In depth: U.S. Soccer, MLS youth, coaching development

What exactly are U.S. Soccer and MLS doing to improve the quality of youth development and coaching? Liviu Bird explores the detailed work going on behind the scenes.

Liviu Bird | Feb 11, 2016

In depth: U.S. Soccer, MLS youth, coaching development /

Youth and coaching development are two incredibly important issues in U.S. soccer, as the country continues to evolve as a soccer nation and sets sights on becoming one of the best in the world on both the club and international level. U.S. Soccer and MLS have taken major steps over the last few years to improve on the foundational levels, and SI presents, in a series of stories, in-depth reporting at what is going on behind the scenes to accelerate the USA's growth in hopes of bridging the gap sooner than later:

. Double PASS's plan to change U.S. Soccer

. France's influence on MLS Academies, coaches

. U.S. Soccer's Coaching license overhaul

Published Feb 11, 2016

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).