Florida is facing a club soccer conundrum
February, 22, 2012
Feb 22
12:34
PM ET
By Chris Ackels | ESPN.com
It’s a state with some of the top high school programs in the country, including four in the POWERADE FAB 50 top 25. A quick glance at the Class of 2012 signing/verbal commitment list reveals plenty of individual talent as well, with high-level recruits bound for North Carolina, Florida State, Southern Cal and Miami, among others. The state has a representative in every age group of the US Youth Soccer National League this season.
But it’s also a state without any clubs in the Elite Clubs National League, and over the past two years it has had only one US Youth Soccer regional champion at any age group. It’s been under-represented in US Youth Soccer National Championships, and doesn't get the national recognition received by neighboring states.
So it leads to the question: What’s going on in Florida?
To begin, the club system appears to be less developed -- or just structured differently -- than other states. It’s a system that works around strong teams, rather than strong clubs.
"I think Florida is a team-based state," says Randy Belli, Director of Coaching for Brandon FC in Brandon, Fla., just outside of Tampa. He says that for many clubs, one strong team may earn national prominence, but it’s much harder to develop an overall club to be successful.
Four Florida clubs currently compete in the National League -- one team at each age group. Brandon FC competes at the U17 level. Nearby West Florida Premier competes at the U16 level.
Lady Renegades from Coral Springs, Fla., just outside of the Fort Lauderdale area, won last year’s State Cup and competes in the National League as a U18 team this year. And, at U15, the National League competitor is the Sunrise-Weston Sting, a collaborative team formed by players from Sunrise Elite and Weston FC, both in South Florida.
The best U19 team in the state is Team Boca -- the only Florida team to have won a US Youth Soccer Region III title in the past three seasons.
Chris Nolen, head coach of the U15 Sunrise-Weston Sting, says that his team’s success is only possible through a dual-club partnership.
"There are so many small clubs, the talent is so spread out," says Nolen. "The only way for clubs in south Florida to compete on a national level is to consolidate in some way."
Sunrise Elite and Weston FC work together in many respects, from sharing field space to common friendly matches. They merged at the U15 level to produce a nationally competitive team, something that would not have been possible on their own.
"Everyone involved simply wants to find the best solution for the girls, in terms of getting the best training they can get and exposing to the highest level of competition," says Nolen.
It can be hard to keep track of the top clubs in Florida. Partly because, one might argue, there are no top clubs in Florida. Just top teams.
"There are several clubs in this state that are actively trying to change that dynamic," says Belli. "There’s a definite benefit to having a strong club structure."
Belli says that Brandon FC is one of those clubs. Over the past few years, Brandon has expanded to now include more than 50 teams at different competitive levels. Last week, Brandon and West Florida Premier announced they are merging to create VSI West Florida Flames.
“As a large club, we have a lot of different features that we can offer and an individual team can’t," says Belli. Brandon FC offers a specialized performance trainer and specialized technical trainer, which Belli says are important to player development. "A properly structured club is the vehicle to develop players … and we are doing everything we can to promote proper club development."
In Florida, they’ve got the talent. It’s a matter of organizing it properly and putting the right resources in the right places. That, Belli says, is what leads to stronger clubs.
But it’s also a state without any clubs in the Elite Clubs National League, and over the past two years it has had only one US Youth Soccer regional champion at any age group. It’s been under-represented in US Youth Soccer National Championships, and doesn't get the national recognition received by neighboring states.
So it leads to the question: What’s going on in Florida?
To begin, the club system appears to be less developed -- or just structured differently -- than other states. It’s a system that works around strong teams, rather than strong clubs.
"I think Florida is a team-based state," says Randy Belli, Director of Coaching for Brandon FC in Brandon, Fla., just outside of Tampa. He says that for many clubs, one strong team may earn national prominence, but it’s much harder to develop an overall club to be successful.
Four Florida clubs currently compete in the National League -- one team at each age group. Brandon FC competes at the U17 level. Nearby West Florida Premier competes at the U16 level.
Lady Renegades from Coral Springs, Fla., just outside of the Fort Lauderdale area, won last year’s State Cup and competes in the National League as a U18 team this year. And, at U15, the National League competitor is the Sunrise-Weston Sting, a collaborative team formed by players from Sunrise Elite and Weston FC, both in South Florida.
The best U19 team in the state is Team Boca -- the only Florida team to have won a US Youth Soccer Region III title in the past three seasons.
Chris Nolen, head coach of the U15 Sunrise-Weston Sting, says that his team’s success is only possible through a dual-club partnership.
"There are so many small clubs, the talent is so spread out," says Nolen. "The only way for clubs in south Florida to compete on a national level is to consolidate in some way."
Sunrise Elite and Weston FC work together in many respects, from sharing field space to common friendly matches. They merged at the U15 level to produce a nationally competitive team, something that would not have been possible on their own.
"Everyone involved simply wants to find the best solution for the girls, in terms of getting the best training they can get and exposing to the highest level of competition," says Nolen.
It can be hard to keep track of the top clubs in Florida. Partly because, one might argue, there are no top clubs in Florida. Just top teams.
"There are several clubs in this state that are actively trying to change that dynamic," says Belli. "There’s a definite benefit to having a strong club structure."
Belli says that Brandon FC is one of those clubs. Over the past few years, Brandon has expanded to now include more than 50 teams at different competitive levels. Last week, Brandon and West Florida Premier announced they are merging to create VSI West Florida Flames.
“As a large club, we have a lot of different features that we can offer and an individual team can’t," says Belli. Brandon FC offers a specialized performance trainer and specialized technical trainer, which Belli says are important to player development. "A properly structured club is the vehicle to develop players … and we are doing everything we can to promote proper club development."
In Florida, they’ve got the talent. It’s a matter of organizing it properly and putting the right resources in the right places. That, Belli says, is what leads to stronger clubs.
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