IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO TODAY … #14

Random memories from 40 years of coaching in the U.S.A.

1986, Hanover, NH. I began coaching in the youth soccer ranks because neither Dartmouth nor Tufts had spring seasons, and the coaches could not work directly with the players. I just wanted to coach!! In an earlier post, I noted my introduction to ODP. My club experience was also about to get underway. Coaching in Hanover and the Upper Valley came about by accident. I worked in an after-school programme at the local elementary school where many kids told me about "Lightning Soccer". Lightning was a local series of soccer clinics that ran in the spring to teach and promote the game. With further investigation, Hanover HS coach George Merrill let me know more about Lightning and a local club travel team component, Upper Valley Soccer Club. The latter was headed by Jack Clegg, whose son, John, Bobby and I had coached on the Vogelsinger camps. Bobby Clark did not need much persuading to get involved despite further duties with Dartmouth Lacrosse!! We combined the two groups and Upper Valley Lightning (U.V.L.) was born.

I won't go through all the details of what happened next. I'll leave that to an article I wrote in 1991 for N.S.C.A.A. Soccer Journal (below), which outlines how U.V.L. came together beyond those first baby steps. What I will say is that U.V.L. was a unique soccer entity. As we built the club teams, a foundation was created with a league for the towns of the region alongside weekly clinics for the u8, u10, and u12 age groups. The latter were run by Bobby or me, with Dartmouth players from the Men's and Women's teams as assistants, acting as role models for the young players. The Lightning programme flourished and grew considerably over my five years in Hanover. When I see how club soccer has developed in the decades since I view Lightning as a labour of love, it wasn't about the $$$. Instead, the game and the love of the game were what counted the most.

Over the 1986 to 1990 period, coaches of the calibre of Steve Swanson (now UVA) and John O'Connor (now Castleton) came on board. Once they, Bobby and I moved on, the relationship between U.V.L. and the College was lost. "Lightning Soccer Club" carries on today under the excellent tutelage of Rob Grabill. However, as it was, Upper Valley Lightning can never be replicated. It was of its era and a time when we, as coaches, were effectively soccer missionaries. The game has moved on in the U.S.A. at every level since those days. It is positive overall, but part of me will always feel the loss of the Upper Valley Lightning club we had in the 1980's.

NOTE: It's not easy to come up with an image that sums up Upper Valley Lightning adequately. We enjoyed substantial growth at all levels and, at the top of our club pyramid, won titles. The programme attracted significant press interest, including "Soccer America" and the "Boston Globe". The article pictured is from Dan Woog's "Youth Soccer Letter". As a point of interest, the young lady, Katy Button, in the middle of the three girls I am coaching, became the General Manager of the Washington Freedom in the Women's Professional League. Players moving on in the game is a theme that I will return to before concluding my series of memories at the end of December.

YNWA

THE "LIGHTNING SOCCER" MODEL (written June 1991)

INTRODUCTION: AMERICAN SOCCER AS IT STANDS TODAY

Mike Berticelli's article in the September/October issue of Soccer Journal laments the U.S.A.'s lack of an actual soccer environment. It is a cry commonly heard in soccer circles in recent years. The game needs help to come to terms with its massive growth and changes since introducing a national professional league in 1967.

The last few years have seen America experience increasing success in international competitions. To some extent, the process was both climaxed and anti-climaxed by the national team's performance in Italia '90. Under the circumstances, the U.S. performed reasonably well. Moreover, they performed at about the level they should have. It may be difficult for many "soccer people" in this country to stomach. In the World Cup edition of "Soccer International", 16 experts from all strata of American soccer were polled regarding their predictions of the U.S.A.'s first-round games. Of the 16, only three correctly forecast that Bob Gansler's team would lose all their matches. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to know the answers. However, analysis of factors such as age, professional playing experience, and the need for a proper soccer environment might suggest that the Americans were destined to lose all their games. Especially in comparison to three opponents who each possessed a rich soccer tradition and heritage. The national programme seems to have plateaued and is now seeking to reach "the next level."

Soccer is now in a dilemma with an American-hosted World Cup three and a half years away and counting. How do we achieve greater short-term rewards to help the game flourish? Of course, every soccer expert in the country, and there are many, has their own opinions. However, Notre Dame's Coach Berticelli and company are un-questionably correct in their assessment that "environment" is critical to the future of American soccer. The development of a professional league which implies American players capable of playing more comfortably at the international level, large and loyal fan followings, stable franchises financially and a media that is both educated and sympathetic to the sport.

The task here is to relate my experiences of trying to nurture soccer in the land of baseball, basketball, and (American) football.

THE 'NEW HAMPSHIRE' SOCCER SCENARIO

If New Hampshire has any renown for consistently producing high-calibre athletes, it would be for skiing! In "Region I" soccer, New Hampshire could hardly be classified as a soccer powerhouse at the club or state team level. To a point, this state of affairs will always remain the same. The weather conditions in the Granite State are much more conducive to producing athletes for winter sports than soccer players. Moreover, the population is small. The number of athletes is not as significant, and the competition is not as intense as it tends to be in an urban environment. The Upper Valley Lightning may not be the number-one soccer team in the country, but the programme is unique. In its own way, the Lightning has created a strong soccer environment in its neck of the woods. It may not become the cornerstone of the national team programme in years to come, but perhaps some of the lessons from the growth of Lightning are worth recounting and taking note of for the game in the broader sense.

THE UPPER VALLEY REGION

The "Upper Valley" refers to the Connecticut River Valley. The focal point is Hanover, NH, the home of Dartmouth College, and extends roughly 30 miles north to Woodsville and 30 miles south to Claremont. Further, it straddles both sides of the New Hampshire-Vermont stateline. The Upper Valley is relatively isolated from the main centres of soccer activity in its constituent states. Consequently, soccer in the region was disorganized off-season, even though the local schools had been producing college-level players for some time. The isolation factor, which, at first glance, might appear to be a disadvantage, was subsequently a significant reason for the considerable success of the Lightning programme.

Bobby Clark and I came to the Upper Valley in the fall of 1985 as head and assistant coach, respectively, of the men's team at Dartmouth College. Bobby Clark has one of the more interesting backgrounds in American Intercollegiate soccer:

• A 20-year professional playing career.
• 17 "caps" for the Scottish national team.
• A 1978 World Cup squad member with high-level coaching experience in the U.K. and Africa.

My background was more modest, but one thing that I did have going for myself was that I grew up in the soccer hotbed of Liverpool. We both shared a passion for "the game", and because we were each qualified as physical education teachers, we possessed several characteristics that would make us well-suited to the American coaching situation.

I had been in the country for two years longer than Bobby. It was while I was pursuing a Master's degree at West Chester University in Pennsylvania that I first became aware that outside of the college game, there was much soccer activity, especially at the youth level. With the professional game all but dead, there was a vacuum. The "role model" that Coach Berticelli speaks of could perhaps be filled to a large extent by the local college programme. A symbiotic relationship could be forged, providing a little give and take from all parties. Moreover, if sufficient time was sacrificed to lay the foundation of a community-style soccer club, the yield could be considerable for everybody, not least for "the game". As my position at Dartmouth was part-time, I had practical motivations in addition to my desire to put in the required time.

1986-87: LAYING THE LIGHTNING FOUNDATION

One extra consideration that proved key in the subsequent development of Lightning was that Bobby had been a co-founder of the youth development programme at Aberdeen Football Club in the waning days of his playing career. The talent that came through said programme formed the basis of "The Dons" many triumphs of the eighties. Even more significantly, the program had functioned via an unusual community-type relationship that was not normal for a professional club.

Spring soccer in the Upper Valley lay in disarray in 1986:

• The future of the boys' travel teams was in doubt.
• The girls' teams were run loosely and informally through the local recreation board.
• The programmes for the younger kids needed coaches and direction.

That year, we merely dipped our toes in the water, helping the two boys' travel teams survive, supplying a coach for the under-16 girls team and re-vamping the youngsters into under-10 and under-12 groups that met twice a week for skill development style clinics that emphasized fun and played informal six-a-side games for the last 45 minutes. One hundred and twenty-five children participated in the programme in our first year.

1987 was the year that saw the most radical changes occur:

- the fledgling club began to centralize under the banner of "Upper Valley Lightning", providing a sense of identity;

- the Lightning re-located to Dartmouth's intra-mural fields, which provided a focal point for the nightly practices and weekend games and eventually helped foster a club-type unity;

- both the Under 19 boys and the newly formed Under 19 girls teams used college players, thus intensifying the level of the team and raising the level of practices;

- a town league was founded for the Upper Valley region. In time, this has started to produce players for the select Lightning teams;

- a clearly defined mid-March to mid-June season was outlined, with the season kicking off with a Spring Break soccer camp;

- the use of Dartmouth players in U8/U10/U12 groups as assistant coaches and....role-models!

At this time, the level of the programme went up several notches. Looking back, the programme's significant characteristics and main features were implemented. This was the skeleton, and subsequent fleshing-out took place year-to-year. Even more interesting was that what occurred through 86-87 was based on vague ideals and notions. From '88 onwards, the programme developed systematically and consciously, with additions and subtractions made at the start of each season. Those first years gave us the confidence to press on, and our "isolation" permitted us carte blanche to experiment and develop as we chose. There was no "market" where we had to compete against other soccer programmes. It allowed us to de-emphasize competition with the younger kids and only re-introduce those elements when more appropriate at the older levels, particularly for those under 19. Skill development and fun remained the primary ingredients that hooked many youngsters and started to make an impression within the programme.

1988-90: CHRONICLING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTNING

By 1987, participation had risen to around 350. 1988 continued the trend, with the number of participants still rising to 543. The year was also a significant year for several philosophical reasons. As noted earlier, Lightning was founded under the direction of skill development, fun from the game, and controlled competition. Eleven-a-side teams were only permitted once the kids were 13. As the players became older, the levels of competition were steadily intensified. The U19 squads were particularly competitive. A so-called "pyramid" approach was favoured. The number of participants, particularly in the clinic groups, demonstrated that the pyramid's base was wide. The U19s were touted as something for the younger groups to aspire towards. Over the years, the developing player could rise from the pyramid's base to the tip, the u19 "selects".

In 1988, the U19's were especially successful. Both squads qualified for the regional championships at U.Mass. In regional competition, the Girl's squad became the first New Hampshire team to win a game in this age bracket. The Boy's team went even further, winning their qualifying group before falling in the semi-finals to The Union (N.J.) Lancers, defending national champions, who were on the way to their second title. Our youngsters had great models to aspire towards! Maintaining the top and bottom of the pyramid has always remained a priority.?

Other innovations in '88 included:

- the start of infrequent community clinics and mini-camps around the towns of the Upper Valley;

- the introduction of a Memorial Day Weekend soccer tournament, the Dartmouth Cup, which was 6-a-side for U10's & U12's;

- finally, a one-week summer camp programme with highly qualified guest coaches.

The following season, 1989, was a year of consolidation in many respects. The only significant expansion came in The Dartmouth Cup, which now included a U14 six-a-side tournament. One notable feature of Lightning was that trophies, medals, and other prizes were discouraged in all competitions. In the Upper Valley Youth Soccer League, all participants received T-shirts. The team that finished first was rewarded in the same manner as those who finished last. In the Dartmouth Cup, the story was similar, with the finalists being invited back in the fall to play a warm-up before a Dartmouth game. Participation in the Upper Valley rose slightly to 543. However, if "participation" in all aspects were to be included, the number would be more than 1,000. The addition of U16 select teams enhanced the competitive part of the programme. This age group became an intermediary between the intra-mural style town league and the Upper Valley Lightning "selects".

The turn of the 90's saw another dramatic rise in participation. 725 players from the Upper Valley were involved throughout the season. Close to twice that many were involved in Lightning somewhere along the line. The Dartmouth Cup expanded still further by adding divisions for older teams. An 11-a-side format was preferred, but one change that did not occur was the addition of all the trimmings and trapping of trophies. Meantime, the select team programme was completed with the introduction of U14 squads. All our select teams were challenged a little more as they sought to play more out of the area. Indoor tournaments were entered during early season play, and it was hoped that at least one "outside" tournament would be added later during the season. To improve the competitive aspect of the programme, the "selects" would have to be exposed to better and better competition. Finally, there was the movement towards open-age teams. A Men's team was formed and competed in Lightning's new summer league for the region.

After the 1990 season, I had to leave the Upper Valley to secure my future in this country. The new Dartmouth Assistant Coach, John O'Connor, who coached the Girl's U19 in 1990, took over to run the programme daily.??

The development of the Lightning Soccer programme has been characterized by increasingly systematic planning, a strong philosophy and a love of the game, plus its top-to-bottom pyramid encompassing all levels of soccer from instruction to recreation to select team soccer. In short, an environment for soccer has been nurtured, and if tended correctly, the Lightning soccer programme can continue to flower.?

At face value, several minor embellishments can be added to improve the scope and future of the programme. We must return to the pyramid's base and work harder on the young kids. Consequently, a community camp programme will be run this summer in towns throughout the Upper Valley. Hopefully, it will fundamentally support soccer even more throughout the region. Who knows, the next generation of Upper Valley talent will be exposed to soccer through one of these camps.

Furthermore, supporting soccer in all Upper Valley communities will eventually manifest itself in what we hope will be a higher level of competition during the high school seasons. Better players, as well as teams, could be the product. The "selects" should not be neglected either, and once again, the notion of maintaining both ends of the pyramid comes into play. The process will be lengthy, but it is the only real way to build something that will stand the test of time. Short-term rewards may be necessary for the sport nationally with the onset of the 1994 World Cup, but ultimately, soccer will still need time if it is really to establish itself in the U.S.A. once and for all.

CONCLUSION: LESSONS FROM THE LIGHTNING MODEL FOR SOCCER AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

A soccer programme of some 725 participants is not exactly the largest of its kind in the country. Nonetheless, a low-population centre such as the Upper Valley has established a good foundation and a base for the pyramid of local soccer. Likewise, youth soccer is approaching a situation in which it is getting closer to becoming the country's number one participant team sport. Thus, we also have a wide base at the national level. However, transferring experiences at the local level is not necessarily so easy or logical. This is especially true in the U.S.A. America is a massive country, and the environment flourishing in a little secluded pocket of New Hampshire and Vermont does not exist nationwide. There is little or no soccer on television and in the daily newspapers. Few role models exist for young soccer players to look up to. For my money, the confirmation of that environment came in this season's N.C.A.A. game between Dartmouth and Vermont. Heavy snowfall meant that the Sunday game had to be postponed, and the venue was changed from Burlington, VT, to Hanover. At 24 hours' notice, a crowd of 2,500 people was on hand in sub-zero temperatures to watch a pulsating cup-tie. Community representation was significant. The Lightning-Dartmouth saga bore fruit once and for all. Besides young players who were skilled and who enjoyed playing the game, a new dimension had been added. There were fans, there was passion, and there was unbridled enthusiasm for soccer. A soccer environment akin to that Berticelli noted was well on the way. The first cycle of Lightning's development was completed. In just five years, an incredible amount had been accomplished. It was even more notable, considering that Lightning exists for only 3-4 months each year. A demand for the programme now exists at other times of the year. The beauty of this programme is that it can now come to be in several different forms. Lightning is an extremely flexible soccer entity.

The Lightning model may not be the one for the American game overall. However, some principles might be applied across the board. The national team is the equivalent of the U19 selects. We all know that their performance during the next couple of years could contribute immeasurably to creating a soccer environment nationally. If the media can be hooked, we all can realise a soccer environment country-wide. If youngsters can get excited by the national team, they will have attainable aspirations in soccer, comparable to countries with tradition and heritage. If this can occur the national team programme has a better chance of rising from their present plateau and attaining "the next level."

Meanwhile, I'm sure Lightning will continue to develop and thrive. It is an exciting many faceted soccer programme. It is an amalgamation of many other programmes that Bobby and I have been involved with all over the United States. The possibilities for the Upper Valley Lightning are endless. There are many ways to run a soccer programme. Lightning has shown one way successfully. I would conclude that the Lightning Soccer model demonstrates that the sport can succeed on several different levels and that soccer can eventually come of age in the land of baseball, basketball and [American] football.