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Switching Fields
A Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journalist unravels why the United States has failed to produce elite men’s soccer players for so long—and shows why a golden era just might be coming.
The contrast is striking. As the United States women’s national soccer team has long dominated the sport, winners of four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals, the men’s team has floundered. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the last three Olympics and have long struggled when facing the world’s best teams. How could such a global powerhouse on the women's side—and in other men's team sports—be so far behind the rest of the world?
In Switching Fields, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George Dohrmann turns his investigative focus on the system that develops male soccer players in the United States, examining why the U.S. has struggled for decades to produce elite talent. But rather than just focus on the past, he turns forward, connecting with coaches and players who are changing the way talented players are unearthed and developed: an American living in Japan who devised a new way for kids under five to be introduced to the game; a coach in Los Angeles who traveled to Spain and Argentina and returned with coaching methods he used to school a team of future pros; an Arizona real estate developer whose grand experiment changed the way pro teams in the U.S. develop talent.
Following these innovators' inspiring journeys, Dohrmann gives ever-hopeful U.S. soccer fans a reason to believe that a movement is underway that is smashing the developmental status quo, and it has put the United States on the precipice of greatness.
The contrast is striking. As the United States women’s national soccer team has long dominated the sport, winners of four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals, the men’s team has floundered. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the last three Olympics and have long struggled when facing the world’s best teams. How could such a global powerhouse on the women's side—and in other men's team sports—be so far behind the rest of the world?
In Switching Fields, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George Dohrmann turns his investigative focus on the system that develops male soccer players in the United States, examining why the U.S. has struggled for decades to produce elite talent. But rather than just focus on the past, he turns forward, connecting with coaches and players who are changing the way talented players are unearthed and developed: an American living in Japan who devised a new way for kids under five to be introduced to the game; a coach in Los Angeles who traveled to Spain and Argentina and returned with coaching methods he used to school a team of future pros; an Arizona real estate developer whose grand experiment changed the way pro teams in the U.S. develop talent.
Following these innovators' inspiring journeys, Dohrmann gives ever-hopeful U.S. soccer fans a reason to believe that a movement is underway that is smashing the developmental status quo, and it has put the United States on the precipice of greatness.
- GenresSportsNonfictionSoccer
208 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
12 people are currently reading
1585 people want to read
About the author
George Dohrmann
6 books21 followersGeorge Dohrmann is a senior managing editor at The Athletic and was formerly an investigative reporter at Sports Illustrated. His first book, Play Their Hearts Out, was named one of the best books of literary journalism of the twenty-first century by GQ and called one of the finest sports books of all time by Harper’s and The New York Times. He won a Pulitzer Prize at the St. Paul Pioneer Press for a series of stories that uncovered academic fraud within a college basketball program. He lives with his family in Ashland, Oregon, where he coaches soccer and is president of the Ashland Soccer Club.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 28, 2023
While the United States men’s soccer team (USMNT) has made the World Cup in every year since 1990, with the exception of 2018, it has been a constant source of puzzlement why the country with such a large and diverse population is not a bigger powerhouse in the sport. This book by George Dohrman explores why that has been the case and also takes a look at some creative ways that some are trying to address this problem.
The book starts off with that 2018 team – specifically the game in which the USNMT lost to Trinidad and Tobago that ended their chances to qualify for the World Cup. Dohrman explains that the subsequent review of why the team did so poorly sets the tone for the book and the explanation of the inherent problems for growing the sport in the United States. Instead of looking at the entire system, there was criticism of smaller details such as the lineup used in that game. As Dohrman noted, this missed the bigger picture that the system was the problem – making the United States “a country that should be a shark into a minnow.”
Dohrman then goes on to explain how the country’s youth soccer organization AYSO “was conceived in about ninety minutes” and how the country’s soccer development became entrenched in the Pay-to-Play model that many other youth sports follow. The issue with this model for soccer is that due to many factors, it leaves out a significant portion of the population and leaves the future of the sport in the hands of mostly white, suburban and upper middle class (or higher) players. This didn’t allow the sport to grow in other areas populated mostly by Black families or other people of color. It also did not help that most coaches of these players were either unfamiliar with the game or if they were, they followed only the European model of play, which is very different from that in other areas where the game is extremely popular such as South America.
What sets this book apart is that Dohrman not only describes and analyzes these shortcomings, but he also highlights people and systems that buck the traditional models of American soccer in the past and are trying to bring more players of all types and backgrounds into the game. One example, and the best story of the book, is a coach who went against the traditional pay-for-play model in Iowa, Matt Carver. Carver’s youth allowed him to experience the game in places like Harlem and Germany and when he became a coach with his own children, he saw the flaws in the system and wanted to create a league that would not require high fees and extensive travel. After several fights with the bureaucracy of the soccer league in suburban Des Moines, he eventually won and now has players coming to his league.
Dohrman also talks about why the women’s teams for the United States are so successful – again, mainly due to some thinking outside the box – and how the men can use ideas such as those from Carver to have more success for the USMNT. This is a book that should be required reading for anyone who has an interest in seeing how the United States can become a nation that will use its population and diversity to its advantage in the sport of international soccer.
I wish to thank Ballantine Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
The book starts off with that 2018 team – specifically the game in which the USNMT lost to Trinidad and Tobago that ended their chances to qualify for the World Cup. Dohrman explains that the subsequent review of why the team did so poorly sets the tone for the book and the explanation of the inherent problems for growing the sport in the United States. Instead of looking at the entire system, there was criticism of smaller details such as the lineup used in that game. As Dohrman noted, this missed the bigger picture that the system was the problem – making the United States “a country that should be a shark into a minnow.”
Dohrman then goes on to explain how the country’s youth soccer organization AYSO “was conceived in about ninety minutes” and how the country’s soccer development became entrenched in the Pay-to-Play model that many other youth sports follow. The issue with this model for soccer is that due to many factors, it leaves out a significant portion of the population and leaves the future of the sport in the hands of mostly white, suburban and upper middle class (or higher) players. This didn’t allow the sport to grow in other areas populated mostly by Black families or other people of color. It also did not help that most coaches of these players were either unfamiliar with the game or if they were, they followed only the European model of play, which is very different from that in other areas where the game is extremely popular such as South America.
What sets this book apart is that Dohrman not only describes and analyzes these shortcomings, but he also highlights people and systems that buck the traditional models of American soccer in the past and are trying to bring more players of all types and backgrounds into the game. One example, and the best story of the book, is a coach who went against the traditional pay-for-play model in Iowa, Matt Carver. Carver’s youth allowed him to experience the game in places like Harlem and Germany and when he became a coach with his own children, he saw the flaws in the system and wanted to create a league that would not require high fees and extensive travel. After several fights with the bureaucracy of the soccer league in suburban Des Moines, he eventually won and now has players coming to his league.
Dohrman also talks about why the women’s teams for the United States are so successful – again, mainly due to some thinking outside the box – and how the men can use ideas such as those from Carver to have more success for the USMNT. This is a book that should be required reading for anyone who has an interest in seeing how the United States can become a nation that will use its population and diversity to its advantage in the sport of international soccer.
I wish to thank Ballantine Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
December 3, 2022
I finished reading this book on the same day the Netherlands eliminated the US from the 2022 World Cup. While the tournament exposed some aspects of the game in which the US needs to improve, there were encouraging signs in their performance. This book identifies some key reasons the US has failed to field competitive soccer teams despite its resources. It’s main thesis centers on the shallow pool of talent despite over 7 million kids playing the game, far more than many of the elite soccer countries. The book identifies several reasons why this has happened by drawing upon the history of youth soccer programs and missteps by the US Soccer Federation that has made the sport inaccessible to certain segments of the US society. He goes on to discuss how much of this is changing primarily as a result of soccer academies associated with professional US teams as well as European clubs who recognize the US as a hot bed of talent to develop. Given these changes in the US system, we may eventually see the US ascend to a soccer power sooner rather than later. The book is well written and succinct with many stories on how the game has changed.
June 29, 2022
Serendipitous timing of receiving advanced copy of this book as I embarked on a very long car ride to a youth soccer tournament. Or not, as it just made me angry all weekend. Mostly kidding, but it did reinforce a lot of what I was feeling regarding youth soccer and the entire American approach to player development in general. Dohrmann does a great job of explaining how the sport evolved in this country, from democratic origins to becoming an exclusive club of white suburbia. Everyone seems to acknowledge the problems of the system but it's hard to shift course of an engrained power structure. Too many people are making too much money on exploiting the system that I don't see much hope in change coming soon. It's a shame for all the kids being left behind and it's a shame for the developmental years lost already.
October 1, 2022
I received a digital advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This was one of the most informative books about soccer that I have read in general and in specific. The focus on the men’s and women’s national teams, and the state of soccer in the US in general was eye opening. Switching Fields felt like a call to arms, and warning, and intense reportage all at once. As a parent, I was enraged by the way US soccer has been taken over by Pay to Play (not that other sports are much better, but soccer seems to be under the thumb of Pay to Play in a more frustrating way). As a new fan to the game, I was disappointed in the way that soccer is stuck in the same way that baseball was stuck for years- played “the right way” so that individuality and creativity is squashed.
I was happy to see the changes that are underway, and excited to see how MLS is creating academies to help foster the game. Seeing my hometown team, Sporting KC, show up was fun as well. Honestly, I don’t know the last time I read a book that I wanted to shove into the hands of so many people. Good, engaging writing that showed a serious depth of knowledge and research. Highly recommended to people already involved with soccer and those that only care about the US winning a World Cup and don’t pay attention otherwise.
This was one of the most informative books about soccer that I have read in general and in specific. The focus on the men’s and women’s national teams, and the state of soccer in the US in general was eye opening. Switching Fields felt like a call to arms, and warning, and intense reportage all at once. As a parent, I was enraged by the way US soccer has been taken over by Pay to Play (not that other sports are much better, but soccer seems to be under the thumb of Pay to Play in a more frustrating way). As a new fan to the game, I was disappointed in the way that soccer is stuck in the same way that baseball was stuck for years- played “the right way” so that individuality and creativity is squashed.
I was happy to see the changes that are underway, and excited to see how MLS is creating academies to help foster the game. Seeing my hometown team, Sporting KC, show up was fun as well. Honestly, I don’t know the last time I read a book that I wanted to shove into the hands of so many people. Good, engaging writing that showed a serious depth of knowledge and research. Highly recommended to people already involved with soccer and those that only care about the US winning a World Cup and don’t pay attention otherwise.
November 19, 2022
Throughly enjoyed this book. I’ve followed US Soccer, MLS and USL closely since Orlando City were formed as a team, yet I had no idea on the background or history of how US soccer developed, how business orientated it was and openly it played “favourites” shall we say instead of blatant racism.
The book tells the tales of numerous individuals who tried to improve US soccer, looking from the ground up, developing grassroots teams, youth teams and creating pathways for them develop. It wasn’t always clearcut and sometimes they created more problems further down the line, but they tried and started a process which would take years of hard work and still continues to this day. It’s a compelling collection of stories which centres around letting kids play football at a young age and having access to do so, despite geography, finances, race or background.
A lot of hard work has been done, but it still has more to do
The book tells the tales of numerous individuals who tried to improve US soccer, looking from the ground up, developing grassroots teams, youth teams and creating pathways for them develop. It wasn’t always clearcut and sometimes they created more problems further down the line, but they tried and started a process which would take years of hard work and still continues to this day. It’s a compelling collection of stories which centres around letting kids play football at a young age and having access to do so, despite geography, finances, race or background.
A lot of hard work has been done, but it still has more to do
November 10, 2022
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Switching Fields: Inside the Fight to Remake Men's Soccer in the United States
By George Dohrmann
P208 2022
7.5/10
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
As a long suffering fan of the USMNT, I am looking forward with nervous anticipation to Qatar 2022. Being a fan of the US Men's National Team can be somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster, and George Dohrmann's book discusses exactly what the US needs to change to be a world soccer powerhouse.
This book points out the missteps that the US has made in team development, but also remains hopeful that the US team can change. Switching Fields is a good book to read especially with the World Cup looming ahead.
Special thanks to George Dohrmann, Ballatine Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC. Switching Fields is available on November 15!
@books_boards_and_brews
Switching Fields: Inside the Fight to Remake Men's Soccer in the United States
By George Dohrmann
P208 2022
7.5/10
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
As a long suffering fan of the USMNT, I am looking forward with nervous anticipation to Qatar 2022. Being a fan of the US Men's National Team can be somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster, and George Dohrmann's book discusses exactly what the US needs to change to be a world soccer powerhouse.
This book points out the missteps that the US has made in team development, but also remains hopeful that the US team can change. Switching Fields is a good book to read especially with the World Cup looming ahead.
Special thanks to George Dohrmann, Ballatine Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC. Switching Fields is available on November 15!
November 22, 2022
An interesting collection of stories that examines the development of men’s soccer in the US. I found it to be very interesting from a sociological and anthropological perspective but it could drag at times with all the names and details rattled off. Definitely a pretty damning reflection on racism and classism present in the US soccer system, just like many other systems in the US. I also think the comparison of men’s soccer to the success of women’s soccer in the US was a mistake because it failed to make an accurate comparison and adequately address all of the numerous barriers women’s sports still face.
November 20, 2022
Ok so I’m not a big soccer fan - BUT - I’ve always wondered why soccer isn’t more popular in our country at a professional level when it’s a super craze everywhere else in the world. This book explores that - and then some. The author is excellent and explains things in a way that captured my attention and left me recommending this one to friends and family. Thanks to Ballantine - this one is great.
December 30, 2022
A book that feels incomplete, because the changes it suggests remain in the early stages. The author does a good job of explaining what has happened to men's soccer in the US, but I wonder if a few more years are needed to see if lessons have been learned. The best explanation for this situation remains Taylor Twellman's takedown of our country's soccer hierarchy after the loss to Trinidad and Tobago in 2017.
January 23, 2023
A well written look at how the USMNT has failed to compete globally against other national teams. The player development system was largely at fault although that system is complex to say the least.
Bravo to those people who strove to offer soccer opportunities to every kid of any ethnicity regardless of their ability to pay.
Bravo to those people who strove to offer soccer opportunities to every kid of any ethnicity regardless of their ability to pay.
February 5, 2023
Really an interesting and thoughtful look at the state of (basically men’s) soccer in the United States and pretty much shows the questions and answers as to why the USMT still has a way to go on the world soccer stage but does show there is movement in that direction.
August 13, 2023
Pay-to-play and US Soccer's neglect of non-white suburban kids is holding back soccer's progress in the U.S. Now, MLS academies, which have different incentives and are free if you are good enough for the team, are changing the game. That's basically it.
September 3, 2023
Very in depth reasoning of why the US Men’s (and partially women’s) soccer landscape is the way it is. Focuses quite a bit on the necessity of youth development and ends with a hope of where things could (and just might) be in the future.
November 12, 2023
The journalist’s discerning search for individual stories really elevates this book and highlights the quirky doggedness of many of its characters. But the writing can sometimes lack precision and nuance.
April 27, 2025
3.5 rounded up. Definitely a five star if he had partnered with Malcolm Gladwell to tell this tale. It would have been less name/fact dump and more stats woven with personal stories that illustrate not only major points but hit you in the feels while they do.
January 5, 2023
Good lord. Huge country, tons of talent, bunch of morons that can’t stop gatekeeping the sport for rich white kids, therefore poor performing soccer team on the global stage.
May 12, 2024
Enjoyed this so much more than I expected. Interesting social, economic, cultural, etc study of the USA, not just a soccer book.
May 22, 2024
This does a great recap of the issues with development of soccer players within the US and what should change to make the USMNT more competitive in the future.
August 28, 2023
Enjoyed this tome on everything that’s wrong with U.S. Soccer (as in, the federation that’s running it) but also everything that’s right about lowercase-s U.S. soccer. Dohrmann does a good job weaving in anecdotes to make his points—the failure of the pay-to-play system, the gatekeepers looking out for themselves first and foremost, etc.—without getting too far afield. A good read, and reasons therein to be optimistic about the future (not least because youth development is now mostly done by for-profit clubs rather than the USSF).
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews