The Women's National Team Agenda..... By Jen Johns

April Heinrichs, the US Soccer Women’s Technical Director and Jill Ellis, US Soccer Director of Development for the US Women’s National Team are trailblazers. The first of their kind with US Soccer, they are working without a blueprint for their positions. Nevertheless, they are providing strong leadership and a clear vision for not only the national team, but also coaches and players nationwide.

Speaking at the NSCAA convention on Friday, Jan 13, 2011, in between National camps and Qualifying match responsibilities, Heinrichs and Ellis clearly outlined the future for US Women’s Soccer and Player development.
For the first time in US Women’s Soccer history, there is a defined mission and a long-term approach for how to maintain a leadership position. Why? In the past, the United States was at the forefront of women’s soccer. Our women were strong, tough, assured and their skills were complete, but basically physically overpowered those who were late in adopting the sport for women. We found a way to win.

The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a perfect example of how the rest of the world has eliminated the dominance gap and changed the way the game is played… with an emphasis on increased technical ability as with such teams as Japan and France. This increased emphasis on possession and passing outplays those relying on physical dominance. Countries that have been focusing on technical skills and playing possession have discovered new success. April, after travelling to Malaysia for camps shares, “Some Asian countries haven’t yet realized just how good they are… and when they do…” there will be even more countries at the top competing for the World Cup.

Heinrichs and Ellis have defined the (first ever) mission of US Women’s Soccer for our 300 national level players (from the WNT team through U14) on down through every female player in the youth game. They have formed a task force made up equally of members of all segments of the women’s game (USYS, ODP, ECNL, Colleges, former National team players and Elite coaches). Armed with task force intel, Heinrichs and Ellis and the team of National coaches have selected our style and our system, and have also indentified changes in vision, which will impact the selection and training of future national team players.

First and foremost, the mission of the US Women’s National Team program is:

• To deliver more technically and tactically sophisticated players to the full women’s national team in an effort to sustain performance success over the next 20 years.
• To prepare more competent and sophisticated coaches – capable of developing international athletes and teams.
• To develop players and teams to win medals at every youth Women’s World Cup.
• To lead, inspire and unite American coaches, players, administrators and parents to embrace the development and enhancement of the Women’s Game.

The Next 20 years: Player Identification Model

Style and System: Defined

The United States Women’s national team system will be a 4-3-3 or variations therein (e.g. 4-2-3-1). Heinrichs asserts, “More important than the system, however, is the STYLE of play.” The US teams will be building out of the back, through the midfield and into the attacking third with POSSESSION, combination and flank play while exhibiting creativity.

The U.S. style will also include players inter-changing both lanes (e.g. up and down the field), lines (e.g. Up front, midfield and backs.), and speed. Players changing formation with creativity and at changing pace creates unpredictability and helps control our destiny.

We are looking for forwards that are diverse in their ability to break down defenses individually and in combination, in front of or behind the defense with increased pressure.

As mentioned, the international game is evolving as is the sophistication and organization of the opponents’ defenses. We must rely on technical and individual ability to solve pressure because in this evolved game, the team who can keep the ball will win more. Note the passes and passing effectiveness at the elite level:

On defense, there will be collective pressing in the attacking, midfield and defensive thirds, established defending to dictate and disrupt the flow of play… and there will be unpredictable changes in lines of confrontation within the game to further shake opposing attacks. Defense will be in small groups or lines with recovering all over the field from every position. Each and every player will have a great defense presence and technique.

The U.S. center backs will initiate the attack by distributing the ball low, high and wide and with pace!

In midfield, we must also be dangerous. NO longer are we focusing solely size and strength in midfield. Homare Sawa, Japan’s center midfielder and winner of the Golden boot, Golden Ball was named the FIFA World Cup MVP and 2011 FIFA World Player of the year. At only 5’3” Sawa was both the leading goal scorer and led with the highest passing percentage, proving that tactical awareness and possession outplays power. In the United States midfield, we will focus not only on possession and changing the point of attack and tempo of the game, but also creating final passes and taking shots.

Scouting: Who are they looking for? 

Players who demonstrate that following:

• First and foremost: Technical mastery. National Team Players have generally dedicated about 10,000 hours and 10 years of deep deliberate practice with a “performance focus in training.”
• Psychosocial skills: Coach-ability, grittiness, “Love to train,” passion, creativity.
• Tactical awareness. They look for players that demonstrate an immersion in the game and an awareness and understanding of the strategies at play.
• Physical preparation. Of course, players selected will have certain physical attributes. However, players must come to camp physically prepared. At that level in camp, coaches aren’t spending time on fitness – players handle that on their own. The players must reach and repeat technical skills and fitness on the edge of their abilities.

Factors limiting Elite players in the game today – How you can help!

Local club coaches and parents spend 99% of on field time with players and as such are a huge part of the US National Team development. As such, April and Jill view all levels of player and coaches as a partnership.

Players today play 100+ games per year. Between club, ODP, US YNT, High School and their individual training, players are overtaxed. Ideally, players should be playing 40-50 games per year.

The focus for the youth teams is on winning and not individual player development, hence more games. Training to game ratio is 2:1… Ideally that should be 7-8:1.

In that training, elite coaches expect players to train with sustained technical work. 35-40 minutes without interruption on key technical skills. Jill Ellis shared how National Team Head Coach Pia Sundhage’s patience on key technical and tactical parts of the game raises the level of attention with her players and develops pride in the pass or skill in focus. Technical correction is key with the ability to demonstrate, evaluate and correct the skill at all levels of the game.

Generally speaking, Heinrichs states, US level of instruction from the grassroots level and up has been stagnant over the last 20 years. Level of coaching instruction is relatively limited at the beginning of a player’s development, that is, during the 8-12 year old’s key skill acquisition years. We need to encourage elite coaches to take younger teams to promote the technical on-the-ball skills they require in the future.

At later ages, 14-16 and up, position specific training is needed. Developing technical and tactical skills associated with key positions is necessary. April suggests, “think about taking a second tier forward and making them wing backs.“ We do need specialists at the National level. The players’ individual personality, style and demeanor will help select the position, but development is key. The YNT positional needs include outside backs, center backs, goalkeepers and goal scorers.

Another limitation at the youth level is that there are limited challenging opportunities (playing up). Due to the sheer numbers of youth players in the US at every age group, there are not enough opportunities for elite players to play with older, more advanced players. They begin to think they KNOW (about the game, what to do, everything they need to know) when they have only just begun the journey. April tells new youth national team players that though they have come a long way to get to camp – they are only at the 20 yard live of a 100-yard dash.

Cost. We need to find a way to lower the cost to play so we don’t have the best athletes leave the sport for less expensive options like basketball and track.

Watch the game! Youth players don’t watch the game on TV for tactical awareness. Albertin Montoya, U17 WNT coach, joined the discussion and supports its importance. “We need to encourage players at all ages to become students of the game and as such -- watch the elite game on TV. Adopt favorite teams and follow key players. Report back to coaches about things you liked and didn’t like about your favorite players/teams. Watch games with your players to guide them through the tactical play. It’s documented that those who watch the modern game are more tactically aware players on the field.”

Again, the US Women’s National team is among the worlds best. Pia, April, Jill, Albertin and their coaching staff team is focused on maintaining our leadership with a vision that isn’t merely match to match, but a long-term technical approach that relies on a partnership with all that love the game.