Kathy Carter: “We need to take a full and unbiased look at where we have been unsuccessful in the past at both the federation level and across the youth development community so that we make the necessary changes to get better.”

PHILADELPHIA — Kathy Carter wants an independent commission to evaluate American soccer.

Carter, one of eight candidates seeking the presidency of the U.S. Soccer Federation, officially unveiled her proposal during a session at the United Soccer Coaches convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Thursday morning.

Her commission would look at every aspect of player development and make recommendations for changes that need to be made at every level of the soccer pyramid.

LA 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman has agreed to lead the commission, Carter said.

The commission’s focus will be to determine what factors impede the U.S. from developing world-class players more consistently and teams that succeed in international competitions.

“We need to take a full and unbiased look at where we have been unsuccessful in the past at both the federation level and across the youth development community so that we make the necessary changes to get better,” Carter said. “An independent commission ensures that all of U.S. Soccer’s members are involved and there is the necessary level of transparency and inclusiveness to build consensus around short and long-term changes that drive our sport forward.”

Carter said that the commission will undertake a comprehensive evaluation, including holding open forums across the nation and deliver specific recommendations focused on three areas:

* Succeeding on the field at every level

* Empowering our membership in their efforts to grow the number of kids playing the game

* Improving quality of refereeing and coaching

No member of the U.S. Soccer board of directors or administration will sit on the commission’s board as it needs autonomy and to remain unencumbered by the day-to-day workings of USSF, Carter said.

The independent commission will be modeled on other commissions. Two that have been undertaken on behalf of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the 1975 President’s Commission on Olympic Sports in response to poor results the 1972 Summer Games and the 1988 Olympic Overview Commission in response to poor results at the 1988 Winter Games.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.