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Check Gift Card Balance Enter Gift Card Number What's Happening at Stefans Soccer [media-credit name=”Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”270″] The answer to last night’s Nashville nightmare may lie in the biography section of the United States Soccer Federation website. There we see how many of the players, all of them highly skilled, have been coddled for most of their athletic lives. Several were born inside the six-yard box, with an empty net in front of them and a ball at their feet. Those who weren’t born there were soon placed there by caring parents, and a U.S. Soccer establishment that begins catering to children by 14 or 15. A couple are the children of university professors. One is Ghanian royalty. Several attended the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. where they received “the same visual training exercises used by military pilots,” according to the website. Unfortunately, it appears they received none of those pilots’ fighting spirit.

Watching U.S. players turn and run the other way after striker Terrence Boyd was punched in the face by a Salvadoran defender was simply disheartening. Who would stand up for a teammate? No one, it turned out. Even if we offer the benefit of the doubt and assume that the other U.S. players didn’t see the blow (a stretch), surely they would at least run at and confront the opponent after Boyd arose with blood running down his face. If that happened, the television cameras missed it. I’m not asking for them to throw a punch and take a red card with a one goal lead and time running out. I am asking to see some pluck. It was absent in Nashville. Instead of inspiring the Americans, the punch made them shrink from the moment. They appeared content to coast out the extra time, only to see El Salvador fight its way back to a last second goal that eliminated the U.S. from the Olympics. When it was over, U.S. captain Freddy Adu and teammate Mix Diskerud complained they had been bitten during the game.

Sometimes teams who want to win will kick, claw and bite. But the U.S. players aren’t accustomed to street fights. asus g74sx laptop backpackWe have created a system in which the most skilled players are snatched from their youth programs by 15 and assigned to “academy” teams. ogio 1950 backpackThe academy teams play other academy teams. laptop backpack in paisley meets plaidWe have taken the game of the streets, moved it to the suburbs, put it on lush, perfect fields and made sure our players do most of their competing against kids who are just like them. m58 backpackThe gritty, biting Salvadoran street kids must have come as quite a shock to the lads from IMG.

Decades ago, we chose our national team based on tryouts. It broadened the talent pool, but hundreds slipped through the cracks if they weren’t seen during two- or four-hour games. Then we moved to an Olympic Development Program in which parents spent thousands to keep their sons moving through the system with the best coaching, the finest fields, and uniforms, warmups and backpacks that cost hundreds. [media-credit name=”Getty Images” align=”alignleft” width=”270″] Now, the academy programs have been mixed with an effort to find the best kids around the world who might have an American parent and be technically eligible to play for the U.S. We’re getting better at finding skilled kids – such as Joe Corona, who showed flashes of brilliance during this tournament – but have made little progress at turning them into a team. The next step for U.S. Soccer is to bring the game back to the city. The recently announced “Soccer for Success” program that is providing grants to create after school programs in urban settings is a good first step.

Colorado Fusion will be running those programs in Denver and Aurora schools. But while we wait for that, change must be immediate. Coming up with nothing more than a draw in a high- stakes game on home soil against a nation with just two percent of the U.S. population should have immediate consequences for U.S. Soccer. Everyone in charge, including U.S. Coach Caleb Porter and federation head Sunil Gulati, should have their pens hovering over resignation letters today. If more Americans followed the game, they would be demanding it. U.S. Soccer recently announced that Polar would become the federation’s “Official Heart Rate Technology Supplier.” But before you can detect a pulse, you first have to find some heart. Search wands and bag searches: New security measures at Talen Energy Stadium Philadelphia Union and MLS have announced new security standards for entrance into Talen Energy Stadium and venues throughout the league intended “”to correspond with security measures taken by the other professional sports leagues in North America.”

The announcement covers “a new minimum standard Bag Policy and guest screening measures.” Beginning with this weekend’s game against New York City FC on Saturday, April 23, “all guests at Talen Energy Stadium will be fully screened upon entry. The screenings will be conducted via the use of a search wand.” Additionally, under a new league-wide Bag Policy, visitors to Talen Energy Stadium and all MLS venues will prohibited from bringing the following items for entrance into a stadium: Luggage of any kind Any bag larger than 14’’x 14’’x 6’’ All bags will be subject to search before entry. “Special considerations will be made for guests with special medical needs and parents caring for infants.” UPDATE: A Union spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, and again on Friday morning, that the bags season ticket holders received as part of this year’s season ticket package will be allowed into the stadium. The announcement notes, “These security standards will apply to all MLS, SUM, and USL games played at MLS venues, including but not limited to MLS League and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games, friendly matches, and fan events.”

In an effort to minimize wait times for entrance, Talen Energy Stadium will now be open 90 minutes before kickoff. “Fans arriving early should enter through the Talen Energy Gate and are encouraged to do so to ensure the shortest wait time.” Said Talen Energy Stadium General Manager Mike Scanlon, “We’ve always placed fan safety as the No. 1 priority at our facility. We support Major League Soccer’s decision and will have the necessary screening procedures in place for Saturday, and beyond, to ensure full compliance. We want to encourage all of our guests to arrive earlier than they normally would.” The announcement notes, “The increased security policy was unanimously supported by the MLS Board of Governors and involved input from all 20 MLS clubs.” MLS’ Senior VP of Security and Operations Ray Whitworth said, “The safety of our fans, players and staff is paramount. The updated security measures bring us in line with professional sports leagues around the United States and Canada while maintaining the unique sports experience that is MLS.”