Time for better in Arizona!
We all know the US youth soccer system is terrible. At the world Cup our best players like Balogun, Tillman, Dest and Robinson were all raised outside of the US 'system'.
Game after game, season after season we roll from one year to the next pointing fingers at the flaws.
Our kids, our state and the entire nation need us to step up.
Will there ever be a time when a player from Arizona can win the Ballon D'Or? Why not?
It is quite simple really. The best nations play more small sided than we do and until we stop having our kids run 5 miles a game and touch the ball 20 times in an hours play we will continue to fail them.
I could talk for hours about the reasons why and people would argue things like 'our best athletes play other sports' but in reality the time for talking needs to be over.
We have some things in our favor such as great facilities, a huge population and a very diverse gene pool. In the USA we also have a natural desire to compete. We need to build a system that uses our advantages and eliminates our issues. It is time for solutions. This is America and we need to innovate. That is what made this country great.
I will over the next year introduce a plan to reshape what we do in Arizona and if you all help we can do something pretty amazing for the kids and the future of the game in our state.
This is the first step. AZ Super League is an (open pyramid) meaning anyone from anywhere in the state can play and compete. That is the essence of sport. Open competition without politics controlling access for profit or power.
Player development is about the player. Their journey to make progress over time. It is player driven, not team. Nobody cares what team Mbappe played for when he was a kid or what he won. We just need to build a better system. One that is actually built for producing the best players.
Events will be 1v1, 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7. There will also be technical based events such as shooting, ball mastery, speed, box jumps and alternate foot juggling (with balls from size 5 right down to a tennis ball).
Each format and bracket will have a leaderboard and we will crown Arizona's best players in each age group which will be the cumulative score of players in that age group across all events and formats. For example, win three points in 1v1, five points in 3v3, six points in 5v5 and win the shooting challenge in your age group and you get 25 points for the event.
The scoring is simple and points based. Everyone gets a single point for entering an event. If you win in any format then you are awarded 10 points. If you finish second you win 8 points, finish third and get 6 points. Fourth place means 5 points, fifth place is 4 points. Sixth is 3 points, seventh is two points and eighth is one point. In a team event, for example 3v3. Each of the players on the winning team are awarded points individually. All results and league tables are individual player based.
Please help me fix this. These events will be just $10 each and any net revenue is passed back to your club. If you want to sign up your kid for 1v1 or in a team then get registered and reach out to your friends or your team mates to make this happen.
1v1
The ultimate ability in soccer is 1v1. The best players in the world are often the best at 1v1.
Initial rounds are simple king of the cage where you move up if you win or down if you lose. Once we decide the top ten those players play off to determine a top four.
Semi final and final is first player to 3 wins with everyone watching and cheering. A colliseum style final. Real energy and passion.
3v3
6 to 10 minute games, King of the court style where the winning team moves up and losers move down. Play 6 or 7 games and the final is then the top two teams. Same environment as the 1v1 final
Rosters of 4 max
5v5
10/15 minute games, English style all starting and stopping with the air horn.
Winners move up, losers move down. Play 6 or so games the the top two are the final.
Rosters of 6 max. All players must play similar minutes. No in game subs unless a player is injured.
7v7
15-20 minute games, English style all starting and stopping with the air horn.
Winners move up, losers move down. Play 6 or so games and the top two are the final.
Rosters of 8 max. All players must play similar minutes.
