Some of you reading this may have noticed that I’ve recently tweeted a few graphs showing the number of teams that have entered the US Open Cup by state. While, on its face, it may seem just a fun exercise looking back on the history of the game, it actually started out from an idea looking at the sport in present-day.

It’s a given that those of us who discuss US soccer will consistently write and talk about the woeful state of the pyramid. Whether it’s at the national, regional or local level, because soccer is such an interconnected sport, conversation will inevitably turn to the barriers inherent in the current US structure and then to the myriad of possible fixes.

One major manifestation of the state of the game is the U.S. Open Cup. While it’s not a perfect analogy, the USOC is a great comparison for the game at-large. Basically, I wanted to see if my anecdotal understanding that the USOC was over-representing certain areas and under-representing other areas held up. A few major areas I decided to look at were pro vs. non-professional, national league vs. non-national league and geographical. So, because I wanted to get a complete picture (read as, I need to make things difficult), I decided to start at the beginning. That’s where those pretty graphs come from.

We talk a lot about building a more equitable pyramid, including the bugbear that is pro/rel. Those things are what the USOC is literally about. The competition is based on teams from different geographical soccer associations competing to be that district’s representative which, at later stages, gets to play the best of the other districts.

Think about it. Teams from “lower down” battle it out and move up to play teams “above” them. That original core idea is still there even though the rules and structure of the USOC has been adjusted over time to greatly benefit teams from the upper divisions and national leagues.

A major part of our frustration in the disappointing structure of the game is the constant waiting for the major players in US soccer to take it upon themselves to build a better pyramid. For the most part, that’s honestly a frustration we’re putting on ourselves. The Federation, the pro divisions, the national leagues - they are building a better pyramid. It’s just a better pyramid for them. Why would we expect them to do otherwise?

Folks who want to create a more equitable and interconnected soccer pyramid must do the groundwork themselves. Does your state’s soccer association actively run annual adult open cups for both men and women? If not, they should be. Sanctioning those tournaments are likely in all their governing documents.

Those state open cups should be the practical way for teams to make it to the USOC qualification process directly or via regional cups. The powers-that-be aren’t interested in making those avenues available. It’s not worth their time to make them happen.

Grassroots soccer is made up of ordinary players, coaches and organizers. Those are the folks who must take it upon themselves to build a pyramid that we’re all hoping for. It’s super hard work but it’s the only way to get the usual suspects to sit up and listen. Is it worth your time?

- Dan Creel