Soccer Food for Thought, No Need To Agree or Disagree With Me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS->College->Pro

In the US, Education is far more important than soccer. Do you ever think Argentina or Croatia will be a world power based on their soccer skills? Education is king.

Lol. Education. Pulisic has a degree from Hershey High school (and a 75 million dollar annual paycheck) We are talking about cultivating the tippy top - not any kid who kicks a ball. Any kid is focused on his education because that’s really his only choice.

The money is beginning to be there. Look at Philly Union and their Academy. They’ve sold almost 10 players for transfer fees as high as 6 million (Aaronson). It’s how Europe finances their academies. The virtuous cycle is not quite flourishing here.

Right now, I think it is the addiction to the pay to play model for the mediocre combined with MLS ‘owners’ like here in DC and their fixation with geo-fencing players through the home grown rule which is limiting growth and player development.

It’s changing. Places like Nashville see what Philly has done and are replicating the plan. Need to let players move for best MLS opportunity. The home grown rule needs a successful class action suit to break the MLS Trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS->College->Pro

In the US, Education is far more important than soccer. Do you ever think Argentina or Croatia will be a world power based on their soccer skills? Education is king.

Lol. Education. Pulisic has a degree from Hershey High school (and a 75 million dollar annual paycheck) We are talking about cultivating the tippy top - not any kid who kicks a ball. Any kid is focused on his education because that’s really his only choice.

The money is beginning to be there. Look at Philly Union and their Academy. They’ve sold almost 10 players for transfer fees as high as 6 million (Aaronson). It’s how Europe finances their academies. The virtuous cycle is not quite flourishing here.

Right now, I think it is the addiction to the pay to play model for the mediocre combined with MLS ‘owners’ like here in DC and their fixation with geo-fencing players through the home grown rule which is limiting growth and player development.

It’s changing. Places like Nashville see what Philly has done and are replicating the plan. Need to let players move for best MLS opportunity. The home grown rule needs a successful class action suit to break the MLS Trust.

Does Philly get that money though? I thought the MLS rules are basically such that the MLS gets it and the teams are kinda SOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will put it to you all like this:

- 80% of travel players belong in rec teams but their parents are fooled into thinking their kids can play soccer either by the coaches or organization $$$.

I think most travel parents just want better coaching and a more challenging environment then their kid gets in rec. I'm not even sure what "can play soccer" even means in this case.

- 80% of travel players want to join a travel club because their friends play there and they have been brainwashed by the clubs into thinking that if you do not belong to a travel team you are not getting the best experience and you are a loser.

While I agree that kids want to play for their friends (no news there), I don't think anyone is brainwashing anyone into thinking they are a loser.

- 80% of travel coaches are inexperienced and/or have lost the passion and only want the paycheck. Some do not even have the appropriate coaching licenses yet they say they do (check your coach online). https://learning.ussoccer.com/#!/directory most have just the grassroots coaching license and that's a joke.

Most of the travel coaches I know don't get paid much and have day jobs. Experiences certainly vary. While I'm sure someone is lying about their license, I'm not sure why you would, as you can easily look these things up.

- 80% of travel coaches are former "soccer" players who could not get past college soccer and we know college soccer is not even close to pro in Europe, Latin America or Africa.

I'm not sure there are many parents/players who are disappointed to have a coach who "only" played in college. What else are you expecting at the youth level?

- 90% of travel players are all white kids who lack the soccer IQ and athletic soccer talent. See for yourself at the next travel game or tournament. See the difference between the players and how they touch the ball, trap the ball and pass the ball. Most are weak players. Most is the result of poor coaching and training they receive.

I'm not sure what the %s are, but this varies a lot by area. I agree that much of this is the result of poor coaching and training, but not sure what it has to do with skin color.

- 90% of talented soccer players are minorities who cannot afford to pay the $3k+ fees.

Again the %s here are complete hyperbole. I agree that there are plenty of good players who can't afford travel soccer across the spectrum.

- All these "non-profit" soccer clubs in our country are nothing more than businesses that do not pay taxes and pay all directors and coaches a nice income for rec-level soccer.

Again most coaches don't make much. You're welcome to give it a go and see if you find it as lucrative as you think it is.

I could go on and on but I think I made my point here.

Unfortunately gross exaggerations took away from what valid points you may have had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS->College->Pro

In the US, Education is far more important than soccer. Do you ever think Argentina or Croatia will be a world power based on their soccer skills? Education is king.

Lol. Education. Pulisic has a degree from Hershey High school (and a 75 million dollar annual paycheck) We are talking about cultivating the tippy top - not any kid who kicks a ball. Any kid is focused on his education because that’s really his only choice.

The money is beginning to be there. Look at Philly Union and their Academy. They’ve sold almost 10 players for transfer fees as high as 6 million (Aaronson). It’s how Europe finances their academies. The virtuous cycle is not quite flourishing here.

Right now, I think it is the addiction to the pay to play model for the mediocre combined with MLS ‘owners’ like here in DC and their fixation with geo-fencing players through the home grown rule which is limiting growth and player development.

It’s changing. Places like Nashville see what Philly has done and are replicating the plan. Need to let players move for best MLS opportunity. The home grown rule needs a successful class action suit to break the MLS Trust.

Does Philly get that money though? I thought the MLS rules are basically such that the MLS gets it and the teams are kinda SOL.

For homegrowns Philly keeps all but about 25% which is skimmed right off the top by MLS.

It’s explained quite nicely here:

https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/platform/amp/atlanta-united-fc/2017/10/19/16465762/mls-transfer-rules-regulations-fees-percentages

[Anonymous]

So in fairness the rules favor developing home grown talent. But as with the case of the (American) Football team in town we got less than visionary ownership. They are cheapskates!

[Anonymous]

come on guys. in the suburbs of Paris there are THOUSANDS of young kids dreaming of becoming professional soccer players and balling for hours and hours every day whether they are on organized teams or not. we don't have anything that remotely comes close here. There must be 100 academies surrounding Paris... and thats one city (although a major one). ONE city.

[Anonymous]

I should say... THOUSANDS of 8-9-10 year olds. not even counting the older kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Europe is 3-4 years ahead of us in technique and IQ. Realistically they start their professional journey at 13-14 so if you're an American and you go over at 18 years old you have a long road to travel. Why do we think so many American universities/colleges have so many international players on rosters from that continent? Those players realized their chances of going pro there is not going to happen so they take a free education and a chance to explore America. We set our precedent for college soccer and an MLS draft for whatever reason when it clearly doesn't work for the men's side. The women's side college and the NWSL work. We limit their bar for them with college soccer.


Things like our non relegation/promotion leagues and the other leagues is a whole different conversation, a whole different post.

The NWSL is not a success. 12 teams that are built around the USWNT. Women College soccer is way behind the European pro leagues.
As for the men’s side. They are way ahead of the US. Our travel team system is totally inadequate after about 14 for professional development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:come on guys. in the suburbs of Paris there are THOUSANDS of young kids dreaming of becoming professional soccer players and balling for hours and hours every day whether they are on organized teams or not. we don't have anything that remotely comes close here. There must be 100 academies surrounding Paris... and thats one city (although a major one). ONE city.

Focusing on numbers is a fallacy. But what I will say is Europeans identify the real talents sooner and better. That’s where American soccer is dumb. Puslic said he became a pro from the training he received between 14-16. (Dortmond) Look at his body type - we are still largely focused on American football skills and make up (speed, height and strength). We are missing out on a lot of Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:come on guys. in the suburbs of Paris there are THOUSANDS of young kids dreaming of becoming professional soccer players and balling for hours and hours every day whether they are on organized teams or not. we don't have anything that remotely comes close here. There must be 100 academies surrounding Paris... and thats one city (although a major one). ONE city.

Focusing on numbers is a fallacy. But what I will say is Europeans identify the real talents sooner and better. That’s where American soccer is dumb. Puslic said he became a pro from the training he received between 14-16. (Dortmond) Look at his body type - we are still largely focused on American football skills and make up (speed, height and strength). We are missing out on a lot of Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi.

The Europeans are developing the young talents sooner and better, with serious coaches for U6 to U12.
And parents don't have a say in how clubs/teams operate (granted the parents there are easily more knowledgeable)

[Anonymous]

If you want to talk about athletes and basketball, realize that the all-NBA 1st team for last year consisted of guys from: Greece, Slovenia, Cameroon, Canada and 1 from the US.

US Youth Sports are broken. It’s not just soccer.

[Anonymous]

Clubs can get a return on investment from selling a player. Therefore they make sure that they developed the players as best they can so they can sell them at a higher value. We don't have any such economic incentive here.

[Anonymous]

It is not just your purely love of the game. Clubs have a bottom line and they have to sell a certain number of players or certain dollar/euro amount. Ajax is in the business of developing players and selling them to bigger clubs who pay major big bucks for them. They attract talented kids but then they develop them to their maximum and then sell them off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Europe is 3-4 years ahead of us in technique and IQ. Realistically they start their professional journey at 13-14 so if you're an American and you go over at 18 years old you have a long road to travel. Why do we think so many American universities/colleges have so many international players on rosters from that continent? Those players realized their chances of going pro there is not going to happen so they take a free education and a chance to explore America. We set our precedent for college soccer and an MLS draft for whatever reason when it clearly doesn't work for the men's side. The women's side college and the NWSL work. We limit their bar for them with college soccer.


Things like our non relegation/promotion leagues and the other leagues is a whole different conversation, a whole different post.

At 13, 14 years old there are several high level players here who can hold their own technically and physically with peers in Europe. The individual IQ levels will be close or equal for some.

The differences are that the culture, coaching, training and collective tactical understanding of the game is higher there on average.
They will have 18 kids on their EDP1 or 2 level team that are all technically proficient, have good IQ, have parents who know and understand the game and have qualified knowledgeable coacheS
The team collectively will play quicker, faster because of the higher average IQ that can absorb more complex tactical approaches.

When a kid leaves here for the first time and lands in Croatia, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain for the first time at 18, the tactical understanding deficiency is wide.
Because of the pay-to-play system (which allows a checkbook roster of who can afford it) and lack of qualified youth coaches here, we'll always be behind.

The question is whether or not anyone who doesn't have an interest in playing professionally or is associated with the national team should care. European club supported academies are great for developing kids at no or low cost to those kids. The aren't enough professional clubs in the US with the resources to fully fund boys academies (that doesn't even account for the girls side which are also subsided by club in Europe) to ever approach that here. That means pay to play.

Too Funny.
America is the richest country in the world and yet the only country in the world where soccer is out of reach to the masses because of costs.

Kids in Europe and South America aren't all at Professional Academies or clubs subsidized by Pro Clubs.
There are many levels and tiers below Pro Div1 all the way down to small grass-roots clubs.
Many pay something yearly, none of them cost an arm and a leg.

We choose expensive pay-to-play to be our 'culture'

And it is quintessentially American to think money is the solution to everything. Just because you want to reallocate doesn't make you any different. The problem is and always be the attractiveness of most other sports to most American kids, including most athletically talented American kids. This is not one of many policy problems to address through organizational change, redistribution and grousing about wealth and the masses. You sound like a silly college freshman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sorry, they are playing basketball and football because those sports are affordable and offer paths to college and the pros not dependent on how much money a parent has

Please stop. Kids play these sports because these are the sports players prefer. They begin doing this LONG before they even think about college. Kids are not playing these solely or principally because they are cheaper. In any event, do you know how much AAU basketball costs for most kids? Do you have any idea how much additional training football players do? Kids have stopped playing baseball not because it has gotten expensive but because it has become less popular.