What Must Change With USA Youth Soccer Culture

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything comes from the culture but unfortunately culture is not something you can just change the way you want. It evolves organically. US does not have a strong soccer culture like in other parts of the world, especially on the mens side. It's not a numbers thing, it's a fabric of society thing. All the points people are making stem from having a soccer culture. More money coming in brings incentives for better quality coaching, better quality players, better systems, and so on. How do we make the US have a strong soccer culture? Good luck with that one.

We have a strong soccer culture.
It's just a bad soccer culture.

A lot of our soccer culture is an attempt to replicate or Frankenstein football, basketball, baseball, hockey cultures.
Can't work. Won't work. Doesn't work.

How many people in DCUM can tell stories of playing pickup and unofficial community soccer almost every day of their young lives with friends?

How many people with kids playing soccer in the DMV can name the DC United starting lineup?
Can the kids in the DMV playing soccer name the DCU starting lineup?

No.

Because we don't have the right soccer culture to be top tier.

The girls can name the Spirit starting lineup.

No they can’t. They know Trinity. That’s it.

Wrong. Have you been to a Spirit match? They not only know the lineup, they've met them and gotten selfies and autographs from them afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything comes from the culture but unfortunately culture is not something you can just change the way you want. It evolves organically. US does not have a strong soccer culture like in other parts of the world, especially on the mens side. It's not a numbers thing, it's a fabric of society thing. All the points people are making stem from having a soccer culture. More money coming in brings incentives for better quality coaching, better quality players, better systems, and so on. How do we make the US have a strong soccer culture? Good luck with that one.

We have a strong soccer culture.
It's just a bad soccer culture.

A lot of our soccer culture is an attempt to replicate or Frankenstein football, basketball, baseball, hockey cultures.
Can't work. Won't work. Doesn't work.

How many people in DCUM can tell stories of playing pickup and unofficial community soccer almost every day of their young lives with friends?

How many people with kids playing soccer in the DMV can name the DC United starting lineup?
Can the kids in the DMV playing soccer name the DCU starting lineup?

No.

Because we don't have the right soccer culture to be top tier.

The girls can name the Spirit starting lineup.

No they can’t. They know Trinity. That’s it.

Wrong. Have you been to a Spirit match? They not only know the lineup, they've met them and gotten selfies and autographs from them afterwards.

Who are the Spirit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

Have you watched a lacrosse game? They are REQUIRED to "park the bus" and yet the offense manages to generate plenty of scoring opportunities. And what is wrong with open space in the midfield? In hockey, they eliminated the two-line pass to open up center ice, and the game is faster and more exciting.

Of course they are wasting time in other sports. But when a player goes down for an injury or the ball/puck goes out of play, they transparently stop the clock and restart it when play resumes. Imagine that: An actual clock that shows the fans, coaches, and players exactly how much time is left. And no, I don't love it when a basketball player flops or a receiver makes histrionics when he thinks he is interfered with, but it doesn't interrupt the flow of the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

Have you watched a lacrosse game? They are REQUIRED to "park the bus" and yet the offense manages to generate plenty of scoring opportunities. And what is wrong with open space in the midfield? In hockey, they eliminated the two-line pass to open up center ice, and the game is faster and more exciting.

Of course they are wasting time in other sports. But when a player goes down for an injury or the ball/puck goes out of play, they transparently stop the clock and restart it when play resumes. Imagine that: An actual clock that shows the fans, coaches, and players exactly how much time is left. And no, I don't love it when a basketball player flops or a receiver makes histrionics when he thinks he is interfered with, but it doesn't interrupt the flow of the game.

You can't be talking about flow...you can't. With the clock stopping constantly and ridiculous commercials every couple minutes. It is the worst. And yes, your examples absolutely ruin the flow of the game cause the clock has to stop unlike soccer. You just don't want to like it and that's ok. I personally think the added time in soccer is a fun wrinkle in the sport and it makes it more enjoyable for me.

Lacrosse is not soccer and I daresay (based on score) it's a lot tougher to score a goal in soccer. Reducing fast break opportunities in soccer would be a disaster. Lacrosse may be able to survive it, but soccer wouldn't. Opening up the midfield might be fine in hockey because the rink is tiny. In soccer, parking the bus because of no offsides would basically create two games...one in our attacking third and one in yours. The field is far too large to do this. The sport is fine the way it is, you just don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

Your response is saying you should have just accepted the fact that you're not very knowledgeable about soccer.

You're a perfect example of ignorant parents giving their kids and kid's coaches stupid advice because its so simple to just kick a ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the intensity at the school my kid goes to when they added football. The soccer team plays in front of a handful of parents and 1-2 kids, the football team gets a crowd. They even got a cheerleading squad for them.

Even my soccer kid talks about wanting to go to football games!

Welcome to the real world outside the soccer bubble. And the DMV is not even a big football area. There are high school football games in Texas with 10-20k people at the games. Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania high school football is huge. MLS would love to have that kind of attendance and passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

Even Europeans complain about clock management late in games when it's faking injuries and having goalies lay on the ball for 30 seconds. Playing keep away is part of the game, shielding in the corner is part of the game, but stalling live ball play is BS. I'd rather not see a stopping clock, but refs should add more time and give more cards when it's effectively cheating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

Even Europeans complain about clock management late in games when it's faking injuries and having goalies lay on the ball for 30 seconds. Playing keep away is part of the game, shielding in the corner is part of the game, but stalling live ball play is BS. I'd rather not see a stopping clock, but refs should add more time and give more cards when it's effectively cheating.

In the nba, you intentionally foul to stop the clock and have a shot at retaining possession. Let the goalie get steamrolled a few times, have the payer take the card and then force the other team to put the ball in play and maybe teams will think twice about that method of killing time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you. Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed? Where would defenders need to stand? It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game. Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack. It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports. If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it. I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care. Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it. The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now. Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched. It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.

Even Europeans complain about clock management late in games when it's faking injuries and having goalies lay on the ball for 30 seconds. Playing keep away is part of the game, shielding in the corner is part of the game, but stalling live ball play is BS. I'd rather not see a stopping clock, but refs should add more time and give more cards when it's effectively cheating.

Like I said, it is a problem and not something to be applauded. Its not just a soccer problem was the point. They did try and add more realistic added time (like 10+ minutes) over the last year and it didn't go over well. Arsenal wasted time to a ridiculous degree against Man City and were punished for it with a late late goal. To me it is exciting in its own right, but they could crack down for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

Your response is saying you should have just accepted the fact that you're not very knowledgeable about soccer.

You're a perfect example of ignorant parents giving their kids and kid's coaches stupid advice because its so simple to just kick a ball.

Haha. In year 10 of having my kid in travel soccer and not once have I ever spoken to a coach about actual soccer except to thank him for taking the time to make my kid a better player and a better teammate. And all I talk to my kid about is moving herself and moving the ball smartly.

And yes, there are plenty of stupid parents giving stupid advice. But it's not because they don't understand soccer. It's because they don't understand sports at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything comes from the culture but unfortunately culture is not something you can just change the way you want. It evolves organically. US does not have a strong soccer culture like in other parts of the world, especially on the mens side. It's not a numbers thing, it's a fabric of society thing. All the points people are making stem from having a soccer culture. More money coming in brings incentives for better quality coaching, better quality players, better systems, and so on. How do we make the US have a strong soccer culture? Good luck with that one.

We have a strong soccer culture.
It's just a bad soccer culture.

A lot of our soccer culture is an attempt to replicate or Frankenstein football, basketball, baseball, hockey cultures.
Can't work. Won't work. Doesn't work.

How many people in DCUM can tell stories of playing pickup and unofficial community soccer almost every day of their young lives with friends?

How many people with kids playing soccer in the DMV can name the DC United starting lineup?
Can the kids in the DMV playing soccer name the DCU starting lineup?

No.

Because we don't have the right soccer culture to be top tier.

The girls can name the Spirit starting lineup.

No they can’t. They know Trinity. That’s it.

Wrong. Have you been to a Spirit match? They not only know the lineup, they've met them and gotten selfies and autographs from them afterwards.

Love the Spirit, been to many games and my girls have done multiple on field experiences.

Do they know the line up? No.

Also - they change the line up /roster often (tell me you don’t know anything about soccer without telling me you don’t anything about soccer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it

Thank you. It isn't rocket science. You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field). Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities. How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement. Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

Your response is saying you should have just accepted the fact that you're not very knowledgeable about soccer.

You're a perfect example of ignorant parents giving their kids and kid's coaches stupid advice because its so simple to just kick a ball.

Haha. In year 10 of having my kid in travel soccer and not once have I ever spoken to a coach about actual soccer except to thank him for taking the time to make my kid a better player and a better teammate. And all I talk to my kid about is moving herself and moving the ball smartly.

And yes, there are plenty of stupid parents giving stupid advice. But it's not because they don't understand soccer. It's because they don't understand sports at all.

And you think understanding football or baseball makes you versed on soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was blown away by the intensity at the school my kid goes to when they added football. The soccer team plays in front of a handful of parents and 1-2 kids, the football team gets a crowd. They even got a cheerleading squad for them.

Even my soccer kid talks about wanting to go to football games!

Welcome to the real world outside the soccer bubble. And the DMV is not even a big football area. There are high school football games in Texas with 10-20k people at the games. Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania high school football is huge. MLS would love to have that kind of attendance and passion.

Yep. Football is the revenue sport. Even at our high school they are selling our home games.

Soccer is getting families and a couple of girl friends/boyfriends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything comes from the culture but unfortunately culture is not something you can just change the way you want. It evolves organically. US does not have a strong soccer culture like in other parts of the world, especially on the mens side. It's not a numbers thing, it's a fabric of society thing. All the points people are making stem from having a soccer culture. More money coming in brings incentives for better quality coaching, better quality players, better systems, and so on. How do we make the US have a strong soccer culture? Good luck with that one.

We have a strong soccer culture.
It's just a bad soccer culture.

A lot of our soccer culture is an attempt to replicate or Frankenstein football, basketball, baseball, hockey cultures.
Can't work. Won't work. Doesn't work.

How many people in DCUM can tell stories of playing pickup and unofficial community soccer almost every day of their young lives with friends?

How many people with kids playing soccer in the DMV can name the DC United starting lineup?
Can the kids in the DMV playing soccer name the DCU starting lineup?

No.

Because we don't have the right soccer culture to be top tier.

The girls can name the Spirit starting lineup.

No they can’t. They know Trinity. That’s it.

Wrong. Have you been to a Spirit match? They not only know the lineup, they've met them and gotten selfies and autographs from them afterwards.

Love the Spirit, been to many games and my girls have done multiple on field experiences.

Do they know the line up? No.

Also - they change the line up /roster often (tell me you don’t know anything about soccer without telling me you don’t anything about soccer).

My daughters love going to spirit games. Neither has any interest in watching any soccer out side of the world cup on TV and even that is fleeting.