Going to Europe with your soccer team

[Anonymous]

Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

Behind in IDing and later development, and too focused on early winning. Nobody cares if your 11 year old is winning. Somehow US fails to see the bigger picture. And that is ok, why is US hell bent on youth soccer anyway? You do other sports good. You don't see Norway obsessing about becoming the water-polo superpower in the world, so why US and soccer? The mentality of US coaches and parents is utterly wrong for some sports, when it comes to world class, and completely awesome for other sports. Plus, soccer brings the worst in any fans in any world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

Behind in IDing and later development, and too focused on early winning. Nobody cares if your 11 year old is winning. Somehow US fails to see the bigger picture. And that is ok, why is US hell bent on youth soccer anyway? You do other sports good. You don't see Norway obsessing about becoming the water-polo superpower in the world, so why US and soccer? The mentality of US coaches and parents is utterly wrong for some sports, when it comes to world class, and completely awesome for other sports. Plus, soccer brings the worst in any fans in any world.

That 11 year wants to win, who doesn't? Hitting the pitch with the mentality of winning translates to success in academics and in life. This country is made of people from across the globe that has adopted America as their home and they bring their passion of soccer with them, I see nothing wrong with trying to improve youth soccer and national teams. If you are going to compete, then do what it takes to win. Besides you speak of our "obsessing" as if it's on the nightly news daily, we are still a Football country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

US does an incredibly shitty job at IDing Boys soccer. The 'best' aren't on the teams touted by US youth Soccer. The majority our shoe-ins from the political filter that starts young. They only look at a very small subset of soccer players from around the country. We seem focused on filtering the pool younger and younger when nobody knows how a boy will turn out until the very late teens. BUt, we've already given up on 99.5% of the soccer playing population by U14.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

Behind in IDing and later development, and too focused on early winning. Nobody cares if your 11 year old is winning. Somehow US fails to see the bigger picture. And that is ok, why is US hell bent on youth soccer anyway? You do other sports good. You don't see Norway obsessing about becoming the water-polo superpower in the world, so why US and soccer? The mentality of US coaches and parents is utterly wrong for some sports, when it comes to world class, and completely awesome for other sports. Plus, soccer brings the worst in any fans in any world.

That 11 year wants to win, who doesn't? Hitting the pitch with the mentality of winning translates to success in academics and in life. This country is made of people from across the globe that has adopted America as their home and they bring their passion of soccer with them, I see nothing wrong with trying to improve youth soccer and national teams. If you are going to compete, then do what it takes to win. Besides you speak of our "obsessing" as if it's on the nightly news daily, we are still a Football country.

I meant on Dcum. But, you are missing the point of my post. Yes, 11 year old wants to win, but why? Who is placing such emphasis on competition? Parents and coaches, because there is money to be earned by clubs and coaches. In any given sport, it is great to do it for fun at any age. You are talking about how these kids who went to Italy did really well. Awesome, I just think you statement that you are not behind in developing soccer players is false. You are behind in both developing and IDing because focus is on winning, as you yourself pointed out. Same is happening in other sports, emphasis on winning ,because that coach is getting more lesson money if his players win, and win young. Hitting the pitch with the mentality of winning at a young age doesn't translate to success in sports in life. There were 11 year olds beating Novak Djokovic all over the Europe at 11. Few could when he was 16. How can this be so hard to comprehend? Remember that 6 year old tennis player that had his parents move him to France to train as he was going to be the best? Where is he now, what is his name??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

Behind in IDing and later development, and too focused on early winning. Nobody cares if your 11 year old is winning. Somehow US fails to see the bigger picture. And that is ok, why is US hell bent on youth soccer anyway? You do other sports good. You don't see Norway obsessing about becoming the water-polo superpower in the world, so why US and soccer? The mentality of US coaches and parents is utterly wrong for some sports, when it comes to world class, and completely awesome for other sports. Plus, soccer brings the worst in any fans in any world.

That 11 year wants to win, who doesn't? Hitting the pitch with the mentality of winning translates to success in academics and in life. This country is made of people from across the globe that has adopted America as their home and they bring their passion of soccer with them, I see nothing wrong with trying to improve youth soccer and national teams. If you are going to compete, then do what it takes to win. Besides you speak of our "obsessing" as if it's on the nightly news daily, we are still a Football country.

I meant on Dcum. But, you are missing the point of my post. Yes, 11 year old wants to win, but why? Who is placing such emphasis on competition? Parents and coaches, because there is money to be earned by clubs and coaches. In any given sport, it is great to do it for fun at any age. You are talking about how these kids who went to Italy did really well. Awesome, I just think you statement that you are not behind in developing soccer players is false. You are behind in both developing and IDing because focus is on winning, as you yourself pointed out. Same is happening in other sports, emphasis on winning ,because that coach is getting more lesson money if his players win, and win young. Hitting the pitch with the mentality of winning at a young age doesn't translate to success in sports in life. There were 11 year olds beating Novak Djokovic all over the Europe at 11. Few could when he was 16. How can this be so hard to comprehend? Remember that 6 year old tennis player that had his parents move him to France to train as he was going to be the best? Where is he now, what is his name??

What does this have to do with taking a team to Europe to play some soccer?

[Anonymous]

Let's say you were in a European basketball academy of some type with all the best B-ball players in your area. Everyone gets hyped up for a trip to the US.

You arrive and realize you can't compete against groups of of local kids in the inner city, who play all day every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just like the MLS, you really do need a "all star" type of team to compete in europe against the higher level teams. Over the years I've watch HP Elite assemble some top talent to travel to europe to play and if you are familiar with that program you'll know that is the best of the best from around the area. I spoke a mom that did it last year to Italy and they did really well. We aren't behind in developing soccer players, we are behind on how we can properly ID them across this large country.

US does an incredibly shitty job at IDing Boys soccer. The 'best' aren't on the teams touted by US youth Soccer. The majority our shoe-ins from the political filter that starts young. They only look at a very small subset of soccer players from around the country. We seem focused on filtering the pool younger and younger when nobody knows how a boy will turn out until the very late teens. BUt, we've already given up on 99.5% of the soccer playing population by U14.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's say you were in a European basketball academy of some type with all the best B-ball players in your area. Everyone gets hyped up for a trip to the US.

You arrive and realize you can't compete against groups of of local kids in the inner city, who play all day every day.

This is the most salient post in this thread.

[aimeeharms]

It is more of a vacation/experience - there's plenty of soccer tourney's in the DC area that are just as competitive I'd rather spend my $ on travel expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has been asked to go to Europe with his travel team over spring break to train with teams there. It sounds fun and I'm sure he would have a good time and get something out of it, but is it truly worthwhile? My son goes to a private school and would have to miss a week of school for it, plus its expensive. I also worry about him being considered less committed to the team by not going. I'm not sure one of us parents would be able to go along, maybe one of us but we could not go as a family as we have other kids at home in school that week plus again the expense would be a lot for us. What are others' experience with this?

How old? Would they be ok being there without you?