Big margins of victories in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament have generated criticism of the qualification process and calls for a change in the process, including giving top teams an automatic bye to semi-finals.
I have a different view.
Having been involved in this game for a long time, I am encouraged by what I have witnessed so far.
Yes 14-0 and 13-0 results make it appear that progress is not taking place, however, the technical and tactical standard of participating teams had undoubtedly improved.
Writers, bloggers and fans attracted to the game in the last four years would have been shocked to see the level of this competition prior. There simply is no comparison.
Is there a lot of work that needs to be done? The answer is categorically yes.
Still, instead of changing the qualification process, the CONCACAF should aid and encourage development. Give the Haitis and Guatemalas of the region a tool for players, coaches and teams to continuously learn and gain experience. Through quality competition by sponsoring a CONCACAF Women’s Champions League (CWCL) it would be possible to duplicate what the UEFA is doing in Europe.
I’m a firm believer that the UEFA Women’s Champions League had a significant impact on the growth of the sport in Europe.
Currently, the UEFA is comprised of 49 national women’s teams. There are 136 nations fielding women’s teams in the FIFA system.
According to latest FIFA rankings 12 in the top 20 (60%) teams are UEFA members.
17 in top 30 (56%)
24 in top 40 (60%)
27 in top 50 (54%)
The CONCACAF numbers are not encouraging.
2 in top 20 (10%)
3 in top 30 (10%)
5 in top 40 (12%)
5 in top 50 (10%)
While I concede that financial resources and the game’s tradition in Europe have contributed to UEFA members’ success, I submit that the existence of the UEFA Women’s Champions League has aided it greatly.
Through the competition, top European teams and players gain valuable exposure to tactical developments, styles of play, and have an opportunity to test their progress against other top European teams.
Utilizing this experience, participating teams serve as catalysts for change and models in their own countries. That perpetuates progress.
The existence of competitive isolation in the CONCACAF region hampers development of the game. CONCACAF club teams and players have minimal exposure to tactical developments, competition vs. top players and teams in the region. This, and not the qualification process, stunts growth and development.
Few would argue that Mexico’s progress in great part is attributable to playing annually 4-6 matches vs. American college teams for the past 8 years. It gave Mexican players opportunity to frequently play against Americans and to test their physical, technical, tactical and psychological progress. Creating the CWCL will have a similar effect on development in member countries.
The CONCACAF does not need a change to the qualification process, it needs to establish and sponsor a CONCACAF Women’s Champions League to foster progress.
