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**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 08:26 AM

Great quote. US youth soccer system more interested in identifying payers than players.

Thanks for article

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 08:54 AM

Of course, everywhere else people grew up having their parents teach them the game, and they pass it along to their kids.

Here...notsomuch. My parents knew nothing of the game.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Of course, everywhere else people grew up having their parents teach them the game, and they pass it along to their kids.

Here...notsomuch. My parents knew nothing of the game.

Best point of the article is lack of pick up soccer, where creativity and no parents, is the biggest reason we are not very good. With all "registered" players, shouldn't we get lucky once or twice and have a world class player?

SUV parents who are footing the bill do not want to change the current system. Allow them to pay for little Mia and little Landon play at a "high" level

Let the game be the teacher.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Best point of the article is lack of pick up soccer, where creativity and no parents, is the biggest reason we are not very good. With all "registered" players, shouldn't we get lucky once or twice and have a world class player?

SUV parents who are footing the bill do not want to change the current system. Allow them to pay for little Mia and little Landon play at a "high" level

Let the game be the teacher.

Agreed. Pick up is where creativity is born. Too regimented in the club team to try things at times.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

SUV parents who are footing the bill do not want to change the current system.

THIS is never said often enough.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 09:41 AM

I've been making that point on T-S for almost 20 years. The most intelligent, skillful U.S. players I've coached and watched all played a ton of pickup, typically with guys from other soccer crazed countries.

These smart players are at a disadvantage when in a typical US tryout situation. First, few others play a patient, probing style. Can't play this way alone. Second, evaluators often favor physicality over intelligence. Smart players are viewed as "soft".

I advise kids to run fast, pump their arms, tackle hard, and show "effort" if they want to be selected. If they concentrate on these aspects, which don't come automatically to those that play a cerebral, skills based game, the quick give and go's, runs off the ball, and navigating small spaces which come naturally will still show thru and they usually stand out. No amount of skill can compensate if you don't show you can run fast, jump high, and tackle hard.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I've been making that point on T-S for almost 20 years. The most intelligent, skillful U.S. players I've coached and watched all played a ton of pickup, typically with guys from other soccer crazed countries.

These smart players are at a disadvantage when in a typical US tryout situation. First, few others play a patient, probing style. Can't play this way alone. Second, evaluators often favor physicality over intelligence. Smart players are viewed as "soft".

I advise kids to run fast, pump their arms, tackle hard, and show "effort" if they want to be selected. If they concentrate on these aspects, which don't come automatically to those that play a cerebral, skills based game, the quick give and go's, runs off the ball, and navigating small spaces which come naturally will still show thru and they usually stand out. No amount of skill can compensate if you don't show you can run fast, jump high, and tackle hard.

Yes, I say the same! How to play at a selection event and how to play your best game are two different things. Is that unique to US identification programs?

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Of course, everywhere else people grew up having their parents teach them the game, and they pass it along to their kids.

Here...notsomuch. My parents knew nothing of the game.

I never even played except maybe in gym class. That experience changes with generations. Baseball, football and basketball all have loads of dad coaches who played the game and can coach. Soccer has some of it but not nearly enough. Given the dependence of volunteer coaching at the younger /lower levels experience matters. You cannot keep costs low without volunteer coaching

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:29 AM

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2128361]http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opi...178754106.html

Just about everywhere except in the USA it is your �responsibility� to teach the game to the younger generation...without getting paid....it�s just something you are expected to do...you are giving back to the game![/QUOTE

Rubbish article.
There is no hidden talent or unicorns. Talent gets identified, just overlooked by the top.
Classic loser approach.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:29 AM

US coaches don't value soccer "personality" as strongly as other countries. Many US coaches feel they can coach up a fast, quick striker to player midfield or defend. Yet often the positions require different skills and mentalities. Great defenders are risk adverse, team first players. Strikers more likely to be risk taking, greedy players. Very different mindsets for both positions.

Great teams match the abilities and personalities of the various players to the positions and style of play.

I understand why coaches select strikers. These are typically the fastest kids that have had the ball at their feet the most, and who have spent their playing career taking chances and refining ball skills. And sometimes it works. But there are many more nuances to the game, and until we progress to the point we are evaluating personality traits as manifested on the pitch, we will remain a middling soccer nation.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I never even played except maybe in gym class. That experience changes with generations. Baseball, football and basketball all have loads of dad coaches who played the game and can coach. Soccer has some of it but not nearly enough. Given the dependence of volunteer coaching at the younger /lower levels experience matters. You cannot keep costs low without volunteer coaching

Coaches may need to be paid but this has gone far beyond that. Take away the stupid travel costs and you will lower the costs enough for more to participate.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:49 AM

Article brings nothing new to be table. We already know that pay to play is a problem. What�s the fix?

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Article brings nothing new to be table. We already know that pay to play is a problem. What�s the fix?

12 year olds don't need to drive hundreds of miles, or travel by air, or rent cars, or stay in hotels to learn to play soccer for starters.

**Unregistered** · 10-16-2017, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

12 year olds don't need to drive hundreds of miles, or travel by air, or rent cars, or stay in hotels to learn to play soccer for starters.

You forget that there are 12 year olds that are well beyond 18 year olds in vision and skill.

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