Randy Tinfow continues Soccer Carnival

August 10, 2006

With my personal interest to keep the progressive conversation going about the state of soccer in America and how each one of us can make an impact, several soccer bloggers out there have expressed various viewpoints along with others comments and suggestions to their various posts, which can be viewed easiest on The Fools Prerogative Collection.

Well, Randy Tinfow of NYC had a few things to share in reaction to Pulling Together for Soccer below, which touches on our need to evangelize to help grow the sport. In regard to MLS, Randy, as many others throughout the blogosphere, focused on the need for putting a better product on the pitch and here are few of his comments:

Earlier this year I had the chance to see 12 year old selects play indoors at Rockland Community College, NY. These kids were so good I had to gather myself to keep from openly weeping. It was not just their skill and creativity that moved me, but their understanding of the flow and patterns of the game. This age group in America compares favorably with the same age anywhere in Europe. This gives me great encouragement that we will see an American hoisting the World Cup during my lifetime. As to what happens to these kids after age 12, that’s an entirely different topic.

The fans will follow. My 11 year old niece, a passionate player, can’t get to enough games. She has her walls plastered with Red Bull and WNT player pictures.

Yes, I agree that the game needs to be explained and exposed. I find that explanations of positional play always interests neophytes: position switches, defensive midfielders, attacking midfielders, defenders overlapping on attack, tactics for breaking down defenses, running off the ball, drawing defenders, etc. You have to watch off of the ball to see the real development. Likewise, friends loved to hear explanations about Canavaro’s great defensive presence. People understand when you explain that the game is often a war of attrition.

I’m often 5 seconds ahead of the rest of the "civilian" crowd at sensing a goal. That’s the thrilling part…to see the play unfolding, the anticipation. I often crudely compare it to lovemaking. Conveying understanding and insight is what turns tepid or casual fans into raving fanatics. It is starting to happen. Americans are aware that there is something irresistable about this "foreign" game. Education is a long term process.

BTW, I’m having a hard time working this week, anticipating a real show by Barca. With very little promotion, the game will certainly sell out. Good tickets are impossible to find. Just check StubHub to see for yourself. People will go see a great product.

To focus on a few things Randy said that needs to be discussed in more detail: 1) What does happen after age 12? 2) How can we explain and expose more Americans to this game? 3) Our educational process - how do we create the talent to raise the cup?

One consideration that I would offer is that as a country we just don’t have enough of the sandlot so to speak. The game can teach many things when masses are playing, just look at the NBA today. Most of this talent was developed on the street and then brought into the gym for perfection. Still, the question of how comes up. Brazilians have become what their players are known for due to the street and focused youth clubs that feed up. Right now, we just don’t have this, really.

As far as exposure and developing the American fan, MLS cannot do this without us bringing new fans into the mix however; MLS needs to be more available to broader audiences (TV - IPTV) and yes I’m aware of the new agreement. Thoughts????

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