After watching the first three USA group stage matches in the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, where head coach Steve Swanson has generously employed his full roster, I was curious to see how his use of his roster compares to past U-20 USWNT coaches in previous CONCACAF Championships.
As it turns out, Swanson’s usage of his roster is the most liberal since since 2006, when Tim Schulz (edit: it’s Schulz, no “t”) helmed the U-20 USWNT. Compared to the past two head coaches, Jill Ellis (2010) and Tony DiCicco (2008), Swanson has rested more starters: 8 starters from the first match did not play in either the second or third match, compared to 4 or less for Ellis (3) and DiCicco (4). Swanson has also used more players: all 20 on the roster, in fact, compared to 18 out of 20 for both Ellis and DiCicco. In 2006, Schulz also rested 8 first match starters during the group stage and used his entire roster.
[Note: Once this U-20 Championship is over, I’ll probably revisit this topic in more detail, with more analysis. But, to quickly summarize, I’d argue that a more liberal use of a roster and substitutions is generally a good sign, as it likely indicates (1) the depth of the roster; (2) the willingness of the coach to experiment; (3) the confidence that the coach has in his or her players; among other factors. (4) Resting starters can help keep them fresh and protects them from getting injuries or cautions. Plus change is not boring for the spectators. However, it could also indicate (1) that the team has yet to find a consistent rhythm or core set of players; and (2) that the head coach may have manic tendencies, in other words, change for change’s sake. Plus, players do need time on the field together in order to develop a playing rapport.]
BACKGROUND
I have only compiled the data for the tournaments from 2006, onward, which is the first year for the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. Prior to this, the championship was an under-19 event, and as such, is not one-hundred-percent directly comparable. Also, the 2002 tournament was only a group stage event: two groups of four teams, with only the top team in the group qualifying for the 2002 U-19 Women’s World Cup. The 2004 tournament did have a knock-out stage, but only two U-19 WWC spots were available, with the winners of the semifinals qualifying.
Minutes played do not include stoppage time, which is not usually available. Plus, by excluding those odd minutes, it makes error-checking much easier. (E.g., playing time in a match without extra-time should add up to 990 minutes, absent any red card ejections.)
Tournament Differences
The schedules for the USA in these Under-20 Championships are, for the most part, all the same: (1) Three group matches, with only one rest day in in between. (2) The USA has been in the second group (“B”) all four times. (3) Except for the 2006 tournament when there was only one rest day between the last group match and the semifinals, the USA has had two rest days leading up to the semifinal. (4) The rosters for these tournaments each had 20 players, with only two being goalkeepers. (5) Three U-20 WWC spots were available in each edition.
For the 2010 and 2008 Championships, Mexico was a group stage opponent, both times in the third match. In 2006, like this current (2012) tournament, the USA did not have to face another North American team during the group stage. In 2006, the USA’s other group opponents were Jamaica, El Salvador, and Suriname.
In 2006, Amy Rodriguez received a red card in the second group stage match, and was thus suspended for the third and final group stage match. This forced Schultz’s hand as to whether or not he could have played Rodriguez in the final group match.
The 2008 tournament played at a significant altitude: As it was hosted by Mexico in Puebla at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc, which has an elevation of just over 7,000 feet above sea level. In preparation for that tournament, the U-20 team trained in Park City, Utah, to help acclimate the players.
Also in 2008, Elli Reed, who would go to play in all six matches at that year’s Women’s World Cup, suffered from a case of strep throat during this tournament. She was rostered as a substitute for the first match, but was not rostered for the remaining matches.
Terminology: “Liberal” and “Conservative”
The most “conservative” usage of players is to not substitute at all and use the same players for all three matches. In such a situation during a group stage, only 11 players will get starting time and all of those 11 will have 270 minutes of playing time.
On the opposite end, the most “liberal” usage of players would be to use the entire roster as evenly as possible. However a perfectly even distribution of playing time is not possible, given the limitations of the tournament (only three matches, only three subs allowed). To my knowledge, the most even distribution possible is where all players get at least 135 minutes, while six of them will have 180 minutes (6 players with 180 minutes; 14 players with 135 minutes). [Note: To keep this post from getting overly complicated, I am leaving out the explanation of how I reached this conclusion. If you’re curious about the details on this, or think that you have found a more even distribution, then bring that up in a comment.]
SUMMARY
Players Used: Swanson has used all 20 players on his roster. In 2010 (Ellis) and 2008 (DiCicco) only 18 players saw action during the group stage. In 2010, Ellis did not use the back-up goalkeeper, Taylor Vancil (who was in goal for the 2008 U-17 USWNT during the entire 2008 U-17 WWC) or defender Kendall Johnson. In 2008, DiCicco did not use defender Elli Reed or forward Jessica McDonald. On this criterion, Swanson is even with the 2006 team (Schultz) where all 20 players also got playing time.
Distribution of Minutes:
Under Swanson, only one player, Kassey Kallman, has played for more than 180 minutes. Kallman has been on the field for the entire group stage, and thus has 270 minutes of playing time. This is one more than 2006, when no player had more than 180 minutes. In 2010 (Ellis), 7 players had over 180 minutes, with 6 of them playing for at least 240 minutes, including 3 who played all group stage minutes. Similarly, in 2008 (DiCicco), 6 team members played more than 180 minutes, with 3 of those on the pitch for the entire group stage.
Under Swanson, the averages for the top subsets of players are much closer to the averages for the most even distribution of minutes, compared to the tournaments in 2010 (Ellis) and 2008 (DiCicco). Again, only the 2006 (Schultz) numbers are more liberal.
As a way to consolidate the data, and thus make it easier to analyze, I have calculated the average minutes for the top 5, top 11, and top 14 players. Numbers that are closer to the averages for the maximum possible minutes per subsets of players, represents a more conservative use of the rosters and substitutions. Conversely, numbers that are closer to the minimum possible minutes per subset, represent a more liberal usage of the roster and substitutions.
Average Minutes Played Per Top Subsets of Players
Average Minutes 2012 2010 2008 2006 | Max* Min* Top 5 198.0 262.6 256.4 180.0 | 270 180 Top 11 183.1 219.7 211.9 172.7 | 270 ~160 Top 14 172.7 195.7 190.6 164.6 | ~212 ~154 *The numbers with tildes (~) are rounded to the nearest whole number. Deviation From Min 2012 2010 2008 2006 Top 5 +18.0 +82.6 +76.4 0 Top 11 +23.1 +59.7 +51.9 +12.7 Top 14 +18.7 +41.7 +36.6 +10.6
As can be seen in the above tables, Ellis (2010) and DiCicco (2008) relied much more heavily on certain players compared to Swanson (2012) and Schulz (2006).
Distribution of Player Minutes for the U-20 USWNT Team:
CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships (Group Stage)
(below each year is the number of players who had minutes in the particular range)
MINUTES 2012 2010 2008 2006 256-270 1 3 3 0 241-255 0 2 0 0 226-240 0 1 2 0 211-225 0 0 0 0 196-210 0 1 1 0 181-195 0 0 0 0 ---------------------------- 166-180 8 2 3 9 151-165 2 1 1 1 136-150 1 2 2 0 121-135 2 0 0 6 106-120 1 0 1 1 91-105 1 0 0 0 ---------------------------- 76-90 3 4 3 3 61-75 1 0 1 0 46-60 0 0 1 0 31-45 0 1 0 0 16-30 0 1 0 0 1-15 0 0 0 0 ---------------------------- No Minutes 0 2 2 0
(Note: In the above table, the most even distribution of playing time would be centered in the middle third, specifically from 135 minutes to 180 minutes. The more spread out the minutes are from there, the less liberal the use of the roster and substitutions.)
Under Swanson, only one player, Sarah Killion, has played less than 90 minutes. Killion has 65 minutes, but saw action in two matches (versus Cuba and Panama). This is only second to Schulz (2006), where the player with the fewest minutes was Jordan Angeli, who had 80 minutes over two matches.
In 2010 (Ellis), 3 players who saw any playing time had less than 90 minutes: Amber Brooks (82 minutes over 3 matches), Maya Hayes (36 minutes over 2 matches), and Elizabeth Eddy (22 minutes, 1 match).
In 2008 (DiCicco), 2 players who saw any playing time had less than 90 minutes: Gina DiMartino (63 minutes, 2 matches) and Christine Nairn (2 matches, 58 minutes). But, both of these players saw at least a full half of action in one match.
Starters Rested:
During the group stage, Swanson has rested 8 players who started the first match versus Guatemala by not playing them in one of the two remaining group matches: Morgan Brian, Crystal Dunn, Bryane Heaberlin, Julie Johnston, Kealia Ohai, Mollie Pathman (captain), Cari Roccaro, and Katie Stengel. This puts him even with Schulz (2006) who also rested 8 player. In 2006, a ninth player, Amy Rodriguez, also sat out a group match, but that was due to a red card. Notably, both Swanson and Schulz each rested the team’s captain (2012, Pathman; 2006, Kryzsik) during the third group match.
Ellis (2010) and DiCicco (2008) each only rested a few players. For Ellis, 3 were rested: Zakiya Bywaters, Tiffany McCarty, and Jenna Richmond. For DiCicco, 4 were rested: Lauren Fowlkes, Alyssa NaeherCasey Noguiera, and Keelin Winters.
In 2006, the 8 starters rested were: Lindsay Beam, Lauren Cheney, Kelsey Davis, Carrie Dew, Tina DiMartino, Meagan Holmes, Nikki Kryzsik (captain), and Sarah Wagenfuhr. A ninth, Amy Rodriguez, also sat out a group match, but that was due to a red card.
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THE DATA
2012 U-20 USWNT Playing Time: CONCACAF Championship
PLAYER P. GUA CUB PAN S-MEX ?-??? Grp Ovr Kassey Kallman DF 90 90 90 270 Bryane Heaberlin GK 90 0 90 180 Cari Roccaro DF 90 0 90 180 Crystal Dunn DF 90 90 0 180 Lindsey Horan FW 90 45 45 180 Maya Hayes FW 45 90 45 180 Mollie Pathman DF 90 90 NR 180 Olivia Brannon DF 0 90 90 180 Samantha Mewis MF 90 45 34 169 Morgan Brian MF 68 90 0 158 Vanessa DiBernardo MF 22 45 90 157 Julie Johnston MF 90 0 56 146 Kealia Ohai FW 45 0 90 135 Chioma Ubogagu FW 33 90 0 123 Mandy Laddish MF 0 70 45 115 Katie Stengel FW 57 45 NR 102 Abby Smith GK 0 90 0 90 Micaela Capelle FW 0 NR 90 90 Stephanie Amack DF NR NR 90 90 Sarah Killion MF NR 20 45 65
Group Matches: USA 6, Guatemala 0. USA 6, Cuba 0. USA 6, Panama 0.
2010 U-20 USWNT Playing Time: CONCACAF Championship
PLAYER P. JAM TRI MEX S-CRC F-MEX Grp Ovr Bianca Henninger GK 90 90 90 90 90 270 450 Crystal Dunn DF 90 90 90 90 90 270 450 Rachel Quon DF 90 90 90 90 83 270 443 Toni Pressley DF 75 90 90 90 90 255 435 Vicki DiMartino DF 90 68 90 90 34 248 372 Christine Nairn MF 90 60 90 90 90 240 420 Sydney Leroux FW 62 57 82 90 90 201 381 Teresa Noyola MF 57 33 90 90 46 180 316 Tiffany McCarty FW 90 0 90 57 0 180 237 Zakiya Bywaters MF 90 0 63 33 90 153 276 Kristie Mewis MF 33 90 27 90 90 150 330 Jenna Richmond MF 90 0 53 45 0 143 188 Casey Short MF 0 90 0 0 44 90 134 Morgan Marlborough FW 0 90 0 NR NR 90 90 Samantha Mewis MF 0 90 0 0 7 90 97 Amber Brooks DF 15 30 37 45 90 82 217 Maya Hayes FW 28 NR 8 0 0 36 36 Elizabeth Eddy MF NR 22 NR NR NR 22 22 Kendall Johnson DF NR NR NR 0 56 0 56 Taylor Vancil GK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Group Matches: USA 6, Jamaica 0. USA 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0. USA 2, Mexico 1.
Knock-out Matches: USA 2. Costa Rica 1. USA 1, Mexico 0.
2008 U-20 USWNT Playing Time: CONCACAF Championship
PLAYER P. TRI CUB MEX S-CRC F-CAN Grp Ovr Becky Edwards MF 90 90 90 69 37 270 376 Meghan Klingenberg MF 90 90 90 90 90 270 450 Nikki Marshall DF 90 90 90 90 90 270 450 Kiersten Dallstream FW 90 59 90 90 90 239 419 Michelle Enyeart FW 90 53 90 90 90 233 413 Kelley O'Hara FW 58 90 62 45 90 210 345 Alyssa Naeher GK 90 0 90 90 90 180 360 Lauren Fowlkes MF 90 NR 90 0 0 180 180 Casey Noguiera FW 90 0 77 NR 53 167 220 Keelin Winters MF 72 0 90 90 90 162 342 Nikki Washington FW 32 90 28 45 0 150 195 Alex Morgan FW 60 37 45 42 NR 142 184 Sydney Leroux FW 30 31 45 0 45 106 151 Ingrid Wells MF 0 90 0 90 0 90 180 Kaley Fountain DF 0 90 0 90 90 90 270 Kristin Arnold GK 0 90 0 0 0 90 90 Gina DiMartino FW 18 45 NR 0 65 63 128 Christine Nairn MF NR 45 13 21 25 58 104 Jessica McDonald FW NR 0 0 48 45 0 93 Elli Reed^ DF 0 NR NR NR NR 0 0
Group Matches: USA 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0. USA 9, Cuba 0. USA 3, Mexico 0.
Knock-out Matches: USA 4. Costa Rica 0. USA 0, Canada 1.
^Elli Reed had a case of strep throat and apparently left Mexico before the final.
2006 U-20 USWNT Playing Time: CONCACAF Championship
PLAYER P. JAM SUR SLV S-MEX F-CAN Grp Ovr Amanda Poach MF 90 45 45 45 90 180 315 Brittany Taylor FW 0 90 90 0 0 180 180 Lindsey Beam MF 90 0 90 0 90 180 270 Meagan Holmes DF 90 0 90 0 27 180 207 Nikki Kryzsik DF 90 90 0 90 90 180 360 Sarah Wagenfuhr DF 90 0 90 0 90 180 270 Stephanie Logterman DF 0 90 90 90 0 180 270 Valerie Henderson GK 0 90 90 0 0 180 180 Danesha Adams FW 71 55 45 45 0 171 216 Jessica Rodstedt FW 19 45 90 15 31 154 200 Brittany Bock MF 0 90 45 90 45 135 270 Carrie Dew* DF 90 0 45 0 41 135 176 Kasey Moore DF 0 90 45 90 0 135 225 Kelley O'Hara FW 0 45 90 45 63 135 243 Lauren Cheney FW 90 0 45 75 90 135 300 Tina DiMartino MF 45 90 0 45 45 135 225 Amy Rodriguez** FW 45 74 NA 90 59 119 268 Allie Long MF 45 45 0 90 0 90 180 Kelsey Davis GK 90 0 0 90 90 90 270 Jordan Angeli FW 45 35 0 90 90 80 260
*Received two yellow cards in final versus Canada (ejected, 41′)
**Received red card in Suriname match (ejected, 74′)
Note: Non-rostered player information is not available for this year.
Group Matches: USA 4, Jamaica 1. USA 4, Suriname 0. USA 5, El Salvador 0.
Knock-out Matches: USA 3, Mexico 0. USA 3, Canada 2.
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Methodology Notes:
(1.) Minutes played do not include stoppage time.
(2.) For players who start the match, cardinal minutes are rounded up to whole minutes, unless the player exits at half-time. E.g., if a starter exits the match in the 75th minute (74:01 to 75:00), their playing time is 75 minutes. But, if the player exits in the 46th minute (the first minute of the second half), their playing time is 45 minutes.
(3.) For players who are subbed-in during the match, their minutes are rounded-down to the whole minute, unless they enter at half-time. E.g., a player who enters the match in the 75th minute (74:01 to 75:00), is credited with 15 minutes of playing. But, if the player enters in the 46th minute (the first minute of the second half), their playing time is 45 minutes.
(4.) US Soccer match reports are used as a primary source. CONCACAF’s technical reports (official summaries of the tournaments) are used as a back-up source.
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