Can we learn from Uncle Sam?
By TBG Team
April 6 2004
What can we learn about Sport from our buddys in America? They don't struggle do they? We take a look at what they do, and if we could do it.

 

How can we break the hold of the big three on the Premiership? How can we distribute wealth evenly, Stop the wrangling over transfer fees, sort out players contracts, foster our young talent and make sure they have a future outside of Football? The answer is to take a look at how the Americans run their sporting industry

American sport is very successful. In basketball they have by far the world's most famous league, the NBA, they also have the world's best baseball and 'American' football leagues. The soccer league across the Atlantic, too, is greatly improving.

Rarely in these leagues will you see the same teams win a competition in consecutive years or will you see a team run away with the competition. These leagues are fair, and although money does play a big part, it is dealt with and handled in a very different way. 

Sport in the U.S. works in a completely different style to the way it does over here. American sport works using a special system that basically goes 'School » College » Pro' this means that most players that come through in the NFL or NBA have usually got degrees or diplomas from academic institutions.

To look at a specific example lets use the NFL. They recruit youngsters using a system called the Draft. This usually involves players who have gone from the college system. Players can declare themselves for the draft early, while a few players don't go through college at all and just declare themselves. In this 'draft' the highest rated clubs are forced to pick last whereas the lower rated clubs have the opportunity to improve by having first pick of the talent on show. This results in the weakest teams being able to strengthen their squads, and compete year in year out. The draft system also permits teams who have earlier picks to trade them with the big boys.  They swap these picks for more picks in a later round or players in exchange. 

The College system allows players to develop at a steady rate They don't get burnt out and written off as a one season wonder like they would if they played professional sport straight away. The fact that College Sport is of a high standard means good talents don't stagnate and continue to improve. 

Obviously only the cream of the nations talent is recruited by clubs in the draft. After 4 years of playing in a high profile College League, everyone knows who the talents to watch are. Players who don't make the grade still manage to go and play in amateur leagues.  If a player does not want to go to the team who has drafted them they can defer their entry till the year after, but most teams know the score when it comes to recruiting new players. 

They also handle playing contract differently. American sports have a salary cap limiting the amount of cash that any one player can be paid as part of his weekly salary or any bonus clauses on his contract. Contracts are "centrally owned" meaning the relevant organisation, i.e. the NFL/NBA owns the players registration, instead of the Club owning it. 

Transfers are handled differently. You don't get multi-million pound transfer fees, you get trades. They trade for draft picks, other players, while free agents move freely. 

So why are we going on, and on about how American sports operate? We know there is a different culture. We know it is a different game. But look at how some of their ways could eradicate the demons which are blighting the beautiful game. 

As it stands hundred of young footballers are released at 18 years of age and told they have no future in the professional game. Ok, so clubs send them to college and help them get an education, but far to many end up on the scrap heep. If we had a structure to our game, whereby players got university educations then they would have a future outside of the game. Take Icelandic player Siggi Eyjolfsson as an example. At 19 years of age he headed off to the University of North Carolina on a 4 year Soccer scholarship. He did his four years then decided to head to England. He spent time in England playing for Walsall and Chester City. He didn't set the world on fire and went back Iceland to play professionally.  However, Siggi isn't just playing. He is the Icelandic Football Association's technical director. Would he have been able to take up the position without the education?

Trades would eradicate the need for astronomical transfer fees which have caused trouble for teams like Leeds. There wouldn't be silly money. It would be a level playing field. 

A Salary cap would work in the same way.  This would regular wages and stop much of the back biting and arguing that happens behind the scenes at most football clubs. 

The draft would mean smaller clubs are put back in the loop. The Bosman ruling was a real blow to Football. Players being able to walk away for free whenever they wanted. Ok, so they are compensated for young players that leave. But if Manchester United wanted to get Carlisle United's hottest prospect they would have to do it fairly,  and the deal would be closely monitored by the authorities who own that players contract. 

Where are these University teams going to come from? We are not offering solutions. It would however be feasible to imagine a National Universities League where the talented youngsters are signed up on scholarships, and developed.  Maybe established football league clubs would object to having more football in their town or city. So maybe places without League Football could foster University teams. In the States University Sports are a product in themselves. Games are screened on National TV, and creates a great deal of interest. To see just what kind of interest it generates click here to see the University of Michigan's College Football Stadium. 

How would we fall in line with the rest of the footballing world? It's impossible to say. Maybe our teams might struggle in European Competitions; but what do you care about most about if you don't support Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea or Newcastle? It certainly isn't if your club going to make Europe. You care about your team surviving and progressing as a Football Club.  

So some of the ideas are far fetched. So some might never work. But why should we not try and work differently. The Beautiful game is dieing. The Premiership thrives while most of English Football Dies. The American system would mobilize grass roots as fans everywhere would see a conveyer belt of talent making its way in to football.  Most of all fans would welcome the playing field being leveled. 

Maybe someone at Soho Square will read this, maybe they won't. You have taken time to look at the facts. Don't dismiss them. Don't say its football, its different. Think about it. Uncle Sam just might be able to save the Beautiful game. 

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