Followers of U.S. soccer are used to stories of talented youth players failing to make the grade at the professional level. But we rarely ever hear about players who never scratched the surface of their potential because they were never given the opportunity to get out of the starting blocks. Why would we, right? Well, the key to building a more dynamic U.S. player pool may lie in exploring the underbelly of youth soccer. Here’s my take on a piece of U.S. youth soccer based on my experiences.
I grew up in Baltimore City in a neighborhood that was about 95% African-American. No, it wasn’t The Wire, but it wasn’t suburbia either.
Although my neighborhood was always relatively tranquil, the nearby high school that I would have attended was not. The graduation rate was dismal and the school had its share of problems, once suspending 1,200 students in one day. So my parents sacrificed their paychecks and broke out the credit cards.
My parents decided early on that my brother and I needed to participate in something productive. So they signed us up for soccer and lacrosse in Baltimore County. Soccer made sense because my dad played. But I still don’t understand why they signed us up for lacrosse given that my parents were born in a developing country far, far away. I still have a difficult time explaining lacrosse to my relatives.
At five years old, I quickly became obsessed with both sports. Within a year, I was playing up a few age groups. No one in my neighborhood played either soccer or lacrosse. When I left the house in my shinguards or lacrosse pads, without fail, I would have to field questions about where I was going from other kids in the neighborhood who really didn’t get the opportunity to venture out much.
“What the (expletive) is that racket?”
“Um, it’s a lacrosse stick.”
Years later, I made the soccer and lacrosse travel teams for my recreational league, which broadened my sporting radius. I was happy that I made the teams. I started playing year round, outdoor soccer in the fall, indoor in the winter, and then lacrosse in the spring.
Fast forward a few years. In seventh grade, I made the eighth grade soccer team in my private school. I played with a few kids who played something called club soccer. I’d never heard of it. “You mean travel team?” No. Apparently, it was called club soccer. But no matter. I could more than handle myself on the middle school pitches. After practices, I would take the 45 minute bus ride back into the city.
In eighth grade, our soccer team went undefeated, and I have my eighth grade championship jacket to prove it. We were the kings of the newly pubescent on the private school circuit.
I thrived whenever I stepped on a soccer field, but I still had no idea what else I could have been doing, or how else I could have been developing other than dribbling around the two trees in my backyard and practicing one touch passing against a brick wall. Technically, I was sound. I could pass short and long with both feet, shoot with both feet, dribble, and had some speed. Little did I know that other kids were being coached year round by top coaches in club soccer, playing tournaments around the country against top competition, and partaking in this impressive sounding Olympic Development Program (ODP).
With high school soccer on the horizon, I prepared myself by watching as much soccer as possible, playing pick up soccer where I could find it, running daily and dribbling aimlessly in the backyard testing out new moves on inanimate objects. It was clearly time to find somewhere else to play, but I didn’t have the first clue where to go or how my family could pull off the logistics.
The summer before my freshman year was my first experience outside of travel team and middle school soccer. I begged my parents to let me try out for a soccer team that was about to go to Europe. “Suppose you make it? How would you propose we pay for that?” After a few days of negotiations, my parents eventually let me try out, determining that we would go with the “try out and we’ll see what happens” approach.
I made the team, and as usual, my parents sacrificed. A few credit card swipes later, I was on a plane to Europe where I played in several youth tournaments in Holland, Denmark, and Belgium. It was a life changing experience. I still wasn’t very knowledgeable about club soccer in the States, but I was well-versed on total football, Ajax and the Dutch National Team. Holland was my soccer paradise. We played clubs from Africa, South America and Europe. We spent every waking moment playing, talking about soccer, watching soccer, and hanging out with kids from other countries. That was when I started to realize that I needed to play more and at a higher level. It was also there that I realized from coaches’ reactions that I could raise an eyebrow or two from people who played at very high levels. Unfortunately, after the trip, I returned to backyard dribbling. It was rather anticlimactic, but high school soccer was right around the corner.
I made varsity as a freshman and started most games, breaking the freshman scoring record along the way, which shortly afterward, was demolished multiple times by much better players. We had a decent team and I seemed to fit right in. One of our co-captains, who played club soccer and ODP, went off to play a bit at the University of Maryland. I started to connect the dots.
The path to a higher level was becoming clearer. I began to become increasingly aware of what it meant to play club soccer and ODP. However, I was hesitant to ask my parents to join because all of the teams I had heard about were nowhere near where we lived. But eventually, I asked. I desperately wanted to play with one of these clubs that play in tournaments all over the country and enter the State Cup. A few of my high school teammates talked about these things all the time. But in Baltimore City, and especially in my neighborhood, club soccer was like most legislative processes – accessible to some, but invisible to a whole lot of the rest of us.
Again, my parents succumbed to my pressure and decided that they would figure out a way to make things work. I began playing in Columbia, Maryland in the spring of my freshman year with one of my best friends from high school. This was the first time I had ever played spring soccer. I was playing varsity lacrosse at the same time, so my plate was full. High school sports were manageable because there was a school bus that took us everywhere. But Columbia was about a forty-five minute drive from our house in Baltimore City. Getting to practice and games wasn’t the easiest thing in the world for two parents working full-time jobs, but they continued to sacrifice in spite of me being an insufferable teenager. Imagine how difficult this journey would have been for a kid in a car-less single parent household. I was lucky that my parents could figure out a way to make it work.
Club soccer was intimidating. The parents were serious. They traveled everywhere with the team. They were just as vested in the game as their children. The kids had the newest gear. They had also developed intimate relationships with each other because, for the most part, they all lived near each other and had been playing together for years. Stepping into this team dynamic at the age of 16, it’s natural that you won’t immediately feel comfortable, especially when your presence might mean that someone’s kid might not play as much. That’s not a welcome proposition for a parent who has already invested in multiple pairs of expensive cleats, trips to tournaments, and has committed hundreds of hours carpooling for years.
All of these factors took a toll on my confidence. I sometimes found myself making mistakes that I would never make. But that was the learning curve. Top club soccer has a built-in level of pressure that just doesn’t exist in your run-of-the-mill travel team. It was just a shame that my real learning curve started at 16.
During the fall of my sophomore year, I decided to follow my high school friend to ODP tryouts. I got a ride with him and his parents after school to go to tryouts, and then spent the night at his house since that was much easier than having my parents make the long trip after work. The logistics were already a headache and I hadn’t even attended the tryout yet.
There were a lot of similarities between club soccer and my ODP tryout experience. I immediately realized that these kids had been playing together for years. They weren’t just teammates, they were friends. They joked with each other and the coaches like they were old drinking buddies. Many of them had been playing together in club and high school. To say that the ODP environment was intimidating to a kid like me would be an understatement. It reminds me of the Dave Chappelle Sunny D skit. “What the f@*k is juice?” Well that was me. I was happy with the purple stuff because I didn’t know about juice. I had to quickly familiarize myself with this juice product.
For those of you who don’t know how ODP works, here’s a quick primer. At each age group, twenty-five players are selected for the ODP (or state team) pool. Coaches at each age group select the twenty-five players from “open” tryouts each year. The state ODP teams form the basis for regional team selection, which in turn forms the pool for national team selection.
There were countless kids at the ODP tryout I attended if I recall correctly. We were split up into teams and given a jersey. One of the players, who apparently had been in ODP for years, was told to warm us up. I guess he wasn’t really trying out. I quickly surmised that a significant number of the players were effectively already on the team. The whole process began to feel like a formality before the games even began. I wondered whether I was just wasting my time.
What happened at the ODP tryout next is a blur. I think I remember playing relatively well, but I also recall dunking a basketball at the age of 15 for some reason, which clearly never happened. I don’t really recall what happened next. It might have been a letter or a phone call from the ODP coach, but much to my surprise, I made the team. I was surprised considering how entrenched some of the players were in the ODP system. I never expected to realistically even get a look.
It didn’t strike me at the time, but the journey to get in front of top coaches is a journey that too many kids will never be able to make under the current structure. In Maryland at the time, you basically had to live in the Columbia area or the Bethesda/Potomac area to be in the ODP loop, although the base has slightly expanded today. It was in these two areas where you would find the money, the clubs, and the coaches. If you grew up playing soccer in these areas, the likelihood that you were aware of ODP was exponentially higher than if you lived in Baltimore City.
Here’s the access problem in a nutshell. Growing up in certain areas makes it increasingly likely that you will have access to good coaching and solid competition from a young age. Clearly there’s a correlation between access to good coaching/competitive play and the development of a good player. But let’s just assume that you happen to be good, but out of the top club soccer radius. Chances are that you probably won’t know that ODP exists, especially if your parents aren’t savvy soccer hustlers. It’s also likely that you won’t know about or have access to one of the unofficial ODP feeder clubs that increase your chances of at least knowing about ODP. But even if we assume that a player is somehow good enough and knows about ODP, getting to tryouts and practices and games becomes a logistical nightmare since these events typically take place where most of the kids live. Given these obstacles, it’s easy to see why ODP is simply not accessible for many children. And the older you get, the likelihood of a player breaking into the system decreases.
Somehow I navigated the system. But by the time I put the pieces together, I was 16 years old. Nevertheless, ODP was a great experience. We got two weeks off of school to go to England and Wales during my sophomore year. We played the Irish U-17 National Team, toured Old Trafford, went to see Swansea City vs. Cardiff City, and listened to everyone rave about a 19 year old Welsh kid named Ryan Giggs. It was an amazing experience that didn’t even remotely translate to people who lived in my neighborhood who were slightly baffled about what soccer was doing for me.
Thinking back on the ride, soccer has given me way too many great experiences to have any real regrets. Of course I think back and play the “what if” game on occasion. What if I played club soccer at a much younger age? What if I had coaches who were actually trained to develop players? But let’s be realistic, it’s not like I would have been the next big thing. But I always wonder, how many kids fall through the cracks who might have the ability to really play if given the right opportunities to develop? I was just one kid out of one neighborhood who ended up playing ODP for a year before heading off to boarding school and college. I was fortunate. But there are tons of potentially great players out there, many who fall through the cracks simply because they don’t have access to coaching, development opportunities, and teams. They don’t know about ODP, let alone club soccer. They are simply shut out of the process from the outset. And then we have to listen to talking heads and fans wonder why so many of our children take up other sports. Of course there are other reasons at play, but it’s hard to woo a player who doesn’t have any meaningful access to the game.
I’m writing this because I’ve never read a first-hand account like this elsewhere. They might be out there, but I haven’t seen them. But I know that there are stories like this all over the country. So I wonder, where is the attention to these issues in the burgeoning U.S. soccer community? Access to the game isn’t just a cause for the U.S. Soccer Foundation and a handful of non-profits and community organizations. It’s also the job of soccer fans who claim to care about the game in the United States to embrace these issues. It’s the job of fans who complain about how one dimensional the U.S. National Team is at times to understand how we might be able to add talent by looking in new places and cultivating underdeveloped pools of talent. The process can’t start at age 16 or 17 where we pat each other on the back for the fortunate group of kids who somehow find their way through because Sandra Bullock adopted them. It has to start with young kids who percentage-wise will never have the opportunity to see how good they can be. This is simply about consciously expanding access and opportunity.
We started Nutmeg Radio to write about soccer, but also to periodically give a voice to those who could benefit if some of the game’s systemic obstacles (and opportunities) are addressed on a regular basis. Soccer is an amazing game that has allowed me to see, study, and continue learning about the world well after I became too old for youth soccer. Outside of my parents, the game has probably been as instrumental in my development as any other influence. Reaching out into communities in need will offer some of these opportunities to many kids whose sporting interests will inevitably be monopolized by the worlds of American football, basketball, or baseball. Soccer is a powerful tool and it’s time that we all truly start to explore what the game can do for others, and the impact that increased access can ultimately have on the U.S. player pool. There are win-wins for everyone here.
Awesome…. absolutely on point!
Half way through reading this piece, I found myself rooting for Mr. Miriti Murungi to make the ODP team. I wonder how much has really changed since your youth soccer days and if U.S. soccer development can ever catch up to the rest of the world?
Rich – Strides have been made, but more can be done to improve access to the game. The U.S. has the resources, the population, and an enormous number of youth players who play soccer. The level of play is much higher than it was 10 or 20 years ago, and there’s no reason to believe that this trend won’t continue. Increasing access is one of the ways that U.S. soccer can ensure that the process moves along at a faster rate. I believe that we will become more and more competitive in the years to come.
[...] is leaving too many potentially talented players in the starting blocks? An African-American tells his story of club and ODP soccer coming too late at age 16–and wonders how many kids never even hear about these opportunities. (Miriti Murungi/Nutmeg [...]
Great story. I wish soccer had more of an urban influence. I understand that yes there are teams like FC Harlem, but we need more of them. We need the MLS (or maybe foreign clubs) to invest in academies that are cheap if not free.
There are two things I hate in our youth soccer:
1. Pay to Play
2. Playing the most physically gifted players to win games rather than improve the player.
A great read. Having the opportunity to compete is one thing but having that kind of desire and commitment is another.
Tim — Pay to play is exactly right. But there’s a reason for that. Where in other countries, soccer is the people’s game, the game here has its roots in suburbia. Leveling the playing field (e.g. as you said with more FC Harlems) is necessary.
To your second point, I was conversing with a friend about this a few days ago. Often the most physically gifted player at 13, won’t be the best player at 17. But those players often carry their 13 year old reputations around with coaches. You’ll hear this critique over and over from players who have gone through the system. More emphasis should be placed on developing all players so we avoid the trap of being stuck with a group of 17 year olds with all reputation and questionable abilities to read the game.
And thanks, Amanda. Glad you enjoyed.
Excellent piece! As someone who grew up not too far from you (VA suburbs of DC), it was interesting to compare your experiences with mine playing from kindergarten through high school. I absolutely agree that limited access is a significant obstacle to the progress of the sport.
On a related note, in the book “Soccernomics,” the authors make a surprising (to me, anyway) observation regarding the socio-economic groups that have de facto ownership of access to the sport and meaningful talent development in the United States and England, respectively – namely that England is also suffering from a depleted/unrealized talent pool for almost exactly the opposite reason(s) that we are. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. A very good read on a number of soccer-related subjects with social, cultural, and economic implications.
I know a few things that are better.
* One is that it’s now possible to play with an elite club and get your expenses paid for. MLS clubs do it, and there are a few clubs with foreign partnerships (such as the Baltimore Bays with Chelsea FC. That World Football Challenge game they hosted was a result of this partnership, and a chunk of the money went into subsidizing the program) as well as about 150 US Soccer need-based scholarships for Development Academy programs.
* Which brings me to the DAP itself. What’s nice about it is that you don’t really need the ODP tryouts any more if you can get onto these teams, because scouts have a much longer period to look at you.
The two limitations on these things are geography and age. The DAP (and its scholarships) don’t usually start until age 15 (there are some clubs who want to do something about this who have already started a ‘pre-Academy’), and they aren’t realistically going to cover every city.
Estimating, there are probably a total of around 300-500 kids who have access to the system that didn’t before (along with the couple thousand academy kids who are paying for it but getting more for their money than before). It’s not a landslide number, but probably counts as a step, and as they say, the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a step.
Miriti,
Intersting how this youth development plays out. I was born in Bolivia where futbol is life. I grew up playing in clubs and played well until I was 10 yrs old. That’s when we came to the States. Once we got here we lived in Miami, with mainly cuban people (yes we lived in the famed Calle 8 right infront of the torch) so baseball was what was being played on the streets. Then we came to WI were winters rule and the only futbol was played between my brother and I in a makeshift goal (I think we used branches of some sort) and a plastic Mitre ball. Needless to say soccer pretty much died for me since we lived in a rough neighborhood and if we got showcasing our shin guards and knee high socks, we would’ve gotten the living S&*$ kicked out of us.
There was nothing here in regards to soccer, not until middle school that I began playing again and not until highschool that I played on a team. As much passion and love I have for the game, the lack of resources drowned that passion if not almost killed it.
For a foreigner with little knowledge of the language, and living in the hood, soccer was not a priority. We were lucky to hear about games anywhere.
Then the World Cup came here, BOLIVIA was there and that’s when the passion emerged again.
So where am I going with all this? For someone that has the sport so deeply rooted to have died so quickly because of lack of access, imagine those who should know about it and cultivate whatever talent they may have, it’s just not there and is not there still. Thanks to the tv and internet that info is more accessible, but believe me if you are 10 years old you are not searching the internet to see what new sport you could try out for.
The sport is not being offered to the inner city, where maybe a poor Bolivian might have the chance to keep playing the sport that is part of his life. Same for any other kid from Mexico or Nigeria living in a tough area, how do they get the access?
Those players like beckham and paul scholes with their expensive clubs wont change anything. Open the Goerge Weah soccer academy in areas accesible to everyone not suburban rich kids only (i’m not hating on them at all, but do they really need to have the luscious fields right next door to them where all the tournaments are held?) When playing in bolivia we didnt always play on grass fields, it could’ve been on dirt, gravel, clay tennis courts, it didnt matter, what mattered was that there was access to it with other kids.
Like you Miriti, if my brother didnt feel like playing, the wall was my next best freind, and since he didnt talk back it got pretty boring. My two cents, glad to get it off my chest, sad that it turned out to me just watching it rather and playing it.
SGC — Certainly things are better, and I think we have to acknowledge that. But improving access isn’t just rewarding players who already have a very strong skill set, it’s also starting younger and helping do develop more players who could potentially develop great skill sets.
It’s not just club, DAP, and ODP that need to be more accessible, it’s also the coaching and development that creates the type of player that can play top club, DAP, or ODP.
I agree that it’s going to take time, but it isn’t an impossible task.
Vivabolivar – It’s sad how so many young players truly love the game, yet don’t have the opportunity to really play the game. Perhaps the starting point shouldn’t even be converting new players, but rather providing access to those young kids who really want to play. No conversion necessary.
Miriti- Very interesting article, as always. I just wanted to add something about access. Having worked for years in urban soccer and watching first hand what it’s like to try and bring the game to kids who don’t otherwise have the chance, I’ve seen that there are far more obstacles than just club fees. Kids in underserved communities need safe and affordable transportation. They need new equipment on an on-going basis- a kid’s feet grow quickly. They sometimes need to go to work to help support their families. They often need to be home to help babysit their siblings if their parents are working. They need their parents to care about soccer so they feel supported in what they are doing. Until club teams figure out how to account for all of these additional constraints, paying club fees can only get you so far.
Hi Miriti,
it sounds like me and you lived the same life. I just recently started a club called Joga SC, based on street soccer in the Washington DC Area. I brought my first boys team to the Netherlands just 2 weeks ago and hearing you explain your experience was just like mine. I was lucky to find a dutch coach and get a chance to play college and overseas and now I’m back. Being a black African American Male and playing soccer, was unheard of where i grew up. So its refreshing to read this. I wanted to leave you with a video of what Joga SC is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUsDg8uCRZQ
Thanks,
Kephern
Your headline is misleading. It sounds like what was in place helped you get farther and provide more opportunities than you could have had without those programs. Bottom line is that at the moment nobody has the resources to accomplish what you’re asking for. Look at the Development Academy created by US Soccer, they picked the biggest clubs in the biggest cities, the same places kids already had plenty/all of the opportunity.
So here is a question… I have an 11 year old that is fairly talented. I have a 13 year old who loves soccer, but will never be a higher level player just because he isn’t as dedicated, and honestly, doesn’t have the level of natural talent… and yet he is much better in school and other areas… so I am not putting him down. Just don’t want anyone to think I am looking down on my older son. He just has different talents.
Anyway, my point is that the 11 year old is talented. He is playing CUP soccer now, but I am really struggling as a single parent to pay for it. I have been told over and over that he is unusually talented for his age, and watching him play, I tend to agree although who knows in 5 years from now where he will stand.
My question is this… I am not in a financial position to pay for an ODP program, and I certainly don’t have the money to travel with him all over the place. Some of his teammates, who are better off financially, are already trying to get into ODP programs. I feel like my son is going to fall through the cracks because of my financial situation. I am a teacher, so am not desolate, but definitely do not make enough to pay for all he would need for these higher programs. So what do I do? Do I just let him keep playing where he is and forget him ever playing at any other level? I am just so confused about what to do, because IF he continues to grow in this talent, it seems like it will be wasted because he won’t be able to join the expensive programs where he will be eventually seen by scouts. Are there any other ways to help him develop this talent and become a stronger player without paying thousands and thousands of dollars? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Jen — That’s a tough situation. At 11, the most important thing is that your son is playing and is actually enjoying the game. At this point, I wouldn’t worry about him being seen by scouts. He has a long way to go in the game before that becomes a consideration. But a few thoughts. I would try to figure out what teams are in your area offer a higher level of competition. See when the teams have tryouts. I would suggest talking to your son and letting him know some of the obstacles (financial and logistic) to making this a reality, but that still shouldn’t stop him from trying out, if anything, to see if he is a good technical fit for some of the stronger teams in the area. If the tryout goes well, then I would suggest talking to the coach about ways to make it work. If the coach sees your son’s potential, there are often options, such as carpooling, to alleviate some of the financial and logistical burdens on you. But regardless, as was the case with my parents, you’ll still have to determine what is a feasible sacrifice (from a resource perspective) on your end.
I don’t know where you live, but there are other types of games to consider. For instance, futsal is becoming increasingly popular. The more than he can play at his age in a creative environment, the better. Futsal is a great game for kids to work on their skills and close control. If there are constraints that might prevent your son from joining a stronger team now, you’ll just have to get creative. And it’s important to note that being creative at his age can ultimately be a benefit. Too much structure at a young age, in my opinion, can suck the joy out of the game and ultimately hinder development. Then again, good coaches who are up to date on coaching developments should understand this.
Again, it’s really a bit early to begin worrying about what he needs to do to become an elite player. Lots of things will happen between now and 15-16. If at that point he is still serious, interested, and is at the level to play at a higher level, you can revisit what you are willing to sacrifice. But for the time being, my suggestion would be to explore alternative places for your son to play (futsal), and to at least look into tryouts with teams in the area. To get started, if your son is genuinely interested in testing himself, you might want to just pick up the phone after you find some teams and talk to coaches. Even if tryouts may not be an option now, they should know about other places for your son to play and develop in the area. These people aren’t just coaches, look at them as local resources. Most likely, no one knows the local soccer landscape better than the coaches.
I hope that’s helpful!
Thank you so much for the answer. We are near Pittsburgh, and he does play on a travel team and cup team, which I think is the same thing as an elite team? It is costing me almost $2000 a year plus traveling. It is very tough financially, but he loves it and is really good at it, so I don’t want to pull him if I can help it. And there is no way I could afford ODP and that traveling on top of it. It just isn’t financially possible, and I even work a second job to help cover the costs now.
We have actually had a few cup clubs offer to cover his costs (not including traveleling to tournaments), but he loves the team he is on and all of his friends are on there, so I hate to pull him away from what he loves. The two clubs that have offered to have him play for free want him on their team because he does have a reputation in the area, but is it worth taking him away from his friends? Also, the travel to those clubs is a lot longer of a distance, so just driving to and from practices would eat up a ton of time.
I am just shocked that people already know his name and are asking him to play. We even had a club from West Virginia approach us and ask us if he would be interested in playing for them. I don’t get it. I played as a kid, but nothing to this level, and I have no idea where this kid gets his talent. Certainly not from his mom.
I feel so much better that you are saying we don’t have to worry too much until he is 15-16 and see if he is still interested and progressing as a player. I am just worrying I am not doing the right things for him, and you made me feel like I am on the right path. Some of these 11 year olds going to ODP programs around here seem more to be because they want to say they are playing ODP instead of because they love the game so much and are so talented that they need to be on that level of team at this age. I just kind of feel sometimes that my financial limitations are going to limit his opportunities, but maybe not.
He does play some futsal, and loves it. Mostly just in the winter, but it is always fun and something different for him. Plus, it seems to help develop foot skills more than outdoor.
Anyway, sorry to ramble. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! I think I might overthink this, but you made me feel so much better.
Miriti,
I loved your article. You are an excellent writer.
Many US soccer fans wonder how a country as large as ours can’t compete with European powerhouses with much smaller populations.
I suspect it was by accident, but the NY Times (How a Soccer Star Is Made) makes a strong case for capitalism as the answer:
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/magazine/06Soccer-t.html?pagewanted=all
Thank you Miriti for such a personal and critical reflection. Despite some changes in recent times, the jist of your critique is absolutely spot on. Until the U.S. soccer system broadens access to working-class families (of various cultural backgrounds) it will be virtually impossible to develop a more inclusive American soccer identity. It is important to do so because of fairness and equity considerations, of course, but also because domestic leagues and the national teams would be more likely to improve.
Speaking of equity, in addition to race and class, gender factors must be part of serious discussions about youth development in U.S. (and elsewhere). For example, how does the lack of a viable pro league alternative for women affect young girls’ football development? What are the major obstacles to participation that girls from poorer circumstances face that boys (regardless of class & race) do not?
Finally, since Miriti and I played the game on Africa soil many years ago, I though it would be of interest to share stories of a South African youth academy that is doing amazing work with extremely limited resources — Izichwe in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal: http://www.footballiscominghome.info/tag/izichwe/