Oakwood or FSA

[Guest]

I think kids nowadays see better players on all the social media platforms and showcases. That's when they realize the pool is much larger than what they think. And that there are a LOT of better players out there than them. Definitely a contributing factor as well to the drop off.

Ehh, what defines better? Juggling 1000x? Doing rainbows at home? I see lots of kids on Social Media and when I see them in a game or in training I am usually unimpressed. The truth is a lot of the best kids aren't on social media and you don't see them until you play them. Mostly social media is to make the parents puff their chests.

[Guest]

You're touching on a huge problem - that is that kids start to feel that if they arent going to be super duper elite D1 bound then it isnt worth playing anymore. It happens earlier and earlier now. The constant barrage of social pressure, including social media where everyone has private trainers, eddie johnson is their "mentor" and everyone is about to make the USYNTs makes the kids who were playing for fun feel like it isn't worth it. The parents don't want to spend the money just for the hobby, and there it is, more lost players.

Be honest about "super duper D1." For boys, it just ain't happening. Our state's "flagship" D1 program at UConn currently has THREE CT kids:

A Sr. who has appeared in 2 games.
A Jr who has appeared in1 game.
A Soph who has never appeared yet.

There are NINE internationals.

And of course those CT kids didn't get any $ to go there for soccer. Reality hurts sometimes, but it's terrible that kids who love the game are quitting because of this idea.

[Guest]

Be honest about "super duper D1." For boys, it just ain't happening. Our state's "flagship" D1 program at UConn currently has THREE CT kids:

A Sr. who has appeared in 2 games.
A Jr who has appeared in1 game.
A Soph who has never appeared yet.

There are NINE internationals.

And of course those CT kids didn't get any $ to go there for soccer. Reality hurts sometimes, but it's terrible that kids who love the game are quitting because of this idea.

Not the poster but plenty of soccer families are more than happy to use soccer as a leg up in admissions to better schools. That's the trophy for them, not even scholarship $ (nice I'd you can get it) or even D1. There's dozens of great D3s in the NE and most kids stay within a half days drive from home.

[Guest]

Be honest about "super duper D1." For boys, it just ain't happening. Our state's "flagship" D1 program at UConn currently has THREE CT kids:

A Sr. who has appeared in 2 games.
A Jr who has appeared in1 game.
A Soph who has never appeared yet.

There are NINE internationals.

And of course those CT kids didn't get any $ to go there for soccer. Reality hurts sometimes, but it's terrible that kids who love the game are quitting because of this idea.

Nine internationals tells me UCONN won’t win anytime soon. That’s a strategy that was great five years ago, but things have significantly changed since then. MLS academy teams now regularly beat international teams in tournaments (U15 Portland over Porto, Man U, and Valencia to win the Generation Adidas Cup). Those nine internationals you are picking up likely have no pathway to pro soccer in their continent or country otherwise they’d stay in the academy system. Yet those 28 MLS teams have academy players who do. So do several other top premier clubs. Get with the times UCONN. You need to win again.

[Guest]

Historic result that must never be forgotten

Never forgotten..its "developmental" remember! Crazy to be on that team and pay for it...

[Guest]

Nine internationals tells me UCONN won’t win anytime soon. That’s a strategy that was great five years ago, but things have significantly changed since then. MLS academy teams now regularly beat international teams in tournaments (U15 Portland over Porto, Man U, and Valencia to win the Generation Adidas Cup). Those nine internationals you are picking up likely have no pathway to pro soccer in their continent or country otherwise they’d stay in the academy system. Yet those 28 MLS teams have academy players who do. So do several other top premier clubs. Get with the times UCONN. You need to win again.

Or, here's a thought, UCONN hasn't been very good because RR should have retired 5 years ago.

International players are not going away on the mens side and are growing on the women's

[Guest]

Or, here's a thought, UCONN hasn't been very good because RR should have retired 5 years ago.

International players are not going away on the mens side and are growing on the women's

Not to mention while our YNTs may have aittle success our senior team loses a lot ..... If your apex team sucks year in and year out, your program sucks. Period. I can't believe the OP could come to the conclusion that foreign players are the cause of UCONNs demise. Are the top D1 NCAAprograms devoid of foreign players to support your assinine assertion?!

[Guest]

Nine internationals tells me UCONN won’t win anytime soon. That’s a strategy that was great five years ago, but things have significantly changed since then. MLS academy teams now regularly beat international teams in tournaments (U15 Portland over Porto, Man U, and Valencia to win the Generation Adidas Cup). Those nine internationals you are picking up likely have no pathway to pro soccer in their continent or country otherwise they’d stay in the academy system. Yet those 28 MLS teams have academy players who do. So do several other top premier clubs. Get with the times UCONN. You need to win again.

Laughable that you think international players are the issue rather than the coaching. Most (but admittedly not all) international academy "drop outs" as you call them are far better trained and skilled than our US players. That's why more and more of them land college spots each year and are a huge presence in the MLS. Despite some minor improvements in sending a few more players abroad (mostly US players with dual citizenship) the US still generally sucks at development. Coaches take players that help them win games and keep their jobs, regardless of what color their passport is. RR is a dinosaur coach. That has been UCONNs problem.