| Growing, But Staying Close (January 2005) |
By Jay Martin
Soccer Journal is completed two months in advance. As I write this column I am preparing for Thanksgiving. As you read this column you are celebrating a new year. After some thought, I decided to combine Thanksgiving and New Year in this article.
The American soccer society has a lot to look forward to in 2005. Everything about American soccer is improving. It is a very exciting time to be associated with the American soccer society. In 2005 we look forward to:
- Bruce Arena and the Men’s National Team facing a challenging year in an attempt to qualify for World Cup 2006. After making the first round look easy with very good away results, the Americans will face a stiffer challenge in 2005, but the U.S. team should be up to that challenge. The team is deep. In fact, it is the deepest team ever. There are more Americans playing internationally than ever before. The MLS has improved every season. The “top 15” from the U.S. can compete with anyone in the world. It will be exciting.
- The women’s national team featuring a new look in 2005. The old guard went out on top last year in Greece. The newcomers look very good and are anxious to show that they belong and are positive replacements for Hamm, Foudy, et al. There will be a learning and experience curve, but the WNT will get better.
- Major League Soccer is adding two teams. That must be a good sign of things to come. Is the MLS finally making it? Do the powers that be think the MLS is over the financial hump? Why not? Attendance is up. Interest is up. Maybe the MLS is moving into mainstream America sport. The year 2005 will tell us.
- Things are also looking up for the women’s professional soccer league. Tony DiCicco and company continue to work extremely hard to get the women back on the field. Baby steps were taken in the summer of 2004. The new year of 2005 will be very important to the women’s pro league. At this time it looks like some sponsorship is in place and plans are moving forward to have a limited WUSA schedule. Maybe Nomar Garrciapara will sponsor a franchise?
- Although the NSCAA is concerned primarily with Division I soccer, the good news is that in 2005 the brackets for all NCAA soccer tournaments will increase. That will allow each division to offer a real national tournament. Right now most of the divisional (not D-I) tournaments are filled primarily with conference champions. That makes the tournament a National Invitational Tournament, not a National Championship. In a time of NCAA conservatism, this is a sign that soccer is growing in popularity, stature and support.
- Reports from youth leagues around the country suggest that youth soccer continues to grow. More boys and more girls are playing the game every year. Hopefully, the MLS and a “new” WUSA will keep these young players interested in the game.
So bring on the New Year!
This is also a time to give thanks. As the NSCAA meets in Baltimore, it is clear that the American soccer society is something special. Where else can you see professional coaches like Bob Gansler of Kansas City and Greg Andrulis of the Columbus Crew rubbing shoulders and discussing the game with youth coaches?
The American soccer society is a tightly-knit community. The common ground is soccer — the game. The atmosphere in Baltimore and in soccer in this country is special. It is an atmosphere that you don’t find in other American professional sports. Allow me to tell a story that describes this special atmosphere.
My son Ryan plays at Ohio Wesleyan University. Ten days before preseason of his sophomore year, he sustained a knee injury playing in California. Initial reports were very positive. The doctors thought there was a minor MCL sprain and not much else. However, in warm-ups for our first pre-season game, Ryan went down as his knee “gave out” and buckled. This time the diagnosis was bad. It was clearly a blown out ACL. He would miss the entire season.
As his coach, I was devastated because he is a good player and the team needed him. The frustration and devastation was doubled because I am his father. Always a happy and positive person, Ryan fell into a deep depression. I didn’t know what I could do to help him in this tough time. All of you who have been in a similar situation understand this emotion.
One day, in an attempt to cheer him up, I was telling him how he could have another year but that some athletes really lost once-in-a-lifetime chances with a similar injury. I used Chris Armas of the Chicago Fire as an example. Armas was a starter on the U.S. Men’s National Team as it prepared for World Cup 2002. In a preliminary game, he went down with a blown ACL. He missed the World Cup. Who knows, that might be his only chance to play in a World Cup. That is tough.
I had an idea. Former Columbus Crew president Jim Smith put me in touch with the general manger of the Chicago Fire, Peter Wilt. I did not know Wilt, but he knew about Ohio Wesleyan University soccer because some of my former players played for the Minnesota A-League team when he worked there. I asked him if he could get Chris Armas to drop an encouraging note to my son. His response was “I’ll do better than that!”
Not long after that conversation Chris Armas called me. He asked me when Ryan would have the operation and what time we would bring him home? I gave him the information, thanked him for the help and hung up. As the day of the operation neared, I searched the mail every day. I was hoping a card would come from Chris. But there was nothing.
Ryan had his operation and we brought him home. He felt awful. He was physically ill and sore and as depressed as I have ever seen him. Forty-five minutes after arrival the phone rang. “Hello, this is Chris Armas, is Ryan home?”
I couldn’t believe it.
It took a few minutes to convince Ryan that he really was talking to Chris Armas, but after that they talked for close to an hour. Chris told Ryan what to expect, gave him some tips on conditioning, told him that the whole experience will make him a better player and offered to keep the lines of communication open. Since that time Ryan and Chris have exchanged calls, e-mails and training programs, and they talk each time Chicago comes to Columbus.
There was no reason for Peter Wilt or Chris Armas to do what they did, but they did. Can you imagine Kobe Bryant doing this? No, of course not. They did what they did because we are all part of the American soccer society.
We are a small but growing, diverse number of Americans who share the same passion — soccer. It makes little difference if you are a pro coach or youth coach; a professional player or a college player. All of us have the same common denominator. The fight to secure a place in the “sportscape” of America actually has made our commong bond stronger and tighter.
Finally, how many magazines or journals do you know that have been in existence for 50 years? I don’t know of many, but I do know one. This year – 2005 – marks the 50th anniversary of Soccer Journal. Shortly after the NSCAA was founded, Don Yonker started Soccer Journal. Initially, SJ was used to relay the minutes and reports from the annual meeting to members who could not attend. Over the years, Don Yonker and then Tim Schum changed SJ’s focus to become a source of soccer information for the membership. SJ continued to report the Association happenings, but soon added important soccer coaching related articles at a time when there were no other “soccer journals.” SJ grew into a source of coaching information and quickly became a “must read” for coaches of all ages.
As technology changes and other soccer-related magazines flood the market, Soccer Journal will continue to work hard to stay current and provide the membership with important coaching information. Our philosophy can be summarized with this simple statement – “In each edition of SJ, the coach should find something that he or she can use at practice that afternoon.”
In a recent NSCAA survey, the membership rated Soccer Journal as a key reason to join the NSCAA and stay a member. It is great that the membership is satisfied with SJ. We are committed to remain an important source of soccer information for another half-century.
So enjoy the convention and enjoy 2005. We have much to be thankful for!
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