So... it looks like the WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) suspension is now turning into a death nail into a full professional league for the worlds elite women soccer players in the USA.

The one word that enters my brain is... HOW? How can a country that invests so much (effort, practice, AYSO, Club, College, Cash) into women's soccer not have a pro league? I'm going to be honest,  I don't know the ins and outs of why the WPS seems to have faltered, but it seems that to own a team you have to have a huge amount of disposable cash, and in todays economic climate, that isn't realistic. What I cannot fathom is how WUSA failed, now WPS. I also want to avoid any mudslinging, the fact is, the WPS is no longer, and that is leaving a huge amount of AMAZING soccer players unemployed.
You wouldn't believe the amount of girls that were not even aware that the WPS existed! Why? Was it marketed correctly? How many girls know who Alex Morgan is... but how any could name what WPS team she played for last season? I think that US Soccer has to get involved in any women's pro league, and promote it as much as they can. Sports networks also have to take responsibility somewhat. Fox Soccer showed ONE  game a week. They didn't even have a round up show weekly. How hard could it be to get footage together and stick Temryss Lane in front of a camera with a special guest each week? It's not like it would cost a lot! Now... onto my vision of a women's soccer league in the United States. My vision would be this:

• 4 regional leagues, North East, North West, South East and South West. 
  
• 8 teams in each league (Play each other 4 times, 28 games in the regular season)
• The top 2 teams from each league go through to knockout cup competition. 
• 4 games over one weekend (QF), 
• 2 games the following weekend (SF) and the
• The final the following week.

Regional leagues would mean less investment needed from owners... because travel would be localized. Travel was a major expense for owners, this would cut down on it quite a bit. I know that players wouldn't mind a 5-6 hour bus ride to be part of this movement.8 Teams in each league is a realistic goal for a league. There must be that many team owners (current WPS/W-League/WPSL/WPSL Elite) in each region willing to give it a shot. Each league would have its's champion, and a runner up. Those two go on to the National Finals. This gives teams something to fight for, even if they finish second!Every team in the league would have to partner with or create their own local youth club teams, lend them the teams name, build a youth program that young players can bond with, wear the uniform in their game on Saturday afternoons then go and watch the pro team wear the jersey in their game on Saturday night. This gives fans some ownership and investment in, not only  taking pride in their club, but their heroes on the pro team as well.

When it comes to front office etc... keep it small! You only need a few people to organize it all, the more people that get involved, the more complicated it gets. I would actually get the players involved with running the marketing etc. A lot of the players are highly intelligent people, with college degrees.... I can guarantee you that at least 5 have amazing marketing/social media-networking talents! Each region would have to get games televised... this is so important! Get millions of little girls watching their heroes on the tv, online, on their mobile devices etc etc. Whether it be on Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN, ESPNw, as long as  people have the choice to watch! These days you can make a league look AMAZINGLY professional without spending millions of dollars on it... don't come out acting like the NBA, know what you are.... a fledgling league. Give the owners more leeway to do what they want with teams sponsorship-wise. Have league wide sponsors where the money is divided, but have the team go out and get their own deals as well- this is good for local economy!


Now comes the kicker... and also the one that I expect to get ridiculed for! Most people that I have spoken to who have a beef with women's soccer is that it is 'too slow', 'nothing happens'. Well...  Why not make the field a little bit smaller? Nothing drastic, but enough so that there is more action, and good technical players would shine! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all kinds of soccer, even long ball... but short, quick passing soccer with a burst of dribbling is exciting to watch- fact. I know first hand from the players that I have trained that this is the preferred method. Technical soccer players are breaking through the ranks, let them breathe and shine... a small field would mean that players have to have a great touch and play quicker... which is great to watch.


I don't have all the answers, this is just my view, some people will agree with it, some will mock me for it. I ask you to remember that I do know what I'm talking about, and I care as much as anyone, if not more than the next person... there HAS to be a professional soccer league in the United States!

- David Copeland-Smith

As a winger, how do you come out on top in a 1 on 1 against a fullback?

“The first opportunity you get, run at them. It sets the tone of the game. If I receive the ball on the touchline, I’ll cut inside and drive at the player, then as soon as he turns his body to come inside, I’ll push it back outside him so he has to turn his body all the way around.

This can help you work a yard of space to whip in a cross or shot. You have to mix it up to keep the defender guessing. Sometimes I’ll receive the ball and pass it a couple of times, then the next time I receive it I’ll run at him.

I don’t worry about how big they are. To be honest, if I’m up against a full-back who is big and tall, I’m happy they won’t be as nippy or as agile as me.

You can’t worry about what they can do, because that’s in their control. You can only think about your strengths and how you can expose their weaknesses.

It’s about trying to be clever rather than using your size and your strength, as sometimes that’s not enough to get you by.”

I love the fact that Alex is all about being clever, using his technique! Every young player should take note! This interview was for Four Four Two Performance- check them out!

Check this interview out from Andres Iniesta, basically explaining how he plays simple, but effective, and HOW he does it!

Receiving a pass

Before I receive the ball, I quickly look to see which players I can give it to. Always be aware of who is around you: if you feel them closing down, take a touch to move the ball away from them. Try and put yourself in space to get the pass: the more space you have, the more time you have to think. And when you get the ball, don’t move it towards the opponent. That said, sometimes I’m happy to run at a player and just hold the ball in front of him. That way I’ve moved the team forward.

Playing the pass

Every pass is important. A bad pass loses possession and puts the team under pressure. Short passes build momentum and if you have the ball then the opponents can’t do anything. Know the time to make a killer pass. If you need a goal, search for the space to make the pass. If you’re protecting a lead, keep possession and play safer. Because we have played together for a long time to a certain system, everyone knows where to move. That makes my job easier, knowing where Xavi or Leo [Messi] will be.

Thinking on your feet

If you think before your opponent where the ball is going to go then you have an advantage. If you stay with the ball at your feet and think about what to do, you are going to lose the ball. The best players are the quickest thinkers. Where is my team-mate going to run to? Will he stay onside? Which one has space? Which one is looking for the ball? How do they like the ball – to their feet or in front? You can be the best passer in the world, but without your team-mates being in the right position, it’s no good.

Drawing a foul

Make the opponent think that you are going one way, then go the other. Confuse him. And when your opponent has the ball, close him down quickly. Put him under pressure before he’s even had time to think about an attack. Another thing: if the attack has gone, don’t waste energy playing catch-up. You can be as much use to the team as a defender if the ball comes back. Or you can move up more slowly and still be in a position to shoot if the ball comes back to you.

Dealing with a giant

If I play against a big player, I play the ball quickly on the ground. Playing a quick one-two is also very effective as bigger players are slower to react and turn. I also keep a distance from them so that I can turn quickly and we don’t find ourselves going for the same ball. I only weigh 63 kilos so I don’t have weight to throw around. If you can get the ball past them a few times using a one-two they will be more reluctant to rush in and tackle, so you have more space to play. Barça is a small team, so we use our height well. It’s good for me to take corners, not just because I’m unlikely to win the ball in the air.

Shooting from distance

I’m not a natural scorer, but if I see an opening, I’ll shoot. I shoot if I think I can score and I’ll aim for the part of the goal that’s most difficult for the goalkeeper. That’s what I did in the World Cup final – the corner near the post. And against Chelsea too [Champions League semi-final in 2009], because I saw a space through a crowd of players. Opposition players in front make it more complicated – for me but also for the goalkeeper – because they can’t see properly. And if there’s someone in a better position, I’ll pass. So you need to know who is around you all the time and where they are.

This interview was originally published for, and in Four Four Two Performance- All rights reserved.

Check out the new Beast Mode Soccer trailer! It highlights a few of our clients over the last few months!