For high level players and parents only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

He has a U.S. and South American passport.

He was invited to train at FC Barcelona along with other kids. It wasn’t officially a trial, but we heard one of the other kids were invited to an official trial. His coach for the week is an FC Barcelona coach. He likes how my son plays and offered to refer him to other top clubs. He says he has the potential to reach FC Barcelona academy level but is not there yet.

In my discussions with him, it was very interesting to hear how he thinks about how to target clubs for my son, who is a 10 / winger but profiles as an 8/10 long term. He says “level” or “winning” don’t matter that much. Instead, the club’s development philosophy must match my son’s natural strengths and the level must be good enough to further strengthen those areas. The club must consistently play through the interior midfielders and value a player that passes to teammates making runs behind and makes those runs himself. A possession-based club that plays ball to feet and not the runs would not fully develop him. This is why he only referred us to a limited number of clubs.

I think that mentality sets out the difference in quality between coaching in Spain and the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Could you please tell us an age group? I was told starting u14 almost impossible to get to a divisio honor team? What you can tell about level and difference with dmv soccer?

U15

You basically need to have a trusted person refer you to have any chance of receiving an offer for a trial at a divisio honor club. Most of those clubs take players from the second or third division. All of those matches are heavily scouted by the clubs in the top category as well as La Liga clubs.

Most or all of the clubs in divisio honor play a version of Catalan soccer - highly technical, highly tactical, smart, fast and free flowing soccer.

We have nothing like that anywhere in the U.S. we live in Texas. Very few teams here play like the Catalan clubs. It’s very physical here for the most part. A lot of the top teams in ECNL play second ball football and win by being “tougher, more physical, and faster”.

Now I am curious. You spend time here or did Google lead you to us?

My kid is late December birth day. With the change away from birth year, I googled the change and this forum was the first one that popped up.

Exactly how I landed here. You’re going to had to sift through the BS but there are gems in here every so often.

You in Dallas Metro or Austin Metro or other?

We hear so much about TX futbol I am a little shocked it is so direct and physical. It seems like US soccer can be an easy fix if we actually teach these kids speed of play principals.

I love how people in the DMV are always saying how bad the soccer clubs and coaching are here, talent is spread too thin, clubs just play direct and want fast strong. And these people say we need to be more like Texas because they are doing it right. And then the guy from Texas comes and says Texas soccer sucks too. It’s almost like US soccer is bad everywhere not just DMV and the parents here don’t know as much as they think.

The #1 rule is to not knowing everything and constantly be learning. What I have learned so far is that our US kids are technically sound but lack speed of play and soccer IQ. I do know that only a few clubs here in the DMV play with a developmental style will develop the players but will not lead to winning tournaments. Locally, most DMV types parents are not comfortable losing. If you play out of the back, you will give up goals in youth development. The children will also learn how to play with the ball at their feet under pressure which is critical to speed of play and soccer IQ. It takes us right back to the original post in this string and the video.

STFU on the sidelines and stop chasing wins. Keep the pressure as low as possible and simply develop over time locally. Don't act like you know everything and constantly be learning. This message will go on deaf ears but that is the blueprint. That much I do know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

He has a U.S. and South American passport.

He was invited to train at FC Barcelona along with other kids. It wasn’t officially a trial, but we heard one of the other kids were invited to an official trial. His coach for the week is an FC Barcelona coach. He likes how my son plays and offered to refer him to other top clubs. He says he has the potential to reach FC Barcelona academy level but is not there yet.

In my discussions with him, it was very interesting to hear how he thinks about how to target clubs for my son, who is a 10 / winger but profiles as an 8/10 long term. He says “level” or “winning” don’t matter that much. Instead, the club’s development philosophy must match my son’s natural strengths and the level must be good enough to further strengthen those areas. The club must consistently play through the interior midfielders and value a player that passes to teammates making runs behind and makes those runs himself. A possession-based club that plays ball to feet and not the runs would not fully develop him. This is why he only referred us to a limited number of clubs.

I think that mentality sets out the difference in quality between coaching in Spain and the U.S.

What was the program that facilitated the original one week training at Barcelona?

Was this done by FC Barcelona?
Was he training with Barcelona Academy kids his age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

He has a South American passport that enables him to get residency easily. His mother does as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

DON'T ANSWER THIS! Read the FIFA policies posted in the DCU thread and then travel overseas yourself. If loopholes becomes public, they close.

The information is widely available if you trial and your kid is available. I live in DC and only have one passport. An agent can also break down your options. We actually have an advantage because we are paying for the training costs so a club can pick up your child for free versus having to pay compensation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

He has a U.S. and South American passport.

He was invited to train at FC Barcelona along with other kids. It wasn’t officially a trial, but we heard one of the other kids were invited to an official trial. His coach for the week is an FC Barcelona coach. He likes how my son plays and offered to refer him to other top clubs. He says he has the potential to reach FC Barcelona academy level but is not there yet.

In my discussions with him, it was very interesting to hear how he thinks about how to target clubs for my son, who is a 10 / winger but profiles as an 8/10 long term. He says “level” or “winning” don’t matter that much. Instead, the club’s development philosophy must match my son’s natural strengths and the level must be good enough to further strengthen those areas. The club must consistently play through the interior midfielders and value a player that passes to teammates making runs behind and makes those runs himself. A possession-based club that plays ball to feet and not the runs would not fully develop him. This is why he only referred us to a limited number of clubs.

I think that mentality sets out the difference in quality between coaching in Spain and the U.S.

What was the program that facilitated the original one week training at Barcelona?

Was this done by FC Barcelona?
Was he training with Barcelona Academy kids his age?

FC Barcelona Academy in the U.S. The training was done by Barca Academy. The other kids were his age, but they were not officially at the academy. They were like him. Mostly American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

He has a U.S. and South American passport.

He was invited to train at FC Barcelona along with other kids. It wasn’t officially a trial, but we heard one of the other kids were invited to an official trial. His coach for the week is an FC Barcelona coach. He likes how my son plays and offered to refer him to other top clubs. He says he has the potential to reach FC Barcelona academy level but is not there yet.

In my discussions with him, it was very interesting to hear how he thinks about how to target clubs for my son, who is a 10 / winger but profiles as an 8/10 long term. He says “level” or “winning” don’t matter that much. Instead, the club’s development philosophy must match my son’s natural strengths and the level must be good enough to further strengthen those areas. The club must consistently play through the interior midfielders and value a player that passes to teammates making runs behind and makes those runs himself. A possession-based club that plays ball to feet and not the runs would not fully develop him. This is why he only referred us to a limited number of clubs.

I think that mentality sets out the difference in quality between coaching in Spain and the U.S.

Strange thing to hear from a European coach specializing in developing young players

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

DON'T ANSWER THIS! Read the FIFA policies posted in the DCU thread and then travel overseas yourself. If loopholes becomes public, they close.

The information is widely available if you trial and your kid is available. I live in DC and only have one passport. An agent can also break down your options. We actually have an advantage because we are paying for the training costs so a club can pick up your child for free versus having to pay compensation.

Why not just post the FIFA policies here?

How does paying a club’s training costs resolve the legal UEFA and FIFA and individual country football associations requirements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

DON'T ANSWER THIS! Read the FIFA policies posted in the DCU thread and then travel overseas yourself. If loopholes becomes public, they close.

The information is widely available if you trial and your kid is available. I live in DC and only have one passport. An agent can also break down your options. We actually have an advantage because we are paying for the training costs so a club can pick up your child for free versus having to pay compensation.

Essentially, you cannot move to Europe primarily for soccer. You have to show another legitimate reason to move. I am sure there are companies and agents that can help with this.

My kids and wife have a South American passport that makes it easy to get residency in Spain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Your American son had a one week official trial at the Barcelona Academy?

He has a U.S. and South American passport.

He was invited to train at FC Barcelona along with other kids. It wasn’t officially a trial, but we heard one of the other kids were invited to an official trial. His coach for the week is an FC Barcelona coach. He likes how my son plays and offered to refer him to other top clubs. He says he has the potential to reach FC Barcelona academy level but is not there yet.

In my discussions with him, it was very interesting to hear how he thinks about how to target clubs for my son, who is a 10 / winger but profiles as an 8/10 long term. He says “level” or “winning” don’t matter that much. Instead, the club’s development philosophy must match my son’s natural strengths and the level must be good enough to further strengthen those areas. The club must consistently play through the interior midfielders and value a player that passes to teammates making runs behind and makes those runs himself. A possession-based club that plays ball to feet and not the runs would not fully develop him. This is why he only referred us to a limited number of clubs.

I think that mentality sets out the difference in quality between coaching in Spain and the U.S.

Strange thing to hear from a European coach specializing in developing young players

You didn’t bold the rest of the sentence. It’s the type of passsing - thru balls behind defenses to teammates making runs versus ball to feet.

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Anonymous wrote:I love how people rail against a system they continue to help prop up. “We hate it but we will all continue to do it”. I’m starting to think people don’t actually hate it as much as they say they do.

Those of us with the opportunity to move out do. I know 4 families with European passports that are going back there to give their kids a genuine football experience albeit making a bit less money in their professional careers than here. But, alas, advances of dual passport. Would suck if you wanted to do this move but can’t because you only have 1 passport. God bless you.

What a crock of BS, you know 4 families leaving US for kids soccer….lol

All from the same cul-de-sac

My son has offers for trials from several top clubs in Catalonia. One club plays in the same division as Barca A. Two others play in the same club as Barca B. He trained at FC Barcelona for a week in November. His coach there requested his CV and highlight video and referred him to a few select clubs that he thinks fit his playing style and strengths. All of the clubs he referred him to have oferres trials in the spring. He also introduced us to an agent at You First for potential referrals to clubs in other parts of Spain.

It happens.

We would absolutely move to Barcelona if he got an offer from a top club. (There are FIFA rules to follow, however.)

Can you please give us specific details on how your child based in the US received offers from clubs in Spain?

He trained for a week at FC Barcelona. His coach that week liked him and offered to refer him to Catalan clubs. He asked us to put together a CV and a highlight video, which we did. He gave us feedback on both the CV and highlight video. We implemented his comments and sent both to him. He forwarded them to his contacts at different clubs and I believe just about every club he sent it to came back and invited him to a trial.

How will he get a player card if he doesn't have EU citizenship or official Spanish residency status?

DON'T ANSWER THIS! Read the FIFA policies posted in the DCU thread and then travel overseas yourself. If loopholes becomes public, they close.

The information is widely available if you trial and your kid is available. I live in DC and only have one passport. An agent can also break down your options. We actually have an advantage because we are paying for the training costs so a club can pick up your child for free versus having to pay compensation.

Essentially, you cannot move to Europe primarily for soccer. You have to show another legitimate reason to move. I am sure there are companies and agents that can help with this.

My kids and wife have a South American passport that makes it easy to get residency in Spain.

By companies I assume you mean the company you work for legitimately that has assigned you to a location within the kilometers maximum distance from club requirements exception?

How can a 14 year old have an agent?