Yesterday's post referred to an article in the New York Times about US Soccer adopting an academy model similar to that in Europe. Along those lines is an article by super soccer writer Grant Wahl in Sports Illustrated about a team many consider the greatest of all time, FC Barcelona.
Wahl's comprehensive piece explores the history of Barca, as it's called, and examines the roots of the current success, including its own academy program, which takes boys as young as 8, including 12-year old American, Ben Lederman from Los Angeles, and trains them to be soccer players. They must be doing something right. As Wahl notes, "In Barca's Champions League game against Spartak Moscow on Sept. 19, eight
of the team's 11 starters-including Lionel Messi, the world's preeminent player-were products of the club's youth academy." Messi, now 25, joined the club at age 12.
"The FC Barcelona motto - Mes que un club,
Catalan for 'More than a club' - is deliberately open-ended. In one sense
it refers to Barca's social mission as a 113-year-old organization with
118,000 dues-paying members who vote in elections for the club's
leaders. For years Barca was the only major soccer team that refused to
sell space on its jersey to a corporate sponsor, before making the novel
decision in 2006 to donate about $2 million a year and put UNICEF's
logo there."
The subhead under the article's title declares that FC Barcelona is "more than a club, more than a champion, more than Messi. It is the embodiment of a sporting ideal that has made it beloved across the globe." Imagine someone writing that about the Yankees or the Green Bay Packers or just about any other American professional team.
Another version of the story is available at SI's website.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Academy: Dilemma for High School Stars
Extensive article in yesterday's New York Times explores the tough choice of elite players for the so-called "academy" club teams who are barred from participating in their high school programs.
Any club coach will tell you the quality of club ball is far better for obvious reasons: the kids stick together and often develop as a team over the years. They can recruit and draw talent from anywhere, not just a given school district. They are selected as an all-star team. Coaching and training may be better. All that notwithstanding, there are values to the high school game in terms of social networking, peer recognition, name in the papers and community pride. I doubt a club player ever got to ride on a fire truck down the main street of town to celebrate a state championship.
The goal of the academy programs is to follow the European model which identifies and develops players at a young age in an effort to find the 18 athletes who will ultimate compete on the world level. In this country, there is the added incentive of major college exposure and hopes of a scholarship.
Given the odds against a scholarship and even higher odds against a professional contract, especially for women, I wonder if the commitment asked of an academy player is not too much, especially that of foregoing the high school experience. But in the free market, as long as there are player
Any club coach will tell you the quality of club ball is far better for obvious reasons: the kids stick together and often develop as a team over the years. They can recruit and draw talent from anywhere, not just a given school district. They are selected as an all-star team. Coaching and training may be better. All that notwithstanding, there are values to the high school game in terms of social networking, peer recognition, name in the papers and community pride. I doubt a club player ever got to ride on a fire truck down the main street of town to celebrate a state championship.
The goal of the academy programs is to follow the European model which identifies and develops players at a young age in an effort to find the 18 athletes who will ultimate compete on the world level. In this country, there is the added incentive of major college exposure and hopes of a scholarship.
Given the odds against a scholarship and even higher odds against a professional contract, especially for women, I wonder if the commitment asked of an academy player is not too much, especially that of foregoing the high school experience. But in the free market, as long as there are player
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
It Wasn't Pretty But We'll Take It - HMHS 2, W. Deptford 0
"A W is a W," said a relieved Haddonfield Coach Glenn Gess moments after the Bulldogs ran their record to 10-0 with a 2-0 shutout of archrival West Deptford on a slippery HMHS field.
It wasn't pretty off the field either, but like the girls on the field we got it done.
Driving home from work in Marlton through a rain shower at 5 o'clock I never thought we'd play. But an hour later the stadium field was eminently playable - just a little slippery.
It was nice, as always, to chat with West Deptford's assistant coach, Amy Leso, who has been with the program since Kirsten's senior year - 1996. Also nice to see referee Bob Brunson, a veteran of the high school and club games who always does a top notch job.
The ball girls arrived on time and were briefed, programs were available for the fans, I had the starting line-ups, and we were ahead of schedule. And there was no rain. Then the problems started. Haddonfield AD Lefty Banos had the national anthem on his phone plugged into the stadium amp. Except it wouldn't play for what seemed like an hour but actually lasted only until, "What so proudly we hailed . . ." Then there was electronic feedback. Then when I began announcing Coach Frank Ottinger came running over to scream up to us that the volume was too low and no one could hear us. Lefty made an adjustment - more blood-curdling screeching.
The system finally worked, the starters were introduced and the game was underway. It was another HMHS - West Deptford classic with intense end-to-end play, momentum swings and some controversy. Haddonfield appeared to have taken the lead in the first three minutes only to see referee John Mauger nullify the goal for offsides. (She was.) The the West Deptford fans began complaining loudly about the lines on the field. They had a point.
Haddonfield finally notched a goal that counted on a long Olivia Blaber throw in that appeared to go right into the goal. Which would have meant it did not count because throw-ins are indirect, a rule the visiting fans made a point of calling the the attention of the officials. But the goal stood and it was 1-0 with 19:31 to play. (The girls told me after the game that the ball brushed the keeper's fingertips on the way in.) HMHS increased the advantage 3:36 before intermission when an Eagles defender knocked the ball into her own goal.
Both teams had chances in the second half and West Deptford came within inches of closing the gap with 36 minutes still to go when a ball rolled just wide right of Haddonfield's goal. As the game wore on the fog thickened and West Deptford gave its best shot but could not find the back of the net.
Only two night games this season and this was one. Next up is Collingswood in three weeks.
It wasn't pretty off the field either, but like the girls on the field we got it done.
Driving home from work in Marlton through a rain shower at 5 o'clock I never thought we'd play. But an hour later the stadium field was eminently playable - just a little slippery.
It was nice, as always, to chat with West Deptford's assistant coach, Amy Leso, who has been with the program since Kirsten's senior year - 1996. Also nice to see referee Bob Brunson, a veteran of the high school and club games who always does a top notch job.
The ball girls arrived on time and were briefed, programs were available for the fans, I had the starting line-ups, and we were ahead of schedule. And there was no rain. Then the problems started. Haddonfield AD Lefty Banos had the national anthem on his phone plugged into the stadium amp. Except it wouldn't play for what seemed like an hour but actually lasted only until, "What so proudly we hailed . . ." Then there was electronic feedback. Then when I began announcing Coach Frank Ottinger came running over to scream up to us that the volume was too low and no one could hear us. Lefty made an adjustment - more blood-curdling screeching.
The system finally worked, the starters were introduced and the game was underway. It was another HMHS - West Deptford classic with intense end-to-end play, momentum swings and some controversy. Haddonfield appeared to have taken the lead in the first three minutes only to see referee John Mauger nullify the goal for offsides. (She was.) The the West Deptford fans began complaining loudly about the lines on the field. They had a point.
Haddonfield finally notched a goal that counted on a long Olivia Blaber throw in that appeared to go right into the goal. Which would have meant it did not count because throw-ins are indirect, a rule the visiting fans made a point of calling the the attention of the officials. But the goal stood and it was 1-0 with 19:31 to play. (The girls told me after the game that the ball brushed the keeper's fingertips on the way in.) HMHS increased the advantage 3:36 before intermission when an Eagles defender knocked the ball into her own goal.
Both teams had chances in the second half and West Deptford came within inches of closing the gap with 36 minutes still to go when a ball rolled just wide right of Haddonfield's goal. As the game wore on the fog thickened and West Deptford gave its best shot but could not find the back of the net.
Only two night games this season and this was one. Next up is Collingswood in three weeks.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Whoosh!! HMHS Girls Breeze Through For Dinner.
SEPT. 20, 2012 -- tonight we learned how team bonding 2012 style works, which is very quickly.
Last summer Debbie and I had volunteered to host a team dinner and this was the night. It was over in a flash. I had forgotten that so many girls could eat so much so quickly. But
I had not hosted a high school event since 1995 when Kirsten was a junior and the team did breakfasts on the morning of game days. Those were rush affairs as well, but they had to get off to school. Now the girls do dinner.
Debbie did an awesome job putting it all together with good food, red and black balloons and soccer ball plates. The girls began arriving promptly at 6, still in game jerseys after two wins over Gateway, 2-0 by the varsity and 4-0 by JV. In minutes our house was filled with hungry soccer players for the first time in years, and soon every chair on the deck and patio was taken as pasta and salad were quickly consumed.
Then in the blink of an eyelash it was over. Thirty-nine minutes after they arrived it was time to go - off to see Heights play Township under the lights. By 7 p.m. we had the deck to ourselves.
If the girls had as much fun as we did, the evening was a success.
Last summer Debbie and I had volunteered to host a team dinner and this was the night. It was over in a flash. I had forgotten that so many girls could eat so much so quickly. But
I had not hosted a high school event since 1995 when Kirsten was a junior and the team did breakfasts on the morning of game days. Those were rush affairs as well, but they had to get off to school. Now the girls do dinner.
Debbie did an awesome job putting it all together with good food, red and black balloons and soccer ball plates. The girls began arriving promptly at 6, still in game jerseys after two wins over Gateway, 2-0 by the varsity and 4-0 by JV. In minutes our house was filled with hungry soccer players for the first time in years, and soon every chair on the deck and patio was taken as pasta and salad were quickly consumed.
Then in the blink of an eyelash it was over. Thirty-nine minutes after they arrived it was time to go - off to see Heights play Township under the lights. By 7 p.m. we had the deck to ourselves.
If the girls had as much fun as we did, the evening was a success.
Tables just waiting to be filled
Long line for the food.
The deck was filled with hungry and happy soccer players
And so was the patio.
Friday, September 14, 2012
HMHS defense
SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 -- Good story in yesterday's Inquirer about The Haddonfield girls soccer team defense. Although the angle was freshman keeper Taylor Sehdev, the story recognized the contributions of Mary Clair, Bridget Yako, Olivia Blaber and Gretchen Kiep.
Defense was certainly paramount in Monday's 1-0 win at archrival West Deptford. It was a typical HMHS-West Deptford contest: big crowd, physical, intense, down to the wire. Haddonfield scored in the first half when the Eagles's keeper couldn't hold on to the ball and the defense did the rest. If Sehdev was nervous playing only her second varsity game and her first under the lights, she sure didn't show it. She made all the plays she had to, including an extended well-timed reach to grab a ball headed for the far upper corner in the first half.
Defense was certainly paramount in Monday's 1-0 win at archrival West Deptford. It was a typical HMHS-West Deptford contest: big crowd, physical, intense, down to the wire. Haddonfield scored in the first half when the Eagles's keeper couldn't hold on to the ball and the defense did the rest. If Sehdev was nervous playing only her second varsity game and her first under the lights, she sure didn't show it. She made all the plays she had to, including an extended well-timed reach to grab a ball headed for the far upper corner in the first half.
Monday, September 3, 2012
If You Can Sing the WNT May Need You
As most fans know by now, Pia Sundhage has decided to take her song and dance routine to her native Sweden. Sundhage resigned Saturday as coach of the U.S. Women's National Team Saturday to take the same post in Sweden. I never met Sundhage, but the reviews have been positive, and it seems she was an improvement over predecessor Greg Ryan. And anyone who sang Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkle to the media couldn't be all bad.
During Sundhage's tenure, which began just a few months after the 2007 World Cup disaster, the U.S. won two Olympic gold medals and a second place at the World Cup.
Not surprisingly, the best story of Sundhage's resignation comes from Jere Longman in today's New York Times. Note that he refers to the "diva behavior" of keeper Hope Solo. According to Longman, potential successors include the under-23 women’s national coach Randy Waldrum; the U-20 women’s national coach Steve Swanson; Tony DiCicco, who coached the WNT before; Australia’s national coach, Tom Sermanni; and Jillian Ellis, the director of development for the United States women’s national teams.
He does not say if any of them can sing.
During Sundhage's tenure, which began just a few months after the 2007 World Cup disaster, the U.S. won two Olympic gold medals and a second place at the World Cup.
Not surprisingly, the best story of Sundhage's resignation comes from Jere Longman in today's New York Times. Note that he refers to the "diva behavior" of keeper Hope Solo. According to Longman, potential successors include the under-23 women’s national coach Randy Waldrum; the U-20 women’s national coach Steve Swanson; Tony DiCicco, who coached the WNT before; Australia’s national coach, Tom Sermanni; and Jillian Ellis, the director of development for the United States women’s national teams.
He does not say if any of them can sing.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
"She Said Yes, Praise the Lord, Glory Hallelujah!" Congrats to Scott & Stevie
I was in the men's room at P.J. Whelihan's Pub in Haddonfield a week ago Friday when my cellphone rang. It was my favorite male former soccer player and author of the second best blog on the Web, who happens to be my son, Scott, calling to tell me he and girlfriend Stevie Neale, had gotten engaged down in Florida.
Scott was looking for a song to announce the engagement on Facebook, so he came up with a pretty good one: "She Said Yes," by a British folk rock group known as The Wedding Band, a/k/a Mumford and Sons & Friends. Read the announcement on Scott's blog.
We celebrated the happy occasion in Ocean City a few nights ago, where sister Kirsten welcomed Stevie to the family. Looking forward to the wedding in early 2013.
Scott was looking for a song to announce the engagement on Facebook, so he came up with a pretty good one: "She Said Yes," by a British folk rock group known as The Wedding Band, a/k/a Mumford and Sons & Friends. Read the announcement on Scott's blog.We celebrated the happy occasion in Ocean City a few nights ago, where sister Kirsten welcomed Stevie to the family. Looking forward to the wedding in early 2013.
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