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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The notorious "Bolivian" league - which is not just Bolivians but really all latin american immigrants, and even some non-latinos are sometimes invited to play.

Here's the thing though, most of the kids who play in that league - and all of the really good ones - do it is a supplement.  In other words they also play for regular teams "in the system" - including some of the the local DAs (DA rules against outside competition notwithstanding).

The idea that there are large numbers of hugely talented latino kids outside of the system is a complete myth - at least as it applies to this area.   The only exception might be some who move here as teenagers (like Andy Najar), but for anyone who grows up here, if they are good enough they are finding their way to good teams.

The reason has to do with what I mentioned above.  Most of the kids playing in unaffiliated leagues also play in regular leagues.  There is a lot of recruitment that goes on - not by clubs/coaches but by other parents.  Everyone wants their kid to be on the "best" team.   If a player shows up who is good - the first question everyone asks is who they play for.  If they are new to the area and don't have a team yet, they get recruited.   If their team is "crap", they get recruited to join a better team.  If they are really good enough, money isn't an issue.  Not all clubs offer scholarships but there are enough that do for truly difference making players.  If they aren't quite that good, then those aren't the players US Soccer is supposedly missing right?

The idea that latino parents are clueless and not at all plugged in to what is going on in the soccer ecosystem around here is BS.  [/quote]

^^^This[/quote]

I figure they do it for other reasons.  Dissatisfaction with the American system, dislike of the amount of travel or the expense, lots of other reasons. [/quote]

It's also just cultural bonding, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The best latino boys in this area are absolutely plugged into the system - they play for DAs or highly competitive non-DA clubs.  Many of those parents can be very savy about finding what they believe is the best situation for their kid - they can play the politics as well as anyone.  But, for the most part they (the parents) aren't [i]comfortable[/i] there.   There are very few latino coaches or administrators at the most competitive clubs.   So the "Bolivian" leagues offer a way to connect culturally to other latinos in the dmv who all share 2 primary passions - futbol and their kids.

But again, the idea that there is latino talent getting missed by top clubs in the DMV is simply not true.   You need only to look at the DA rosters to see that.

Also, there are plenty of white (2nd generation soccer families), african american, recent african immigrants, middle easterners, asians, and eastern europeans who also live, eat sleep and breathe soccer/football 24/7.

[/quote]

why eastern europeans, why not just europeans, i know many western europeans that eat/sleep/breathe soccer 24/7 as well.[/quote]

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