USSF: COVID-19 pandemic forces implosion and change
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking effect at the USSF. The financial implications of the global pandemic are wide-ranging and causing implosion at change within the USSF.
COVID-19 is taking its toll on humanity. The world over has been hugely impacted by the pandemic. And the U.S. Soccer Federation is no different.
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On April 9, U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General Will Wilson let executives Brian Remedi and Tonya Wallach go amid financial difficulties. That, however, was just the start.
The firings actually come amidst a shocking tsunami of layoffs, furloughs and organization implosion at U.S. Soccer. Wilson only took over the organization late last March but he already had to whittle down his own pay by 50%.
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Remedi is the chief administrative officer who had kept things moving well after Wilson’s predecessor left U.S. Soccer. Wallach, meanwhile, had served as chief talent and inclusion officer since 2018. That made her the top human resources executive. In all, 45 employees and interns have been sent off.
All the harsh moves are blamed on the COVID-19 global pandemic in letters to U.S. Soccer members. Some of the positions might return when something like a normal soccer environment can be established, but the 20 layoffs related to dissolving the U.S. Soccer Development Academy are permanent, and the decision to dissolve the DA is the most controversial.
That institution looks to be gone for good. The academy launched in 2007 to develop players ages 13-19 in a 149-club league. In his April 15 letter, Wilson said that the financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic have caused the end of the DA. MLS announced that same date their launch of a new youth competition with year-round matches for MLS club academy teams and non-MLS teams.
The MLS alternative for youth will be different from what U.S. Soccer youth are used to. But as we transition society back to normal, MLS will have to make adjustments. These are necessary to fill voids in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s absence.
What will all of those @ussoccer_da Directors who tell families “the only way to be seen and get somewhere is thru the DA” do now?!
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) April 15, 2020
Pure utter BS.
It’s no coincidence that former U.S. Soccer commercial and strategy officer Jay Berhalter has been consulting with MLS. Expect the brother of USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter to ensure that the new MLS youth program evolves into a worthy replacement for the academy.
Wilson promised that as U.S. Soccer recovers after the pandemic, the organization will find ways of fostering youth development using the Academy philosophy in scouting youth players for the national teams and in coaching education.
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COVID-19 will impact society in an immeasurable number of ways. And soccer is no different. The USSF have taken changes to their staff, their projects, and the future of the sport will change forever as a result.