I don't know what you're talking about here and how it relates to my comment. But what I'm saying is the US won't dominate if the most naturally gifted athletes choose other sports. The most gifted athletes are going to take learned skills to the highest level possible. |
The point is that all these discussions of US Soccer, age cutoffs, league structure, and a hundred other reasons for the US sucking at soccer are meaningless. Trying to implement what works elsewhere won't work here unless soccer is popular enough to support it. Soccer is a 3rd tier sport. Instead of blaming this, that, and the other thing, we should focus all of our attention on growing the popularity of the sport. That's the only thing that will move the needle. |
How are the most naturally gifted athletes identified and measured at a young age before placed in sports other than soccer by their parents? Is the 300lb college Offensive Lineman a more gifted 4 year old than Pulisic was at 4 years old? |
It’s not that hard. Go to any high school and all the kids can tell you who are the best athletes in their school. Those kids will be on the football, basketball, & track teams. Not soccer. Kids eventually play the sports they like not where their parents placed them at age 4. |
Losing to a lower ranked team happens in any and every sport. Point is, US has always been ranked fairly high among the 211 countries in FIFA. |
Laughable Tell us how the 6'10" basketball player would be a better Midfielder in soccer |
Why is the US so good at sports where the professional level pays big bucks? Why is the US also good at Olympic sports compared to most other countries? It all comes down to the US being better at sports that either 1) pay a lot at the professional level and have a lot cultural significance OR 2) can out fund the other countries in finding and training athletes. With soccer the US fails both tests, except for the women where they pass test #2 and there is really no competition from other sports here. |
That guy probably won't excel at soccer. What about baseball players and NFL receivers and defensive backs? |
Nobody is saying every single basketball and football player would make a great soccer player at every position. I guess you have to resort to these nonsensical straw man arguments because you have no better facts. The fact remains that the best high school athletes are going to be on the basketball and football teams. Have you watched a high school basketball game? Most kids are around 6 ft. Same with most on the football and track teams. These athletic kids are well suited to play any of these sports and make their choice. It ain't soccer. |
Like most sports, soccer requires athleticism too. But soccer requires skills not usually associated with the specific athleticism required in other sports. You don’t have to be the fastest or jump the highest. Requires technical skills and control of the ball with the feet that is unique. Football and basketball players are not better athletes. They are better at their sport. That’s all. |
Wow look at ECNL dad go! |
Give one Sports Science Performance related study with supporting evidence and peer review that proves your argument Just one Also, explain how Offensive and Defensive Linemen are more Athletic than Soccer Players? (Using athletic performance terms) What makes a Quarterback more athletic than a Soccer Player? (Using athletic performance terms) What makes a basketball player on a small court stopping every few minutes more athletic than a soccer player running, jumping, sprinting, changing directions quickly for 90 minutes? The NFL game has been timed as having 12 to tops 17 minutes of actual action. Why are they more athletic than soccer players? Please feel free to be detailed in your responses |
Say it to the ignorant in the back. Also, if you are taking steroids and other performance enhancing drugs and lifting heavy weights to be big and strong, how are you a "better natural athlete"? |
The US is behind many countries in Medals per Capita based on population at the Olympics We just send massive numbers of athletes and compete in almost all events. We are the richest with the most resources. |
Call it however you want. The kids with the natural qualities which would have allowed them to excel in soccer the most are not choosing soccer. Also, a big part of success in sports is having the discipline and nonstop drive to excel and those kids aren’t going into soccer either. I’m not sure what point you are trying to make. Are you suggesting soccer in the US is drawing the best talent available? |