United Soccer Coaches

Do Black Lives Matter in Soccer?

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National Team warms up with

The U.S. National Team appears much more diverse on the field than it does on its executive board, a trait MLS and United Soccer Coaches also appear to follow. The men’s team (shown here warming up at Stanford University under the direction of head coach Jürgen Klinsmann — who won the 1990 World Cup playing for Germany — weeks before the 2014 Word Cup began in Brazil) made it all the way to the Round of 16 in 2014 before its brutalization by Belgium. The team did not qualify for the tournament in 2018. Some suggest that the lack of diversity and opportunity in American soccer is to blame for our lack of a World Cup trophy (from our men). Photo Credit: Rebecca Townsend

 

The Crack drops at a perfect time for honest exploration of race — and soccer

By Rebecca Townsend

Leave it to elite soccer players to understand timing. 

Former U.S. Men’s National Team members DaMarcus Beasley and Oguchi “Guchi” Onyewu, and Futbolr Clothing‘s Mabricio “Mookie” Wilson, (a former collegiate player for Old Dominion University) have timed the debut of The Crack Podcast to drop in the midst of the national (and, truly, global) conversation about how to grapple with our racial demons. 

Among the issues tackled in the Crack’s two-part series on racial injustice: the lack of black leadership at the top levels of the U.S. soccer business, on and off the field; the lack of follow-through among professional teams when it comes to cracking down on racist attacks on athletes; analysis of the Drew Brees apology for criticizing players who chose to kneel during the National Anthem, and an exploration of recent examples in which MLS clubs released employees embroiled in racially related scandals.

You Inspired So Many People, You Tools

The number of racial issues dogging the soccer world gave the hosts much meat for conversation. They supported the LA Galaxy in releasing Aleksander Katai after his wife posted violent and racist comments on social media.

But the overall performance of the MLS — and other top soccer groups — on racial awareness received heavy doses of criticsm. 

After Columbus Crew SC’s Derrick Etienne experienced racial profiling and offensive comments during a traffic stop in Ohio, he issued a statement that said, in part, ““As American people we must put behind foolish and hateful stereotypes and accept all people the way God intended … by the content of our character not the color of our skin.”

The MLS issued a Tweet of solidarity.

The Crack crew noted that the league’s gesture drew an incredulous response from Toronto FC striker and U.S. National Team player Jozy Altidore.

 

“He went right at the head of the dragon,” Beasley said. “It’s not just MLS. All these institutions are finally trying to see the light of what Kaepernick — and even Rapinoe — what they started a long time ago — and then for 100 or 200 years, what all black people have been trying to do.”

“If you don’t sit down and talk to the people who work for you, how will you see it from their eyes  — your players, your team, your club, the people you write checks? If you don’t understand them as human beings?” — DaMarcus Beasley

In the entire MLS, the Crack crew could count two black coaches and two black general managers.

In addition, the boards of U.S. Soccer, United Soccer Coaches, U.S. Soccer Players Council and the MLS executive leadership team have no black representation. Calls in search of a response to or engagement with the issues raised by The Crack were not returned by United Soccer Coaches (despite the fact that the author of this piece is a past member) or the MLS. [This story will be updated if and when a response is secured.] A Tweet looking for input was also left ignored.

Onyewu wondered if he “punked out” by not taking a knee during his last year playing in the MLS. He confessed worrying about might happen if he did. This is the exact same feeling Crystal Dunn reported having when she remained standing next to a kneeling Megan Rapinoe.

“I think it’s a bold move from Jozy,” Onyewu said. “I agree wholeheartedly. If MLS is gonna make that announcement or declaration, they have to back it up. Up until now, they really haven’t backed it up, if I’m gonna be honest.

“…The disproportionate number of black representatives at higher positions in the MLS right now, whether it be head coaches, whether it be management. …There are a number of qualified black coaches that would love the opportunity but haven’t been given the opportunity. And what’s the reason?”

Wilson interjected: “The same coaches they’ve been recycling since the beginning of the league.”

Onyewu proceeded to say he doesn’t blame the people who are working for taking the positions offered them, but he went on to name several players without coaching experience who went directly from playing into a directorial role in the top levels of U.S. soccer with no prior experience beyond their playing careers. 

“How many first-team, retiring black players have gotten the opportunity?” he asked.

Beasley replied,” Not me. My phone is silent.”

An incredulous Onyewu asked, “Beas, with just our situations: Beas, 4-time World Cup, only player to be in 5 World Cup cycles, has won over 17 titles in his career. Never been contacted. But they give other people they give opportunities.”

When he retired, Onyewu said he was told, ‘We love you. Not enough experience.’ I’m like, ‘Hold up! I’m college educated. I own and operate three businesses. Speak three languages. Have a vast international contact network and this is on top of my playing career! (The crew dissolves into laughter over how ridiculous it all seems.) But I’m underqualified? If I’m underqualified, what are these other people before me?!”

He added, “As black men, I often feel we must be twice as good to get the same type of positions.” And he challenged white listeners to ask both black and white people if their parents told them they’d have to work twice as hard to have an equal shot at anything.

“Why?” he concluded. “This my question to the MLS: If you hear us, if you see us, if you are with us, why don’t your actions show that?”

Wilson offered a heartfelt and action-oriented response.

“What they have told us by doing nothing is: this is not for us. We’re here to be workers. We’re not here to lead. We’re not here to supervise. We’re not here to own. It’s plain and simple as that. We have a pyramid and a coaching structure and no one gets elevated.” — Maubricio Wilson

“The equal tears, work and sweat you put in with your teammates is never considered as good … It’s a thank you, appreciate it … keep on moving… See ya when I see ya!” Wilson said. “Both you guys have been disrespected and treated differently from day one of your campaign with the U.S. soccer team. …The time is now not to kick and scream but to be intelligent enough to say, ‘Listen, we’re not moving forward until we have representation at the top because if we don’t have that, nothing else matters. …At the top, if we don’t have someone there, they will always reject it [black efforts to participate] or continue to put their filter on it. That’s what they want to continue to do. You know why? They must be scared of us. They must be scared because of how they treated us in the past, they think we’re gonna do the same to them.

“That’s the only answer I have, Guic, when you ask me ‘Why? Why do they treat us the way they treat us?’

“As a fan outside looking at you two, you got through and made it. I’m so proud of you two, you inspired so many people: black, white, Spanish, Asian, it doesn’t matter. But throughout the process, you were always just a tool. You were never given your just due or given fair treatment. I’m tired of begging or asking, right? I think we’ve got to mobilize and take it. That’s the only thing they’re going to respect.” — Maubricio Wilson

Onyewu snickered with Beasley about Wilson’s “militant” tone.

“It’s not militant,” Wilson replied. “I like to say: intelligent. Why keep running and hitting the wall if you know what the result is going to be?”

Hit ‘em Up with Ricci Greenwood: Analyzing the case of Alan Hinton 

Speaking of the notion of being a tool for others to use, the Crack also weighed in on the degree to which enigmatic Tweets from Seattle soccer legend reflected a racist tone.

Alan Hinton, a 77-year old former pro player from Derby County who played with (and won two league titles with) one of the first racially mixed teams in England — also former Seattle Sounder coach, who won titles for the team in 1995 and 1996, lost his contract as a Sounders “brand ambassador” as a result of this Tweet to more than 10,000 followers:

“Let me make clear I am not a racist? I began in pro soccer when no black players on my team? Years later blacks started to be good so my attitude was ‘Love you if you help us win our bonuses’? Signed as a coach several good black players? Have friends who are black? Is that OK?”

The Seattle Times reported in 2019 that “his use of question marks was initially an error when he established his Twitter account in 2011,” a “running joke” he kept going.

The Crack crew was mystified by the question marks but also miffed at the all-too-familiar feeling that people don’t mind integrating if it means winning and bonuses.

“We find a lot of people in power who will recruit an African American if it helps them win, but not necessarily have the best intentions for the African-American culture,” Wilson commented.

Also, Hinton had unconsciously used language that often throws up a red flag to black listeners.

Beasley explained, “One thing all of us as black men always say … whenever someone makes the comment, ‘I have black friends,’ what does that mean?”

Onyewu answered: “He a damn racist.”

The Crack is a well-sourced bunch, however. And they were not content to cast judgment from the sidelines without more first-hand knowledge. So they called their friend Ricci Greenwood, a Seattle kid turned MLS player and international pro, who Hinton nurtured as a young player.

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Seattle native Ricci Greenwood played for the Columbus Crew and 1. FC Nürnberg during his prime. He credits Alan Hinton’s direction with helping him through tough issues as a young soccer player. Photo credit to Fedophile44 via Wikipedia Public Domain

“Alan is not a racist,” Greenwood said. “[The Tweet] didn’t sound right, but on a personal side and the things he did for me, I know he’s not.

“I think he was trying to bridge two different times…

“I just go off the experiences I had with him. From my point of view. He was one of few coaches who even took the time. We broke bread and had breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and he told me a lot of things that were very profound for me. Alan is an older white man from Britain. His statements were taken out of context and then everyone was rushing to turn their backs on him. He’s an icon here and they were quick to pass judgment.

Greenwood continued: “I had tears. I didn’t want to play anymore. Everyone was a racist. He was the only person who reached out and would hear about the anger I had. … All these great coaches were quick to label me uncoachable … that never came from him.

“His statements don’t match the man I know (even as his) statements were targeting African-American players in the wrong light. We should be open to make sure that people learn and understand how this is offensive to some people and kind of help them and correct them. But don’t crucify him and turn your back on him. I feel he’s a person that could learn from this and learn a lot.”

Soccer connections enable frontline insight on police perspective

In Memorial ...

One of many makeshift memorials left in the wake of worldwide protests decrying police brutality and systematic racism. [Photo by Rebecca Townsend]

As the battle cry of “Fuck 12” echoed nationwide, the Crack crew (who are all black, by the way) spoke with Jon Stueckenschneid, a white cop, who also happens to be a soccer coach. In terms of perspective, the crew couldn’t have found someone more qualified to weigh in from a police leadership perspective. Stueckenschneid said has worked the streets and subways of New York since he began policing in the late ‘90s. He currently commands the Queens division. Somehow the soccer bond allowed the conversation to get deep even among the minefields of tribalism that threatens to lock people in impenetrable camps of “us versus them,” “cops versus citizens” and “white versus black.” 

Stueckenschneid recounted the experience of watching the video of George Floyd’s killing with some fellow NYPD officers.

“It was very disturbing to watch this happen to another human being,” Stueckenschneid said. “We’re in this profession, like: What’s going on? What was this guy thinking? It’s disturbing and it has to be addressed. They lost their jobs, fine. That’s minimal. One guy’s gettin’ locked up. He’s gonna do a serious bit of time. Probably 25-to-life.”

Wilson interjects: “But history has shown, coach, usually they don’t get convicted.”

Stueckenschneid responds: “Well, there’s video on this, ok? There is public outcry.”

Wilson also queried Stueckenschneid on what he thought would happen to the other three cops who stood around while Officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd: “What about the other cops? I hear “We take care of our own.” What is going on with the other three cops? Why are the other three cops not being held accountable?”

“The investigation into those three guys is still ongoing,” he responded, noting the FBI’s Civil Rights Division is a notorious enforcer, as NYPD itself learned in the case of Abner Louima. “They have infinite resources and nothing but time. It might take a while… but they’re gonna get got …There will be something there.”

Stueckenschneid also questioned the whereabouts of Chauvin’s commanding officer, noting that in New York, he is held accountable for all the officers operating underneath him. He also noted that cops must help other cops cool down in tense situations.

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Calls to “Defund the Police” reflect protestors’ vision of a revamped public safety landscape. [Photo taken in Downtown Bloomington, Indiana, June 2020 by Rebecca Townsend.]

Onyewu asked whether a nationwide standard of policing would help.

“I’m sure that’s where we’ll be headed,” Stueckenschneid said. “This is not a unique incident only to Minneapolis. It’s been nationwide. We’ve had situations in New York that were very ugly: Eric Gardner, Abner Louima.”

Before concluding the conversation, the men brought it back to the international art form of talking smack about soccer and were laughing together as they said their fare-thee-wells.

After releasing Stueckenschneid from the line, Wilson asked his friends what they thought of the conversation.

“It was informative and an interesting conversation,” Beasley said. “I think it was great to hear his perspective on things. For getting a sense of what they go through, talk about and how they think about different things in different circumstances.”

In terms of envisioning how to move forward on the issue of police brutality and racial inequality, Onyewu said, “It’s about creating a new America. It’s hard to go back and change multiple centuries of thought, action and habit, but it’s not that difficult to pivot.

“I think we’re at a crucial moment. This is an opportunity for humanity…. As a global community, this is a great opportunity to pivot and say, “…This won’t continue anymore! I won’t stand for it!”

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This Jimi Hendrix quote, chalked on an Indiana sidewalk during worldwide protests, continues to inspire higher thinking decades after the guitar hero’s death. “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” [Photo credit: Rebecca Townsend]

 

Keeping it Positive / Coaching Through COVID

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By Rebecca Townsend
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the most delightful and unusual events of my ongoing home detention came as I found myself sitting in my study across from legendary soccer coach Anson Dorrance — hands down one of my top soccer role models. (If only I could have played for that guy. Or had him give me some instruction or encouragement in my youth …)

Ah, but as the late 80s faded, while I was busy taking on all the boys in Bloomington as a 12-year-old tomboy, Coach Dorrance was pulling together young females who could basically coach themselves into a squad. The team could only afford to train together for one week before playing in the world championships as the first U.S. Women’s National Team, so they needed intrinsically driven athletes. It was humbling for me (thinking I was such a tough chick) to enter the 90s and begin to become aware of this girl who shared so many characteristics with me — but in some amazingly trained super form. That girl was Mia Hamm, who became my number one soccer hero/shero, closely followed by the rest of those early teams and the man who coached so many of them internationally and at the University of North Carolina where he has coached the women’s team since 1979, amassing an unmatched win rate of over .900.
So there I am, nearly 30 years later, fireside in a cozy barrel chair across from Anson, who was on my phone, video chatting live from his North Carolina home as a contributor to United Soccer Coaches’ Coaching Through Covid series. The day’s topic was “Keeping it Positive in an Unpredictable World” and Anson was joined with a long-time colleague, Dr. Colleen Hacker, former U.S. Womens National Team Mental Skills Coach. Soccer broadcaster Dean Linke hosted. It felt so intimate, but in reality, I was in an audience of 1,500 people tuned in from all over the place.
Here are some elements of the conversation that stuck out to me. Please forgive me (and let me know) if, in condensing and weaving together these words, I’ve somehow lost or adulterated their original meaning.
On a Positive Note

On the subject of positivity, Colleen Hacker advised her audience not to confuse being positive with being a fanciful pollyanna. Positivity has direction; it is literally charged. Hacker sees coaches setting the stage for positive change when they practice the three “P”s: 1) meeting players/colleagues on a personal level, 2) aiming to be productive and 3) purposeful.

“We coach people. Not soccer. We’re coaching people who play soccer,” Hacker said. “Sixty-five percent of your success is going to be about relationships.”

The skills that separate good from great players are 1) intrinsic motivation and 2) mental toughness, Hacker noted, citing psychologist Martin Seligman, whose theories of learned optimism and learned helplessness promote positivity and wellness. “These are controllable factors,” she said. “Mental toughness is not an inborn trait, it’s a skill that improves when targeted.”

For 40 years Hacker has been breaking down the came into a 4+1 system: Technical + Tactical + Psychological + Physical (+ Teamwork). Each of those four aspects can be strengthened individually. So, she said, “Get to Work!”

In their own ways, both speakers asked: Do we as coaches and players want to be people who make excuses or people take care of business?

At 69 years old, Anson has a torn labrum in his hip, his knee can bum out, he has slipped disks “and I still love to play,” he said. “If you love the game, you stay involved with it. You’ll find your game.”

The Fitness Test

Boxers have a saying: You don’t get ready, you stay ready.

The same holds true if you show up to play for Anson Dorrance.
During the early days of the U.S. National Team, he needed players with the discipline to train on their own. He told them to arrive at training camp fit. The one girl who failed the test was sent home immediately. The legend of that unfortunate player has cemented the culture for that team: no young woman has ever failed the fitness test again.
Coaches can inspire their players to stay ready right now by advising them to Control the Controllables (CTC). “You can control your effort and your attitude,” Hacker said. “I’m spending a lot of time trying to control the controllables. Be where your feet are: in the now.”

Other controllables include: how long, how well, how hard you work out; how much time you take to rest and sleep; what you do to ensure quality sleep; the nutrient quality of what we put in our bodies; how well we stay hydrated.
During this time of separation, “focus on what you can do: fitness, wellness, mentality,” Dorrance said, noting even a 1% improvement is an improvement.

These two books are mainstays in my soccer library! My players still hear about the Pelé series Mia describes in her book.

Get Hooked on Books

An author in his own right, Coach Dorrance said, “So much of my inspiration comes from books.” *

His team leadership council is intimately familiar with concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, in which the power of positive thinking is tested in the face of death and cruelty. If Frankl could use positivity to inspire strength and hope, even as everything he loved in life was murdered, any of us should be able to muster some optimism, Dorrance suggested.

“You can control your attitude in any situation,” he said. “It’s the last of the human freedoms. It’s a choice you get to make every morning when you wake up…. Every champion player is a reflection of choices they make every morning.”

Do you bring passion and joy to the game as a player, as a coach?

Hacker, also an author, referred to a study comparing a group of kids who colored for rewards with a group that colored for fun. The kids who colored for rewards did not color on their own in free time, whereas those who colored for fun would. Colleen extrapolated the idea for soccer: “If the only reason you’re working on 1v1 is for my praise: I have a problem, you have a problem and we have a problem,” she said. “Where one finds joy, one can find mastery.”

Like the coaches have been asking of the USWNT since its inception: “What do you do when no one is watching?”

Love drives great players to make tough decisions morning after morning. While others sleep or party, champions are digging deeper within themself to sow the seeds of success.
Hacker references legendary tennis player and feminist icon Billie Jean King and her book Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes.

 

The epigraph of Hamm’s Go For The Goal invokes Dorrance’s vision.

The Vision of a Champion (Spoiler: She’s not wearing a crown.)
Anson talks about Tobin Heath nutmegging him a million times — “along with every other coach she’s had.” Those nutmegs illustrate Tobin’s pure love of the ball. She derives joy from a good nutmeg.
While joy is essential to building a great game, individual drive sets great players apart.
One early morning, Coach Dorrance was surprised to find Mia Hamm at a city park doing sprints, unaware of his presence, simply training for training’s sake. He wrote her a note, acknowledging and appreciating her work ethic. “I knew she was going to ascend,” he said. Years later, Mia Hamm published a book called Go for the Goal. She sent him a copy with his note tucked under the cover.

Watching Hamm hunched over, out of breath, covered in sweat without any awareness that she was being watched, that scene will endure forever in her coach’s mind as his “vision of a champion.”

Growth is what we desire as players and coaches, correct? Yes, Even know when we may feel as if we are in suspended animation.

“Do today well. Do now well,” Hacker said, noting that while a person can’t control the future or the past, if one can make tough, difficult decisions, even in little increments, “you will grow.”

As we coach through COVID, Hacker encourages us to remember, “We’re not just trying to get through this, we’re trying to grow through this.”

Staying Positive and other episodes in the “Coaching Through Covid” series are archived at unitedsoccercoaches.org/coaching-through-covid/. The series home page also has a schedule of future sessions along with registration information.

* Training Soccer Champions by Anson Dorrance and Tim Nash.

* * Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls by Charles Salzberg, Colleen Hacker, and Tony DiCicco.

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