U14 Boys

[Unregistered]

You can't teach athleticism. You can teach skills. If you are not athletic, you will never be athletic. Give me the athletes.

I agree to some extent but I also think skills and athleticism go hand in hand. And imo, at u15 and up its difficult to learn skills. You need to learn the right way at the younger age.

[Unregistered]

Sorry wrong...

You can't teach athleticism. You can teach skills. If you are not athletic, you will never be athletic. Give me the athletes.

and before you go all Usain Bolt on me...We are talking 14 year olds. A 14 year old can become more athletic. It is just a matter of hard focused training. Also there are many examples of kids who were "born" atheletes who get fat and lazy and lose their athleticism...

Just saying...

[Unregistered]

You can't teach athleticism. You can teach skills. If you are not athletic, you will never be athletic. Give me the athletes.

It's not that easy to teach skills, especially for those athletes that aren't forced to develop those skills. If it was all athleticism the US would be more dominant at every age, and we are not even close to that.

[Unregistered]

It's not that easy to teach skills, especially for those athletes that aren't forced to develop those skills. If it was all athleticism the US would be more dominant at every age, and we are not even close to that.

I second that. Ive also seen cases where coaches select players because theyre so athletic and share the sentiment of the previous posters that "skills can be caught". NOT TRUE.

If all 11 players on the field were smart and skilled theyd win the game.

[Unregistered]

You can't teach athleticism. You can teach skills. If you are not athletic, you will never be athletic. Give me the athletes.

And this is why US soccer is struggling. People like you who value athleticism over skills. Heck this is whats happening at odp too. Lol

[Unregistered]

as a parent, coach, and parent, over the last 4 years(i have been watching these same players since they were U11) let me ask you this: how many players in COPA or any other team have all three, skills, smarts, and athleticism?

since you really can not build a team with 11 super elite players, what do you do? look at COPA, their weakest line is their defensive line, they are clumsy with the ball, sure they are tall but clumsy after all... excellent mid, but can not really pass the ball... unless they are wining 3-0 then they play without pressure. good forwards, but far from Elite....

[Unregistered]

And this is why US soccer is struggling. People like you who value athleticism over skills. Heck this is whats happening at odp too. Lol

Completely agree. Skill and intelligence will stomp athleticism anytime. Look at Larry Bird. The man was not athletic but was one if the greatest players ever.

[Unregistered]

And this is why US soccer is struggling. People like you who value athleticism over skills. Heck this is whats happening at odp too. Lol

You guys are just missing the point. The point is that I would rather teach skills to an athlete. Athleticism may ebb and flow a bit as kids grow, but generally speaking, you are given athleticism from your genes.

The rest of the world has been fortunate to pick from a pool of athletes to develop their skills. Top teams require skills, intelligence, and ATHLETICISM at every position. The boys side is just now getting to that point where some of the athletes are choosing soccer over football, basketball, etc... Going forward in the U.S., you will require all 3 if you want to play college and above.

Sorry people, kids with less athleticism at young ages tend to have less athleticism at older ages, and they will fade at the higher levels. Of course, that assumes that soccer continues to grow and increase in relevancy in the U.S. JMHO. Not trying to be mean. I do believe you can work on things to increase quickness and things of that nature, but you just cannot replace the true athlete.

[Unregistered]

Completely agree. Skill and intelligence will stomp athleticism anytime. Look at Larry Bird. The man was not athletic but was one if the greatest players ever.

First, You completely underestimate Larry Bird's athleticism... probably because he is white, you make that claim.

Second, I think you found the needle in the haystack with your example. For every Larry Bird, there are 99 high level athletes that made it to that level.

[Unregistered]

as a parent, coach, and parent, over the last 4 years(i have been watching these same players since they were U11) let me ask you this: how many players in COPA or any other team have all three, skills, smarts, and athleticism?

since you really can not build a team with 11 super elite players, what do you do? look at COPA, their weakest line is their defensive line, they are clumsy with the ball, sure they are tall but clumsy after all... excellent mid, but can not really pass the ball... unless they are wining 3-0 then they play without pressure. good forwards, but far from Elite....

So what's your point. There's not a single team in Oregon that have all 3 qualities. Excellent mids that can't pass the ball? Can't or won't is a better question.

[Unregistered]

as a parent, coach, and parent, over the last 4 years(i have been watching these same players since they were U11) let me ask you this: how many players in COPA or any other team have all three, skills, smarts, and athleticism?

since you really can not build a team with 11 super elite players, what do you do? look at COPA, their weakest line is their defensive line, they are clumsy with the ball, sure they are tall but clumsy after all... excellent mid, but can not really pass the ball... unless they are wining 3-0 then they play without pressure. good forwards, but far from Elite....

Looking at this team, there are a handful of players who have excellent skills and they are athletic as well, but small and not bloody fast. As you stated, the defensive line is weak and clumsy with little to no skills. There's also a few players who have raw athleticism, but absolutely no skills and smartness.

[Unregistered]

Looking at this team, there are a handful of players who have excellent skills and they are athletic as well, but small and not bloody fast. As you stated, the defensive line is weak and clumsy with little to no skills. There's also a few players who have raw athleticism, but absolutely no skills and smartness.

Which is why they're called a team. There is not a single team in club soccer that boasts all 3 qualities. But they are successful because they are a team. They cover one another's weaknesses and play on another's strengths. This team can do it. They dominated last year. Sure they're struggling this year, but with a new coach etc, that's expected.

[Unregistered]

First, You completely underestimate Larry Bird's athleticism... probably because he is white, you make that claim.

Second, I think you found the needle in the haystack with your example. For every Larry Bird, there are 99 high level athletes that made it to that level.

The man was slow and couldn't jump. He, himself, admits he's not athletic. There are many more examples out there. And I do agree that many more are high level athletes but they lack the intelligence to really be good. Athletic talent can be a gift and a curse as too many people relay solely on that. I've seen plenty if fast forwards never develop the foot skills they need. So many if the gifted athletes we have here could be so much better if someone taught them to truly understand the game. I will always take intelligence and skill over athletic ability and size.

[Unregistered]

The man was slow and couldn't jump. He, himself, admits he's not athletic. There are many more examples out there. And I do agree that many more are high level athletes but they lack the intelligence to really be good. Athletic talent can be a gift and a curse as too many people relay solely on that. I've seen plenty if fast forwards never develop the foot skills they need. So many if the gifted athletes we have here could be so much better if someone taught them to truly understand the game. I will always take intelligence and skill over athletic ability and size.

that's fine, we can agree to disagree. but, I hope we can agree that you need all 3 to become an elite player (say Div 1 college and above).

[Unregistered]

Which is why they're called a team. There is not a single team in club soccer that boasts all 3 qualities. But they are successful because they are a team. They cover one another's weaknesses and play on another's strengths. This team can do it. They dominated last year. Sure they're struggling this year, but with a new coach etc, that's expected.

They dominated last year?