To economists, the term “digital divide” means that some Americans have access to computers, and others don’t. In the college soccer world, where computers are as much a part of coaches’ offices as team photos, “digital divide” refers to those coaches who feel comfortable turning their machine on, and those who do not.
Not surprisingly, younger coaches spend more time in front of their machines – and use them more creatively – than their older colleagues.
“It’s the first thing I do Monday morning, and after midweek games,” says Geoff Wheeler, coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. “I used to have to wait for the Boston Globe, and when I was the assistant at Stanford, I’d call friends. Division III scores have always been hard to get, but now I’ve found the D-III Web page.”
Wheeler’s early-morning routine also includes visits to college sites like Soccer Information Systems’ scores site (www.soccerinfo.com), international sites like ESPN.com’s Soccernet (www.soccernet.com) and MLS’s Web site (www.mlsnet.com), the latter to check the progress of Stanford alumni.
Flintstonian Approach. Indiana’s Jerry Yeagley calls himself “the Fred Flintstone of our office.” With assistants, secretary and a wife who are all more Web-savvy, he has plenty of help checking Hoosier competitors’ home pages for scores, lineups and coaches’ comments. Each morning, his secretary prints out important pages of rankings, game reports and international news for him.
Anson Dorrance goes beyond Yeagley, describing himself as a “computer Neanderthal.” Acknowledging that “smart people” get much more out of the new technology than he does, the North Carolina women’s coach says that the Internet has completely changed his capacity to connect with the world. In a few seconds he can learn how the neophyte U.S. women’s team did in Australia, then click on several sites to compare their “political spins” on the fledgling women’s pro leagues.
Of course, many college coaches do more than simply surf the Web. The Net is a valuable recruiting tool, providing information on youth tournaments that ranges from schedules and rosters to field directions and hotel information.
There are limits, of course. Wheeler does not use the Web to actually scout players, believing that a phone call to a trusted colleague yields far more valuable insights. Like many coaches, he often receives unsolicited e-mail from and about high school prospects.
He responds to student requests, but disregards “99 percent” of e-mail from online recruiting agencies. Wheeler does note that recruiting services are valuable for coaches who lack the time or money to watch high school or club games and will increase in importance when video clips become more easily downloadable.
Florida women’s coach Becky Burleigh has noticed that high school players are directing her to their club teams’ Web sites, and their own home pages. She studies them, then responds.
“It definitely helps with communication,” she says. “E-mail is more convenient and conversational than letters. It allows you to get to know the player better – and her parents.”
Instant Messaging. At Connecticut, where men’s coach Ray Reid has handed most computer duties to assistant George Kiefer, a great deal of recruiting takes place via Instant Messages.
“It’s legal to have online conversations with juniors, because it counts as ‘general correspondence.'” explains Kiefer. “We arrange to meet at, say, 3 p.m. on Thursday, then chat back and forth about things like upcoming matches and forms we need. It doesn’t count as a phone conversation, because it’s typed.”
He knows that the NCAA is looking into e-mail contact, and regulations may change on Aug. 1.
Kiefer also schedules weekly e-visits to the NCAA Clearinghouse. He determines which high schoolers’ core courses have been accepted by the organization, then figures out what GPA the recruit needs based on SAT scores.
Despite Yeagley’s Flintstonian approach, he uses Indiana’s Web site to let prospects know about the soccer program. The sports information office organizes the page, with Yeagley and his staff adding information regularly.
Still, it is e-mail rather than Web sites that college coaches call truly important.
Wesleyan’s Wheeler uses e-mail to share insights with fellow coaches, as well as to communicate with his players (daily in season, weekly the rest of the year). He sends them training schedules, inspirational quotes, even encouragement during exams.
Yeagley leaves team e-mail to his manager but adds an interesting e-mail postscript: When the Hoosiers won the NCAA title in 1998, congratulations poured in via letters and postcards.
When they repeated last fall, there was less snail mail, but far more e-mail. Every piece was printed out and saved – but did not look nearly as attractive.
In South Orange, N.J., Seton Hall’s Manny Schellscheidt is an unapologetic technophobe.
“I’m not into that yet,” he says. “Maybe I’m a little slow catching on. I have a computer here, but I haven’t used it yet. I know there’s a lot of information out there, and it’s a great tool for communication, but it still can’t replace actually seeing a kid play against good competition.”
Furthermore, Schellscheidt says, “I don’t see myself using it. I’m afraid some day we won’t play soccer anymore; we’ll just have games on the Internet.”
The veteran coach pauses. “I’m looking at my computer sitting here, collecting dust. It’s a beautiful machine I’m a little afraid of. I probably should bring in my 6-year-old grandson. He knows all about it.”
by Soccer America Youth Soccer Letter editor Dan Woog