Dear National Council Voting Members:
We are counting on you.
Later this week you will choose a new U.S. Soccer President, and with this election comes the possibility for change – real change. We have no vote in the election; therefore, us millions of passionate soccer people across the country are counting on you.
There is a pervasive lack of trust in our soccer ecosystem that is harming every single aspect of the game. You know that to be true, right?
The absolute priority in your decision must be to elect a candidate with the passion, character, determination and resiliency necessary to lead us in a cultural change that is rooted in a new era of trust and collaboration.
Since the U.S. Men failed to qualify for the World Cup we’ve been part of a rather endless barrage of conversation surrounding Pay-to-Play, Talent Identification, Coach Education, Player Development, Accessibility, Open vs. Closed Professional Leagues, National Team Coach Decisions, and much more.
While all of these discussions are laudable and relevant, if they become the platform for change, we will not live up to our potential. They are not the problem, they are the bi-product of the problem. Let’s stop tugging at the weeds and let’s pull up the roots.
The root problem is the pervasive lack of trust that exists everywhere from the Boardroom to the grassroots coach-parent relationship.
We are counting on you to elect a candidate who is capable of and committed to dealing with our root problem and will tirelessly work to establish a culture of trust and collaboration.
We are counting on you to thoughtfully evaluate the candidate you are considering and ask yourself:
- Does your candidate sincerely understand how disenfranchised people feel, do they feel the same way?
- Has your candidate demonstrated to you that they have a pulse on our soccer ecosystem from the boardroom to the grassroots youth landscape and have they made culture a priority in their platform?
- Do they see beyond the business of soccer, our National Teams and the upcoming (and important) World Cup bid and understand that despite our financial reserves, soccer is not living up to it’s potential?
- Do they possess the single-minded, unrelenting nature that will be required to bring parties together and establish a culture of trust?
- Do they have the ability to inspire?
If we don’t establish a culture of trust we will never live up to our potential as a soccer nation.
We are counting on you to elect a president who has the conviction, passion and ability to connect on a deep level with the grassroots, youth, professional and adult players, executives, volunteers, coaches, referees, parents and fans so we can harness the power we possess collectively and establish a soccer culture we can all feel an integral part of.
Please remember that the best candidate for this type of change may not be the candidate you most relate you. You need to elect someone who personally feels and understands these problems and who is full of resolve and determination.
We are counting on you to believe there is a better and different way to go about soccer in the United States and vote for a candidate that understands how we are feeling.
Transcendent values like trust and integrity literally translate into revenue, profits and prosperity. – Patricia Aburdene, Author of Megatrands 2010
When we establish a culture of trust, we will be unstoppable.
Yours in Soccer,
Passionate American Soccer People Everywhere
