SoccerToday NPSL Spotlight Series
Soccer News: The soccer scene has been exploding and the sport’s popularity increasing substantially. The National Premier Soccer League – NPSL for short – is the country’s largest amateur soccer league with 80 teams competing in 2016. SoccerToday’s special coverage on the this 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, gives soccer fans a glimpse into the life of the teams.
And did you know, NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Soccer Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and some NPSL teams have performed very well. NPSL is affiliated with both the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).
When one hears about success stories in NPSL soccer, one immediately thinks of Chattanooga FC (CFC). When SoccerToday asks, “Which team does a great job?” Often the answer is Chattanooga. Known for breaking NPSL attendance records, learn more about Chattanooga FC from General Manager Sean McDaniel.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you become involved with the Chattanooga FC (CFC)?
Sean McDaniel: I joined the ownership group in 2009 when CFC was founded. At the time we formed, the NPSL presented the easiest path of entry for us! We threw this together very last minute and the league worked collaboratively with us to make a successful launch. Little did we know how incredible this league would be 7 years later.
Diane Scavuzzo: Why join the NPSL?
Sean McDaniel: One of the benefits of the NPSL is it’s a member run organization. We are not franchise owners but rather dues-paying members which allows for a stronger voice in the growth of the NPSL. The structure of the NPSL gives teams an opportunity to operate their brand — within league guidelines — that allows for maximum success. Although our decision to join the NPSL was somewhat based on an urgent need, the long-term benefits of our decision have been rewarded!
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you first fall in love with soccer?
Sean McDaniel: I grew up in Tampa, FL in the 1980’s. At that time, youth soccer was rapidly emerging in America and Tampa happened to be out in front of it. Back then, the NASL was at it’s pinnacle and my family were huge supporters of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. I can remember watching Pele, Rodney Marsh, Johan Cruyff and other world-renowned players and thinking I want to be a part of this some day.
After graduating high-school, I moved to Chattanooga, TN and played soccer at Covenant College. Covenant is where I met the other CFC Founders that would ultimately form Chattanooga FC 25 years later.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your head coach and why did you select him? What is his coaching philosophy?
Sean McDaniel: Our head coach is Bill Elliott. Bill is the Head Men’s Coach at the University of West Florida and has been there over 20 years. However, Bill is actually from Chattanooga. I’ve known Bill since college and we actually played together back when Chattanooga had a team in the old USISL.
What impresses me most is Bill’s ability to methodically take his roster and identify where each individuals greatest strengths are and fit them into a system. He coaches like he’s playing chess. Everything from clock management to game-day prep to the training environment are all parts of the overall strategy of winning. He’s one of the best and we’re glad he’s with us.
Diane Scavuzzo: How would you describe Chattanooga FC’s style of play?
Sean McDaniel: Eclectic! We have so many nationalities and styles of play represented that it reflects a very unique style. We are extremely grateful to our coaching staff for their ability to take multiple talents and somehow create successful style of play on the field.
Diane Scavuzzo: How many players are on your roster? Where are they from?
Sean McDaniel: We carry between 22-24. We have players from Kenya, England, USA, Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Mexico. In the past we’ve had New Zealand, Guatemala, Germany and Japan.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who do you believe is your biggest rival?
Sean McDaniel: Everybody! Actually the Southeast Conference of the NPSL consistently produces high-impact, intense matches. Our fans travel very well so whether CFC is home or away everybody is treated to a great, hard-fought match.
Diane Scavuzzo: What team do you believe does the best at promoting the game?
Sean McDaniel: I think there are many–and the list gets bigger and bigger. Detroit City FC, Lansing United, Fort Worth Vaqueros, and Sacramento Gold to name a few. The teams in the NPSL are beginning to operate as businesses rather than Sunday adult-league teams. Because of the shift in mindsets the stability of the NPSL has improved. Teams are not only focused on wins and losses, they are also measuring revenue streams, income opportunities, and an overall positive impact to their bottom line.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you feel that NPSL is doing a good job with the challenges of amateur/pro men’s soccer?
Sean McDaniel: The NPSL is still maturing. Part of that process is creating a culture and brand that’s easily identified by the public.
As the NPSL expands, it will be important to clearly define what type of league we want to be. It’s difficult to promote yourself as BOTH a professional and an amateur league and can be confusing to the casual soccer fan. The USL has managed to make a clear distinction between their Professional sides and amateur sides and I believe the NPSL is very capable of doing the same.
Diane Scavuzzo: The NPSL has teams in over 80 markets across the country – is your area in need of more competition or are you concerned about future expansion?
Sean McDaniel: We are extremely fortunate in that we have a great pool of teams in the South Region to keep us strong. But as the league grows it’s national footprint, it will become very important not to dilute a market by having too many teams in a nearby geographic area.
I’m proud of how the NPSL is handling the growth though. The days of a check and a signature to get a team in the league are thankfully over! Financial statements, business plans and cash flow projections are all standard operating procedure for the league. This, of course, allows for a more successful vetting out process which in turn raises the standard of the teams entering the NPSL.
We still have the challenge of older teams that don’t adhere to the higher standards. It’s equally important we either strengthen their ability to perform or cut our ties so as to not weaken the product and the NPSL brand.
Diane Scavuzzo: As the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, the NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup. How do you prepare for this competition?
Sean McDaniel: Participating in the Open Cup is one of the great highlights of our season–not just for us but the fans too. And the level of play from the NPSL teams has been rewarded by U.S. Soccer by adding more and more teams from our league over the years. And for us, it’s a nice reward for having success during the regular season and playoffs. If we qualify, it means we’ve had a very good NPSL season. The biggest adjustment we’ve made for the Open Cup is simply adding depth to our roster. The NPSL season in the South is so short and we have to squeeze in so many matches in such a short time, having healthy bodies becomes the answer for making a deep run.
Diane Scavuzzo: As a host for a U.S. Open Cup match what type of attendance do you expect?
Sean McDaniel: Our fans are very, very astute when it comes to the Open Cup and follow it closely. We expect a huge turnout for our second round match. Our fans know the significance of continued success in the Open Cup and cheer us on passionately!
Diane Scavuzzo: Would you like to see European style promotion and relegation exist in the USA?
Sean McDaniel: I definitely think promotion and relegation would shake things up! Sports fans, especially American sports fans, love to see their team have the chance of post-season play.
We are faithful followers of our teams in the good and the bad times. But in a ‘closed’ sports environment where teams remain in their respective league(s), win or lose, the ownership groups of those teams never have the threat of their franchise being ‘replaced’. Outside of physically moving a team to another market or completely folding, there’s no chance a DIFFERENT team will ever threaten their position (NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS). It creates a barrier to entry that isn’t healthy for smaller sports markets. With promotion and relegation we can level the playing field. Small and mid-market teams could actually participate on a much larger stage with the hope of increasing their value.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your goals for 2016 NPSL Season?
Sean McDaniel: Believe it or not, it goes much deeper than just winning.
We love Chattanooga! And we love that soccer has put our great city on a national stage.
So our goal in 2016 is to continue being a soccer showcase city and put on awesome soccer events. The more success Chattanooga FC has, the more attention is brought to our city. And, if we can supplement our season with other high profile exhibitions, we’ve accomplished our goal.
Specifically for CFC this season, we’re still chasing the elusive NPSL National Championship! That will always be a goal. We are hosting the Hank Steinbrecher Cup again and hope to defend it and be named the top amateur team in the country. And if the coin toss is favorable for hosting U.S. Open Cup matches while hopefully winning, then I can say 2016 will be a year to remember.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you have a youth soccer program?
Sean McDaniel: Yes, we have a youth academy that’s lead by a separate board of passionate soccer leaders and we created the CFC Academy so we could develop local talent for our senior team.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you have a women’s team in the WPSL?
Sean McDaniel: Yes, our Women’s team is beginning it’s 3rd year and we love the passion the fans bring to the women who represent our team and our city so well.
Diane Scavuzzo: What does it take to make an NPSL team successful?
Sean McDaniel: Plan, Implement, Measure, Repeat. On every level — not just the soccer! By applying simple, business practices, a team will then have the ‘map’ to guide their decision-making. Passion for soccer is only a small part of the process. Surrounding yourself with a circle of trusted advisers and being purposeful in your action items will at least keep you on track.
So many teams define their success by wins and losses. That’s too narrow! Success is the entire experience…
From the family to the supporter to the media to the players, success is made up of many parts. Everyone should go away having had one of the best experiences ever.
So my advice for building a successful NPSL team is to create the mission, create the strategy, and measure the successes and the failures.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the greatest challenge managing an NPSL team?
Sean McDaniel: Keeping the car between the ditches! So many things pull at us each and every day. From scheduling conflicts to travel arrangements — the need for my attention can become overwhelming. Prioritizing the day is critical for keeping your sanity. And if you’ve planned, implemented, measured and repeat the steps, then crisis management can be reduced.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the one thing you would like to turn back the clock and change?
Sean McDaniel: I don’t know that there’s a singular moment. We’ve made plenty of mistakes! I think what has contributed the most to the growth of Chattanooga FC is our ability to be brutally honest with each other and pursue ideas that honor the city and our fans the best. Remember, it’s all about the environment–we want people leaving wanting more!
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your favorite soccer team or player? Who do you root for behind closed doors?
Sean McDaniel: I really like Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes. Love their work ethic and quiet leadership. Beyond their soccer talent, they were very loyal to their clubs and extraordinarily reliable. Great qualities. And, I still cheer for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. That brand was so important to my soccer youth.
On a global level though my heart still follows Liverpool. When I was a kid, the only soccer we could watch was ‘Soccer Made in Germany’. Every once in a while they would show a Liverpool match so I was captivated with them since then.
