Inaugural NASL Combine a Success; Coaches Attending Impressed with Talent
2011 NASL Combine held in Fort Lauderdale, FL this past weekend.
The 2011 NASL combine ended Sunday in Ft. Lauderdale with the opportunity for over 70 players to impress the league’s eight coaches, assistant coaches such as the Puerto Rico Islanders’ assistant Adrian Whitbread, Traffic USA Director of Soccer Fernando Clavijo and observers from other leagues. The inaugural NASL combine featured six matches between the participants, who were divided into four teams, over the weekend.
The most recognized player combine in U.S. professional sports is the NFL combine. It’s held in Indianapolis each year prior to the NFL draft in front of NFL team personnel and even a nationwide NFL Network TV audience. While professional soccer is far from reaching the popularity of the NFL in North America, the NASL’s combine mirrors the NFL and perhaps more closely Major League Soccer, with coaches conducting drills and scrimmages for players while creating an environment for team officials, coaches, players and agents to network.
Unlike the NFL or MLS, the NASL does not conduct a player draft and all players at this year’s combine are free agents able to sign with any team, whether they had prior professional experience or not. In the NASL there is no particular league protocol regarding player signings, and thus teams are able to sign whomever they please on a “first-come first-serve” basis. Members of NASL coaching staffs, team front offices and scouts recommended the players who participated in this year’s NASL talent showcase.
FC Tampa Bay’s Technical Director Perry van der Beck, RailHawk’s coach Martin Rennie, Clavijo and Whitbread all agreed that teams come to the combine not only looking for the best players available, but to address specific team needs at various positions. Van der Beck noted in an NASL.com interview that FC Tampa Bay were especially needing help at left back, central defender and the striker position, but were not overlooking the best players participating regardless of position. Whitbread, who played professionally in England for Portsmouth and Leyton Orient among other clubs, suggested the importance of keeping an “open mind” when evaluating talent versus team needs. He stressed that, at the D2 level, teams lose players not only because they no longer fit into the club’s plans, but also because some sign with clubs playing at a higher level, such as MLS or in Europe. D2 clubs are constantly “freshening up” their rosters, even on championship clubs such as the Islanders.
NSC Minnesota Stars second-year Head Coach Manny Lagos was among those present at the combine. The former U.S. international observed that ”the level of soccer in this country continues to grow and that was certainly reflected by the level of play this weekend. Operationally all of the coaches were very impressed with facilities as well as how smoothly it was run.”
Rennie, recognized in North American soccer circles as an outstanding young coaching talent, also observed that “this combine provided us with an excellent opportunity to evaluate high level professional players and to keep networking to find potential standouts that could help our team in the upcoming season.”
Player receive instructions before a game.
Combines Not the Only Source for NASL Talent
Coach Rennie also looks at other sources for identifying player talent in addition to player combines. The RailHawks play in the talent-rich North Carolina ‘triangle’ area of top tier college soccer programs, and Rennie scouts players at local universities for talent to add to the RailHawks’ roster in coming seasons. Although many of the players at nearby schools such as Duke, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina will be drafted by MLS clubs or sign abroad, some will not stick with their original clubs and will become good options for D2 teams two or three years later. Rennie has the additional advantage of the RailHawks playing some of these outstanding college teams in preseason exhibitions. Player agents are another source of useful information in evaluating and acquiring talent for his team, according to the Carolina coach.
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Unlike the NFL or MLS, the NASL does not conduct a player draft and all players at this year’s combine are free agents able to sign with any team, whether they had prior professional experience or not. In the NASL there is no particular league protocol regarding player signings, and thus teams are able to sign whomever they please on a “first-come first-serve” basis.
You are kidding these readers, Mr. Wittman, right? NASL not only has no policy on how to conduct a player draft at this point, they have no reason for league “protocol”, as there is no league.
Another blatant attempt to continue with the NASL or bust marketing attempt. Out of curiousity, do you get paid for each article by NASL, or are you directly on salary?
Question: If league continues as unsanctioned, are players penalized for playing in league? Is there some kind of retribution from USSF or FIFA for these players, say not being allowed to play in FIFA or USSF sanctioned events at a later date?
If the league is not sanctioned, the players are not recognized by either USSF or FIFA.
Davidson knows this.
americanizesoccer-
Not positive but I think the players are barred from playing in any national team set up.
There will be a teleconference tomorrow
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kartik Krishnaiyer: Director of Communications and Public Relations
WHAT: NASL will conduct a Media Conference Call to discuss the NASL’s plans, the sanctioning process and the upcoming USSF AGM this Thursday – Saturday, February 10 – 12
WHEN: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010 2:00PM ET/1:00PM CT
ATTENDEES:
Aaron Davidson, NASL CEO
Andrew Nestor, President FC Tampa Bay
Joey Saputo, President Montreal Impact
Rishi Sehgal, NASL Director of Business Development & Legal Affairs
Bart had two farts today… Must have eaten beans last night?
@americanizesoccer.com
Like the others have mentioned, NASL would be branded an outlaw league and all its players can’t play for their national side. The league would also be banned from competing in the Open Cup and any international competitions including club friendlies.
@WSW
It’s about time they annouce something in light of all the speculating. Even Uncle Joey will be present. Always thought he had so much at stake with the future of the league in question.
@Bart – Really dude? “There is no league” is all you’ve got? Taking cheap shots at a guy just doing his job, something he must love a lot if he continues to do it despite pathetic attempts to insult him by arse clowns? You know, at least in the past you’d make a decent point here and there inbetween all the anti-NASL plaintive ranting. But even that seems to have fallen by the wayside. If you don’t want to read about the NASL, I’d suggest skipping the stories where you see ‘NASL’ in the subject chief. Or was I right awhile back in suggesting you’re just trolling and flaming cause you don’t really have much of anything better to do?
@Strikes Return
I don’t mind reading about NASL, and the latest report by BQ is exactly the kind of information needed by everyone. However, to write about a combine, which I am told had very little talent actually, is an insult to the readers, and misleading.
If one wants to read about the lala land of NASL with rose colored glasses, the NASL Fanatic is a far better site to do that with. And that site, you will note, is not one in which I participate.
And as to your comment Taking cheap shots at a guy just doing his job, I addressed that by asking Mr. Wittman on how he was compensated, and I thought I did so most respectfully.
Sadly, this is probably the weakest article in IMS history. There is no meaningful information or anything remotely insightful here.
“Inaugural NASL combine a success.” What else do you expect NASL/Traffic employs to call it?
“Coaches attending impressed with talent.” So impressed that not a single players was mentioned by name.
Even the most ardent NASL supporter has to agree that mentioning the NFL combine in this piece is a complete joke. C’mon, man!
Next time….on the IMS Fanatic………………..
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Have to agree. This was the worst article I’ve ever seen here. Embarrassing.
“Inaugural NASL Combine a Success”
How was it a success? What was the criteria? That it occurred? What a joke. And I agree comparing it to the NFL and MLS combines was desperate and tacky.
“Coaches attending impressed with talent.”
Yet no mention of any talent that was there. What are the NASL people going to say? That the talent sucked? What about an objective view of the talent there? The rumblings I heard was that it was filled with garbage.
Gerry Wittmann has added nothing to this blog but parroting press releases from NASL and USL.
Wow! Tough crowd. I wrote the headline so crucify me. I ask a guy to help me out to give IMS readers more info on USL and NASL goings on, player transactions etc… and you guys torch him.
I listened to the podcast of Martin Rennie and Fernando Clavijo and personally talked to Manny Lagos. They were truly impressed with the talent and expect that a quite a number of these players will be invited to team combines with the possibility of being signed. You folks want a sworn deposition or what?
BQ, don’t take it personally. We know that MN Soccer Guy is a contrarian, and others haven’t been around here long enough. Gerry has been adding a lot to this site, but like most things, with success comes haters.
It was getting a bit warm in here, but that’s ok…..everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I agree that the NASL Combine article was a little lightweight, as was my previous article on the USLPRO combine. Why? Think about it. These players ARE free agents…why would a coach shine a spotlight on a player he’s interested in signing, drawing more attention to that player and possibly getting another team interested in making an offer that would just drive up the price of the player’s contract, or have the player’s agent say “Coach you just stated publicly that Joe was the best player at the combine — so doesn’t he merit another $5,000 in salary? Tom signed with team X for more than you’re offering Joe, and we have other offers on the table.” We all would like to know more about what the coaches thought of individual players at combines, but it isn’t really in their best interests to share that knowledge.
So coaches and front office personnel are going to be tight-lipped publicly about their player evaluations….it’s wiser to hold their cards close to their vests. Unlike the NFL, where everyone last year knew that Sam Bradford was going to be the #1 draft pick of the Rams — the Browns or Dolphins can’t sign him because NFL teams acquire players from the draft, and the Rams had first pick, so team officials are (slightly) more open publicly on player evaluations.
And yes, a lot of what I write is taken from USLPRO and NASL press releases. That’s how it operates at this level. Despite my pleas, that hard-hearted BQ wouldn’t spring for an expense-account trip to cover both leagues’ combines in the sunny South. I rely on press releases, internet research, emails, and conversations with players, coaches, bloggers and team and league officials to add some information or flavor. For example, when writing about Jay Needham signing with the Islanders, I remembered he’d played two seasons in Norway and emailed a soccer blogger there who had actually seen Jay play several times for Alta IF, and he was kind enough to share his personal impressions of the qualities that the Texan brings to a team. I’d seen Jay play several times last season, but it was good to get another take on a player who’s a solid pro.
And no, Bart, the NASL does not pay me per article, nor does USL PRO, and neither have me on salary. The six-figure salary from IMSoccer News suffices, although BQ also demands that I shovel his driveway as part of the deal.
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Ya, but you’ve got to fly you butt up here on your own money. Oh, and you thought you had snow down in St. Louis. Wait till you get up here. Plus it was -12° this morning on my way to work. You’ll love it.
Well stated, Mr. Wittman, well stated. I admire a man who can properly defend his turf with some wit and logic.