Well let me say this.

First, to answer the question do I believe enough is being done? No. I think we need to get together as an organization to help market the game. We do need to do a better job at that.

One of the organizations that's trying to do that is the Black Coaches Committee which is part of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. They're trying to get together as a large group to help market the game and ask, "How can we get into those communities and help folks understand the game?"

US Youth Soccer has an outstanding program called Soccer Starts, which is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to youngsters living in communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making soccer available to lower-income children in under served communities. Call us and we will help you organize a soccer program from the ground up.

The problem is that it's worked well in the Latin communities but not necessarily in the Black communities. Once you start it, you've got to keep it going. The problem is once they start it, they aren't able to sustain it. So that's why I say if we had a large network out there, we can find out if, say in Atlanta, they don't have enough coaches and go in and see what we can do to help sustain it.

Here at US Youth Soccer we welcome ideas, and if it's within our reach to do it, we'll do it.

9) You hold an (A) Coaching License if I'm not mistaken, can you explain what that means and how one goes about getting various coaching licenses?

The highest level you can have is an "A" license. Then it goes from B through E and then into the youth modules, Youth-1, Youth-2 etc., which are for recreational coaches and teaching the coaches to teach the kids to have fun. Back to the licensing, the "E" is the entry-level license in most states. The "D"license would be the first time most coaches could get training and testing for a National license. The "C", the "B" and "A", are nine days. It really heightens your level of understanding of the tactical and technical aspects of the game.

They aren't the only licensing body. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America also have a licensing program and I now have the Premier License through them. I have all three of the top licenses, the National Youth license which is the top youth license you can have, the National A which is the top license you can have from US Soccer and the Premier License you can have from the NSCAA.

10) I spoke to Roy Lassiter earlier this year and he was of the opinion that many players who are considering coaching, mistakenly bypass the youth scene altogether in trying to learn the ropes of coaching. As someone with extensive experience in this area do you agree that this is not necessarily the best course of action?

Roy probably said that after he went through the US Youth Licensing program. (Laughs) Roy went through a class I was teaching and I think he learned a lot from it.

But I would agree with Roy. If you can understand the youth player and can coach the youth player you'll be able to deal with anything. For example, you'll deal with the kid who has the single mom, who doesn't have the authority figure, the kids with Attention Deficit Disorder, young women players, the guys who say "Oh I have to see my girlfriend.", I gotta go on vacation. By the time you coach on college, those issues are largely gone.

On the youth level it's about not just developing someone for soccer but also developing a person which is what we push a lot. To do that, you have to be a positive role model because the other person is taking everything you say as if that's the way it is.

So I believe Roy is right, that everyone should coach on the youth level but it doesn't mean that you're not a good coach if you don't. Coaching on the youth level just makes you a more rounded coach.

11) MLS is in its 10th season and we have yet to see a Black coach even considered for a head coaching job, let alone be hired for one. In fact, I don't recall too many Black assistant coaches in MLS. What Black players or coaches that aren't necessarily in the public eye, do you think will one day become sucessful coaches on the MLS level, besides yourself, of course?

HAHA!

You know there are some Black coaches that don't want those types of jobs. Some coaches enjoy coaching on the youth level. They get tremendous enjoyment out of just that. Let's not forget our collegiate level, semi pro, ODP, state and Regional teams coaches and they don't necessarily want to go to the next level. Some times the next level means moving.

But about the other part of your question regarding assistants and head coaches, there are two that I know of. Dennis Hamlett with the Chicago Fire who's been there for a couple of years and right here in my town, Brian Haynes with FC Dallas. Those guys have been around for a couple of years. If anyone has a shot I would think it would one of those coaches. They have been assistant coaches for a while.. I also think that when Eddie Pope is done he has a shot, Roy has an opportunity (I think he's interested in doing that down the road.) I'm not sure what Desmond Armstrong (formerly of the US National Team) is doing now . All of these guys have either played in MLS or with the National Team and that's part of the criteria to get into those jobs, I think, as I look around at some of the resumes of some of the people who have made head coach (that aren't international coaches).

Looking back and asking "10-15 years ago, where was soccer?" Can any American player become a superstars in soccer?" We had maybe one or two guys (that could) in the early years. Now we look around and we've have a lot of stars. So I think now, as it relates to Black players, we're just coming on to the scene in terms of stars of the game, just look at the any of our National Teams. I think in time, we'll have some Black coaches but hey, look at the numbers, there's only 10 or 12 teams! We have some assistants so we're knocking on the door.

Clockwise from top, left: Dennis Hamlett, Desmond Armstrong and Brian Haynes-All possible future MLS coaches according to Dr. Thomas (MLS.net, (montreat.edu)

12) You've mentioned organizations like the Black Coaches Committee, are they approaching some of these players and saying, "You might want to look at trying to coach down the line."?

Oh absolutely. They are, especially the Black Coaches Committee. They've said to players, "If you want to coach at the next level, being professionally trained and educated can do nothing but help."

This is a big problem. The fact is not coaches are not trained, but rather how. Coaches may not have the correct level licensing for the next level. There's a good number of Black coaches that have their A licenses, which is great. There are too many coaches that only have the entry-level license. If you can't put in the time to go to the next level and get the next license, then it becomes a hindrance to your advancement from my point of view. The guys with the A Licenses are being hired over those who have the B license and the C license. Makes sense, right? The more credentials you have the better chance you have (of being hired and advancing).

There are scholarships that are offered through US Youth Soccer in conjunction with a different organization which sponsors the scholarships. There are about 20 scholarships that you can apply for. US Soccer also has coaching scholarships that you can apply for. I think the NSCAA does the same thing. So all of the largest coaching organizations allow for coaches to go and get the training and if you can't afford it you've got to put the request.

For anyone needing assistance PLEASE call me. (1 800 4 SOCCER)

I wish we could organize a symposium, with national, regional, state, and MLS coaches. Perhaps we could get together and discuss some of these issues and how to resolve them. Here's a relatively inexpensive sport for African-Americans to play whether you play indoor or outdoors.

13) That actually leads into another question which is this:In your opinion, what needs to be done to help soccer make inroads into the Black American community? I've often told people from other countries that basketball and to a lesser extent American football, are ingrained in the Black American culture the way soccer is in other countries. My question for you is, and you've briefly touched on it, how can we help the sport make those inroads, not just on the youth level but the in barber shops or on BET? How can we better expose the game?

If you look at tennis we have our superstars. We're starting to have our superstars (in soccer). They're the ones that have to help push the program. That's one of the things that need to happen. The other thing is training and education needs to be accessible. Are coaches willing to go anywhere to get training? US Youth Soccer offers a great course, the National Youth Licenses. We try to let everyone know it's available. We also support our state programs. The national and your state office coaching departments are there to assist you. I believe one of the best ways to market soccer to African American is to travel to them and put on two and one-hour clinics and show coaches how they can benefit from training.

I sit here in my office and look at the Adidas apparel books. I see a lot of African-Americans. It's just amazing and a great thing to see. I look at the marketing of soccer in print and commercials on television and see African-Americans. There should be more African Americans playing the beautiful game.

So I guess we need to figure out how to get those materials in the hands of African-Americans (laughs). How do we get the word out?

14) A similar question to the coaching question I asked: if you look at MLS Front Offices and the upper echelons of US Soccer, There are very few Blacks, heck few minorities period in the upper management in the game in the US. How long before that starts to change and who do you feel that some or any of people you previously identified will fill those positions?

That's a tough one.

The person in US Soccer who is the current Director of Coaching, Mr. Bob Jenkins, he was just appointed to that position. Prior to the position being filled, it was vacant for a long time. It's kind of hard to say when that type of position will become available again.

When I've traveled to the US Soccer National office, and looked around the office, there ARE folks of color in the office. What positions do they have? I don't know, I didn't ask. (Laughs)

I don't work at US Soccer, but at US Youth Soccer. I am the first African-American in this position. I must say that all of the staff have been nothing but open in terms of my coming onboard. The staff has treated me with respect, trusts my judgment, and asks for my opinion. I've been to Maine, S. Dakota, New Mexico, and Ohio where I've seen few people that look like me, yet I was the guest speaker. They acknowledge my position, and so far, I've been very very happy with the response from the US Youth Soccer and our membership.

Well, we here at GolNoir will certainly let the people know that you're in that office and doing good things. Dr. Thomas that's all the questions I had. Any final thoughts you'd like to share?

Well I was truly glad to come across your website and see Eddie Pope and Roy (Lassiter). When I was teaching the National Youth License course in Houston, I spoke to Roy about coming in and doing some clinics. We need guys like Roy and Eddie Pope to help us spread the word about youth soccer. I think both Roy and Eddie did some good stuff while they were in DC. We welcome their ideas and would love to hear from them.

Thanks for having me. Please feel free to contact me at and review the US Youth soccer web site My Email is JTHOMAS@USYOUTHSOCCER.ORG.

Join our Coaches Connection!

With that we thank Dr. John Thomas of the United States Youth Soccer Association for taking some time and answering questions from GolNoir!

OK Thanks.

Copyright © 2005 GolNoir. All rights reserved.