What’s wrong with American Soccer?

[Unregistered]

I am an American and the above quote is a bunch of BS and the guy knows it. There is nothing wrong with foreign or American coaches if they are good coaches who coach to develop young players with a possession game in mind. It is true that in Europe and South America there is a coach on every street corner so it is easier to find a job here in this huge country. Regardless, what is wrong with American soccer are two very important things which are rather obvious if you have been involved in the youth system.

1. Many of the coaches play to win at too early of an age rather than develop the kids into all around soccer players. There is too much emphasis put on winning silly local and regional tournaments. Players are left out without playing time. Players are pidgeon-holed into one position. Bigger players are chosen at the expense of more skilfull perhaps smaller players. Games are played with long-balls, without possession, kick and run, high pressure without learning how to play the ball on the ground and to work to create space when under pressure. This happens to both American and foreign coaches because we have this silly little league baseball, pop-warner football mentality for a sport that every country in the world plays. The parents want to win and if they have a star player on a U10 OR U11 team the coach fears that they will lose him/her to another club if you don't win. This kills development in this country. If you want to out-compete the top countries at the highest level you have to set up academy type programs that do not emphasize this mentality and be patient. The natural progession of the really good players will come and they won't quit at an early age.
2. Its too expensive!!!!!!!! Soccer is the sport of the "people", i.e. working class in most parts of the world. In this country the working class could care less about soccer because they never get their kids involved in it because it is too expensive. Some of the best American athletes (most) in football, baseball and basketball come from working-class families. If you want the best athletes to play soccer make it less expensive and set up more scholarships at the clubs for the good players.
The U.S. is not that far away. Quarterfinals at WC 98 and round of 16 in 2010. There is not that much wrong with American soccer but it has stagnated after tremendous strides were made and now we don't know what to do. Even the women's national team is starting to slide. The last thing we need is the mentality of the knucklehead who started this thread.

These points could not have been said better as far as my opinion goes. The arrogance of our clubs and our coaches seems to be exploding exponentially. U.S. soccer would have so much a higher level of skill if our kids were allowed to develop their creativity by actually experiencing more ball time in games and in practices versus bench an cone time in games and practices respectively.

[Unregistered]

These points could not have been said better as far as my opinion goes. The arrogance of our clubs and our coaches seems to be exploding exponentially. U.S. soccer would have so much a higher level of skill if our kids were allowed to develop their creativity by actually experiencing more ball time in games and in practices versus bench an cone time in games and practices respectively.

I completely agree with these assessments. Unfortunately, youth soccer in the U.S. is a business and is more about employment of ex-players as coaches and trainers who otherwise would not make much of a living doing something else.

[Unregistered]

I completely agree with these assessments. Unfortunately, youth soccer in the U.S. is a business and is more about employment of ex-players as coaches and trainers who otherwise would not make much of a living doing something else.

Disagree, the real problem is that it is not about development of the players. I know a team here or there does that but it is mostly about a inner click of kids who garner all of the attention and every other player is there only to help pay the bills. Most of these teams are just play dates for those inner click and the other players just rotate in and rotate out to other teams until they either become part of that click or five teams later quite soccer at middle school and chase the girls instead of a ball.

[Unregistered]

skills development

Disagree, the real problem is that it is not about development of the players. I know a team here or there does that but it is mostly about a inner click of kids who garner all of the attention and every other player is there only to help pay the bills. Most of these teams are just play dates for those inner click and the other players just rotate in and rotate out to other teams until they either become part of that click or five teams later quite soccer at middle school and chase the girls instead of a ball.

I agree with the part about the focus needs to be on development of players skills. When they are young at U8-U13 they need to learn ball control like receiving and dribbling. they should play 3 V 3's so they get more touches and can learn to move the ball. The problem with some coaches and parents (I was one of them) is that everyone wants to WIN! (winning means you have a good team......RIGHT) and that does not foster an environment of learning at these young ages. Fortunately our coach kept telling us that they would win when it really matters and they are definitely exciting to watch now as they move the ball thru and around the other players.
The other problem I think hinders development is too many clubs which dilutes the player pool and hastens true development and speed of the game. If clubs could work together with certain age groups and one have a U13 A team and the other have a U14 A team it would foster an environment of elite players playing together and making each other better.

[Unregistered]

I am an American and the above quote is a bunch of BS and the guy knows it. There is nothing wrong with foreign or American coaches if they are good coaches who coach to develop young players with a possession game in mind. It is true that in Europe and South America there is a coach on every street corner so it is easier to find a job here in this huge country. Regardless, what is wrong with American soccer are two very important things which are rather obvious if you have been involved in the youth system.

1. Many of the coaches play to win at too early of an age rather than develop the kids into all around soccer players. There is too much emphasis put on winning silly local and regional tournaments. Players are left out without playing time. Players are pidgeon-holed into one position. Bigger players are chosen at the expense of more skilfull perhaps smaller players. Games are played with long-balls, without possession, kick and run, high pressure without learning how to play the ball on the ground and to work to create space when under pressure. This happens to both American and foreign coaches because we have this silly little league baseball, pop-warner football mentality for a sport that every country in the world plays. The parents want to win and if they have a star player on a U10 OR U11 team the coach fears that they will lose him/her to another club if you don't win. This kills development in this country. If you want to out-compete the top countries at the highest level you have to set up academy type programs that do not emphasize this mentality and be patient. The natural progession of the really good players will come and they won't quit at an early age.
2. Its too expensive!!!!!!!! Soccer is the sport of the "people", i.e. working class in most parts of the world. In this country the working class could care less about soccer because they never get their kids involved in it because it is too expensive. Some of the best American athletes (most) in football, baseball and basketball come from working-class families. If you want the best athletes to play soccer make it less expensive and set up more scholarships at the clubs for the good players.
The U.S. is not that far away. Quarterfinals at WC 98 and round of 16 in 2010. There is not that much wrong with American soccer but it has stagnated after tremendous strides were made and now we don't know what to do. Even the women's national team is starting to slide. The last thing we need is the mentality of the knucklehead who started this thread.

Totally agree, you might want to add to number 1, some coaches grab kids from other clubs, that they have not developed, put them on their teams, and lose focus on how the kids they keep turning their backs on contributed to those team achievements!!

[Unregistered]

Not enough foreigners!!!!!

[Unregistered]

the truth

That it is not about the kids just about the money!!!

Would like to see how much money they (DOC's) and paid coaches would make in Spain, England, Germany ......

[Unregistered]

I think you guys are missing the point. There is nothing wrong with the foreign coaches, trainers, doc's, UNTIL they begin to be critical of us and talk about how great it is in "their country". The funny thing here is that soccer in America is being taught by 90% foreigners, so when they insult American soccer, they are actually insulting themselves. The problem is that there is no such thing as American soccer, it's completely run by foreigners from too many different countries.

Would love to see the statistics on that? Nothing is wrong w/ American soccer, it is what it is. I think it is what we ever want it to be. Most parents use soccer as a vehicle to get a free education, thats right a scholarship. Other countries vision is totally different. I could go on & on about the differences, but that will take forever. But just in case, another major difference is that in the US we seem to have this blind spot in thinking I will pick the fastest and tallest player and THEN teach him the skills. Personally I think this is ass backwards. The US is doing fine in soccer in it's own simple way. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

[Dissident]

Would love to see the statistics on that? Nothing is wrong w/ American soccer, it is what it is. I think it is what we ever want it to be. Most parents use soccer as a vehicle to get a free education, thats right a scholarship. Other countries vision is totally different. I could go on & on about the differences, but that will take forever. But just in case, another major difference is that in the US we seem to have this blind spot in thinking I will pick the fastest and tallest player and THEN teach him the skills. Personally I think this is ass backwards. The US is doing fine in soccer in it's own simple way. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

Any parent who thinks they can "use soccer as a vehicle to get a free education, thats right a scholarship" could be in for a big disappointment.

Make sure your kid has the grades - and you have a college fund - because there is nowhere near as much money for soccer scholarships as there is for other sports or for talented students.

[Unregistered]

I'll Tell You What's Wrong

The "results driven" mentality is what's wrong. It has more to do with that than with foreign coaches, or lack of excitement with the sport, or anything. Take the US-Argentina game the other night. So many people (including the commentators and the media during the game) are bent on the fact that the game ended 1 - 1. The REALITY of the game is that the US looked like lost Colts against seasoned Thoroughbreds. The US had one OUTSTANDING player that kept them from a slaughter, Tim Howard. We care more about the score, the win, and the outcome than we do about the actual game itself. I have no love for the tie against Argentina, because the score is absolutely NO reflection of the game itself or the state of US soccer. Honestly, we need to focus LESS on wins and losses and MORE on becoming players that are outstanding and regularly play in the EPL, La Liga, or Serie A. What's wrong with American Soccer? WE are what's wrong with it. We fix the mentality of how we develop the players and we change what's wrong. JMHO!!!

[Unregistered]

The "results driven" mentality is what's wrong. It has more to do with that than with foreign coaches, or lack of excitement with the sport, or anything. Take the US-Argentina game the other night. So many people (including the commentators and the media during the game) are bent on the fact that the game ended 1 - 1. The REALITY of the game is that the US looked like lost Colts against seasoned Thoroughbreds. The US had one OUTSTANDING player that kept them from a slaughter, Tim Howard. We care more about the score, the win, and the outcome than we do about the actual game itself. I have no love for the tie against Argentina, because the score is absolutely NO reflection of the game itself or the state of US soccer. Honestly, we need to focus LESS on wins and losses and MORE on becoming players that are outstanding and regularly play in the EPL, La Liga, or Serie A. What's wrong with American Soccer? WE are what's wrong with it. We fix the mentality of how we develop the players and we change what's wrong. JMHO!!!

Also how bout the U.S. / Paraguay game last night. The U.S. definitely had the better athletes. They were stronger, faster and more athletic. So why was it an even game for the most part? The Paraguayans were better with the ball. They were more composed in possession. The Americans always seem to have difficulty stringing passes together under pressure. I'd be willing to bet that in Paraguay - which is probably 50 times smaller than the U.S. in population they concentrate almost exclusively on ball control, possession, etc., at the early ages. On the other hand we spend out time scrimmaging and competing in local tournaments playing 4 games on a 3 day weekend while many kids ride the pine because the coach wants to win and doesn't think they're good enough. The kids that do play are often the more physical players who will fight to win the ball, and of course give it right back to the opposing team if they do.

[Unregistered]

Also how bout the U.S. / Paraguay game last night. The U.S. definitely had the better athletes. They were stronger, faster and more athletic. So why was it an even game for the most part? The Paraguayans were better with the ball. They were more composed in possession. The Americans always seem to have difficulty stringing passes together under pressure. I'd be willing to bet that in Paraguay - which is probably 50 times smaller than the U.S. in population they concentrate almost exclusively on ball control, possession, etc., at the early ages. On the other hand we spend out time scrimmaging and competing in local tournaments playing 4 games on a 3 day weekend while many kids ride the pine because the coach wants to win and doesn't think they're good enough. The kids that do play are often the more physical players who will fight to win the ball, and of course give it right back to the opposing team if they do.

Bull's eye!

[Unregistered]

What's Wrong?

We are in America. If you can't produce a superstar in 5 minutes they all loose interest.

Anything else?

[Unregistered]

Any parent who thinks they can "use soccer as a vehicle to get a free education, thats right a scholarship" could be in for a big disappointment.

Make sure your kid has the grades - and you have a college fund - because there is nowhere near as much money for soccer scholarships as there is for other sports or for talented students.

Amen brother.

[Unregistered]

t2628T

Any parent who thinks they can "use soccer as a vehicle to get a free education, thats right a scholarship" could be in for a big disappointment.

Make sure your kid has the grades - and you have a college fund - because there is nowhere near as much money for soccer scholarships as there is for other sports or for talented students.

YUP! Ive always said for 99% of soccer players soccer ends after High School. If we simply played for the passion and love for the game, maybe we could compete w/ the world. You are correct there is vurtually no scholarship $$ for soccer and most will be in for a disappointment.