Super Y League's "Youth Soccer Report"

Admittedly a bit of a PR piece, but more substance than fluff.

see

http://www.superyleague.com/mediacenter/A/42581_E.html

including a discussion of the Dolinsky case, a nice history of youth soccer in the US, and a pretty good interview with Francisco Marcos about the political difficulties and infighting.

I have my view, but look forward to reading the reactions of other posters here on BS.

 

I posted the link on the coach's listserve, and got a response from one poster.

I am posting his response -- in italics -- and then my counter response to him in plain type just below.

In the interest of full disclosure -- am I wrong in my understanding that Marcos owns (outright) the United Soccer Leagues? All of them, including the Super Y league, from what I understand. So he has a financial incentive to downgrade a competitor -- ODP. If you know differently, please clarify.

Otherwise, take what Mr. Marcos says with the standard grain of salt; much of it over the years has been self-serving. Please do not classify me as an ODP apologist, but as always, we must be aware of whence comes the information we take to be true.

Yes, I think Marcos does own the USL. And of course, one has to always consider the source when reading documents like this.

But can self-serving remarks like these be accurate? Just because it's self serving, doesn't necessarily mean its false, or even poorly reasoned. Meanwhile, self-interest can be crass, or it can be enlightened, or it can be somewhere in between.

And we need to keep in mind that among the actors in this drama, Marcos is not the only one whose livlihood depends on the evolution of elite
player training and indentification in the USA. That alone is not sufficient reason to be skeptical of the ideas; in that case, probably everyone's approach would need to be ashcanned in a kind of "baby with the bath water" perspective.

I think the Dolinsky case will be quite interesting, since all the parties will have to have their say in the matter and, presumably, have to present those arguments publicly. Then we can all read and judge for ourselves.

One of the interesting portions of this Super Y league piece is the discussion of the "Players' Bill of Rights" -- something I hadn't heard of before. Given that so much of this Balkanized factionalized fighting is about adults trying to exert power over the youth game -- because they make their livelihood at it -- the kids are often the last constituency considered. Perhaps this Players Bill of Rights will be a start, at least, in placing the perspective where it belongs.

Finally, while I have a fondness for the film Rashomon, assuming that there are multiple realities can get you into serious trouble. There are some bottom line truths in life. The answers to these questions are pretty obvious.

--Do appropriately talented and skilled players get identified through ODP?

--Do some appropriately talented players get passed over or otherwise remain unidentified for financial/political/club conflict reasons?

--Do state associations have a vested interest--whether financially or in terms of prestige/power, or both -- as the identifiers of elite talent via ODP?

--Do elite clubs and Marcos have a vested financial interest in becoming the predominant identifiers of elite talent?

--If Super Y league or other interests begin to assert themselves (whether properly or improperly, ethcially on unethically) as identifiers of elite talent, will some States feel threatened?

--Will some state associations react -- whether properly or improperly, ethically or unethically -- to those "encroachments" by other organizations?

I think this saga has yet to unfold completely. As I have said before, I am not a seer, and can't predict the future. But the landscape is changing, and if anyone on this list is a coach, parent, or club administrator, who wants to be involved in the development of elite players, then he/she needs to pay attention to these evolutionary -- if not revolutionary changes -- that are occuring right now.