<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Hey S@H, my name is Alex (Sounder supporter, avid S@H reader, and occasional commenter)

I am a second year Sociology PhD student at the University of Minnesota and am developing an ethnographic research project on soccer culture in the USA and the growing influence of the USSF/USSDA and MLS academies on youth soccer. I am interested in understanding the perspectives of administrators, coaches, players, media members (within soccer and outside of soccer), and fans on the “newer” player development system and United States soccer culture in general.

A little background about myself: I’m 23, grew up in Seattle and played soccer at a lower level select club and in High School.

I am hoping to have conversations about American soccer culture, player development, and the USSDA system with fans and the I know the Sounder at Heart community would be a great place to gather opinions from knowledgeable fans.

My email is amanning2424@gmail.com and twitter handle @AManning24, please contact me or leave comments below, if you are interested, have questions, or want to learn more about the project.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy lives and helping a graduate student with a passion for soccer. I really appreciate it.

Alex