Soccer for Youth is entering a new phase. We are shifting our emphasis from fundraising to privately funded soccer research and development. Our first task is to investigate what separates teams that compete comfortably at one level from those that can sustain performance against stronger opposition. From that research, we want to build and test practical working models for improvement.
Why can some teams adapt while others lose control?
Our starting observation is about pace and flexibility. Stronger teams often seem able to accelerate, slow down, and change style while staying in control. Other teams can play effectively in familiar conditions, but lose their composure and structure when the pace or tactical demands change.
We want to test that observation. Is the difference in perception and decision-making, technical execution under pressure, collective movement, coaching, or something else? How much is explained by recruitment, resources, or the quality of opposition? And which parts can a team deliberately develop?
Build on analytics. Make the findings useful.
There is already substantial quantitative work in soccer. We intend to learn from existing metrics and models, conduct deeper comparisons, and eventually explore match footage and suitable data. The objective is to connect evidence to a progressive training approach that helps teams adapt—not simply perform the same routines a little faster.
Lee Farretta’s roughly 50 years in American soccer also motivate a broader question: how can the progress and investment in U.S. men’s soccer translate into more consistent performance against the world’s strongest teams? This is a constructive research question, not a dismissal of the work already done.
A self-funded initiative, open to collaboration
We have sufficient private funding for the initial work and are no longer seeking donations through this site. We welcome conversations with researchers, analysts, coaches, and potential partners interested in a future soccer academy.
We are at the beginning of this research program; no training model has yet been validated. We will share questions, findings, limitations, and revisions as the work develops.
Read our research framework, or contact Lee Farretta at ljf2163@gmail.com.