College soccer--Change is coming?

dcheather · Jul 28, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soc ... sports_pop

Sasho Cirovski is college soccer’s most passionate advocate, a guardian of the oft-criticized university development system, but the longtime University of Maryland men’s coach appreciates the need to evolve.

That is why, as chairman of the Division I men’s coaches’ committee, he has joined forces with NCAA leaders, MLS officials and the U.S. Soccer Federation to radically change the landscape of the college game.

They have proposed turning Division I men’s soccer into a full academic-year sport, one that would kick off in mid-September and culminate in late-May. If approved by the NCAA, the new calendar would begin as early as 2016-17.

“We have to change the game and do it justice,” Cirovski said. “College soccer has been relevant, but it can become much more relevant. It is doing a good job; it can do a great job.”

For more than 50 years, college soccer has packed a full season into three-plus months in the fall, creating physical and academic challenges and restricting the amount of development time. (Teams are allowed limited practices and exhibitions in the spring, as well.)

Under a proposal formulated by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the number of official team days would grow to 144 from 132. Teams would open training camp in late August, hold two friendlies, then play 13 matches between mid-September and the weekend before Thanksgiving. (Currently, some teams play two friendlies and as many as 24 games between late August and the holiday.)

From late November until late February, teams would go on winter break, restricted to eight hour-long training sessions. Spring training camp would begin in late February and include one friendly. The season would resume in mid-March and include nine regular season matches, plus conference and NCAA tournament games.

Proponents are aiming to submit formal plans to the NCAA this fall and seek a decision in the first half of 2015. With college athletics undergoing rapid change, backers of the plan believe the timing is right.

“We recognize people and parents are focused on college,” said Kevin Payne, the former D.C. United and Toronto FC executive who is consulting on the matter on behalf of the USSF. “Instead of complaining about college soccer all the time, we have to figure out: How do we make it better?”

Others involved in the process include MLS officials Todd Durbin and Jeff Agoos; and West Virginia University Athletic Director Oliver Luck, the former Houston Dynamo president who serves on the NCAA committee implementing a college football playoff system.

Payne, Luck and Rob Kehoe, the NSCAA’s Division I programs director, are scheduled to address MLS’s technical committee at the league’s all-star game in Portland, Ore., next week.

At this time, the changes would affect Division I men’s soccer only. The women’s game and men’s lower divisions would retain their schedules.

Among the reasons for the proposed changes:

*From a player development standpoint, the NSCAA says, “Division I soccer exists in an outdated format that is inconsistent with the growth of United States soccer and with the current youth and professional soccer structures that operate in 10-month seasons.”

In other words, college players are not receiving adequate training over the course of the school year and remain behind contemporaries in many other countries.

*College soccer is failing to retain high-caliber players who are, the NSCAA says, “choosing to forego a college soccer experience in favor of professional opportunities due to perceived college developmental deficiencies.”

Without calendar changes, the fear among college advocates is the USSF will begin advising players to skip NCAA soccer altogether. Already, MLS clubs are signing teenagers from their youth academies, prospects who bypass college or attend for only a year or two.

*Teams are playing too many matches in a short amount of time, leading to injuries and substandard performance. Three games per week is common throughout the season, and some conferences pile three tournament games into four days. The NSCAA cites the NCAA chief medical officer in prioritizing players’ health and safety.

Along those lines, college soccer is criticized for allowing unlimited substitutions and players to re-enter games, contrary to international standards. But those scheduling demands are what make the liberal guidelines necessary. With more time between matches, those rules could someday be changed to meet FIFA requirements, proponents argue.

*Academic balance. A looser schedule in the fall would alleviate work-load pressure and distribute academic demands equally over the entire school year.

*A proper culmination of the season. The College Cup — semifinals and final over three days in December — is barely noticed, even in the soccer community. It is often played in cold weather and in front of crowds smaller than some of the participating teams often enjoy during the regular season.

“All coaches are frustrated,” said Cirovski, who is entering his 22nd season at Maryland. “The championships don’t work.”

College soccer longs for a marquee weekend, like other secondary NCAA sports (lacrosse, baseball and hockey). A College Cup in May would expand the location options and, in theory, create an annual destination for soccer fans.

Also, without scheduling conflicts with college football and basketball, postseason soccer matches in May would have a greater opportunity to appear on live TV. On the current calendar, few soccer tournament matches are televised until the College Cup – out of sight, out of mind. In the spring, college sports currently filling TV slots are softball, baseball and lacrosse.

Proponents appear to have the backing of most head coaches. Skeptics worry that, in an era of belt-tightening at many institutions, athletic departments may choose to do away with the men’s soccer program if the proposed changes lead to increased costs through staffing and facility demands. Some schools would have to adjust stadium availability, particularly those that house soccer and lacrosse in the same venue.

The change would also impact the MLS draft, which is held every January – a month after the college season ends.

If the draft remained at the same time of the year, just before training camps open, would players be tempted to turn pro halfway through the college season? Or would they not become eligible for MLS until the summer? If so, they would miss out on four months in a pro environment and perhaps never figure into that season’s plans. Moving the draft to June would have the same effect.

The larger question about college soccer is whether it’s necessary at all. For most players, who do not have realistic pro ambitions, it’s perfectly fine: four years playing the sport they love while earning a college degree and, in many cases, receiving a substantial scholarship.

For those players with special talents, college soccer has long been viewed as detrimental to playing development, largely because of the short schedule and limited practice time mandated by the NCAA. Personal development, however, is not something an MLS academy can provide. College, proponents say, turns out more mature and responsible individuals. The same cannot be said of many American prospects who turned pro after high school and have struggled to adapt to the adult world of pro soccer.

Said Cirovski: “A college education is important for life-long success and happiness. This [proposed] schedule allows student-athletes to fully maximize the soccer experience and the life experience. It’s time has come.”
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jumpkutz · Jul 29, 2014

Whatever happens, we're almost ready at our new pitch!

dcheather · Jul 30, 2014

Ah, there's nothing like the smell of a new soccer stadium in the morning.

Clevelandmo · Jul 31, 2014

New field is awesome. Who knows how long a new facility like that goes in terms of attracting talent, too.

That WaPo article is a lot to take in. Not surprisingly I have some thoughts :shock:

“We recognize people and parents are focused on college,” said Kevin Payne, the former D.C. United and Toronto FC executive who is consulting on the matter on behalf of the USSF. “Instead of complaining about college soccer all the time, we have to figure out: How do we make it better?”
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Yes, I agree. Stop complaining about it. And take that attitude a step further and include high school soccer. If the USSF and Jurgen want to eliminate the expensive pay to play system in US youth soccer, high school is stop #1. Instead they prohibit it.

Among the reasons for the proposed changes:

*From a player development standpoint, the NSCAA says, “Division I soccer exists in an outdated format that is inconsistent with the growth of United States soccer and with the current youth and professional soccer structures that operate in 10-month seasons.”

In other words, college players are not receiving adequate training over the course of the school year and remain behind contemporaries in many other countries.
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In other words, we are now finally recognizing that college soccer is more useful than the non-existent MLS reserve league and doesn't cost us a thing so we want to use you but then tell you exactly how to do things. Who cares this will hurt some college programs and players, we only want the ones who can do what we say anyway.

Serious div 1 players are training year round. They play in semi pro leagues in the summer where they are benefitting from playing against older, more experienced players. If they go to this 10 month season then they loose that and will only be playing against other college players the entire time - similar aged and experienced players.

How are they behind their contemporaries in other countries? If they were as good as 19 year old Raheem Sterling then they wouldn't be in college. I find it difficult to believe there aren't lots of 18 -20 year old players in the lower levels of French, Swiss and English soccer who are at the same level as our division 1 players. In fact, I know there are because more and more of them are coming over to play college soccer in the US because they know that is a pathway to MLS at best and a coaching career at worst. We are behind another nations in producing world class players capable of going pro at a top club at 18 years old. That is all. It has nothing to do with college soccer, which has helped us catch up more than it has put us behind.

*College soccer is failing to retain high-caliber players who are, the NSCAA says, “choosing to forego a college soccer experience in favor of professional opportunities due to perceived college developmental deficiencies.”
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Then stop complaining about college soccer and saying it is bad. Talk with USSF about that.

Without calendar changes, the fear among college advocates is the USSF will begin advising players to skip NCAA soccer altogether. Already, MLS clubs are signing teenagers from their youth academies, prospects who bypass college or attend for only a year or two.
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This is already happening. It is people's choice to forego college but the USSF should not be advising players to do it. This is why children shouldn't be around professional sports organizations. I would prefer MLS teams have no youth academies, especially when at the moment many are not as good at developing young players as the established clubs that have been around for 30 years or more. Yes, MLS clubs are signing a lot of homegrown players but only a percentage of those players were with the MLS club prior to the DA youngest ages group U16 (now U14).

*Teams are playing too many matches in a short amount of time, leading to injuries and substandard performance. Three games per week is common throughout the season, and some conferences pile three tournament games into four days. The NSCAA cites the NCAA chief medical officer in prioritizing players’ health and safety.
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Pro teams can play that many games in a week due to cups, Europa League, Champions League. I would think this would be a good way of preparing elite talent. Plus our USMNT coach certainly seems to believe in running players in to the ground physically.

Along those lines, college soccer is criticized for allowing unlimited substitutions and players to re-enter games, contrary to international standards. But those scheduling demands are what make the liberal guidelines necessary. With more time between matches, those rules could someday be changed to meet FIFA requirements, proponents argue.
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See last comment. College programs can juggle their rosters for the game load just like pro teams. Also, I think the "unlimited" (not really unlimited) substitutions in college soccer encourage play at a faster pace which has to be in the the best interest of player development. Plus more players get more meaningful minutes which is in the best interest of the US player pool. Don't know why unlimited subs is okay for younger players but not okay for college players who haven't developed sufficiently enough to be a professional player. And prefer the college clock that counts down and stops for significant stoppages in play; it is more transparent and takes power that could be abused away from the official.

*Academic balance. A looser schedule in the fall would alleviate work-load pressure and distribute academic demands equally over the entire school year.
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This 10 month proposal will eliminate college players from playing PDL and other semi-pro leagues when they are not in school. If you care about balancing soccer and school then let them train and play when they are not in school. This is BS, the USSF doesn't give a darn about balancing soccer and school. This is very clear with the way the have handled the Devleopment Academy.

*A proper culmination of the season. The College Cup — semifinals and final over three days in December — is barely noticed, even in the soccer community. It is often played in cold weather and in front of crowds smaller than some of the participating teams often enjoy during the regular season.

“All coaches are frustrated,” said Cirovski, who is entering his 22nd season at Maryland. “The championships don’t work.”

College soccer longs for a marquee weekend, like other secondary NCAA sports (lacrosse, baseball and hockey). A College Cup in May would expand the location options and, in theory, create an annual destination for soccer fans.

Also, without scheduling conflicts with college football and basketball, postseason soccer matches in May would have a greater opportunity to appear on live TV. On the current calendar, few soccer tournament matches are televised until the College Cup – out of sight, out of mind. In the spring, college sports currently filling TV slots are softball, baseball and lacrosse.
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Mostly agree but you can't have everything. And this is certainly not reason enough for the changes proposed.

Proponents appear to have the backing of most head coaches. Skeptics worry that, in an era of belt-tightening at many institutions, athletic departments may choose to do away with the men’s soccer program if the proposed changes lead to increased costs through staffing and facility demands. Some schools would have to adjust stadium availability, particularly those that house soccer and lacrosse in the same venue.

The change would also impact the MLS draft, which is held every January – a month after the college season ends.

If the draft remained at the same time of the year, just before training camps open, would players be tempted to turn pro halfway through the college season? Or would they not become eligible for MLS until the summer? If so, they would miss out on four months in a pro environment and perhaps never figure into that season’s plans. Moving the draft to June would have the same effect.

The larger question about college soccer is whether it’s necessary at all. For most players, who do not have realistic pro ambitions, it’s perfectly fine: four years playing the sport they love while earning a college degree and, in many cases, receiving a substantial scholarship.

For those players with special talents, college soccer has long been viewed as detrimental to playing development, largely because of the short schedule and limited practice time mandated by the NCAA. Personal development, however, is not something an MLS academy can provide. College, proponents say, turns out more mature and responsible individuals. The same cannot be said of many American prospects who turned pro after high school and have struggled to adapt to the adult world of pro soccer.

Said Cirovski: “A college education is important for life-long success and happiness. This [proposed] schedule allows student-athletes to fully maximize the soccer experience and the life experience. It’s time has come.”
Click to expand...

agree with skeptics. This would hurt some programs.

Forum	Title	Date
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International	College Soccer '15	Aug 29, 2015
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International	NCAA College Cup	Dec 10, 2014
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International	College Soccer	Dec 15, 2008
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International	College Semifinals	Dec 1, 2006
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International	Messiah College	Nov 28, 2005

College soccer--Change is coming?

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College soccer--Change is coming?

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