© Women's Soccer World Magazine March/April 1997

U.S. Soccer and the Americas
By Roger Rogers

According to correspondents from Europe and beyond, there seemed to be a feeling that at the latter part of 1995 those responsible for governing women's soccer in the United States had jumped ahead of the rest of the world soccer federations in recognizing that it was time for equality of treatment for women's soccer national programs. The establishment of a full time training camp, with an infusion of a large amount of money to support players during the months leading up to the Olympics, also had women's national coaches in Europe muttering about what they could do if they had their players in camp and supported by similar funds.

Their worst forecasts were realized when the two "camp" teams-United States and China-won the Gold and Silver respectively. As described in this issue, the major European women's programs have decided they must improve their successful league and international play to ensure that no young talent is missed or left untrained. Looking at their programs they realized that there was a gap at the U-18 level and the women's soccer committee of UEFA has given them the opportunity to correct that omission.

U.S. Soccer is to be congratulated for its announcement of a ten year nationwide plan for improving the identification of talented girls and boys between the ages of 10-13 and ensuring their proper soccer preparation in those formative years. The appointment of a coach specifically for the Spanish speaking children of our communities is particularly promising and it is exciting to think of the different styles and cultures these girls will inject into the competitive levels of women's soccer in the United States. This coach could become an important link to the Spanish speaking countries helping to change cultural discouragement of women in sport.

China and the USA have a common problem in their women's programs: a lack of high level international competition nearby. A practical and rewarding long term solution for the United States would be to aid and encourage the growth of women's soccer in South America and the member countries of CONCACAF.

In South America, Brazil has paid more attention to its women's program and it showed in their team's performance in the 1996 Olympics. Soccer representatives of countries like Argentina have expressed interest in improving the image and level of their women players.

CONCACAF teams are relatively close in distance though small in size (except Canada and Mexico) and games and/or tournaments with W-league or college teams would be good training grounds for them.

The talent available in Canada has always been confirmed by the number of players recruited by the top college teams, and amply demonstrated last year by the success of new NCAA teams like Nebraska which had several Canadians on its roster. Canada's promising program has suffered badly from lack of money and support from the top these last few years, aggravated by the team failing to qualify for the 1996 Olympics mostly because of poor preparation caused by those very problems. They were the first international team to play the U.S. Team on American soil in 1986 and their teams and staff have maintained a close working relationship with the U.S. Team through the years.

Although the proposed U.S. professional league for women would help the top players maintain their game level, its main advantage is thatÑlike the Major Soccer League for menÑit will help by attracting young women to the game and giving them the same sports career choices that their male counterparts now enjoy. It is a necessary part of the growth of women's soccer in the U.S. but will not answer the urgent need for frequent high level international competition.

U.S. Soccer refers to the U-14 program as part of its 10 year plan for bringing the

Men's National Team up to the level of the worlds' top teams, making them a realistic contender for the World Cup in 2006.

Although they did not mention the girls in their presentation at the January NSCAA meeting in Nashville, the money was given to them for a joint girls and boys program. A worthy ten year goal equal to the plan for the men's game, would be to encourage the growth of women's soccer in the Americas while developing the girls'portion of the U-14 program.