From the president of us soccer

[Unregistered]

What is wrong with youth soccer?
Is it:

1. The parents?
2. The clubs?
3. The kids?
4. Is it business of development?
5. Is it only 2-3 practices per week?
6. Is it the lack of fitness?
7. Do the kids need to be removed from the parents
8. Do we need residency programs in each state?
9. Do we have too many leagues?
10. Does the government need to support it more?
11. Is it a race problem?
13. Does it just need more time?
14. Are we hampered by privileged parents and kids?

[Unregistered]

What is wrong with youth soccer?
Is it:

1. The parents?
2. The clubs?
3. The kids?
4. Is it business of development?
5. Is it only 2-3 practices per week?
6. Is it the lack of fitness?
7. Do the kids need to be removed from the parents
8. Do we need residency programs in each state?
9. Do we have too many leagues?
10. Does the government need to support it more?
11. Is it a race problem?
13. Does it just need more time?
14. Are we hampered by privileged parents and kids?

It's society's 'everybody wins' attitude that doesn't allow real competition to develop until age 12. It's also the need to win games as the kids get older which pigeon holes too many. Less structured games with fluid teams (reduce restrictions on rosters) would allow kids to learn how to play and develop real skills without keeping records and stats. Mix that up with real games that keep score and constantly move good teams up and bad teams down.

[Unregistered]

What is wrong with youth soccer?
Is it:

1. The parents?
2. The clubs?
3. The kids?
4. Is it business of development?
5. Is it only 2-3 practices per week?
6. Is it the lack of fitness?
7. Do the kids need to be removed from the parents
8. Do we need residency programs in each state?
9. Do we have too many leagues?
10. Does the government need to support it more?
11. Is it a race problem?
13. Does it just need more time?
14. Are we hampered by privileged parents and kids?

I have seen, too often, the politics of youth soccer play into getting kids on to teams. Money and influence seem to dominate.

[Unregistered]

It's society's 'everybody wins' attitude that doesn't allow real competition to develop until age 12. It's also the need to win games as the kids get older which pigeon holes too many. Less structured games with fluid teams (reduce restrictions on rosters) would allow kids to learn how to play and develop real skills without keeping records and stats. Mix that up with real games that keep score and constantly move good teams up and bad teams down.

This from a former Pop Warner football coach...

Wrong on all accounts.

[Unregistered]

What is wrong with youth soccer?
Is it:

1. The parents?
2. The clubs?
3. The kids?
4. Is it business of development?
5. Is it only 2-3 practices per week?
6. Is it the lack of fitness?
7. Do the kids need to be removed from the parents
8. Do we need residency programs in each state?
9. Do we have too many leagues?
10. Does the government need to support it more?
11. Is it a race problem?
13. Does it just need more time?
14. Are we hampered by privileged parents and kids?

15: All of the above

[Unregistered]

This from a former Pop Warner football coach...

Wrong on all accounts.

No that is one of many problems. Parents, coaches and clubs care too much about winning records. Parents especially wouldn't know development if it hit them in the head. They equate winning with development. Coaches want wins to keep their jobs, clubs want it to keep customers coming in the door.

[Unregistered]

Modifying

What is wrong with youth soccer?
Is it:

1. The parents?
2. The clubs?
3. The kids?
4. Is it business of development?
5. Is it only 2-3 practices per week?
6. Is it the lack of fitness?
7. Do the kids need to be removed from the parents
8. Do we need residency programs in each state?
9. Do we have too many leagues?
10. Does the government need to support it more?
11. Is it a race problem?
13. Does it just need more time?
14. Are we hampered by privileged parents and kids?
15. Politics and favoritism (clubs, leagues)
16. Too much emphasis on winning
17. Too many g-dam leagues, a watered down mess

[Unregistered]

It's society's 'everybody wins' attitude that doesn't allow real competition to develop until age 12. It's also the need to win games as the kids get older which pigeon holes too many. Less structured games with fluid teams (reduce restrictions on rosters) would allow kids to learn how to play and develop real skills without keeping records and stats. Mix that up with real games that keep score and constantly move good teams up and bad teams down.

Makes no sense. Before U12 there isn’t enough competition but as you get older there is too much desire to win??

[Unregistered]

It's society's 'everybody wins' attitude that doesn't allow real competition to develop until age 12. It's also the need to win games as the kids get older which pigeon holes too many. Less structured games with fluid teams (reduce restrictions on rosters) would allow kids to learn how to play and develop real skills without keeping records and stats. Mix that up with real games that keep score and constantly move good teams up and bad teams down.

I have re-read your post a few times and I still think you have two opposing points of view.
1: is it lack of competition at u12 that prohibits progress?
2: or is it the need to win games?

Agree with less structured game approach, and in fact, I believe that any form of record keeping is detrimental until u14.
You can still place kids on teams based on talent and divisions, but winning or losing proves nothing.
Teams should mean little until 14, other than getting appropriate levels of players together.
Coaching should be directed evenly across all ages and talent level. Top coaches at each club should work with age based training, not just specific teams. I don’t by the hype that so&so is better because his/her teams win-that’s just resume building and feel good bs.

Another good article in Time re: Iceland soccer growth
Records are all about the coaches, not the development of the player. Best coaches should be judged by on their success at working with all players, not just the top-flight

[Unregistered]

Makes no sense. Before U12 there isn’t enough competition but as you get older there is too much desire to win??

That's exactly my point and the crux of the issue. Competition is needed for development. However, winning games is not. See the difference?

If at age 7, everybody wins, then why bother to try? Why not allow the best kids to compete at a higher level than the weaker kids? It doesn't matter who wins. But keep score because the kids do. Compete every week for a spot on the best teams.

Since game results on a regular basis wouldn't matter using my model (meaning no formalization), let everyone play different positions. For the 'real games', (monthly for younger ages?) match teams by level on a regular basis so the competition is always high.

Then go play in tournaments to win once in a while.

[Unregistered]

That's exactly my point and the crux of the issue. Competition is needed for development. However, winning games is not. See the difference?

If at age 7, everybody wins, then why bother to try? Why not allow the best kids to compete at a higher level than the weaker kids? It doesn't matter who wins. But keep score because the kids do. Compete every week for a spot on the best teams.

Since game results on a regular basis wouldn't matter using my model (meaning no formalization), let everyone play different positions. For the 'real games', (monthly for younger ages?) match teams by level on a regular basis so the competition is always high.

Then go play in tournaments to win once in a while.

The younger the age the more important that free play and creativity should be supported and not dominated by structured play. At all times, basic skill practice should be emphasized. You have to be able to walk before you can run....however, both needs to be with a ball at the feet vs trying to be in position, or being relegated to any single part of the field. Hog the ball I say!!!!

My question is what happens at the high school years when kids are considering possible college play.

If you wait until senior year then you are done.

How do you balance continued skill development, being a major part of the team play, and making sure you are on a competitive team and seen. What is the highest priority at the different ages and how does it change?

[Unregistered]

The younger the age the more important that free play and creativity should be supported and not dominated by structured play. At all times, basic skill practice should be emphasized. You have to be able to walk before you can run....however, both needs to be with a ball at the feet vs trying to be in position, or being relegated to any single part of the field. Hog the ball I say!!!!

My question is what happens at the high school years when kids are considering possible college play.

If you wait until senior year then you are done.

How do you balance continued skill development, being a major part of the team play, and making sure you are on a competitive team and seen. What is the highest priority at the different ages and how does it change?

Skills developed and quality team responsibilty will ensure your opportunity to be competitive and “seen”

[Unregistered]

The younger the age the more important that free play and creativity should be supported and not dominated by structured play. At all times, basic skill practice should be emphasized. You have to be able to walk before you can run....however, both needs to be with a ball at the feet vs trying to be in position, or being relegated to any single part of the field. Hog the ball I say!!!!

My question is what happens at the high school years when kids are considering possible college play.

If you wait until senior year then you are done.

How do you balance continued skill development, being a major part of the team play, and making sure you are on a competitive team and seen. What is the highest priority at the different ages and how does it change?

Residency! Kids play everyday against committed peers and like minded programs. They can concentrate on soccer while getting an education. It would streamline "being seen" as top talent would be funneled to one league. Start at 13-14 y, soccer, fitness, strength training, stretching etc 7 days a week. Never going to happen though, and even if it did I'm not sure there are enough quality coaches to fill demand

[Unregistered]

No that is one of many problems. Parents, coaches and clubs care too much about winning records. Parents especially wouldn't know development if it hit them in the head. They equate winning with development. Coaches want wins to keep their jobs, clubs want it to keep customers coming in the door.

But USSF promotes this mentality by making standings so prominent in the DA and GDA and then having playoffs based on that. They should have more games that don't count for standings and then a few regional competitions that do count. As it is now, every game/point/goal might mean something if they want to make the playoffs. This impacts subbing as well since a win is so important.

[Unregistered]

Residency! Kids play everyday against committed peers and like minded programs. They can concentrate on soccer while getting an education. It would streamline "being seen" as top talent would be funneled to one league. Start at 13-14 y, soccer, fitness, strength training, stretching etc 7 days a week. Never going to happen though, and even if it did I'm not sure there are enough quality coaches to fill demand

We can always import them from Iceland