The Downsides of America’s Hyper-Competitive Youth-Soccer Industry

[Unregistered]

All of this BS is a sign of the times. What used to be activities that kids just did as part of playing outside are now institutionalized revenue generating activities. From a muscle variety standpoint, what is the difference between playing an hour of pick up basketball 2x per week and being on a team? or running laps of a track vs being on a track team ?

Experts make money using stats to make points that are pretty obvious.

Wouldn't the difference be the level and competency of the coaching and the purpose of the competition itself? Aren't you on a track team to win races? How does that equate to running laps at the track? Aren't you on the basketball team to become better, learn team play in a highly competitive environment and have the benefit of quality coaching? How do you duplicate that playing pickup basketball twice weekly?

Do you think that approach was used by LeBron James or Jackie Joyner Kersey?

[Unregistered]

Wouldn't the difference be the level and competency of the coaching and the purpose of the competition itself? Aren't you on a track team to win races? How does that equate to running laps at the track? Aren't you on the basketball team to become better, learn team play in a highly competitive environment and have the benefit of quality coaching? How do you duplicate that playing pickup basketball twice weekly?

Do you think that approach was used by LeBron James or Jackie Joyner Kersey?

go to any playground in the inner city and see the level of competition-
thats where LeBron learned his game, the team is what got him noticed

[Unregistered]

go to any playground in the inner city and see the level of competition-
thats where LeBron learned his game, the team is what got him noticed

Which inner city playgrounds have you been to?

[Unregistered]

Wouldn't the difference be the level and competency of the coaching and the purpose of the competition itself? Aren't you on a track team to win races? How does that equate to running laps at the track? Aren't you on the basketball team to become better, learn team play in a highly competitive environment and have the benefit of quality coaching? How do you duplicate that playing pickup basketball twice weekly?

Do you think that approach was used by LeBron James or Jackie Joyner Kersey?

You epitomize the problem. The articles are about cross training and using different skills and body functions to enhance athletic performance in your chosen speciality.

Winning or losing does not increase the usage or benefit gained from playing.

This perception that the only sports is organized sports and the only reason to play is to win plays directly into the hands of those who profit from it.

i dont think either of those examples would deny the benefits they gained from simply playing in all sorts of environments and settings, often without coaching or structure

[Unregistered]

Which inner city playgrounds have you been to?

tons- grew up inner city
now stop being a douche

[Unregistered]

Which inner city playgrounds have you been to?

The Westport projects, on the other side of the metro north tracks. Dare you to go down there after dark.

[Unregistered]

Look, you're not thinking this through. There's no way your kid is getting onto the national team if she doesn't focus only on soccer as one sport. Period.

O M G - really? yes 40 spots every ten years. Let's kill our kid's childhoods so YOU can live the dream. It's her dream Putzo

[Unregistered]

The Westport projects, on the other side of the metro north tracks. Dare you to go down there after dark.

it's like chicago's south side for sure

[Unregistered]

it's like chicago's south side for sure

More like New Yorks Lower East Side 1980's but behind closed doors.

[Unregistered]

Youth soccer in the US is not in good shape. During the WC several articles covered the large drops in participation just in the last few years among younger players - the high cost, too much travel, frustrations with clubs and poor coaching, probably the age change for some kids too. Then in CT we have more people moving out than in, especially with families, because of the cost of living and poor economic climate. Many districts are shuttering schools. If you're not a strong club with a good position in the market you may be in serious trouble. There's too many clubs, not enough talent. The soccer landscape has needed a good weeding out for awhile, but it's not going to be pretty.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/14/sports/world-cup/soccer-youth-decline.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur[/url]

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/a...dustry/565109/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook.../#1180295c1ea8

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.d4f43dde6330[/QUOTE]