Is DC now a major hot spot for soccer development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

You cannot waste this talent on these boards - there are millions of fortune cookies that need to be filled. Get to work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

Let us know when your DC is on the senior NT. We won't be holding our collective breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

I’m convinced that none of the cynical people have kids who have done well (whether it’s D1 soccer or pro soccer) so they blame the system. If you really care about improving the situation, you are going to focus on what helped your kid and other talented kids vs why it all sucks. I’ve never met anyone with a kid who plays at high levels who didn’t have constructive thoughts about what works and what doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

I’m convinced that none of the cynical people have kids who have done well (whether it’s D1 soccer or pro soccer) so they blame the system. If you really care about improving the situation, you are going to focus on what helped your kid and other talented kids vs why it all sucks. I’ve never met anyone with a kid who plays at high levels who didn’t have constructive thoughts about what works and what doesn’t.

That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t relate to the topic, which is DC being a hot spot or not. There are plenty of soccer gurus who are cynical about soccer in the US, in youth or national form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.sbnation.com/2019/1/29/18199509/usmnt-roster-pool-demographics-latinx-foreign-born-players

“After California are several well known soccer hotbeds: Texas (9.1 percent of players), New York/New Jersey (8 percent), the area around Washington, D.C. (6.3 percent), Florida (4.6 percent), and Missouri/Kansas (4.6 percent).”

It would appear at least one journalist thinks our area IS a hotbed. I agree.

There's a difference between the pool percentages and being a hotbed for development. They aren't the same thing. Development requires exceptional playing environments and coaching. The anecdote of the 7 year old kid described above speaks volumes.

Honestly, I don’t really care what some journalist or frankly anybody else views as a hotbed. Why on earth does it matter? You want to feel better about not having a top kid? Or hoping somebody else’s quality rubs off on your kid? Or that recruiters will simply say, “well he is from Virginia (or Kansas), a soccer hotbed, so she must be good”? Don’t think any of it works quite like that.

There’s a big crowd on DCUM that can’t tolerate anyone saying anything positive about soccer in our area or the US. In their minds, it’s all 100% sh*tty, period, the end. There’s another big group that loves to claim that most soccer parents are fools, wasting vast sums of money on the delusion that their kids will get college scholarships. No one from either crowd is interested in any arguments or facts to the contrary. They love the sounds of their own voices and are thrilled to have a platform to share their words with people beyond their long-suffering families.

Here’s a simpler explanation. Some prefer truth and others fantasy. People can choose to believe what they wish based on the data they have, but you can’t say “don’t believe your lyin’ eyes” to people who don’t agree with you.

Even simpler explanation. Those that are habitually negative are losers, those that aren't are winners.

I’m convinced that none of the cynical people have kids who have done well (whether it’s D1 soccer or pro soccer) so they blame the system. If you really care about improving the situation, you are going to focus on what helped your kid and other talented kids vs why it all sucks. I’ve never met anyone with a kid who plays at high levels who didn’t have constructive thoughts about what works and what doesn’t.

That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t relate to the topic, which is DC being a hot spot or not. There are plenty of soccer gurus who are cynical about soccer in the US, in youth or national form.

I’m one of those whose kids have flourished in this area, and as I’ve said above, I think it’s mostly down to the coaching. Everyone smart who follows soccer knows that our kids start falling down at the u15-U17 age groups v international competition due to the utter lack of tactical sophistication of our coaches. We also are in trouble at the younger ages because, though we have a lot of excellent technical coaches, we don’t have nearly enough to meet the needs of our very good, large player pool.

The DC area is indisputably (by any one without an agenda) a soccer hotspot compared to the nation at large.