Over the weekend, MLS Dispatch’s Russell McKenzie got to have some talk time with player-turned-academy coach Darren Sawatzky. He played for the Seattle Sounders, and spent time in the system, and now coaches the Sounders Under-23 squad, and currently is their Director of Youth Development. We got to pick his brain on the state of the MLS development system. Here’s what Darren had to say –
Russel McKenzie: It seems to me that the United States hotbed of soccer resides in the Pacific Northwest – two strong clubs, with extremely passionate fan bases, and the return of American abroad Clint Dempsey. How do you think that kind of community developed?
Darren Sawatzky: In both Seattle and Portland you had a soccer fan base through all the incarnations of leagues in the United States. When Seattle returned to the highest level through MLS and won from the beginning it started a swell that continues. There is no love lost between the teams so each time we play each other, the rivalry festers. In short, the northwest was ready for what you have seen the past few years and the games only get better with age. The connection between the communities and their teams is tight and lasting.
R: How much do you feel the Timbers-Sounders rivalry?
D: The rivalry in the northwest is as strong as any in the United States across all professional leagues and sports. I have spent time in both places and you feel something in those games that is unlike any other game on the schedule.
R: As someone who writes the sport, i always get asked about the player development system. So, for the folks at home, tell me a little more about a player’s experience in the Academy, and the road said player must take to get to the big club.
D: Players enter the academy at 12-13 years old. We run a full time U14 team training 4 nights per week with a futsal component and a full time game schedule. The boys officially start each August with pre-season, then a league schedule in the fall with MLS events trickled into the schedule. Players on younger teams are challenged each week to “train up” with the older teams when appropriate. The winter brings the USSDA Winter Showcase for the U16 and U18 teams usually held in Florida and a commensurate event for the younger teams. The spring is again riddled with league games culminating in a playoff and national finals event concluding the year in July. We add international games and MLS friendlies during this time as it makes sense. Players may enter the system at any time up to the age of 18 as they leave to college programs at this time. Some players choose to ply their trade professionally at 18 but we have yet to sign a player to the Sounders first team without them attending college for at time. Any player in the academy may be called in to first team/reserve team training and we have a regular group training up most weeks. These players may also play in reserve games so they are monitored regularly for possible contracts in the future with the first team. Players that sign for our first team out of the academy have significant time within our system in Seattle.
R: As a player turned coach, what changes have you seen occur to the development system in the MLS since you began your career?
D: The player development system is changing and evolving daily. MLS has invested in the coaching/leadership development system like nothing I have seen in the past. Currently, the MLS Academy Directors are on the French Formation License (18-24 months long) and the insight and knowledge gained from this course is paramount to modern player development. We are learning how players are developed in countries that develop players for the top clubs in the world consistently.
R: In your experience, what is the most effective way of obtaining a quality young player – through the academy, or the Super Draft?
D: You can obtain a quality player through either route. One important piece to academy soccer in MLS is the amount of time you could possibly influence a player’s development. If you have a player for many years in a proper academy system, you have a much better chance of making sure the pieces are present when it is time to decide whether the player turns professional or not.
R: With respect to the development system that the MLS has been fostering – in your opinion, will the system ever rise to the level it is in Germany or Spain?
D: Yes, not only do we have the critical mass of players in this country, we have passion and the American mentality that will set us apart one day. Currently, the MLS owners are investing in youth development and it is evolving quickly. With the US Soccer Development academy and the change at US Soccer in terms of coaching education, these changes are very important to the development of players in our country.
R: How active are the players on the “big club” in the younger players’ development?
D: We have had players from the first team come out to training, and with the signing of homegrown players and local players, the attachment gets stronger each year. The idea is to have this be one in the same one day. The players on the first team are developed locally, play professional soccer locally/regionally/nationally, then represent MLS internationally when the time is right on the world stage.
R: You know I have to ask – How’s DeAndre Yedlin doing? Also, speaking of the draft, seems to me that Dylan Remick is possibly the biggest steal of the Super Draft, how is he working out for you?
D: DeAndre’s body of work can speak for itself. The happiest part of watching DeAndre is the way he conducts himself. He is a quality young man on and off the field. The question about Remick is better answered by Sigi and his staff. Our job in the player development system is to get players as ready as we can for the first team to make decisions on.
R: Let’s peek a little further down the Sounders’ road. Tell me about a couple of other up and comers in the system.
D: We currently have very good homegrown players playing in college soccer around the country. Darwin Jones, Jordan Morris, and Jordan Schweitzer are all doing well at their respective schools along with others. Our current U18 team has quality players also headed to top D1 schools in the fall. Henry Wingo, Duncan McCormick, Seyi Adekoya, and David Olsen are a few of these players. We also have younger players that are excelling. Alec Zimmerman and Oscar Zepeda are currently in camp with the U15 national team.
You can follow Darren Sawatzky on twitter (@Dtarzan66) and check out the Seattle Sounders at their official team website.
