| Bob Contiguglia |
|
Contiguglia, 55, a practicing nephrologist (kidney
specialist), is best-known for his six years as chairman of the USYSA (1988-94) during which
the organization grew from 1.6 million to 2.5 million members. A loser to Fricker in the 1984
presidential race, Contiguglia has 12 years of service to the USSF. He resides in Denver. |
| Contiguglia’s platform |
| 1. USSF officials are perceived by many as removed and not responsive
to the organization’s membership and the soccer public in general. Do you believe
this is the case and how would you promote a closer relationship between the USSF
leadership and the soccer community? Should all the machinations of the
Federation be made public?
|
| Contiguglia: In 1993, the Federation had a Soccer Summit where the soccer
community made marketing, professional league development, governance and the
national team its major priorities. The Federation has made great strides in
these areas, but has created the perception of a lack of caring for the grassroots.
This will change in my administration where we will focus inwardly to meet the
direct needs of our members especially in the areas of coach, referee, player
and administrator development. As we refocus, the Federation will continue to
progress in marketing, developing professional soccer, governance and building
the national teams.
Open communication is necessary for any organization to prosper. |
| 2. How would you describe the relationship between Major League Soccer
and the U.S. national team? What are the positive aspects? What are the negatives?
What is the future of the U.S. Cup and American participation in Copa America, both
in the middle of MLS season?
|
| Contiguglia: Major League Soccer and the National Team Program have an
excellent working relationship. Most importantly we recognize the need for
mutuality. In my meetings with the MLS owners and administration we identified
areas where we need to work together. These include a quadrennial calendar,
guidelines for player release for national team games, dates for USSF events,
and joint promotions. We must recognize that U.S. Soccer cannot achieve its
long term goals without a successful professional league.
The Federation will conduct the U.S. Open Cup outside the MLS season. The U.S.
probably will not participate in the Copa America which is expensive and
interferes with the MLS season. In addition, the Gold Cup will be conducted
outside the MLS season and continue to invite outstanding teams such as Brazil. |
| 3. U.S. teams have fared poorly in recent world championships. What
are your feelings about this? How and when can we expect improvement?
|
| Contiguglia: I am disappointed in this year’s World Cup performance. We must
now focus on the future. Getting beyond the first round is a must for 2002. To
do this we must hire a coach with international experience and provide more
competition with countries outside CONCACAF. We must also continue to support
MLS as a training ground for the national team. |
| 4. Where does the Olympic Development Program fit into your thoughts
on development of young players? How does it fit into the recently-announced
initiatives of Project 2010?
|
| Contiguglia: In order to be competitive with the rest of the world, U.S.
Soccer needs to provide a professional player opportunity track. This includes
longer residential camps with the best coaches and club play with professional
coaches. This is part of Project 2010 and represents a level above ODP for
talented players. |
| 5. What can be done about getting more Hispanic and African-American
involved in youth soccer on the playing, coaching and administrative levels? Soccer
America just ran a series a few months ago saying minority participation in soccer
was negligible. Should there be a program for building previously non-existent fields
in inner-city areas to promote minority participation?
|
| Contiguglia: U.S. Soccer needs to identify accomplished players who have
moved here from other countries and get them involved in our system. In addition,
we need to work with the inner cities to develop the Hispanic and Afro-American
players. Building urban fields is a necessity. We are currently doing this with
one of our sponsors and placing artificial turf in the Metropolitan Oval in New
York. More fields need to be built and should be a priority of the U.S. Soccer
Foundation. |
| 6. Do you favor the U.S. national youth championships being played at
sites such as Phoenix where the heat routinely exceeded 100 degrees?
|
| Contiguglia: As coach and physician, I do not see any contraindication to
playing the National Championships in Phoenix as long as proper precautions are
taken. These include monitoring of bulb temperature, adequate monitoring of
hydration and proving adequate fluid breaks. Keep in mind that areas with
higher humidity can be more dangerous. |
| 7. Francisco Marcos has talked about an elite national summer league
program for promising youngsters. What are your thoughts about this?
|
| Contiguglia: There is a need for a higher level of competition for our
talented players. Several of our state associations are forming elite summer
leagues in the midwest and in the northeast. Mr. Marcos is proposing a national
league to meet these needs.
The USYSA Board of Directors has stated that we should allow the free market
to prevail and that anybody can have a league. |
| 8. Should a 14-year-old be playing only soccer and no other sports.
How much soccer is too much soccer for a 14-year old? For a 16-year-old?
|
| Contiguglia: There are children who are dedicated to a single activity whether
it be sport, music, dance, theater, etc. I support it, if the child enjoys it,
is having fun and not being pressured by influences such as parents and
coaches. If a child wants to be the best at any activity in today’s world,
he\she must dedicate him\herself to it at a young age. Gymnasts, swimmers,
skaters and dancers are good examples. |
| 9. In many places, there is a tug-of-war between clubs and high
schools for players. Which should have priority during the high school season?
|
| Contiguglia: Preferably, the child should be able to play both during
different seasons. If this is not the case, the player will need to make a
choice based on his\her social, psychological and sport needs. |
| 10. What is the U.S. style of soccer? Is there such a thing? What
should it encompass? Years ago there was great emphasis on one-touch soccer for
youth. Why? Does and should this discourage creative dribbling? What can be done
to teach American youths better ball possession and better marking techniques on defense?
|
| Contiguglia: The U.S. style of soccer should feature determination,
creativity, winning spirit, physical fitness, outstanding organization and
character. Our national teams display some of this today.
In modern day soccer, a player needs to be proficient in all aspects of the
game, technical, tactical, fitness and psychological. To accomplish this we
need more coach education and player training sessions using small-sided games
and problem solving situations along with appropriate levels of competition. |
| 11. What should be the youngest age-group for select youth teams?
Does starting at under-12 cause premature burnout in many cases and overlook
late-bloomers in others? What are your feelings on "playing up?"
|
| Contiguglia: Talented players should be allowed to play up as long as it meets
their needs and not the needs of the coach or parent. Burnout is caused by too
much pressure from coaches and parents and long seasons. We need to treat kids
as kids, not small adults and meet their needs. Some kids will play up and
thrive because it is their choice and they succeed. Select teams could start at
12 provided the players have properly trained and licensed coaches who
understand childhood development and the physical and psychological needs of
children. These kids still need to have fun. |
| 12. Will you lobby the NCAA and college presidents for an end to
collegiate restrictions on outside play during the school year? What would you
like to see in college soccer that does not exist now and how would you implement it?
|
| Contiguglia: In principle, colleges should not prohibit anyone from playing
for an outside club. On the other hand, we cannot ask the colleges to be the
training ground for professional soccer players and national teams. That is
not their mission. This should be up to the Federation and professional leagues. |
| 13. Major League Soccer has agreed to a February 1 cutoff for signing
college players with remaining eligibility. Some coaches say that hurts them because
it is too late to recruit replacements. Project 2010 offers a further threat to
college programs because its plan is to divert top talent away from college. What
rules should be in place to protect the colleges?
|
| Contiguglia: Project 40 provides an opportunity for talented athletes in
addition to the college game. There should be reasonable communication between
the colleges and professional leagues.
Project 40 will probably be expanded with more players coming out of high
school and freshman year of college. The player will have to make a choice
between professional soccer and college soccer. |
| 14. The USSF has been seen as dragging its feet in regards to
establishment of a women’s professional league. It did not support the proposed NSA,
designed to continue the momentum from the 1996 Olympic gold medal? In the interim,
two women’s basketball leagues have started and one for hockey is seriously being
considered. What are your feelings on this?
|
| Contiguglia: A women’s professional league is necessary for the U.S. to remain
the best in the world, but a league must be properly organized, capitalized and
times. I support starting a league after 2000 and I am currently chairing a
committee to write a business plan for a league to present to potential sponsors
and investors. The committee is working with IMG our marketing partner and the
UCLA Business School to do a marketing analysis. Basketball draws on a larger
market and has a mature men’s league for support along with millions of marketing
dollars. Soccer does not.
We have only one chance to do it right! |
| 15. Many think girls get shortchanged by the USSF. Even with the
establishment of a under-18 team, the U-16s and U-20s seldom are in action. What do
you think about this and should the USSF push FIFA for establishment of world
championships for U-20s, U-18s and U-16s?
|
| Contiguglia: USSF will push for additional championships for women, but we
must understand that the USA is many years ahead of other countries in providing
competition for younger players. In many countries, U-16 and U-18 competition
does not exist and U.S. players play adults in tournaments. |
| 16. The USOC put the USSF on probation is April. USSF officials
attributed this to "growing pains." Should this have ever happened and have
necessary steps been taken to solve the problem?
|
| Contiguglia: The USOC problems are a result of 20 years of unaddressed issues
by the USSF and new issues introduced by the USOC. These issues include athlete
representation, confusing by-laws, an improper appeals process, delegation of
governance and the need for inclusion. The current constitutional committee
has written new by-laws to deal with the deficiencies. |
| 17. Do you plan to eventually integrate the current professional
leagues into one league with multiple divisions through which promotion and relegation
can be implemented, following the world model? Do you think departures from the
international system, such as the shootout tiebreaker and the use of stadium clocks
rather than referee stopwatches hamper the United States’ integration into the
international community?
|
| Contiguglia: Many countries and professional leagues are experimenting with
various aspects of the game to see if it makes the game better for players and
spectators. Examples of this include accumulation of fouls leading to penalty
kicks, moving the spot on free kicks if the wall is not proper, kick-ins instead
of throw-ins and no offside.
At this year’s FIFA Congress, I inquired about the shootout and MLS clock.
There was no opposition. To the contrary, people are looking to the U.S. for
new ideas.
Professional league integration and relegation will be difficult today, but
could be a long term goal. |
| 18. What is your position on the U.S. Soccer Foundation? What should
its emphasis be and has it been successful fulfilling its mission until now?
|
| Contiguglia: The Foundation is fulfilling its mission building the game with
four million dollars in grants already given out. The Foundation should support
and promote field development and be the development arm of the Federation. It
should support the Federation with special projects such as the Women’s World
Cup and Project 40.
As the president of the USSF, I will initiate a plan to write a proposal for
the USA to host the World Cup in 2010 and ask the Foundation for help. |
| 19. InterForever has handled the promotion of recent Gold Cup matches,
and the TV rights to other national team games.They have organized these in a manner
that US fans, and Anglos in general are in the minority.Is the USSF interested in
seeing the national team games be generally available on American television?
|
| Contiguglia: All of our national team games should be televised in the USA.
U.S. Soccer’s partnership with IMG should help. IMG has the ability to increase
our television appearances in the USA. We should see more U.S. broadcasts of
national team games from CONCACAF countries in the near future. |
| 20. Nike has invested many millions of dollars in U.S. Soccer. Should
the soccer public be concerned that Nike (and other entities such as IMG) will exert
too much control over the USSF for their own profit and not the betterment of the game?
|
| Contiguglia: There is nothing in the IMG or Nike contracts that gives them
control over the USSF. They are partners with the USSF. I have already had
meetings with both parties, and they recognize their roles. They look to the
USSF for direction and leadership and will support programs developed by the
USSF and not vice versa. For IMG and Nike to succeed, the Federation must
succeed both on and off the field. |
