Can we blame the timbers, SCA or ADF for this one?
Maybe the 05’s?
DA?
OYSA ?
The usual practice is to blame the coach and his habit of using overmatched MLS stars of dubious international quality, especially guys like Trapp and Zardes (both of whom mostly predate the current youth soccer slapfights).
US Soccer has only gone backwards since the DA. But let’s rest assured that changes to birth year, small sided games and no heading will help the next generation of wimpy footy players step up and compete once again.
Perhaps we should focus on FIFA so our kids can sit and stuff their gullets while they play...
An exclusive club of losers selected based on their parents ability to pay at each level; each more exclusive and expensive.
An entire soccer system in-bred and intertwined designed to support and validate each other instead of soccer players.
Just about everything and everyone who thinks they are part of developing players for "the next level" are part of the problem.
So what is the solution? Part of the problem is that everyone knows there's a problem, but nobody agrees on the solution. And everyone blames everyone else.
Our u23s and u20s are looking good, and that's without guys like pulisic or Adams who are already senior team fixtures. It's the last step, from youth stud to professional, that's the problem.
So what is the solution? Part of the problem is that everyone knows there's a problem, but nobody agrees on the solution. And everyone blames everyone else.
Our u23s and u20s are looking good, and that's without guys like pulisic or Adams who are already senior team fixtures. It's the last step, from youth stud to professional, that's the problem.
So what is the solution? Part of the problem is that everyone knows there's a problem, but nobody agrees on the solution. And everyone blames everyone else.
Our u23s and u20s are looking good, and that's without guys like pulisic or Adams who are already senior team fixtures. It's the last step, from youth stud to professional, that's the problem.
Carve the US into regions. Sound familiar. One regional body alliance of clubs that pays into a pot, + support from XYZ create a team that will compete against the other regions. Open tryouts across all clubs; no cost to the players that are picked.
One of the biggest problems now with "identifying" players is the identifiers are attached to X Club FC. At X academy, or college and it benefits each other to pick the prospect of their peer or their own product.
Evaluators need to be unattached.
About 10 years ago there was a big push to start training rec coaches. The idea was the next Mia Ham might be a rec league somewhere. Rising tides lifts all boats kind of thing. That's a good thing. Go back to that. Embrace rec, closer relationship with rec teams. Work with rec coaches to identify the players to move to competitive.
Consider a post season All-Star league to consolidate the better players. From there identify the better players from that group.
ODP no cost. Some of the best players at these ages dont' even consider trying out because their can't pay. Better kids are playing in parks.
Find the way to transfer the money to the players (through no cost) than it landing with club admin and DOC's. I know of one club that brought in 75k in one fundraiser.
Model soccer after AAU?
More parent/coach driven?
Further consideration. There are some Clubs. FC $ they really don't care if any of their players contribute to the next level. They only talk like that to attract customers. They spend their free time researching the next home and away kit and which backpack to require their kids to pay. That's fine. But others need to call them what they are and they need to be honest with what their goal is. To run a country club of sorts that plays soccer.
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