Is US Soccer at a Crossroads?

[Unregistered]

Great article posted on the Puget Sound Premier League website--What are the top 6 issues that Jurgen Klinsmann (USMNT coach) feels need to be addressed with Youth Soccer in the US.
http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/home/565513.html

1. US lacks a soccer culture
2. No Uniform, identifiable style of play
3. Pay for Play
4. Misplaced focus on winning instead of player development
5. The US lacks opportunity for Self-actualization
6. Too much Red Tape in a Flawed System

I highly encourage you to read the entire article as it explains in more detail each point--and I have to say I personally agree with all of them--except for #1. We are lucky enough in Oregon to live in a wonderful soccer culture but I know that in many other places in the US, that is not the case. RCTID!!

[Unregistered]

--and I have to say I personally agree with all of them--except for #1. We are lucky enough in Oregon to live in a wonderful soccer culture but I know that in many other places in the US, that is not the case. RCTID!!

The comments on this board being a great example of this. <rolley eyes>

[Unregistered]

Coach speak ...

Great article posted on the Puget Sound Premier League website--What are the top 6 issues that Jurgen Klinsmann (USMNT coach) feels need to be addressed with Youth Soccer in the US.
http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/home/565513.html

1. US lacks a soccer culture
2. No Uniform, identifiable style of play
3. Pay for Play
4. Misplaced focus on winning instead of player development
5. The US lacks opportunity for Self-actualization
6. Too much Red Tape in a Flawed System

I highly encourage you to read the entire article as it explains in more detail each point--and I have to say I personally agree with all of them--except for #1. We are lucky enough in Oregon to live in a wonderful soccer culture but I know that in many other places in the US, that is not the case. RCTID!!

My thoughts are a bit different here as I haven't any vested interest personally or financially in my opinion:

1. The US is a not a mono-culture, unlike many countries that produce good national teams, but rather many groups. Within these groups one finds many, many soccer fans and players. This group, in absolute number, is far larger than the population of many "soccer culture" countries.
2. There is never going to be a single or identifiable style of play in the US. Most soccer countries change their style from time to time. To think otherwise is rather silly.
3. Pay for play is the model in the US and always will be. It is not that expensive, particularly as compared to typical non-essential family costs in the US like the second car for a spouse or cars for the children, or even the family cell phone/MP3 player costs.
4. Misplaced priority on winning v. development sounds good, but is a red herring. As players and teams developed, so much their ability and desire to win. They are not dividable.
5. Lacks opportunity for self actualization? This is a statement made by someone that either doesn't understand the meaning of this phrase or simply doesn't get it. When a player in the US can progress from youth team/ODP/ENCL/DA to college along with four regional and then national teams opportunities, there are more avenues for success than in many, many other soccer countries.
6. Red tape in a flawed system. This overly broad statement could be replaced with something like "By the time US players obtain sufficient skills to be play on the world scene, they'll be 65 years old". Makes about as much sense. The system isn't that tough. The real problem is identifying real coaches. Now that is a US problem

As you can tell, I didn't think much of the author's points, maybe he could switch to lacrosse.

[Unregistered]

Great article posted on the Puget Sound Premier League website--What are the top 6 issues that Jurgen Klinsmann (USMNT coach) feels need to be addressed with Youth Soccer in the US.
http://www.pugetsoundpremierleague.com/home/565513.html

1. US lacks a soccer culture
2. No Uniform, identifiable style of play
3. Pay for Play
4. Misplaced focus on winning instead of player development
5. The US lacks opportunity for Self-actualization
6. Too much Red Tape in a Flawed System

I highly encourage you to read the entire article as it explains in more detail each point--and I have to say I personally agree with all of them--except for #1. We are lucky enough in Oregon to live in a wonderful soccer culture but I know that in many other places in the US, that is not the case. RCTID!!

Selling out games for the Timbers does not make Portland a soccer culture. Seattle would be a great soccer culture if selling tickets to pro soccer was the criteria.

[Unregistered]

The sky is falling....

and yet so many US kiddos are getting wonderful college opportunities...

[Unregistered]

The sky is falling....

and yet so many US kiddos are getting wonderful college opportunities...

The NCAA double system is at the fault for many of this. College athletes are a product of the US system, very different the rest of the world. Not arguing our culture. just pointing it out.

[Unregistered]

Soccer Culture

The system is broken. Pay to play system does not allow the talented player to raise to the top. We have everything in the US ... infrastructure, resources, population and yet we fail at the international level. We need a cultural shift to catch up to the rest of the world. MLS is maturing and creating more opportunities for US players. The Development Academies are a step in the right direction. Create a system where a college kid can play pro and still go to college. Allow that standout 17 or 18 year old the opportunity to train with the pros. Culturaly make this the norm and not the excemption. Restructure US Soccer from top to bottom. Foccus on the base and the top will take care of itself.

[Unregistered]

The NCAA double system is at the fault for many of this. College athletes are a product of the US system, very different the rest of the world. Not arguing our culture. just pointing it out.

Damn that Title IX. It's ruining our sports.

[Unregistered]

It is all economics.

There are other sporting options in the US both as a fan and player.

With less money going into the soccer pool, there is less that soccer can do in the US.

Almost any American MLS player would jump at the chance to play on one of a 1st division European team.

Just take a look at the MLS draft vs. football, basketball, and baseball. How much do the 1st round draft picks make?

[Unregistered]

Damn that Title IX. It's ruining our sports.

Who watches Men's college soccer games?

The stands are empty.

At least a few people go to the UP women's game.

[Unregistered]

The system is broken. Pay to play system does not allow the talented player to raise to the top. We have everything in the US ... infrastructure, resources, population and yet we fail at the international level. We need a cultural shift to catch up to the rest of the world. MLS is maturing and creating more opportunities for US players. The Development Academies are a step in the right direction. Create a system where a college kid can play pro and still go to college. Allow that standout 17 or 18 year old the opportunity to train with the pros. Culturaly make this the norm and not the excemption. Restructure US Soccer from top to bottom. Foccus on the base and the top will take care of itself.

By broken do you mean that the US is not able to compete in the world cup? US men have so many options in terms of sports that soccer may not be OUR sport. I would argue that when I was a child I didn't even know what soccer was. Now it seems to be a sport in which there is a great deal of interest and that interest appears to be growing. Everyone knows what soccer is even in places like Nebraska and Arkansas. I don't think it is broke, I think it is different.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I would agree that it is different and the current system with all the resources is not developing the players that world wide other countries develop with fewer resources. Culturally, soccer continues to grow in this country and will be an option for many more athletes to come. However, the Landon Donovans of soccer aren't developing. Freddy Adu was the next big thing in US soccer after Landon...and except for a few good passes against El Salvador in the U23 Olympic qualifying, the defender picked his pocket all game long. Who is the next generation soccer player that will carry the torch? The system is broken...not the sport. MLS is doing a good job and continuing to mature. DA teams tied in to each MLS team is on track to having a system that all the pro clubs in the world have...youth teams. However, you can't make it a pay to play system with the DA teams or the same results will happen. If you can afford it you play...if you can't...too bad. Who do you think is hungrier to make it to the pros? The kid who's family can't afford to pay or daddy's son? I'm hearing rumors that some MLS DA teams have only so many slots to offer kids that can't afford to pay. My only point with saying that the system is broken, is that world wide we have a ways to go and the system that produces players in this country has to change. As long as you have to pay to play at the highest level of development, you will get the same result.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I would agree that it is different and the current system with all the resources is not developing the players that world wide other countries develop with fewer resources. Culturally, soccer continues to grow in this country and will be an option for many more athletes to come. However, the Landon Donovans of soccer aren't developing. Freddy Adu was the next big thing in US soccer after Landon...and except for a few good passes against El Salvador in the U23 Olympic qualifying, the defender picked his pocket all game long. Who is the next generation soccer player that will carry the torch? The system is broken...not the sport. MLS is doing a good job and continuing to mature. DA teams tied in to each MLS team is on track to having a system that all the pro clubs in the world have...youth teams. However, you can't make it a pay to play system with the DA teams or the same results will happen. If you can afford it you play...if you can't...too bad. Who do you think is hungrier to make it to the pros? The kid who's family can't afford to pay or daddy's son? I'm hearing rumors that some MLS DA teams have only so many slots to offer kids that can't afford to pay. My only point with saying that the system is broken, is that world wide we have a ways to go and the system that produces players in this country has to change. As long as you have to pay to play at the highest level of development, you will get the same result.

I don't disagree with you at all. Even so, I think many of the US's greatest athletes pick the sports where they can be multi millionaires rather than soccer which is basically in its infancy stage in the US. Football, baseball and basketball pro players command so much in terms of money that soccer, hockey and lacrosse don't even come close to comparing. I would like to see soccer more affordable to all and a strong US men's team. Maybe that is why US women do so much better: fewer choices.

[Unregistered]

Yes, I would agree that it is different and the current system with all the resources is not developing the players that world wide other countries develop with fewer resources. Culturally, soccer continues to grow in this country and will be an option for many more athletes to come. However, the Landon Donovans of soccer aren't developing. Freddy Adu was the next big thing in US soccer after Landon...and except for a few good passes against El Salvador in the U23 Olympic qualifying, the defender picked his pocket all game long. Who is the next generation soccer player that will carry the torch? The system is broken...not the sport. MLS is doing a good job and continuing to mature. DA teams tied in to each MLS team is on track to having a system that all the pro clubs in the world have...youth teams. However, you can't make it a pay to play system with the DA teams or the same results will happen. If you can afford it you play...if you can't...too bad. Who do you think is hungrier to make it to the pros? The kid who's family can't afford to pay or daddy's son? I'm hearing rumors that some MLS DA teams have only so many slots to offer kids that can't afford to pay. My only point with saying that the system is broken, is that world wide we have a ways to go and the system that produces players in this country has to change. As long as you have to pay to play at the highest level of development, you will get the same result.

It's a gift if your kid is good enough to play at the highest level. Take women's soccer, the USA competes very much at the top. Now look at men's soccer its just not the case. I would argue that most high level athletes in the USA do not pick soccer because of other more popular sports I.e. money. Most soccer players in the USA are leftovers from other more popular sports. Sorry I know it stings a little for you purists but that is how it is. Soccer just does not draw the best athletes, it gets the leftovers. You can train your kid till your blue in the face and broke but if they don't have it (the gift) there isn't much you can do except play for fun. That's ok too. Imagine Walter Patton with a soccer ball at his feet or Magic Johnson in goal, or Jerry Rice as a winger, I could go on and on. Soccer should also take a lesson from other successful American youth sports . The year around soccer model is not good. Iam sure any doc would argue differently, after all, your money and child, are their paycheck. So it is year around they go, crazy!

[Unregistered]

I've often wondered what US Men's soccer would be like if futbol was "our" national sport. Like in the rest of the world.
As a whole we produce some of the worlds best athletes. They just don't grow up with soccer as their passion or their sport.
Think of the freakishly large, fast, agile, tough defensive backs in the NFL. Over six feet tall / a couple hundred pounds / stronger than 2 beckhams put together / faster then many other olympic sprinters / can leap over a soccer goal. If these kids grew up playing soccer tell me the USA wouldn't stand out on the world stage?
Seven figures vs 6 figure salaries? Money wins out .....