| Uniquely American (May 2008) |
Intercollegiate soccer plays an important role in player development
By Al Albert
As one prowls the blogs and message boards of BigSoccer.com and other soccer websites, inevitably the topic of college soccer comes up. Most soccer purists in the country take the position that college soccer is a detriment to the growth of the sport in this country and propose many alternatives that in the long run would be more beneficial to the development of U.S. soccer.
Perhaps my viewpoint is biased since I played college soccer, coached at that level for 33 years and now represent an association that was founded by college coaches, but the bottom line is that college soccer is here to stay in the United States. It is not only going to be around for a long, long time, it is going to continue to improve.
To begin with, attending college is a particularly strong element of our American culture. Soccer in this country has developed for the most part as a middle class activity. Almost every youth soccer player and parent dreams of a college soccer scholarship. Certainly the best players and their families dream of professional careers as well. However, following the pattern of most players in the higher profile sports of football, basketball and baseball, even the most talented youth soccer stars would consider an abbreviated stint at the school of their choice prior to a professional career.
Obviously there is that special class of player that can become a star, become wealthy in a very short period of time and for whom sport is clearly the way to go. They should pursue a professional career at as early an age as possible. For most, life is much less simple and there is tremendous value to a college experience, education and degree to fall back on after their soccer career has ended.
Besides the value to the individual who chooses this path, consider for a minute what college soccer has meant to the development of the sport in this country. Many would have us believe that it holds the sport back. Certainly it is not the model that the rest of the world follows to develop players. My view is that, although hindered by NCAA restrictions and academic requirements, soccer in colleges and universities has led the development of American soccer.
Prior to the surge in college soccer in the ‘70s and ‘80s, there were almost no soccer-specific stadiums in the U.S. I’m not referring to the tremendous facilities that MLS is developing in major cities, but rather the smaller fields and stadia on virtually every college campus where soccer is sponsored as a varsity sport. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller venues that fit the interest level and crowds at each of these institutions. Many of these easily would serve the purposes or surpass the facilities of lower level professional and semi-professional teams in other countries.
At one time, almost all college coaches also had to teach classes, usually in the physical education area. Now most programs are fortunate enough to have not only full-time paid coaches but also access to the athletics department strength and conditioning staff and facilities, sports medicine staff and facilities, sports psychologists, academic support staff and others to help them survive, develop and excel in the college sports and educational environment.
Add to this the incredible push college soccer has given the women’s game. About 50 percent more schools sponsor women’s soccer than men’s as a varsity sport at the Division I level. More scholarships are allowed per team for women, making the odds of getting a scholarship much higher for a female player. Until the professional women’s league establishes itself again as the ultimate level to which a top player should aspire, college soccer clearly rules the roost.
The short intense fall season is indeed a problem, with far too many games in that tight period between the end of the summer and the holidays. The off-season spring has improved in some ways for development of players, particularly in Division I, but players need games and the restriction in Division III that allows only one day of competition is much too limiting. Even five days of competition for the Division I programs is not enough. Serious players can play PDL or W-League in the summer, but that is not under the supervision of their regular coaches and often isn’t as professional as the college programs from which they come.
It is indisputable that the NCAA has put a governor on how far and how fast college soccer can become an invaluable part of the player development system in this country to produce top players for MLS and teams abroad. However, millions of dollars in soccer-related aid and capital improvements have been pumped into the system by colleges and universities. This allows players to go to school and develop as soccer players in very “professional” environments, albeit for not as long a playing season as desired.
Apparently the limitations of the system have not prevented players from moving through and making it to the U.S. national teams and the top leagues in the world. Of the 18 players selected by Bob Bradley to play against Poland March 26, 12 had played at least one year of college soccer. Several already have their degrees and I would imagine others plan to go back someday and complete their programs.
What then could the future hold for soccer in colleges and universities? I can foresee a day when college soccer games on television are as numerous as football and basketball events, with cable companies vying for programming opportunities. I can imagine College Cup crowds expanding dramatically if we can learn from the success of college lacrosse and bring together all elements of the game for an end-of-season celebration.
The system we have now certainly is not perfect. We need more playing opportunities, a longer season and increased scholarship and funding levels. For now we will have to work patiently to build on what we have. The American setup is unique and although college soccer is limited in many ways, it clearly is going to be part of the growth of the game in the U.S. for a long time.
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