Usmnt - ***

[Unregistered]

I would add MLS apologists arguing everything is fine.

The problem starts at the top and has saturated all ranks throughout US Soccer. The DA, MLS, US Training Centers, and the absolute arrogance of USSF are all a joke and negative forces in US soccer.

The DA is too exclusive, dominated by our "Pro" MLS clubs who are run by little more than local soccer yahoos who now call themselves professionals because they work for an MLS club. They don't do anything better. Yes, it's not pay to play model. It still finds all their players from the pay to play system. Coaching isn't nearly good enough. Not playing HS doesn't make the kids better. It is still just another alternative. Focus is all wrong.

This has been a long time coming. The USMNT has looked terrible for a while. They deserved to fail. While DA is not the problem, it epitomizes the problem and shows we are on the wrong path. MLS is just bad soccer. Our top players need to get out of the country and play in better leagues against better players.

It is easy to rant on this topic. Our system is broken in the US and headed on the wrong path. Until their is change at the top, we will continue to go backwards.

[Unregistered]

Oh my God.

Tonight you saw the future of the USWNT program too. US Soccer has no clue and the DA/GDA system is KILLING soccer in America.

[Unregistered]

Focusing on local solutions...

1) Rather than having two tiers (rec and competitive), I think OYSA should re-organize into three tiers: Rec, Select (roughly OYSA Div 1 and 2), and Premier. Select tier should strive to limit travel and cost, while providing a higher quality playing experience than rec. Select teams will be prohibited from long-distance travel, State Cup, etc.

2) End of the one-year commitment. Players should be able to quit or change clubs a) at the end of summer, and b) at the end of fall, without penalty. I'm fine with a ban on coaches recruiting outside of tryout season, but if a kid finds himself with a deadweight coach (and there are more than a few around, even in the top clubs), changing clubs should be an option. Clubs should compete on merit, and not be entitled to hold players or families hostage.

[Unregistered]

Focusing on local solutions...

1) Rather than having two tiers (rec and competitive), I think OYSA should re-organize into three tiers: Rec, Select (roughly OYSA Div 1 and 2), and Premier. Select tier should strive to limit travel and cost, while providing a higher quality playing experience than rec. Select teams will be prohibited from long-distance travel, State Cup, etc.

2) End of the one-year commitment. Players should be able to quit or change clubs a) at the end of summer, and b) at the end of fall, without penalty. I'm fine with a ban on coaches recruiting outside of tryout season, but if a kid finds himself with a deadweight coach (and there are more than a few around, even in the top clubs), changing clubs should be an option. Clubs should compete on merit, and not be entitled to hold players or families hostage.

What would this change? OYSA has 3,4 or 5 Div in most age groups, calling them by a different name doesn't change things.

[Unregistered]

What would this change? OYSA has 3,4 or 5 Div in most age groups, calling them by a different name doesn't change things.

OYSA seems to be moving in this direction; but a further delineation between premier and non-premier would be useful. In particular, discouraging non-premier teams from excessive tournament play, particularly travel.

Unless you're in the top 1% of players (assuming 90% rec, 9% non-premier), there's no reason for you to ever get on an airplane for a youth soccer game.

[Unregistered]

Imagining watching last night and thinking, "Now's the time for HS soccer!"

Critiques of MLS's closed nature are spot on.

Critiques of DA are spot-on, but we in Oregon are under-qualified to make them. There are too many DA teams here. The pool trained as "elite" needs to be narrowed, and that would strengthen OYSA in the process. Get coaches who will actual teach the kids to play.

[Unregistered]

OYSA seems to be moving in this direction; but a further delineation between premier and non-premier would be useful. In particular, discouraging non-premier teams from excessive tournament play, particularly travel.

Unless you're in the top 1% of players (assuming 90% rec, 9% non-premier), there's no reason for you to ever get on an airplane for a youth soccer game.

OYSA couldn’t be further from this requiring all tiers to travel ridiculous distances for games.

[Unregistered]

This loss is further evidence of why boys in our country should simply stop playing soccer. We can not compete with even the smallest countries in the world when we continue to funnel our 4th or 5th tier male athletes to this sport.

[Unregistered]

OYSA seems to be moving in this direction; but a further delineation between premier and non-premier would be useful. In particular, discouraging non-premier teams from excessive tournament play, particularly travel.

Unless you're in the top 1% of players (assuming 90% rec, 9% non-premier), there's no reason for you to ever get on an airplane for a youth soccer game.

The issue is not OYSA, but the Club leadership that continues to overpay DoCs. Clubs call the teams Elite and premier so they can charge more so they can hire their drinking buddies. Most Oysa teams are rec and would be fine with a parent coach. Make the coaching training free

[Unregistered]

Time for Gulati to go.

Didn't we recently hire the Dutch to analyze our program from top to bottom and made massive changes based on their findings? Haven't the Dutch failed to qualify for the 16 Euros and the 18 WC? Maybe we should have hired a country with some recent success?

[Unregistered]

Time for Gulati to go.

Didn't we recently hire the Dutch to analyze our program from top to bottom and made massive changes based on their findings? Haven't the Dutch failed to qualify for the 16 Euros and the 18 WC? Maybe we should have hired a country with some recent success?

I seem to recall Holland in the final in 2010, and in the semifinals in 2014. Obviously they didn't make it this year, but they have had "recent success".

[Unregistered]

This loss is further evidence of why boys in our country should simply stop playing soccer. We can not compete with even the smallest countries in the world when we continue to funnel our 4th or 5th tier male athletes to this sport.

The US team is regarded as one of the most athletic teams on the planet.

We don't need better athletes, we need better soccer players.

[Unregistered]

I seem to recall Holland in the final in 2010, and in the semifinals in 2014. Obviously they didn't make it this year, but they have had "recent success".

Maybe but the stars from those teams are old and past their prime; RVP, Sneider, Robben, etc. How often are you hearing about young Dutch stars now? Not so much, they are from France, Germany, Belgium etc. Maybe 20-25 yrs ago, the Dutch knew what they were doing but doesn't seem so now.

[Unregistered]

The US team is regarded as one of the most athletic teams on the planet.

We don't need better athletes, we need better soccer players.

Agreed. The most simple answer seems to be more training for more players at the youth level. No silver-bullet program/coach will ever trump hours spent in the yard working on a handful of basic skills. 3-6hrs per week at team training isn't enough for kids to develop to the highest levels when kids from other countries are regularly getting 20hrs+ of ball time per week. Is it even possible to create a scheme to defeat that deficiency in hours of training time?

[Unregistered]

Agreed. The most simple answer seems to be more training for more players at the youth level. No silver-bullet program/coach will ever trump hours spent in the yard working on a handful of basic skills. 3-6hrs per week at team training isn't enough for kids to develop to the highest levels when kids from other countries are regularly getting 20hrs+ of ball time per week. Is it even possible to create a scheme to defeat that deficiency in hours of training time?

Why do you assume that kids aren't getting touches on their own?

Mine play soccer in the street, in the yard, and even in the house. Playing with friends, and doing solo skills.

Obviously, we need more of this, but it definitely happens.