in their group behind Germany (champion), and ahead of Portugal, with audiences of millions on TV and, too, with thousands of people on the streets watching the matches at stadiums or other sites become the pose of the eternal question: Why the US can not produce great figures at World level and, reach semifinals (eg) in a World Cup?

 US has two very important things when it comes to becoming a world power. On one hand, more than 4 million registered players, with a high percentage of young players. Moreover, the money, which always helps.

Now when we talk about money we need to consider one thing. In America everything is done face to benefit. If there is no profit, there is no activity. And here is where the first change should be done. Football must stop being "business-oriented" and become "sport-oriented" And this includes those who organize competitions. I understand that they have to go to a system where everyone is in and this includes both, adult soccer and grassroots. That is, 1st Division, 2nd, 3rd, regional categories, etc. But everyone inside and to play here or there depending on your sports results, but not that you are not admitted to the MLS based on an expected turnover.

But if the thing worked in this way only at adult level, we could even give it as good. The problem starts at grassroots football. Thousands of Clubs and thousands of Coaches are engaged in it professionally (full-time), which does not happen in any other country in the world. The Clubs of the Spanish league (for instance I know quite well) just now are beginning to have their grassroots coaches live exclusively from football. And just a few. Not all, not even close.

This means that if a club has 10 coaches, plus administrative part, plus this, plus that, imagine what the parents are charged for children to play football: 500$/month, 600, 700 .. 1200. Not to mention when the kids are going to play a tournament at the other side of the country and must be paid airplanes, hotels, etc.

It should be clear that the problem is with the system itself. Not the coaches. As more coaches you have that work full time, it means more and better work can be prepared to make. In Europe, in general, the Coach is linked to a Club. No coaches do 3 hours a week at this Club and 3 more in another. This is given by the fact that there are a lot of completely independent leagues, and if I do not like this league, I'm going to play a different one. This is where, I think, the USSF (the Federation) should come and find a way that everyone can participate, because, on the other hand, having such high fees makes many children do not have access to play football in many of these clubs. And, this also means that, when looking for children for the several National teams, often do not know where to search for, as we said: excess of leagues, traveling, tournaments in one place and in another, etc.

As the organization is based in Spring, Summer, etc. and, not full seasons, we also find something different. A child playing in a club in autumn and spring in a different one, because, most are short leagues (10-12 games).

In addition, we have the tradition of College sports in USA. Like other sports, football in general, has its time. Most, autumn (September-November), although there are states where it is spring (March-May). This means that in 8-10 weeks the teams will play 15-16 games and also if they are playing in High School or College, they obviously can not be playing in his club (training and matches at the same time, etc.). I understand that one of the priorities is to define whether a "Club model" based or "HS/College model" based, because they are totally different concepts. But whatever the model chosen should be based on a model of 30 league games per season (yearly), plus the finals. But, it's not to try to copy models, if not to have it adapted to the particularities of a country of vast extent and very different population and climates.

Personally, I understand the "club model" is the most appropriate, because it is what allows for a Philosophy and a way of working from the youngest to the 1st team. Same for everyone. One of the things I see, in general, is that each team from the same Club operates more or less autonomously, where the coach decides the methodology of training, how to play, etc. Even, sometimes, the same coaches are looking for sponsors, ways to travel, etc. It is the Club who should provide this.

In short, it is, in my view, to seek a more rational model, from the USSF itself, which allows everyone to compete and go up the stairs in the football pyramid. With a good organization, at the level of Clubs, Leagues, etc. the rest can start thinking seriously that any day, USA will be World Champion in football. Because there, when they propose something, they do it. They have not been proposed yet.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP