THREAD: Healthy things grow. (The bad news... unhealthy things like cancer often grow as well.)
When surveying US Soccer, it is clear that the current system does not produce natural environments for players, coaches, & clubs to prosper.
When surveying US Soccer, it is clear that the current system does not produce natural environments for players, coaches, & clubs to prosper.
2. The DNA of the USSF system is fragmentation, segmentation, & isolation. Instead of US Soccer working collectively as a ‘sum of its parts,’ the USSF system works independently or in many cases works against other members. We’re left with silos & a convoluted mess.
3. Much of what occurs in US Soccer is upside down & backwards.
4. In the rest of the world, clubs earn most of the money. In the US, the leagues earn most of the money.
In the rest of the world, players earn a significant portion of the money. In the US, the owners earn most of the money.
In the rest of the world, players earn a significant portion of the money. In the US, the owners earn most of the money.
5. In the rest of the world, clubs earn their way to the First Division. In the US, you buy your way in with approval from US Soccer & MLS. (If you can’t get tax breaks or other local government incentives, your chances aren’t very high.)
#ProRelforUSA
#ProRelforUSA
6. In the rest of the world, federations want to grow the number of licensed coaches. In the US, US Soccer puts up barriers & limits access.
In the rest of the world, clubs are compensated for developing a player. In the US, US Soccer keeps the compensation away from its clubs.
In the rest of the world, clubs are compensated for developing a player. In the US, US Soccer keeps the compensation away from its clubs.
7. In the rest of the world, families don’t pay thousands for their son/daughter to make it as a pro. In the US, thousands of dollars just gives you access to the system to get scouted.
8. In the rest of the world, federation members are aligned & connected. In the US, there are Soccer Wars, lawsuits, & everyone is on their own.
9. In the rest of the world, the players are the highest earners. In the US, Don Garber earns 3-4 times as much as the highest paid MLS players. The MLS Commissioner earns more than $20 Million USD per year.
10. In the rest of the world, clubs rarely move & if an owner moves the club a new one is often formed. (MK Dons/AFC Wimbledon) In the US, franchises are often relocated to “greener pastures” & the community is often left without a new franchise. (Columbus Crew) #SaveTheCrew
11. In the rest of the world, a manager can manage his/her team into the First Division. In the US, a manager must leave his/her lower division team behind in order to have that opportunity.
12. In the rest of the world, money flows through the leagues & into the clubs. In the US, the clubs pay the leagues. We literally do it backwards.
