Changing Soccer For The Better – Matt Moran Talks How U.S. Soccer Connect Will Grow the Game
Blue Star Sports is the industry leader in integrated software and payment solutions for youth sports organizations with over 45 million users in 32 countries. Blue Star Sports is powering U.S. Soccer Connect and together these two organizations are transforming the soccer experience in the USA.
The BACKSTORY:
In 2011, FIFA’s Executive Committee mandated a worldwide registration program. In 2015, U.S. Soccer started refining their search and vetting technology companies — and in the summer of 2016, Blue Star Sports was selected to build the National Data Center and U.S. Soccer Connect.
The goal was simple but challenging. Bring the power of technology to the soccer landscape and increase efficiencies while meeting the FIFA requirements. Better information leads to better decision making and in today’s world of technological advancements, the sport of soccer was woefully behind and fractured.
Since U.S. Soccer wants the beautiful game to become the preeminent sport in our country, harnessing the power of information management is an important step. To develop world-class players — and to even grow participation in the sport — a simple, all-in-one platform connecting players, coaches, referees, parents, and administrators was imperative.
Related Article on U.S. Soccer: U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION LAUNCHES U.S. SOCCER CONNECT
The mission was to end the confusion of multiple platforms that fail to communicate with each other — and, this is happening now in real time for everyone in 2018.
SoccerToday’s Diane Scavuzzo interviewed Blue Star Sports’ Executive VP Matt Moran, a former collegiate soccer player whose goal has always been to help grow the game. Moran’s interview gives us a glimpse into the very near future — and shows us how technology is changing the world of soccer in the USA.
Diane Scavuzzo: You have been involved in soccer for years, working for the MLS Futbolito, US Youth Soccer, and the Washington Youth Soccer — and were a passionate player who coached soccer after graduating college. From your experience, how can technology improve soccer in the USA?
Matt Moran: Everyone uses technology every day without even thinking about it and finally this level of quality will be available for our soccer community.
Everyone recognizes that technology saves valuable time, money, and manpower. The problem has been simplifying processes and integrating all the systems people in soccer want.
Better Data = Better Decisions
Technology can also equip organizations with more data to make better decisions — help identify players in our vast country, keep our players safer and grow the game.
U.S. Soccer Connect brings together registration, rostering, team communication, league and tournament management, scheduling, website building, marketing and branding, parent, ref, and coaching education, college recruiting, and match analysis into one, integrated platform.
Streamlined technology creates a stronger connection between players, parents, coaches, and referees with their clubs, leagues, state associations and, of course, U.S. Soccer, itself.
We are all members of U.S. Soccer.
As the former Membership Services Director at US Youth Soccer and at Washington Youth Soccer and also a player-coach of a competitive USASA men’s team in Dallas, I’m certain that a large majority of parents and players in this country do not know they are a member of an organization other than their team or club. Therefore, they do not know their membership includes coaching education and technology like this — among many other benefits.
Technology allows us to bridge that gap and create more membership value. That is what U.S. Soccer Connect is all about.
Technology that doesn’t work can be a nightmare — and technology that is not integrated properly eats time. People are used to using world class software on a daily basis. It is about time that our soccer world enjoys the same benefit.
I have seen volunteers quit because they are so frustrated wasting their time working on multiple platforms. When volunteerism is at an all-time low, we need to make volunteers happy with a simple, easy to use platform.
Busy soccer parents expect quality technology in youth sports.
Meeting their needs and expectations will enhance members’ soccer experience and help ensure their kids continue participating in the game.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is U.S. Soccer Connect?
Matt Moran: U.S. Soccer Connect is a software platform that will bring the world of soccer together and make it easier to participate in the sport — and, it will help coaches, players, referees manage programs to develop world-class players.
The beauty of U.S. Soccer Connect is that everything works seamlessly together — all the modules are integrated into one platform.
This type of value, quality, and simplicity is unprecedented in this industry.
With U.S. Soccer Connect, every soccer coach and player in the USA will be able to take advantage of easy-to-use software, even on their phones.
Diane Scavuzzo: What Blue Star Sports companies be featured on U.S. Soccer Connect?
Matt Moran: Thanks to some significant private investment, we have been able to acquire stellar companies such as CaptainU, which provides college-bound student-athletes a platform to connect with college coaches. This service will be available on U.S. Soccer Connect.
We also acquired Krossover, a phenomenal match analysis tool that allows coaches to break down a match by tagging goals, assists, saves, crosses and much more in a platform that can be shared with players from a simple video taken from an iPhone!
This is only the beginning — and, we are always looking for potential acquisitions which will increase the value proposition for U.S. Soccer Connect
Related Article: Blue Star Sports Gets Groupnet
Diane Scavuzzo: When will youth soccer players be able to take advantage of U.S. Soccer Connect?
Matt Moran: U.S. Soccer Connect is available now.
U.S. Soccer Development Academy has been using U.S. Soccer Connect with great success.
U.S. Soccer Connect seamlessly tracks game schedules, player minutes, the percentage of starts per player and team standings and allows coaches and players to easily click through information to see relevant data that before would have taken hours, if not days to compile.
And U.S. Soccer Connect even provides easy access to field directions and links to maps.
Related Article: U.S. Soccer Federation Launches US Soccer Connect
Starting in the 2018-19 season, every youth, adult, and professional player in the U.S. will receive a USSF ID# that will be generated from the newly created U.S. Soccer National Data Center (NDC).
Starting in the 2018-19 season, every youth, adult, and professional player in the U.S. will receive a U. S. Soccer Federation (USSF) ID# that will be generated from the newly created U.S. Soccer National Data Center (NDC).
U.S. Soccer Connect is the platform that will seamlessly integrate into the NDC making the issuance of player ID’s simple and easy.
Other technology providers understand that their client’s data must be submitted to the NDC as well and have received the API documentation to make that happen for their clients.
We look forward to working with all U.S. Soccer Members and technology providers in 2018.
Related Article: NJ Youth Soccer Partners With Blue Star
