NCAA trying to kill college soccer

[ZachTheZip]

http://twitter.com/#!/SoccerCTC (start reading from about 2:30 PM, Oct 31st and go from there)In short they want to eliminate the spring season and shorten the regular season. They also want to eliminate all foreign tours (for all sports, not just soccer).It hurts the development of the players. I can't imagine that there's any college soccer coach that thinks this is a good idea, and I can't imagine anyone involved with US Soccer wanting this to happen.

[UAZipster0305]

The foreign trips for all sports I can understand. However, killing only the spring schedule for soccer is crazy. It only amounts to a handful of games anyhow, so what is the harm? What is the rational behind this?Would the NCAA consider eliminating the football spring games? I highly doubt it. They are a big deal particularly at schools like OSWho.I wonder if the NCAA has a vested interest in permitting the rise of soccer from rivaling basketball and football?...Or in preventing the prominence of "otherwise inferior" schools like Akron where soccer is successful on the national stage from distinguishing themselves?Z.I.P., do you have any insight on this?

[bisbee]

It all has to do with money and nothing else. Also think Title IX may be a factor. I think it looks like most nonrevenue sports are in trouble...not just soccer. this also has the potential to impact the pool of MLS ready players as most now come from collegiate programs. The MLS certainly cannot think this is a good direction to take but don't know what if anything they can do.

[bobbyake]

although a lot of programs don't have men's soccer, they do have women's because of Title IX. With the new $2,000 spending allowance per player (which will probably only go to football/basketball players), they'll need to cut costs in other places. Because most schools have women's soccer, there are huge cost savings in this.

[bisbee]

http://twitter.com/#!/SoccerCTC (start reading from about 2:30 PM, Oct 31st and go from there)In short they want to eliminate the spring season and shorten the regular season. They also want to eliminate all foreign tours (for all sports, not just soccer).It hurts the development of the players. I can't imagine that there's any college soccer coach that thinks this is a good idea, and I can't imagine anyone involved with US Soccer wanting this to happen.

This could also force us to model player development the way the rest of the world does. We are virtually the only country (perhaps canada) that probably plays collegiate soccer. Collegiate soccer IS NOT a medium conducive to the development of world class talent.

[UAZipster0305]

http://twitter.com/#!/SoccerCTC (start reading from about 2:30 PM, Oct 31st and go from there)In short they want to eliminate the spring season and shorten the regular season. They also want to eliminate all foreign tours (for all sports, not just soccer).It hurts the development of the players. I can't imagine that there's any college soccer coach that thinks this is a good idea, and I can't imagine anyone involved with US Soccer wanting this to happen.

This could also force us to model player development the way the rest of the world does. We are virtually the only country (perhaps canada) that probably plays collegiate soccer. Collegiate soccer IS NOT a medium conducive to the development of world class talent.

The entire spectrum of mixing athletics with academics at such high levels is unique throughout the world.

[Ando]

I eventually sort of see college soccer becoming a safety net in the same way college ice hockey is whether these sorts of changes happen or not. The best 16-18 year olds eventually are just going to stay with their clubs to play on the senior/reserve team, and the college system might have to content itself with the odd gem in the roughThis might speed that process up and made college soccer less fun a lot more quickly, though.We'll always need alternatives to academies here though, because lots of people aren't geographically in proximity to an MLS team.

[Spin]

What would keep a college official from forming an independant PDSL league with the coach and players, and using that for player development during the off season?

[bobbyake]

What would keep a college official from forming an independant PDSL league with the coach and players, and using that for player development during the off season?

A lot of college players already play in the PDL league.

[Z.I.P.]

I eventually sort of see college soccer becoming a safety net in the same way college ice hockey is whether these sorts of changes happen or not. The best 16-18 year olds eventually are just going to stay with their clubs to play on the senior/reserve team, and the college system might have to content itself with the odd gem in the roughThis might speed that process up and made college soccer less fun a lot more quickly, though.We'll always need alternatives to academies here though, because lots of people aren't geographically in proximity to an MLS team.

This will have a DRASTIC effect on the non-MLS-based youth clubs -- making them incapable of competing with the creme de la creme. And especially those clubs that do not compete in the Development Academy League. We may never see another Brian Ching come up from the Aloha State, unless he pulls a Bobby Wood and moves to SoCal as a teenager. There are vast areas of the US where kids have no access to the elite level of competition that is becoming a "must" for youth development. Calling Sunil Gulati.

[Spin]

What would keep a college official from forming an independant PDSL league with the coach and players, and using that for player development during the off season?

A lot of college players already play in the PDL league.

Understood, but playing as a unit, with the same coaching staff, would have its advantages. Especially if they can't camp and play exhibitions in the spring.

[bobbyake]

What would keep a college official from forming an independant PDSL league with the coach and players, and using that for player development during the off season?

A lot of college players already play in the PDL league.

Understood, but playing as a unit, with the same coaching staff, would have its advantages. Especially if they can't camp and play exhibitions in the spring.

I believe these changes are being considered because of the new $2,000 spending allowance for players. Not many colleges without women's soccer so they're looking at cost savings. I do not like it at all.

[Crew8]

More news on NCAA looking to cancel Spring Season

D1 College soccer in jeopardy as NCAA moves to eliminate spring competition

[bobbyake]

read that article and it looks like this is something they discuss every year at these meetings? The problem we have this year is the $2,000 spending limit football and basketball players are going to get. If expenses are going to be cut, soccer is going to be exposed to those cuts.

[bobbyake]

The NCAA is going after the wrong programs.

Men's Soccer Trio Earns Academic All-American Status

AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron juniors Chad Barson, Scott Caldwell and David Meves were named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America team Thursday, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Barson, a defender from Lewis Center, Ohio, was named to the first team, while Caldwell, a midfielder from Braintree, Mass., was named to the second team. Meves, a goalkeeper from Arlington Heights, Ill., earned third-team honors.

All three student-athletes helped lead the Zips to back-to-back national championship games in 2009 and 2010, and a trip to the NCAA's Round of 16 in 2011. Akron won its first team national championship in any sport in 2010.

It is the second consecutive season Barson (3.99 GPA, Biology) and Meves (3.78 GPA, Corporate Financial Management) have earned Academic All-American status after each receiving second-team accolades in 2010. Caldwell (3.95, Accounting) is a first-time honoree.

The UA men's soccer program has now garnered 15 Academic All-America honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season. Of that number, 10 have come in the last five seasons under sixth-year head coach Caleb Porter, including seven in the past two seasons alone.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

UA All-Time Men's Soccer Academic All-Americans

1998 Justin Millard, Men's At-Large (Soccer), Second Team

1999 Justin Millard, Men's At-Large (Soccer), First Team

2000 Orjan Baneso, Men's Soccer, First Team

2001 Orjan Bjaneso, Men's Soccer, Second Team

2001 Kyle Milligan, Men's Soccer, Third Team

2007 Elliot Bradbrook, Men's Soccer, Second Team

2009 Kofi Sarkodie, Men's Soccer, First Team

2009 Ben Zemanski, Men's Soccer, Third Team

2010 Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Men's Soccer, Third Team

2010 Chad Barson, Men's Soccer, Second Team

2010 David Meves, Men's Soccer, Second Team

2010 Kofi Sarkodie*, Men's Soccer, First Team

2011 Chad Barson, Men's Soccer, First Team

2011 Scott Caldwell, Men's Soccer, Second Team

2011 David Meves, Men's Soccer, Third Team

* Academic All-America of the Year

[bobbyake]

NCAA moves forward to eliminate all Division 1 international tours

The good news is:

The Work Group decided not to forward the recommendation to eliminate non-championship competition for soccer and other sports or cut competition 10% across all sports after encountering substantial opposition from the targeted sports involved. The elimination of spring competition would have further handicapped college soccer as a route to the pros.

I know there are some that want academies to replace college soccer in the US, I think those people are dead wrong. Some MLS players are making less than 40k a year!! Most of these players could make more using their college education instead of playing in the MLS. Unless a player can sign a generation adidas (100k salary), finishing college is the best option.

Things in America work different than Europe. People need to accept that.

Also, international trips were only allowed once every 4 years. So technically, the Zips soccer team wouldn't be able to go on another international trip until 2015.

[Ando]

I know there are some that want academies to replace college soccer in the US, I think those people are dead wrong. Some MLS players are making less than 40k a year!! Most of these players could make more using their college education instead of playing in the MLS. Unless a player can sign a generation adidas (100k salary), finishing college is the best option.

From an austerity standpoint, sure. But it's probably better for their development as a player, and for US soccer long term, that academies keep the better prospects, and that the academy system develops to the point where more prospects are able to forgo college entirely

[bobbyake]

I know there are some that want academies to replace college soccer in the US, I think those people are dead wrong. Some MLS players are making less than 40k a year!! Most of these players could make more using their college education instead of playing in the MLS. Unless a player can sign a generation adidas (100k salary), finishing college is the best option.

From an austerity standpoint, sure. But it's probably better for their development as a player, and for US soccer long term, that academies keep the better prospects, and that the academy system develops to the point where more prospects are able to forgo college entirely

The best academy prospects usually play at the college level. For a player starting in the pros, a generation adidas contract (100k+ a year), is so much better than a homegrown contract (40-60k a year).

I do not see any benefit for an academy prospect to forgo college, and don't expect that to change in the near future. The best option for any player's development is to do both, which the players can currently do. Plus, they can play in the PDL during the summer.

I believe the best thing for US soccer right now is for college soccer to continue to improve. These players need a backup plan in case their pro careers are cut short. The average MLS player makes around $40-100k for 10-13 years and retires around the age of 35. They need something to fall back on after their pro careers are over.

College soccer in the US is growing. Attendance figures are up and a lot more schools averaged more than 1,000 per game this year than in previous years. There were also more games this year with 5k+ attendances than any other year (The Zips added 2 to that list ).

If it wasn't for college soccer, I would have never developed a major interest in soccer. I believe the story is the same for many more in the US. College soccer helps grow the popularity of the sport in the US, which is the most important thing right now for US soccer.

[Crew8]

Billy Schuler has turned down GA for Europe. Ives also reported MLS says the small GA class is to have more money for homegrown GA signings. From Ives, there are standard Homegrown deals which don't pay much and there are homegrown GA deals for blue-chip prospects(MLS pays part). I was not aware of the different homegrown deals.

Ives Twitter

[Zip_ME87]

Billy Schuler has turned down GA for Europe. Ives also reported MLS says the small GA class is to have more money for homegrown GA signings. From Ives, there are standard Homegrown deals which don't pay much and there are homegrown GA deals for blue-chip prospects(MLS pays part). I was not aware of the different homegrown deals.

Ives Twitter

Crew8, thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the different homegrown deals either. I'd think we could lose Chad Barson this way if the Crew comes across with the right GA homegrown deal.

[yazan07]

Billy Schuler has turned down GA for Europe. Ives also reported MLS says the small GA class is to have more money for homegrown GA signings. From Ives, there are standard Homegrown deals which don't pay much and there are homegrown GA deals for blue-chip prospects(MLS pays part). I was not aware of the different homegrown deals.

Ives Twitter

Crew8, thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the different homegrown deals either. I'd think we could lose Chad Barson this way if the Crew comes across with the right GA homegrown deal.

I was just talking to a buddy about this yesterday. We knew GA offered more than HG contracts do, but we also agreed that for a player like Wil Trapp who will not make it to his senior year, it wouldn't make sense for him to get a lower contract than if he were a player not already affiliated with a club. Good to know.

I think 2011 was also our first and last time to dominate the superdraft the way we did. From here on out most of our guys will be homegrown players when they are signed.

[Crew8]

A good read about the past and future of the Homegrown and its connection to the PDL

Brent Richards, the Portland Timbers, and how they could majorly help the Chicago Fire

[Z.I.P.]

Crew8, thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the different homegrown deals either. I'd think we could lose Chad Barson this way if the Crew comes across with the right GA homegrown deal.

I was just talking to a buddy about this yesterday. We knew GA offered more than HG contracts do, but we also agreed that for a player like Wil Trapp who will not make it to his senior year, it wouldn't make sense for him to get a lower contract than if he were a player not already affiliated with a club. Good to know.

I think 2011 was also our first and last time to dominate the superdraft the way we did. From here on out most of our guys will be homegrown players when they are signed.

I'm a little uneducated about how the HGP rule plays out in practice. Can someone give a short list of current MLS players with HGP contracts, just for an example. My uneducated guess is there aren't many (yet at least -- it will likely increase soon). Thanks and hauoli makahiki hou from da isles.

[yazan07]

I'm a little uneducated about how the HGP rule plays out in practice. Can someone give a short list of current MLS players with HGP contracts, just for an example. My uneducated guess is there aren't many (yet at least -- it will likely increase soon). Thanks and hauoli makahiki hou from da isles.

I mostly follow DC United and I know from their academy they have signed Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Conor Shanosky, and Ethan White. I also know Aaron Horton was a homegrown from the Crew academy. Crew academy also just signed Matt Lampson, OSU's GK. Not really sure about the rest of the league. Some of those guys went to college for a while and then signed with their club, some signed before they would have even reached college. Andy Najar was I think 17 when he signed with the first team. Pretty much you have to have played with that club's academy team for at least a year (I think) to qualify as a homegrown product. Last year Philadelphia tried to sign Corey Hertzog to a HGP contract and the league didn't allow it because his only affiliation with the club had been with them for some training, I believe.

[Ando]

^forgot agudelo

The best academy prospects usually play at the college level. For a player starting in the pros, a generation adidas contract (100k+ a year), is so much better than a homegrown contract (40-60k a year).

I do not see any benefit for an academy prospect to forgo college, and don't expect that to change in the near future. The best option for any player's development is to do both, which the players can currently do. Plus, they can play in the PDL during the summer.

again, in aggregate, of course it's much better for a player's individual interest to have a degree to fall back on

that said, had the Andy Najars and Juan Agudelos gone to college - which is an environment that inherently isn't as good for development as a professional setting - It's doubtful they'd be the players they are today

university athletics are far from unimportant, and won't be for a long time, if ever - the academies are too widespread and generally too inaccessible to reliably pick up every interesting or talented kid, and college can still act as a safety net for academy kids who don't make the immediate jump to the senior level

but if nearly all players start their pro careers at age 22 or 23 instead of 17 or 18, that places those players a solid 5 years behind the rest of the world. It's not good for the development of the game in the country long term if we insist on the sacredness of the idea of student athletes