When teams from the Dallas area won seven U.S. Youth Soccer national championships this summer, I scratched my head.

A couple of things came to mind as to the reason for the success in North Texas.

The area has great soccer history and coaching, but the difference just might be the way some of these clubs structure their programs.

More youth clubs in the North Texas area make sure that decisions regarding player development are made by hired professionals. This means the technical or coaching director is responsible for the vision and player development program, as well as its execution on the field. This comes with the help of volunteer administrative support.

“From day one, I realized that soccer decisions have to be made by soccer people, with all due respect to the volunteers,” says Dallas Texans technical director Hassan Nazari. “Soccer people understand the problem and the challenge.”

Those “soccer people” Nazari refers to include former pros and former college players who are expected to lead the way in creating passionate players.

Dallas-area clubs such as the Texans and Solar have their soccer ideas and decisions generated and put forth by a director of coaching. Here in Houston, it seems most clubs are board-driven in that they have decisions made by boards, which sometimes include members who instead of providing administrative support…….

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You would have to think DAVID BECKHAM has got to be extremely frustrated with the playing situation in LA. Has he ever been on a poorer team in his career?
I think not.
So how did the GALAXY get so old? Have such poor overall team speed? And have absolutely no penetration out wide in a game that is fundamentally must have width?
How accountable is former GM ALEXI LALAS and Director of Soccer Operations PAUL BRAVO? I think alot.
The first thing that BRUCE ARENA did was trade for EDDIE LEWIS who has had an excellent career but also can’t get behind an opposing outside back. So now you have the dilemma of two wide players (Lewis and Beckham) who are not going to give you that plus two outside backs into their thirties in GREG VANNEY and CHRIS KLEIN (who had to defend the pacy ROBBIE RODGERS all night long and couldn’t get forward). It is going to take alot to fix this team. And LD may be moving on?
I understand the pressure in LA to produce and the challenges to get a winner quickly but one has to take a look at the decisions that have been made to get to this point.
They are old and tired.
Compare that to the situation in COLUMBUS and how SIGI SCHMID has sourrounding a star player with declining physical skills (Guillermo Barros Schelotto) to get the best out of his creative mind and skill.
AS FOR BECKHAM IN HOUSTON, IF HE CAN’T PLAY LETS PARADE HIM AROUND A BIT FOR THE FANS.

DYNAMO AT HOME TONITE

Don’t expect a big crowd tonite for the DYNAMO vs. San Francisco of Panama match. Maybe we could disguise them as the EARTHQUAKES from the BAY AREA.
Still the game is a great opportunity to gather three points in Concacaf Champions League and my guess is fans can get really up close and personal at this one.
A nine o’clock kickoff hurts the young crowd. Dynamo at home now for five straight . DC UNITED comes to town on SUNDAY.
See you there ! As for me. I am heading down to the ROB tonite.

DYNAMO ALL ACCESS WITH GLENN DAVIS TO FEATURE COMMISH DON GARBER

Don Garber will be my guest on the radio show tomorrow night from 7-9pm so line up the questions. What do you want to know from the commissioner.
Other guests being lined up at this moment will include Dynamo players and coaches, plus a ringer to be announced later.
Call in number is 713-212-5790

YOUTH PIECE IN THE CHRON

Sometimes things get edited out that as a writer you dearly want in your column.
To move further forward on my youth piece I would like to add that this is an amazing and much needed time in the youth soccer community in South Texas.
The US SOCCER DEVELOPMENTAL ACADEMY and the DYNAMO ACADEMY are stirring the pot beautifully in a way that has been needed for so long.
The importance of adminstrators is being moved back towards just that…being adminstrators and not visionaries for the sport.
Simple changes that have been begged for over the years have just not been made because sadly local leaders in our game were not equipped to make those decisions.
Now I am not coming down on those who have volunteered and put their time in beautifully and loyally for some many years. The game would not work without it, but what I am saying is remain in your area of expertise. I don’t walk in to a doctors office and tell him about the world of medicine.
These are exciting times for the youth game in our area and it is time we got more progressive like for example North Texas and the Dallas area.
The US Soccer Development Academy begins with games this weekend in the Woodlands involving Texas Rush, Texas Soccer Club, Solar and Dallas Texans from up north.
And on another not some local youth clubs could be announcing shortly their ties with professional clubs in Europe…….I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the youth game but I know it will be positive.

RONALDO COULD BE BACK

Three time FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR RONALDO has been training with FLAMENGO in BRAZIL and apparently making great progress.
Ronaldo who is out of contract will be set to return in a month after a career-threatening knee injury.
SHOULD MLS GO GET HIM?