Club Philosophy Reflected by 2010 World Cup Final

By Andrew Ziemer & Russell Cunningham

For some only a game, but to the rest football is an art. In places like Holland and Spain, the 2010 World Cup finalists, audiences demand to be entertained by dominating attractive ball possession soccer. Sac United Technical Director Shawn Blakeman noted, “Good football is the winner of this year’s World Cup. In the final, we will be treated by players with high skill level, great insight, and the ability to interchange roles and positions on the fly.”

For decades, innovative Dutch youth development methods have kept that relatively small country of 17 million in competition with international soccer forces like Brazil (193 million), Germany (82 million), Italy (60 million), and Argentina (40 million). In addition to Dutch professional clubs Ajax and PSV, members of Holland’s national team play for European powerhouses Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Hamburg and Stuttgart.

Eight members of the Spanish national team, including stars David Villa, Andres Iniesta, and Carles Puyol, play professionally for FC Barcelona, the 2009 UEFA Champions League winner. In the opinion of many, the club’s recent success is attributed to the no nonsense approach of Frank Rijkaard, another product of the Dutch system, who managed FC Barcelona from 2003 to 2008. During that time, Rijkaard rebuilt the club into international dominance, becoming one of only five persons to have won the European Cup both as a player (Ajax 1987, 1995) and as a coach (FC Barcelona 2006).

Since 2003, Sac United has implemented club wide training and tactics based on Dutch national youth development programming and as recently established during Rijkaard’s term at FC Barcelona. Then Sac United President, Tami Cholger, explains, “I have always felt that the Dutch play attractive soccer. Our club needed to get on the same page with a more aggressive attacking style.” Since that time, Sac United audiences have developed a taste of their own for entertaining performance, and now and again, counting out loud and applauding a possession composed of many passes. Brian Maas, current Sac United President, added, “As a parent new to soccer, who only learned the game by watching my kids play, it is very rewarding to see the style they have learned in our neighborhoods being played on the biggest world stage.”

In the younger age groups, the focus has not been on winning matches, but instead on developing skilled players with complete mastery of the ball. The advantage of having defenders comfortable on the ball, who can escape trouble by crisp short pass to an equally confident teammate, is obvious. In the older age groups, the 1-3-4-3/1-4-3-3 system has provided perfect field coverage to emphasize passing over running. Sac United players have learned to play high pressure, defend far away from their own goal, and form triangles all over the field. Sac United teams create many layers, have a balance of attacking and defending players, use the goalkeeper as the 11th player, and use wingers to spread the other team out and attack with greater numbers. Blakeman believes in the concept of total football, “Over the past 7 years, we have developed our teams knowing the sacrifice and risk that it put on the result, but at the end of the day, the players and the game have won. It’s not a sprint to victory, but a journey to artistry.” Maas observed, “The club should be proud of the soccer education our sons and daughters are receiving because after it’s all said and done, we’ll forget the individual wins and losses, but our children will know how to play the beautiful game the way it should be played.”

Last month, the U15B Reds, a team commencing its 7th year of learning under Sac United’s unified training and tactical system, advanced to the Super Group Finals of the U.S. Club National Cup. Later this month, Blakeman and the team will travel to Virginia to compete for the club’s first national championship against Ironbound Fury (NJ), Fusion (FL), Golden State (CA), Potomac Fire (MD), Northwest Nationals (WA), and Chicago Magic (IL).

And as for the 2010 World Cup final, Blakeman is rooting for Spain, while Maas and Cholger support Holland. Cholger proclaiming, “The third time’s the charm. Go Dutchies!”