WPS set to fold... what now? My view

4/28/2012

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

20 Comments

Alfredo

4/29/2012 01:16:05 am

100% agree. I can only add that there has to be something going wrong with the way wos marketing is not connecting with the larger sports, women's targeting brands out there. The women's spector is the growth sector for these companies and they need to have a presence for their marketing $. Additionally, the social media play was lacking and not trully exploited to get wps highlited for what it was. Quality, clean and explosive soccer. We had a great opportunity to watch one of the best teams I've seen in the gold pride before they folded. The quality of play was world class, at that time the quakes from the mls had a team that was frustrating to watch due to its lack of quality talent.

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6/12/2013 06:17:48 pm

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9/9/2013 04:47:05 pm

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4/30/2012 04:17:27 am

I was at the game between the Western New York Flash and the Boston Breakers this past summer, in what was the first return match for the playes after the World Cup. It seemed nearly half the players on the field represented their national teams - Marta, Alex Morgan, Kelly Smith, Alex Scott, Aya Sameshina, Rachel Buehler, Lauren Cheney, Stephanie Cox, and many more.

Yet there were only about 5000 fans in the stands at Harvard Stadium on a gorgeous Sunday evening to witness some great matchups and a spectacular goal by Morgan.

The league needs to create a low-cost entry and perhaps shared services business model to allow teams to create enough momentum to survive their early year investments.

Time to start an entirely new business model. As you point out, we need strong partners, but the NFL, NBA and MLB are not realistic role models.

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9/17/2013 04:07:55 pm

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Quillan

4/30/2012 05:59:03 am

I totally agree with your idea. I actually came up with a 3 division structure (west, central, and east) with 6 teams in each division.

There also definitely needs to be television coverage, or at least live streaming. There's people around the world who want to watch their heroes play here.

And as for advertising, why didnt the league try to work with Ellen, Opra, or maybe even the view? Those are all prominent women who should be very vested in promoting a women's league.

One way to help with financial problems, they should try the idea of crowd-funding. Allow fans to buy pieces of the league or teams, then reward them for their investments. This would help more fans and companies become invested in the league.

Bev

5/17/2012 01:09:55 pm

I've always thought there was a problem with the marketing and the business model. Who has been in charge of this?

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5/18/2012 02:06:58 pm

We have to remember that one business model does not guarantee success for all. Personally, the first error comes from the lack of ownership by...owners. Many shelled out the dough, but had little investment into the program. Additionally, too many coaches attempted to be the business leader of the organization. A hand cannot become a leg, and a leg not the head; yet all body parts are required to function correctly.
Owners that have invested in both the team and the community, who are passionate about their micro-niche, and more importantly the game will determine the success of women's soccer. We heard plenty from players and coaches, but where were the business leaders of these programs? Why weren't they shaking hands? Hosting fund raising events? Money makes the world go round, but lack of passionate can kill off the wealthiest business.

It's vital to look at a program, a team, and know that it is a form of entertainment. People are paying to be entertained. Until leaders start to view women's soccer as a business venture, an investment, instead of a Sunday afternoon to get the kids out of the house; we will continue to struggle.

Mike

7/30/2012 09:54:19 am

I really thought the WPS had a good model. A much leaner approach than the WUSA. I also cannot begin to actually summarize what were the causes in the WPS demise. I do like the concept of regional play - one thing this county has to deal with is sheer distance.

I am going to throw out three concepts. I am not sure if this country has what it takes to support women's professional sports and especially soccer. And by saying this I mean no offense to the women athletes. We traveled hundreds of miles on two different occasions to watch WPS matches and I thought they were brilliant. Standard field, standard rules - all very well played. True fans of the sport would have loved the level of play but attendance just seemed wrong. I could go on and on but I think my assumption is correct. I am not faulting the teams, the players, or the league but in reality I'm faulting our society.

Secondly, most other countries align their women's programs with men's. I'm not sure about how well the WNBA is working but I think we may need to look to some sort of arrangement with the MLS - which seems to be a on a good track.....

Lastly, grass roots marketing. Absolutely work to death connections with local clubs, schools, colleges, US Youth Soccer, US Club soccer, etc. Make the players acessible - the women are absolutely wonderful ambassadors and can be such great assets to the soccer community.

And then hope for better economic situations.....

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4/17/2013 01:26:49 pm

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:

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5/9/2013 09:37:48 pm

Great initiative from the official’s side! Regional league cup gives player an opportunity to show their talents and skills. Besides this, they can have a good practice session under the team manager that helps them to learn new football lessons.

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9/13/2013 06:31:39 pm

It's not analogous it would expense a many! Instantly... onto my imagine of a women's soccer coalition in the Unified Enunciates.

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10/3/2013 06:05:00 pm

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!

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10/9/2013 12:05:15 am

I also ascend to fast quantity mudslinging, the act is, the WPS is no longer, also that is leaving a gigantic gauge of FABULOUS soccer mimes supine.

Beast Mode Soccer

David Copeland-Smith is a UEFA 'A' Licensed soccer trainer with a unique outlook on how players should learn the game...