"Throughout history, Americans have many times demonstrated a remarkable ability to accomplish extraordinary goals. While Americans do not own a monopoly on inventiveness or problem solving, one fact sets them apart from the rest of the world. America’s collective resources and creativity are the greatest on earth."

The above statement is at the beginning of the “Project 2010” initiative for the United States Soccer Federation. This was put out back in 1998, and where are they now?

The US has not advanced the way it had envisioned and we certainly are not ready to go out and win the world cup. Why is that? What did they do wrong? Was their vision wrong? Was it the people running the show? What is the issue behind the “failure of project 2010?

The answer to those questions is that we as a country looked at other successful countries and tried to copy their structure as closely as possible. However, we are much different then any of these programs.

The most noticeable and problematic of these differences is the size of our country and current structures. With more registered players than any other country, the US has challenges of maintaining a structure unlike any other nation. We are also geographically too big to be governed in the same way that European countries are governed.

Other issues with the USSF struggling to reach the goal of Project 2010 lie within the past structures and the political governance that has been getting in the way of our future.

What can we do on that level?

I honestly don’t know.

I do feel that I can answer some of these same concerns for our program here in Broomfield. We do not have the geographical problems that the USSF have, but we do have some other structural issue that may be hindering our growth and development as a program that is looking to the future.

Just like the USSF, the Broomfield Soccer Club is filled with people who want what’s best for the kids and the game of soccer. However, we too are having a hard time navigating through the past into what the future should and will look like. We do know that changes must occur for the Broomfield Soccer Club to reach its potential in this sport, and the state. What changes are needed and where do we want to be?

First I would say that as a set of coaches we need to move forward by taking full responsibility for what we are doing individually on the training field and on the sidelines of the game field.  We need to be effective within our jobs and requirements, but also need to step up and help out wherever we see a need outside of our personal teams. This program is a team and support from your teammates is important. If we want to move this program forward then we need to do it now and make the right moves.

Secondly, we need to promote and live out our club mission in what we do as coaches, directors, and board members. We want to provide developmental and competitive youth soccer opportunities that enhance character, community, and love of the game of soccer. This is done by enhancing our current structure and pushing toward the future, but more importantly pushing toward the right future.

With the club now functioning as one entity (both competitive and developmental soccer), we need to build programs that will push both to their max. Programs should be designed to enhance the coaching levels from U4 to U18; and players should want to come to this club and should feel proud of what they are a part of. This starts and ends with anyone and everyone who is involved from coaches to leadership.

Show pride in your work, and show care in how you perform that work, but more importantly do it right away, do it early, and do it often. Use the creativity you have to come up with new ideas and help create a better future for the kids we are working with today.

One definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.”- Albert Einstein