PDL Feature
Friday, August 9, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. -- As I reflect upon this past weekend’s 2013 PDL Championship presented by Nike which fielded the Ocean City Nor’easters, Victoria Highlanders, Thunder Bay Chill, and Austin Aztex in a final four format, I was pleased in many areas. This is my first year as the PDL Senior Director and I was fortunate to see the future of North American soccer from an organizational and technical standpoint.
Organizationally, you cannot ask for much more than the Aztex provided. The work done by the club’s staff, led by Ric Granyard, was a big reason there were more than 3,000 fans for the semifinal and 4,200 at the final on Sunday night which provided an electric atmosphere at House Park in Austin, Texas. The Aztex’s supporters group, Eberly’s Army, and the fans that had made the trip from Ontario, New Jersey and British Columbia were an integral part of the experience as the players felt like they were in a professional venue, which in essence, they were. My background as an assistant coach in Major League Soccer leads me to believe there were many professional prospects that I witnessed play last weekend.
I had an opportunity to speak with each of the four organizations during the four days I spent in Austin, and while they were “in the moment” with their team’s immediate future, they were eager to talk about the development of their club through their youth system. Each were excited to point out the 18- or 19-year-old that is “waiting in the wings” and learning in their environment. They all acknowledged they are taking a chance by going younger in the next few years but know in the grand scheme of things their mission is to put players in situations that will help them become professionals one day.
To me, that sums up perfectly the purpose of the PDL. By affording college-age players the chance to develop their games, so that in the fall they can either pick up where they left off, in the case of an All-American like Reading United and Georgetown’s Steven Neumann, or use the experience they gain as a springboard to greater playing time and success. As a result, the PDL is helping grow another generation of players that will be key contributors in Major League Soccer and USL PRO in years to come.
In addition, the use of overage players, such as Nolan Intermoia of Thunder Bay and Zack Pope of Austin, provides the younger players with the leadership and direction of how to be a pro in conjunction with the coaching staff. Pope’s influence on the Aztex, which was evident on and off the field as club captain, was a key factor in the club’s success this season. When players are held accountable not just by coaches, but by their teammates, they improve, and teams earn success.
As shown in the PDL Championship, the players and clubs throughout the league have a bright future, and I feel very fortunate to be leading the development of North American soccer in the 18-23 year old age group. Our goals remain high as we help develop future professionals from our current crop of players, and prepare for those who will become part of the league in years to come.