In this week's article on ESPN’s coaches corner we turn our attention specifically to the state of women’s soccer. We also interview our resident soccer-expert, Derek Broadley whose girls U17 team recently won the American National Finals.

The women’s game of soccer is starting to grow rapidly in England where it is the fastest growing youth participation sport for girls. Professional clubs are all starting to introduce a women’s section to their organisations. In US the sport is massive and they lead the world in women’s soccer. The forthcoming women’s world cup will be a great showpiece of the women’s game.

In England the FA are spending time and money on developing the game so that they can compete with the best in the world. However, to be successful Derek Broadley of the soccer-expert team says, “Look no further than the USA”.

Derek has relocated his family to the USA after working 10 years for Crystal Palace FC, culminating in his role as Academy Director, and he was pleasantly surprised at the level of performances of the ISA Black team from New York that he was asked to coach upon his arrival in the big apple. He recalls,

“ I did not know what to expect but once the girls arrived it was clear that they were here to work. The physical condition of the girls was exceptional as they had been training and playing for various teams (ODP, regional pool and club teams) prior to taking part in this league. The attitude and competitiveness was evident from the first session with all girls arriving early and warming up without any instruction. The session started at 6pm but the girls were warming up and doing soccer specific exercises from 5.40pm (something that was the norm at CPFC).”

The matches were also a pleasant surprise for Derek who was now being challenged by some of the best teams in the Mid Atlantic region of the states. “At first the girls found it difficult to experiment with my style of play “staying with the ball”, as they had been brought up on a “passing and possession game”. Derek saw that the girl’s needed to utilize their individual skills much more to create overload situations, something that was new to the girls but stood them in good stead on the way to the National Championships.

At the National Championships Arai Tanzi, Brandy Daniel, Alyssa Salvo and Kelly Petterson all took their place in the finals team for the Y league that was announced after the finals, a great reward for their efforts over the campaign. Aria Tanzi also won MVP in the National Final.

Women’s and girls soccer in the US is unique as it leads the men’s game on the world stage. The US hosts this years finals, they start as favourites to win the competition on their home soil. The youth infrastructure for the girl’s game is solid with a program that will continue to enable the USA to be a major force in the world’s number one game. The US male counterparts are improving gradually but are still some way from experiencing the successes of the Women’s Game.

When reflecting on the differences between the US and England Derek Broadley goes on to say, “ It is unfair to compare the women’s game here in the US to that of my homeland as there are many social reasons for the differences between the 2 countries”. “Women’s sports in general are much better here in the US and more importantly money is invested into facilities, coaching and supporting organisations to compete with their counterparts, than back in the UK”.

On the world cup Derek says, “I am sure that the up and coming Women’s World Cup will get great exposure across the states and be assured that the competition as a spectacle will be unbeatable”.

“I am really looking forward to watching the games. I believe other countries watching from a far will be surprised as I was to see how technical the player’s are. Any sceptics who think the games are played less physically than men’s football will get a shock, as I have seen the intensity first hand and believe me there is no holding back in the tackles”.

The growth of Women’s soccer will continue in the US and the English FA would be smart to have representatives at the world cup for what would be a great “scouting opportunity”.

Back in England, Crystal Palace FC did host the women’s FA Cup Final over the past 2 years which Derek Broadley attended in his capacity as Academy Director but he is convinced that the standard that was on show in both games fell way short of the standard that he was exposed to on his induction to the women’s game here in the US. “In time I hope that England can catch up but in the meantime, I will just sit back and enjoy the luxury of seeing Women’s soccer first hand and hopefully get the opportunity to give my method of coaching a go!

For more from soccer-expert on coaching for both genders click on www.soccer-expert.com