Ricardo Pepi - The Next Missed Opportunity To Promote Soccer For Youth

[Anonymous]

Kids like Pulisic and Pepi are not motivated by extrinsic factors like stardom. Both were naturally good players, who honed in on that interest at a very early age, and was raised in an environment that recognized that talent and nurtured it. No amount of extrinsic motivation is going to turn mediocre kids into professional soccer players. From a young age (when they have no concept of wealth just get), their dream was to play soccer at the highest levels they could achieve.

How many parents on this board (of a well resourced area) actually have kids that are good enough to become professional? Even if they are, did they have the internal motivation and drive? I think the majority of the parents on this board hope that the resource advantage will be enough but it won’t be.

[Anonymous]

Our household watches plenty of soccer, just not MLS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids like Pulisic and Pepi are not motivated by extrinsic factors like stardom. Both were naturally good players, who honed in on that interest at a very early age, and was raised in an environment that recognized that talent and nurtured it. No amount of extrinsic motivation is going to turn mediocre kids into professional soccer players. From a young age (when they have no concept of wealth just get), their dream was to play soccer at the highest levels they could achieve.

How many parents on this board (of a well resourced area) actually have kids that are good enough to become professional? Even if they are, did they have the internal motivation and drive? I think the majority of the parents on this board hope that the resource advantage will be enough but it won’t be.

I don't think my kid is going pro, but I want him to allow him to dream through role models. Soccer should have one of the lowest barrier to entry of about any sport out there. You must be in shape and have decent speed. But, there's no need to be 6'5", buy $10,000 worth of equipment, ice time, etc. Why are so few kids going to MLS games? Heck, kids should be going to college soccer games. They need to learn the game and the outside of sports lessons that come with it. I feel like the parents, marketers, etc. aren't giving them the avenues to dream.

[Anonymous]

We go to MLS games and my kids know Pepi. I complained in the last thread about a qualifying match that nobody mentioned him. Don't worry op there are plenty like our family who support this, several in our soccer circles are into it just as much.

[Anonymous]

Pepi has gotten a lot of hype but he plays in the MLS. Remember Altidore? MLS is kind of the minor leagues. What you do in the MLS does not translate to the major European leagues. Scoring against Jamaica is not the same as scoring against Belgium…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pepi has gotten a lot of hype but he plays in the MLS. Remember Altidore? MLS is kind of the minor leagues. What you do in the MLS does not translate to the major European leagues. Scoring against Jamaica is not the same as scoring against Belgium…

Altidore did play in Europe after starting in MLS. Pepi will likely go to Europe too and we’ll just have to see if he does better than Altidore and other home grown Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids like Pulisic and Pepi are not motivated by extrinsic factors like stardom. Both were naturally good players, who honed in on that interest at a very early age, and was raised in an environment that recognized that talent and nurtured it. No amount of extrinsic motivation is going to turn mediocre kids into professional soccer players. From a young age (when they have no concept of wealth just get), their dream was to play soccer at the highest levels they could achieve.

How many parents on this board (of a well resourced area) actually have kids that are good enough to become professional? Even if they are, did they have the internal motivation and drive? I think the majority of the parents on this board hope that the resource advantage will be enough but it won’t be.

I don't think my kid is going pro, but I want him to allow him to dream through role models. Soccer should have one of the lowest barrier to entry of about any sport out there. You must be in shape and have decent speed. But, there's no need to be 6'5", buy $10,000 worth of equipment, ice time, etc. Why are so few kids going to MLS games? Heck, kids should be going to college soccer games. They need to learn the game and the outside of sports lessons that come with it. I feel like the parents, marketers, etc. aren't giving them the avenues to dream.

Because the ones that are fans are usually EPL fans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pepi has gotten a lot of hype but he plays in the MLS. Remember Altidore? MLS is kind of the minor leagues. What you do in the MLS does not translate to the major European leagues. Scoring against Jamaica is not the same as scoring against Belgium…

Altidore did play in Europe after starting in MLS. Pepi will likely go to Europe too and we’ll just have to see if he does better than Altidore and other home grown Americans.

The track record is horrible, just be happy we have Jamaica to beat up on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Soccer in the US doesn't pay enough for the kids to be attracted too Like Basketball. football, or even baseball. The Lifestyle and celebrity we promote. The huge homes, the cars, the Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags. The overall cool rich factor that we dont have with soccer is another reason our kids are drawn to other sports celebrities.

You've succinctly outlined how screwed up we've become as a society. Thank you.

Yes unfortunately thats another obstacle we face in the promotion of soccer. Social media has widen the gap. When our kids see Lebron or Russel Wilsons lifestyle on IG it shows them a different world than anything you see with US born soccer players. On the field is only a tool for success of the field.

I don’t buy that excuse. There are plenty of soccer stars with tons of money. They just happen to not be in the US. Messi, Renaldo have bigger social media followings and make as much money as any NBA star. Soccer is just not a top tier sport in the US in terms of interest. That’s ok. Neither is hockey or cricket or lacrosse.

Thats what makes it unattractive for US kids. those stars are outside the USA and aren't from the neighborhoods US kids are from.

[Anonymous]

Pepi is amazing !!!! We have a good one