"Do you believe that there is actually a system of player development in this country, or is there a collection of "systems" that make up this entity we call player development? And if you believe the latter, do you think we need to be on the same page in terms of player development in this country?" That was the question I posed to an esteemed panel of coaches at the 2003 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention held in Kansas City. The panel included Bob Gansler, Anson Dorrance, Tony DiCicco, Bora Milotinovic, Thomas Rongen and Dave Sarachan.

Gansler, the current Head Coach of the Kansas City Wizards of MLS and of the USA '90 team, Dorrance and DiCicco, both winning coaches of our American women, Milotinovic, the well traveled coach of the Chinese National Team during this past World Cup and coach of USA '94, Thomas Rongen, the current U-20 coach and formally of the New England Revolution, sat on this panel along with Dave Sarachan, the assistant to Bruce Arena at Japan / Korea 2002. After a moment of discernable silence, DiCicco responded that "because of the size of our nation, it would be difficult to put everyone on the same page". No other coach answered, yet prior to my question there was much banter about how good a job the United States is doing relative to player development. However, statements made after my query throughout the course of discussion shows a completely different point of view. This very distinguished panel of coaches that I listened to might not have wanted to say that there is a great deal wrong with the player development "system" in this country, or even that there is even a problem, but their cumulative responses regarding this issue indicated to me that they do indeed share some of the misgivings I have.

Bora Milotinovic, arguably the most traveled coach in modern time, described his impressions of what elevates play amongst the youth around the world compared to U.S. players. Milutinovic observed that in other countries he sees " children playing in the streets", citing the comparison of our young players being systematically programmed through play on American fields versus the free and creative play that exists in the streets. Rongen enhanced this observation by noting that "letting kids play at early ages" and the use of "small sided games" is not happening. He went on to say that "we're not using all of our resources in identifying players and training them." In that vein, who is our best player? Who has been our best player? Is it Clint Mathis? Landon Donovan? Has Tab Ramos or Claudio Reyna been our offering to the world in terms of brilliant soccer players? If indeed this is the case, we are in a sorry state. Why haven't we "produced" a Pele yet? Why not several? With the multitude of players involved in this great game and our strength is organization, it is indeed very possible to put everyone on the same page. The mandate must include the philosophy of "street soccer" at every level, small sided games being predominantly incorporated into training, guiding our players toward specializing in the sport, and creating a true "American style" of play that every coach in America is in tune with and coaches by. Thomas Rongen noted "another obstacle facing player development in this country is kids playing other sports." Certainly, time spent away from the ball while doing something else prohibits the number of touches a player must have in order to improve.

A dichotomy which exists in the United States is that our best coaches are at the highest level and our least experienced are at the very stage that needs our best and brightest. Generally speaking, our youth coaches continue to hinder the development of the American player. Their inexperience and inability to grasp the techniques necessary to encourage creativity and command of the ball stunts the progress of thousands of players in this country. I continue to imagine of what it would be like to have our youth coaches capable of the aforementioned techniques and applying them to thousands upon thousands of players we have in the United States. To see them "graduate" to the upper level of play where the finishing touches of technical, functional, and tactical development would be infused would produce a multitude of magnificent players rivaling those around the world. We could have our own David Beckham, a Ronaldo, or Edgar David's. I believe we would have many of them!

Panel moderator Sunil Gulati asked Rongen about his prediction of where the United States would finish at the U-20 World Youth Championship that were set to be held in Bahrain. He stated that the "round of 16, yes. Round of 8? Maybe. Final 4? No." In 2001, the U.S. finished in 13th place. And what about 2010 World Cup where the vision has been for our men's side to win the coveted Jules Rimet trophy? Can the U.S. do it? Kansas City coach Bob Gansler answered very directly with- "No". When our most esteemed coaches with vast high level experience predict such mediocre results, must it not ring a bell loud and clear that changes of how we develop players and who is to do it must be addressed.

I am most aware of the incredible performance by our American men at last summer's World Cup and indeed the level of player we "produce" in this country has improved (thank you MLS). I am also keenly aware that there are many capable youth coaches out there. My contention is that soccer country of our size and the resources we possess can and would truly produce many Peles, if any and only if we create one system of player development and style of play. I echo Tony Disco's statement that "we are not a sophisticated soccer culture." I contend that the current mish-mash of soccer entitles that make up our "system" does more to hinder than help our effort toward developing high level players in this country.

Giovanni A. Pacini is the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts. He is the holder of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premiere Diploma, directs Shoot and Save Soccer Training Academy, and is the goalkeeper coach for the South Shore Crusader Soccer Club. His articles on player development have appeared in several publications.