Women’s Soccer | Global Football Today

U.S. Soccer and Nike Unveil New U.S. Men’s and Women’s Kit Celebrating 100 Years of U.S. Soccer

Posted by Matthew Martin on March 1, 2013 at 2:41 pm Global Football Today, International, United States, Women's Soccer

Mar 012013

U.S. Soccer and Nike have unveiled a new U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team home kit that celebrates U.S. Soccer’s 100th year. A stylish and striking design pays tribute to the centennial milestone, giving the uniform a classic but contemporary look.

Known originally as the United States of America Foot Ball Association, the organization was officially formed on April 5, 1913. Three years later, the team played its first game against Sweden in Stockholm, winning 3-2, and the new kit is inspired by the uniform worn by those pioneers 100 years ago.

The new U.S. Men’s and Women’s National team kits will be available online and in stores starting today.

The jersey includes a solid white design with obsidian blue collar and sleeve detailing. The V-neck is noticeably wide and deep to match the 1913 kit. Vent details on the right and left hem represent the nation’s iconic stars and stripes, while the inner neck detail also celebrates U.S Soccer’s centennial year.

A standout feature of the new kit is the crest. The enlarged crest pays homage to the original kit, and is interwoven to maximize the top’s luxurious feel. The crest’s 13 stars and 13 stripes replicate the motif of the 1913 kit and symbolize the first American flag of the original 13 colonies.

The shorts are white with an obsidian blue trim along each side and have the full crest and a white swoosh detail. The socks are white and have “USA” woven into the design.

In line with Nike’s commitment to combining performance with lower environmental impact, fabric for the new kit’s shorts is made with 100 percent recycled polyester, while the shirt fabric is made with a minimum 96 percent recycled polyester. Each kit is made from an average 13 recycled plastic bottles.

The kit is constructed using Nike Dri-FIT technology to wick moisture and is made out of 23 percent lighter fabric with 20 percent stronger knit structure than Nike’s previous kits. The shirt also features laser-cut ventilation holes that promote localized cooling to help regulate players’ body temperature during a match.

Scots suffer EURO pain in Spain after extra time drama

Posted by Marc Roseblade on October 24, 2012 at 11:21 pm Europe, Global Headlines, International, Women's Soccer, Womens 2013 Euro Championships

Oct 242012

If Carlsberg made tragic football stories, this would probably be the best tragic football story in the world, EVER!

Only a Scotland team can return triumphant to the motherland after such a glorious defeat and usually it’s the mens national side that manages to claim that trophy but tonight it was the turn of the women to bag that title as the pain of Spain brought the magnificent players to their knees.

All too often in the past we have suffered the indignation of clutching a defeat from the jaws of death and tonight was no different for the heroic women of the Scottish National side as they were sucker punched at the death of this match to end their hopes of EURO championship football at the same stage for the second consecutive finals.

After Saturdays magnificent performance and historic day at Hampden, no-one could have imagined the drama that would unfold in the Pabellon de la Ciudad del Futbol 1 in Madrid but if it was drama you were after, you were not disappointed.

Long Story Short

Scotland took the lead through Emma Mitchell on 62 minutes but like Saturday were quickly pegged back the a tremendous Spanish squad with Adriana once again plying the plain on 74 minutes.

Extra Time

Kim Little put Scotland into the lead 8 minutes into extra time which meant the home side needed to score twice to progress but yet again the Spanish fought back grabbing a goal on 113 minutes through Mesegeur but with the scoreline as it stood, Scotland would still go through thanks to away goals.

The drama seemed to roll on and roll on as for the second time in two games, Gemma Fay was called upon to save a penalty and save it she did with four minutes remaining of the extra 30 minutes after Hayley Lauder was adjudged to have handled in the box.

1881518 w2 Scots suffer EURO pain in Spain after extra time drama

Sucker Punch

The real sucker punch though was to happen with the last kick of the ball when Spains star player Vero, who was missing on Saturday, got the luck of a deflection on her strike from the edge of the box and everyone in attendance watched as the ball ball spun into the back of the goal just moments before the referee blew her final whistle.

It was devastating for the Scots – a real heart wrenching moment for the players and you couldn’t help but feel absolutely gutted for the players who had put everything on the line to reach the finals next year in Sweden.

However gutted the Scottish players and coaching staff feel tonight, the full story of what they have achieved this week will slowly sink in.

On Saturday the women’s team reached a goal of playing at Hampden for the very first time. They also played in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a Scotland womens international match. Place on top of that the whopping 4400 people who accessed the live stream from Spain in tonights match and you suddenly have a whole new belief of what you have achieved for womens football in Scotland.

Anna Signeul and her players can be rightfully proud of what they have managed and the disappointment of losing out on the EURO Championships in Sweden will quickly fade when they recognise the dizzy heights they have reached and the new throngs of fans that are now hooked on Scottish womens fitba!

Marc Roseblade is a Contributor for Examiner.com, Football Speak, Global Football Today, 90 Soccer, Yardbarker, OurGameMagazine and various online & published sports outlets across the globe. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless otherwise stated. You can follow Marc on Twitter @myscottishfitba

Record breaking crowd watch Scotland & Spain tie Euro playoff

Posted by Marc Roseblade on October 21, 2012 at 12:41 am Europe, International, Women's Soccer, Womens 2013 Euro Championships

Oct 212012

Scotland & Spain Share Spoils of Euro Playoff Opening Tie

101 0698 1024x352 Record breaking crowd watch Scotland & Spain tie Euro playoff

Scotland and Spain battled out a tremendous match on Saturday afternoon at Hampden Park, Glasgow as the two fight for a spot in next years European championships in Sweden.

The Scottish ladies were taking to the Hampden turf for the first ever time in this tough playoff tie and in front of a Scottish record breaking 4058 supporters, they performed admirably in grabbing a draw against the European ranked 10th spot Spanish side.

A penalty goal from Kim Little gave the Scots the lead within the first 25 minutes but the home side were pegged back after an impressive Adriana Martin equalized just minutes later to take a draw into Wednesdays second leg in Spain.

Spain started the brighter of the two sides with Scotland’s players looking nervous in front of a Scottish record breaking crowd for a ladies match and for the first 15 minutes it was all one way traffic as the visitors continued to push the Scottish back line looking for the opening.

Chelsea’s Adriana Martin, FC Barcelona’s Sonia Bermudez and Athletic Club’s Erika Vazquez all looked dangerous when running at the Scottish rearguard with Sonia in particular causing Rachel Small at right back all sorts of problems with her tricky play.

Sonia was the instigator of many dangerous crosses into the box but fortunately for Scotland in the early stages, they managed to steer the ball clear whenever called upon.

But Scotland fought their way back into the match, cheered on by the large watching support, with Kim Little trying to support her Arsenal team mate Jennifer Beattie up front with bursting runs and weighted through balls. Both these girls hard work was also opening gaps in the Spanish defence which allowed Jane Ross to manage Scotland’s first shot on goal from 18 yards which was well held by Ainhoa Tirapu between the sticks for the visiting team.

This forward momentum was to prove a timely boost for the Scottish girls as some good work from Potsdam Turbines Lisa Evans won a corner on the left that eventually led to Scotland’s opening goal.

From Megan Sneddon’s perfectly flighted cross, Beattie rose to head an effort against the post and in haste to clear the ball from her own danger area, Vazquez handled in the six yard box and the official had no option but to award a penalty kick.

Up stepped Kim Little to slot the ball home to a rapturous roar of approval from the 4000+ fans that had turned out to support the girls on this European Championship journey.

The Scots had a chance to double their lead moments later when Beattie played in Little who in turn laid off to Sneddon but the Celtic player watched as her shot sailed wide of the upright.

The play was switching from end to end and it was Spain that were to grab a goal back on 27 minutes when a Sonia shot somehow ricocheted from Gemma Fay’s hands in goal to bounce of the torso of Adriana and roll into the open net.

It was a real body blow for the home team players to lose such a soft goal but if that would deflate the players, Gemma Fay’s superb performance in goal for the remainder of the game would surely re-inflate them!

Sonia from six yards – saved by Fay. Adriana from point blank range – saved by Fay and to top of a tremendous spirit lifting first half performance, the keeper was to make an absolutely superb Peter-the-cat style double save from the penalty spot.

The penalty was awarded after the ball was adjudged to have struck Small’s hand and up stepped Adriana looking to double her sides lead but she was up against an inspired Fay who made the full size goals look like 5-a-side nets today such was her mastery of the area between the sticks. Not only did Fay save the initial penalty with style, she blocked Adriana’s rebound with finesse and courage from close to six yards out.

It was a great morale booster for the home side as they left the field for the half time break but were also fully aware of the constant threat posed by visiting Spaniards.

The sunshine put in an appearance for the second half but the play on the field for the opening 15 minutes didn’t match the brightness of the Scottish winter sun as neither side took control of the ball and both looked subdued in the early second period exchanges.

Jennifer Hermoso tried to pick up the pace a little for Spain with a glancing header toward goal but she watched as her attempt was ushered wide by Fay in goal.

Scotland were changing things tactically a little as the game wore on. Emma Mitchell was brought on to replace Jane Ross on the right and with the Glasgow City player willingness to move inside and run at the defence, it allowed Kim Little to push further forward alongside Beattie in an attempt to swamp the Spain girls rearguard.

Mitchell was an immediate threat with her terrier style of play, earning free kick and making penetrating runs into the box. Spain were also still causing problems when in possession with Sonia the main threat whenever moving forward but Small in Scotland defence was standing firm.

Emma Mitchell was unlucky near the 70 minute mark when her strike was well held by Tirapau in goal but the Scots were dominating at this point and it seemed that only time would stop them from scoring another.

The tactical change for Scotland was seeing Evans and Mitchell on both flanks running into more opportune areas in the box, feeding Little and Beattie with an ever increasing pace but they were being held at bay by a very good and efficient Spanish team.

At the other end Gemma Fay had to come to the rescue once again when a great lofted ball from Sonia to the back post was met by Vazquez but Fay was equal to the challenge. Moments later Sonia once again sent in a perfectly weighted cross , this time it was Adriana that glanced her header toward goal only to see it graze the top of the bar and go over.

The impressive Erika Vazquez made way for Debora Garcia on 75 minutes and further substitutions saw Adriana Martin leave the field for Spain, Lisa Evans for Scotland being replaced by Ana Maria Romero and Suzanne Grant respectively.

With minutes remaining on the clock Scotland had the best shout of the game for a penalty, even more so than both the others that had proceeded it but the referee deemed it not to have played Garcia on the hand and waved play on to a huge chorus of boos from the watching home supporters.

After three minutes of added time had been completed, the official shrilled her whistle and brought this enthralling match to an end with a score line of one gaol apiece.

Afterwards the Spanish coach said: “We dominated the game and deserved to win. Scotland stole the ball from us on occasion but played very well when in possession. We look forward to Wednesdays game.”

Anna Signeul, the Scotland manager saw the game differently and was clearly disappointed in the end result saying: “How did the referee miss that final penalty. It was more of a penalty than the others that were given and I am led to believe that it wasn’t even her that saw the first two, it was the assistants that pointed them out.”

Speaking very methodically she carried on :”We chose a tactic that we would be able to play as a solid unit against a very good side. We were disappointed to lose the goal and perhaps we could have attacked a little more and despite a nervous start we didn’t change our style. Spain played exactly as we expected and we won’t change that for the match on Wednesday.”

“We have to thank the fans for coming out today. It was a Scottish record for a women’s game in the country and shows the growing stock of the game here.”

Second leg takes place a tPabellón de la Ciudad del Fútbol, Madrid with a 6pm kick off.

The Race For “Greatness”: Why The US Women Are Better Than The Men

Posted by Adam Uthe on August 9, 2012 at 11:21 pm Breaking News, Global Headlines, USWNT, Women's Soccer

Aug 092012

“Greatness has been found”

It’s the t-shirt that has everyone talking just hours after the United States defeated Japan 2-1 in the women’s soccer gold medal match. Nations like Japan, Brazil, and (quite possibly) Canada might object to such a bold statement, but there is one group of people who cannot: American boys and girls.

Before I go any further, I want to clarify that I’ll be talking about both the men’s and women’s teams as a whole. I realize men’s Olympic competition only allows for U-23 players (with three exceptions) while the women’s competition has no age restrictions. This is not a commentary on the US Men failing to qualify for the Olympics. This is an attempt to explain why the women have achieved so much on the international while their male counterparts continue to struggle.

Let’s start with the obvious. Females in the United States have had a tremendous head start on the rest of the world in terms of athletic opportunities. The Title IX legislation has been in place for several decades while in many other nations around the world women are still treated as second class citizens. Much has been made about the story of the Japanese women’s Olympic team riding coach on their flight to London while the men rode in first class. That’s the silver medalists and defending World Cup champions we’re talking about!

But even with such a headstart, the rest of the world has caught up to and challenged the United States when it comes to international supremacy. The Canadian women’s soccer earned the first team sport medal for the North American nation since the 1930s when they won their bronze medal match against France. But before that they went toe-to-toe with the American ladies and almost came out on top. Yes, that same Canada that we Americans love to make fun of constantly.

And speaking of the 1930s, that would be the last time the United States men’s team truly contended for an international title. Back then the World Cup was in its infant stages, but it was still the last time anyone mentioned the United States in conjunction with an international soccer title. While the issue with the women’s game has been a social one, for the men the issue has always been skill. America’s most physically gifted athletes, both male and female, have ample opportunities outside of soccer when it comes to participating in sports. But while the women have the skills to compete with the best of the best in international competition in soccer, the men constantly seem to be playing catch up.

So why have things unfolded this way? Why does the United States women’s team dominate in a way that seems impossible to the men? I believe there are two reasons and they are, in my humble opinion, fundamentally connected.

First let’s travel back in time. It’s 1994 and the United States has been awarded the opportunity to host the greatest sporting event in the world. As hosts, the United States automatically qualifies for the final portion of the tournament. This is good news because once upon a time the US did not qualify for the World Cup every time it was played. The Americans earn a pretty shocking result when they defeated highly favored Colombia 2-1 thanks to Andres Escobar’s infamous own goal. But that result wasn’t enough as a 1-1 draw with Switzerland and a 1-0 defeat against Romania saw the Stars And Stripes fail to reach the knockout stage of the tournament. But the worst part was that the US uniforms were more memorable in the eyes of American children than any individual on the team, save for perhaps Alexi Lalas and his crazy red hair. American soccer hall of fame inductees like Eric Wynalda and Tony Meola played for that ’94 team, but they failed to make an impression on the youth of America.

Fast forward a mere five years to 1999 and the United States is hosting a World Cup once more; this time for the women. We all remember how this one ends. Brandi Chastain scored the winning penalty kick and proceeded to remove her jersey in one swift motion, thus capturing the imagination of Americans of all ages. Not only did the women win as the host nation, but that ’99 squad featured some of the greatest female athletes in American history including Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Briana Scurry. They were iconic role models inspiring American girls to pursue greatness. A handful of those girls are now celebrating an Olympic gold medal and ushering in a “golden age” of American soccer. Would that be the case if the women of 1999 had performed like the men of 1994? That’s certainly a topic for debate, but I believe that 1999 tournament had a profound effect on women’s soccer and helped propel the US to greatness.

Domestic professional leagues were born out of both tournaments. But while Major League Soccer continues to grow and develop, women’s professional soccer has seen multiple leagues open and close (sometimes almost instantly) over the last 10-12 years. There has never been a permanent home here in the US for women to earn a living playing soccer. Americans simply do not want to turn out in numbers to watch women play soccer year after year. They seem content to wait every couple of years for the next World Cup or the next Olympic tournament. Consequently, the pinnacle of achievement for aspiring female soccer players is now international glory. Young girls want to represent the Stars And Stripes on the international stage. They would like to have the opportunity to play professionally in their home nation as well, but the example set for them has come from international competition, not club play.

This is just the opposite for the men. While we’d love to see the United States win a World Cup, we are also equally (if not more) fascinated by the prospect of seeing an American player succeed at the club level. Clint Dempsey has stated a desire to play in arguably the best soccer tournament in the world: The UEFA Champions League. Michael Bradley recently completed a move to Italy’s AS Roma, a team that has failed to qualify this year but always has the potential to play on such a grand stage. For awhile there was talk that Dempsey would land at a world famous club like Arsenal. Would an American representing the United States at a club like Manchester United or Barcelona or Real Madrid would mean a lot more to aspiring male soccer players than watching the United States win a World Cup title? That is also up for debate, but I’ll take the first option.

When I first saw the US women don that t-shirt moments after their victory was official, all I could think about was how we arrived at this point. How has the United States women’s national team achieved so much in such a short amount of time while their male counterparts continue to struggle under the weight of great expectations? The more I think about it, the more I go back to 1999. I think about the path I took as a youth soccer player compared to that of girls my age who played the game as well. It all seems to come back to Brandi Chastain dropping to her knees and removing her shirt in one swift, iconic moment. It gave girls something to remember for all time; a story of greatness they’ll tell their kids and their kids’ kids about. I (somewhat confidently) speak for American males when I say that we have no such moment. We do not have a lasting memory to tell our kids and our grandkids about when we grow old. Perhaps such a moment will come, but it does seem likely to reveal itself in the next decade.

The world may take issue with that plain white t-shirt produced by Nike, but to the youth of America, both male and female, there can be no doubt that the United States women’s national team is greater than the United States men’s national team. Just like there was no doubt that we were all watching greatness in 1999.

If only Nike had produced that shirt 13 years earlier…

Question of the Week: Does Women’s Soccer Have a Fan Problem?

Posted by Scott Viar on June 1, 2012 at 11:05 am Grow The Game, USWNT, Women's Soccer

Jun 012012

Over the past week, a debate has sprouted over sports fandom. On Thursday, a Twitter firestorm raged over the writers/founders of the website While The Men Watch being invited to offer commentary on CBC during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with most commenting focusing on their lack of serious supportership of hockey or sports in general. On Sunday, the author of Happy Go Snarky put out a screed to the Atlanta soccer community decrying their lack of support for the W-League defending champion Silverbacks in light of their support for a VERY BAD Atlanta Beat team last season (a team that won ONE game out of 18 in WPS in 2011). The debate over whether her call-out was just aimed at her local situation or could be extrapolated to the women’s soccer supporters community in general (with the focus of such being the backers of the USWNT), combined with the Thursday piece, brought me to ponder whether there is a fan problem in women’s soccer, such that fans aren’t really backers of the game itself but rather are “fangirls” of specific players. Has women’s soccer supporter culture evolved in the decade or so since the US won the Women’s World cup in 1999 and launched WUSA in 2001, or is it the same with just new faces, voices, and platforms to profess it? Moreso, if that is the case, does it hurt the “brand” of women’s soccer in the US at a time when the professional game has suffered the folding of a second top-level league in less than 10 years?

From Becca:
In my opinion, there are three types of women’s soccer fans in the U.S. The ones that love the game… anything and everything that has to do with women’s soccer. These are the fans that head down to the local high school fields to watch a cross-town rivalry. The ones that will get in their cars and drive 2 hours to catch an NAIA match. The ones that are devoted to growing the sport we know and love. The second type of women’s soccer fans are the ones that love their team, generally their team being the USWNT. They’ll buy their jerseys (even if they’re ugly), support their WPS teams (RIP), and buy every issue of ESPN The Magazine or Sports Illustrated with Hope, Alex, or Abby gracing its pages. These fans are important, because they are the ones blowing up Twitter and Facebook, demanding that games get streamed if not on TV, and pack sold-out stadiums during friendly matches. And finally, there are the women’s soccer fans that could really care less but have jumped on the bandwagon. They know who Hope Solo is, and they think Alex Morgan is hot, but if you asked who the back line consisted of they wouldn’t have a clue. Of course, it would be great to have those second and third groups of fans converting to the diehards, but do we really want to call out and question the fans that are helping women’s soccer get noticed? Maybe someday… but I don’t think that day is today.

From An:
The game of women’s soccer has evolved tremendously since 1999. I’d like to think that women’s soccer supporter culture has changed as well. As Becca mentioned, there are many types of fans and those groups of fans probably existed since the days of WUSA. Yet, unlike post-1999 years of pro women’s soccer, today, soccer fans have many social media platforms that allow them to follow their favorite athletes, teams, and support the sport. I am uncomfortable with judging and labeling groups of fans as “fangirls” or “crazy.” I also am not sure how we can define “die-hard” fans. What I do know is that the sport we love and the existing women’s soccer leagues we follow need a lot of support, and all groups of fans should be welcomed. They all help support the sport in their own ways whether it is by buying season tickets or watching games online and buying merchandise. I am not as concerned with answering the question on what kind of women’s soccer fans do we want coming out to support US Soccer. Instead, I think two pressing questions stakeholders and fans alike should consider are (1) what “brand” of women’s soccer, realistically, do we want in the US? (2) What does it take to get fans to come out to the game? If there’s a drop in attendance for teams like Atlanta Silverbacks, then why? I don’t claim to know the whole situation for the Silverbacks, but I would simply be cautious of holding fans accountable for the success of women’s soccer alone.

From Scott:

An hit on the head one of the key elements for the rise numerically of the current women’s soccer support base, that being social media. It has taken a fandom that used to be visible only at games or similar events into a 24/7 occurrence. I view the evolution (or lack thereof) of women’s soccer fandom from the perspective of sports business and the non-soccer fan, and I compare what exists currently to two other forms of supportership/fandom: other sports and pop culture. Women’s soccer fandom (in general) is more akin to the latter than the former. Perhaps that is due to the lack of opportunities that existed following the demise of WUSA, thus the new rise of the USWNT and the birth of WPS tapped into the next generation of the same fans that were there for the 99ers and WUSA, which is not sustainable in the long-term. Perhaps it also is due to the average age of the women’s soccer fan versus that of other women’s professional sports or the brief history of the sport in this country (MLS had a similar issue I feel until the focus of the brand returned to the game on the field and long-time soccer communities were added to the league). In any case, when the public face of women’s soccer fandom is still the same (by and large) in 2012 as it was in 2000 and the most public expressions of support for the sport and its players are indistinguishable from those for Justin Bieber or the Kardashians or Lady Gaga or the newest movie star, it doesn’t translate confidence in boardrooms to attach itself to the product or business. Can this change over time? Sure, if and when those fans end up in places of influence in the business community and can merge their fandom with the ability to actually put some skin into the business side of women’s soccer through advertising, corporate sponsorship, large-scale ticket purchasing, or even investment in a club or franchise. Therefore, to answer the questions posed, I say 1) yes in some respects, no in others, and perhaps there has been a slight devolution over the past decade brought about by the 24/7 nature of it; and 2) it can hurt the brand by limiting the sport’s ability to attract the sustainable resources necessary for long-term operation and growth because the fan base doesn’t look like that of other sports fandoms and thus cannot be banked upon to remain supportive of the product over time, and it can hurt the ability to attract new fans because of the lack of “seriousness” that seems to emanate from portions of the fan base. In ten years, might things have grown and women’s soccer supporters groups begin to look similar to that on the men’s side, or like fans of the WNBA or WTA or LPGA? I’d like to hope so.

The Future of US Women’s Soccer

Posted by Scott Viar on May 4, 2012 at 4:34 am Grow The Game, WPS

May 042012

With the almost-inevitable shuttering of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), a vacancy exists in the soccer landscape for a venue where the top talent in this country and around the world can ply its trade. The Women’s Premier Soccer League has formed an Elite Division comprised of former WPS teams and long-standing members of its amateur ranks, with the 2012 season scheduled to kick-off next week. The W-League, under the auspices of the United Soccer Leagues, has also stepped up its game as it tries to become the premier place for women’s soccer players in this country. Is the future bright for one or both of these to “replace” WPS, or does something new need to be created? I believe the soil is ripe for a bigger and better league structure to replace WPS, but all parties involved must take a step or two back from the seven-figure operating budgets and six-figure salaries that were testament of WPS and its predecessor, the WUSA. This can be done with a focus on developing a national footprint for the sport built upon local control and autonomy.

The future of women’s soccer cannot be built from the same model which brought us WUSA and WPS (that is, a league of franchises doled out on a limited basis with high hurdles for entry). Instead, it must be built through local clubs stepping forth and elevating their current offerings, where the cost of league entry is low, the ability to grow their product on and off-the-field can be done over time, and where ultimate responsibility for success or failure rests in the creativity and resolve of the individual entrant, not the league as a whole. For this to happen, most if not all decisions must be made on the local level, such as the development of revenue streams that are self-sustaining and foster a connection between the club and the local business community and the recruitment of players who have roots within the community to the extent that the club is not responsible for “putting them up” in the area during the playing season. Financial management of the individual clubs must be based not on turning a profit but on providing the best product possible on and off-the-field within the revenue available to the club.

Now let’s talk about the players. First, there needs to be a realization that a women’s soccer league in this country cannot live or die on the basis of a sliver of the available player pool, that being the US Women’s National Team. Building a future for women’s soccer in the US based on how it affects or will sustain the National Team will not in the long run work because it ignores the best interests of the 95% or more of players who aren’t in the NT system and will unnecessarily limit the growth of the game in markets where such talent hasn’t risen. Beyond that, players must come to grips with the sobering notion that the dollars are not there currently for salaries of the level that one can live solely off of playing and thus they will need some supplemental form of income (be it a regular 9-to-5 job, an internship, sponsorships, graduate school stipends, a well-paid working spouse, etc.).

The future of women’s soccer in this country is bright, with expansion in both the WPSL and W-League bringing more teams and thus more players onto a regional and national stage. These entities could be the way forward, but it will not happen without a “meeting of the minds” regarding their business models. The WPSL’s is more in line with local autonomy, room for growth, and long-term sustainability than the W-League’s, but both are much more grounded in the community than what was seen from WUSA and WPS. We must re-think what it means to be a “professional” athlete in a sport that currently doesn’t generate enough revenue to pay self-sustaining salaries and transition back if you will to a place where an athlete’s off-field pursuits will carry them further economically than their on-field ones. Think of Major League Baseball or the National Football League before the advent of big-money television contracts, when players would have off-season jobs because playing in and of itself didn’t provide a level of income to sustain them or their families over 12 months. It’s harsh, but that’s the exact place women’s soccer is currently, and the sooner it is realized and accepted, the sooner a sustainable model for the professional game in the US can be fostered and grow.

Looking Ahead to Life After WPS

Posted by Ann Ngo on May 1, 2012 at 12:08 am Grow The Game, WPS

May 012012

A few weeks ago, Becca4Kicks asked “Can we really replace Women’s Professional Soccer?”

Since then, it appears that whether we like it or not, we’re going to be looking for answers to that question.

As we wait for the inevitable press release to come from Women’s Professional Soccer announcing the closing of the league, it’s time for fans to finally accept this and start looking ahead to the future of professional women’s soccer in the U.S.

While no one has heard a peep out of WPS since the suspension announcement, the WPSL, WPSL Elite and W-League have been very busy. Fans are anxiously awaiting the start of their respective seasons, and are hoping for some insight as to what the landscape will look like for the future of professional women’s soccer in the country. So far, there are only questions. Whether it’s about the possibility of cross-league games or building a greater partnership between leagues in the near future, fans are looking for leadership and guidance from these leagues.

So with all of this in mind, here’s a question for readers to consider – if you were invited to a meeting with commissioners of these leagues and the stakeholders, what would you ask them? What do they need to do to maintain professional women’s soccer and high quality games? How can they get fans to come out and support games? Would you have any advice to give them?We challenge readers to share their thoughts in the comments section.

A Breakdown of Title IX

Posted by Becca on March 28, 2012 at 9:21 am Grow The Game, USWNT, Women's Soccer

Mar 282012

Remember weeks ago when I said a post about Title IX was coming? Yeah… it’s been awhile. Oops. Better late than never, right? When I started writing this entry I realized that there was no way I could cover it in just one post. So I’ll be providing you all a little insight to Title IX one piece at a time. I can hear the roar of the crowd as I type. Just try not to get too excited.

Sarcasm aside, I’m thrilled to be working on this project because of the monumental impact Title IX has had on our society, let alone the female athletes we support on the pitch. As we approach the 40th anniversary of Title IX’s passing, I’m thrilled to see media outlets like ESPNW cover such an important issue. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Christine Grant, a Title IX pioneer that has fought for women’s equality on and off the field for decades. Dr. Grant’s knowledge and passion for the movement is contagious, and the combination of her wit and experience makes for a killer presentation. Not to mention her accent makes everything better because lets be real… everything sounds better in a Scottish Accent.

I have spent a great deal of time in graduate school studying Title IX. But I’ll be honest; there are several things I still don’t understand about the legislation. So for the first post I’m going to provide a general breakdown of the law to provide a little insight. As a disclaimer, note that while Title IX plays an important role in K-12 education, I’ll be focusing on intercollegiate athletics.

The Law

To start us off, here is the exact wording of Title IX:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The Focus of Title IX

There are three areas that Title IX focuses in on at the collegiate level: financial assistance, effective accommodation of students’ interests and abilities, and benefits, opportunities and treatment of athletes.

Financial Assistance

The total amount of athletic aid must be substantially proportionate to the ration of male and female athletes. For example, if 45% of athletes are female, then 45% of scholarship money should be awarded to female athletes. It should be noted, however, that Division III is exempt from this as no athletic scholarships are granted at this level

Effective Accommodation of Students’ Interests and Abilities

What most folks don’t know is that there are actually three ways to be in compliance with Title IX, but an institution only has to meet one to satisfy the requirements. This ‘Three-Prong Test’ is probably the most misunderstood aspect of Title IX. While many people think that Title IX is a ‘quota law’, proportionality is not required. The three-prong test includes:

Opportunities for males and females proportional to enrollments.
History and continuing practice of program expansion responsive to the developing interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex
Interests and abilities of underrepresented sex have been fully and effectively accommodated by the present program.

Benefits, Opportunities, and Treatment

The final prong of the three-prong test focus on what student athletes receive in terms of benefits, the number of and type of opportunities they are given, and how they are treated within the athletic department. Some of the most notable benefits include:

Equipment and supplies (i.e. helmets, pads, shoes, athletic clothes, etc.)
Scheduling of practice and competition
Travel and per diem
Opportunities for coaching and access to academic tutors
Assignment and compensation of those coaches and tutors
Locker room, practice and competitive facilities
Medical and training facilities and services
Housing and dining facilities and services
Publicity
Support services
Recruitment of student-athletes

The basis of this prong is that female athletes should receive similar benefits as their male counterparts. So, if the football team is provided all of their equipment and new practice facilities, the institution should make an effort to provide the same type of benefits to female athletic teams.

If you’re still with me look forward to another post focusing on how school’s are doing, what some of the set-backs are, and how we have almost lost Title IX… many times. I’d love to hear comments, questions, concerns, etc. If you’re interested in specific areas of Title IX make sure to leave a comment as I’ll do my best to cover in the next few posts. This is going to be fun…

Grant, Christine. “Facts & Figures Vs. Myths & Misinformati.” Iowa City. 1 Mar. 2012. Lecture.

Two Touch Pass’ Soccer Supporter Groups Directory

Posted by Ann Ngo on March 26, 2012 at 10:29 pm Grow The Game, WPS

Mar 262012

As I mentioned in my “The Necessity for Soccer Supporter Groups” post, I emphasize the importance of women’s soccer supporter groups in helping grow the game. I also call attention to fan’s accessibility, or lack of, to these supporter groups. After all, soccer supporter groups should be one of the instrumental tools helping soccer organizations and fans to connect with each other and to sustain the game in the United States.

The Two Touch Pass intends to be a vital resource for its readers — women’s soccer organizations, fans, and non-profit soccer-related organizations. We are pleased to announce a project “Soccer Supporter Groups.” There is no existing online database of women’s soccer supporter groups and contact information. The Two Touch Pass blog will have a central directory of soccer supporter groups for fans to access. We encourage readers, including soccer clubs, to help with this endeavor and submit any information on women’s soccer supporter’s groups and contact information to us. Please note that the database is not limited to professional and amateur soccer teams; we also want to encourage submission of existing supporter groups for indoor women’s soccer teams as well as collegiate women’s soccer teams. Please submit information here.

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