SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com and KWSN) -- As United States soccer supporters come to grips with the reality of the red, white, and blue sitting out the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, attention turns to correcting the defects that plagued the team over the qualification cycle.
Ben Gaddis is the competitive director of the Dakota Alliance youth soccer program, he says some of the responsibility of getting top-tier talent to the National Team level rests with programs like his. "That is a goal of ours. Now it's not a goal for all of our players, but it is a goal with our new partnership with Minnesota United FC. We think that with their resources and their help we can make our club better at a grassroots level."
Minnesota United FC is a first-year Major League Soccer club based in the Twin Cities. DASC recently became the first youth program to join their academy. Meaning MNUFC will help DASC with coaching and player development with a goal of sending top-level players from the Sioux Falls area to compete with United's youth programs.
Gaddis said he saw a lack of young talent as one of the United States' downfalls during CONCACAF (Confederation Of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) World Cup Qualifying. "The US wasn't able to develop the players that it needed in this age group. [From] age 22 to 27, 28, we don't have a lot of guys that can compete on the world stage."
The United States relied heavily on a roster filled with players in their 30's to nearly 40 years old. The same core that brought success in the previous two World Cups played in South Africa and Brazil. "While [those players] can provide some leadership, and some sparks from time to time, the game isn't being played by that age group on the world stage. It's being played by the young superstars that are carrying their teams."
Does Gaddis think that the Sioux Falls area could one day produce one of those key players? It's not out of the realm of possibility. "It's not at the top of our priority list, but we have had players come out of this area that have played in Olympic Development Programs, or at Shattuck St Mary's in Minnesota." He adds that he feels there is a big enough population base in Sioux Falls to turn out a top-level soccer player, the same way the football and basketball programs at the area's high schools have begun to develop NCAA Division I talent.
As for a drop-off in youth soccer participation due to not having a team to cheer for in Russia next June, Gaddis doesn't see that as a major issue, but he does think his participation numbers won't skyrocket either. "It's a missed opportunity to get a boom of new kids. [Kids who want to join] because they have a hero that they saw, they want to be like. Or they want to get involved because their friends are excited about watching the US at a watch party."
The United States finished in 5th place out of six nations in CONCACAF's final qualification round. The top three teams in the group have qualified directly to the 2018 World Cup tournament (Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama), while fourth-place winners Honduras could still make the tournament through a play-off with Australia. Trinidad and Tobago, who defeated the US on Tuesday to help seal its fate, finished in sixth place.