Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did a trip to Amsterdam a few years ago that was pretty incredible from both a soccer and fun perspective. It was organized by a guy from NY who scouted kids all around the country and basically brought an "all-star" type team of 11 and 12 year olds. They trained each day at Ajax, and competed in several friendlies against local Dutch teams, then went to the Marc Overmars tournament in Epe and played against teams from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The boys got to play against the youth teams from Ajax and PSV Eindhoven (both outstanding, as you'd expect). It was good for them to see how far behind the top teams they were as well as how well they compared to some of the others in terms of both skills and athletic ability.

I think the trip was really inspiring for the kids. It was definitely a blast for the parents to hang out in soccer clubhouses throughout the country. We passed on all the international trips that were offered by our club though. Most seemed like more soccer tourism than real training, which is fun, but expensive for what you get.

What were the most noticeable gaps between the US kids and the top European kids? e.g. were they able hang athletically but not as advanced in terms of skills and know how?

American teams are known for having exceptional players athletically, but being behind on things like first touch, control and most notably, team play and tactics. This has been a complaint against the USA 'style of play' from the early years to college and the MLS all the way up to the National Team, both men and womens (who were able to get some ugly wins but wins nonetheless). Many American teams have relied on out hustling and outrunning their opponents, but this lasts only to a certain point when the other teams are a) as fast or as strong and b) far more skillful or tactical.

At the international tournaments we attended we saw a few American sides do well in the early stages only to eventually come up against a decent physical and tactical team and start to suffer. But like anything in this game your mileage may vary.

Anonymous wrote:We did a trip to Amsterdam a few years ago that was pretty incredible from both a soccer and fun perspective. It was organized by a guy from NY who scouted kids all around the country and basically brought an "all-star" type team of 11 and 12 year olds. They trained each day at Ajax, and competed in several friendlies against local Dutch teams, then went to the Marc Overmars tournament in Epe and played against teams from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The boys got to play against the youth teams from Ajax and PSV Eindhoven (both outstanding, as you'd expect). It was good for them to see how far behind the top teams they were as well as how well they compared to some of the others in terms of both skills and athletic ability.

I think the trip was really inspiring for the kids. It was definitely a blast for the parents to hang out in soccer clubhouses throughout the country. We passed on all the international trips that were offered by our club though. Most seemed like more soccer tourism than real training, which is fun, but expensive for what you get.

What were the most noticeable gaps between the US kids and the top European kids? e.g. were they able hang athletically but not as advanced in terms of skills and know how?

We did a trip to Amsterdam a few years ago that was pretty incredible from both a soccer and fun perspective. It was organized by a guy from NY who scouted kids all around the country and basically brought an "all-star" type team of 11 and 12 year olds. They trained each day at Ajax, and competed in several friendlies against local Dutch teams, then went to the Marc Overmars tournament in Epe and played against teams from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The boys got to play against the youth teams from Ajax and PSV Eindhoven (both outstanding, as you'd expect). It was good for them to see how far behind the top teams they were as well as how well they compared to some of the others in terms of both skills and athletic ability.

I think the trip was really inspiring for the kids. It was definitely a blast for the parents to hang out in soccer clubhouses throughout the country. We passed on all the international trips that were offered by our club though. Most seemed like more soccer tourism than real training, which is fun, but expensive for what you get.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did it because the club paid for everything. They had an amazing experience.

What club was that? Where did you go?

Arlington

They financed an international tournament for both boys and girls?

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people I know have taken their kid to an overseas tournament such as in Holland, Italy, or Spain. If you've done this, did you find it to be a good experience. Before all the people say...you aren't going to make it over there. You need a EU card or whatever...save that please. I'm just wondering if parents found the experience worth it as in motivating for the soccer player. You got what you paid for? Inspirational? Fun? etc. Thanks

We've done three different trips. They were all fun family trips. Some were more fun than others. Some had better and more training than others. I wouldn't do it exclusively for the fun or the soccer. There are better ways to have fun and certainly can be better ways for your child to experience soccer. But it can be a fun combination if you can afford to do it. I would make sure you are going with kids who spend some time together training before they go, and ideally, there would be a competitive selection process that ensures that the talent level is appropriate. I would also make sure you are not obliged to be with the parents or team for much of the time, i.e., you can do what you want in whatever country you are visiting. Request a detailed itinerary from the program and make sure the process is selective (and competition overseas is tough) if you are doing it for the child's soccer experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did it because the club paid for everything. They had an amazing experience.

What club was that? Where did you go?

Arlington

Anonymous wrote:We did it because the club paid for everything. They had an amazing experience.

What club was that? Where did you go?

We did it because the club paid for everything. They had an amazing experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just go visit Europe. Stop feeding the beast.

Isn't that what they would be doing? Not like you still won't be able to go sightseeing and possibly visit other countries when there. Let people make their own decisions with their own money without criticism. Jeez.

The OP is considering dropping at least a few thousand dollars primarily to motivate and inspire their child (based on how the post reads)...try to help the guy out.

It's not cheap, but it is an experience of a lifetime if you treat it exactly that, an experience. You'll find the style of play to be much higher across the board.

We have done The Donasti Cup (Spain) and Mundalito (Portugal). We did one trip for each son.

Both were memorable and decent soccer. You really need to think of it as a vacation and not something that will further your son's soccer "career".

Anonymous wrote:Just go visit Europe. Stop feeding the beast.

Isn't that what they would be doing? Not like you still won't be able to go sightseeing and possibly visit other countries when there. Let people make their own decisions with their own money without criticism. Jeez.

Hi

Our former team traveled overseas regularly, sometimes up to three tournaments a year. It’s a mixed experience, but it depends exactly what it is you are looking for out of the trip.

On the positives, you build some real team bonding with the kids (and frequently the parents) based in a single hotel or a college dorm together. Plenty of off-field interaction, dinners, sightseeing together. Can be a fun trip on sort of a vacation level.

You will also expose the kids to different styles of football. Some teams are rough, some are skilled, some moan, some are stoic. They’ll see many different varieties of play and parenting on display. The quality of football can vary as it difficult for organizers to see a multi-national tournament and it can easily lead to mismatched matchups. You may likely have a walk over and may just as likely get walked over.

It can also be a bit of a sternum punch to some of the kids and parents, especially if they have visions of fame and glory. There are so many kids around the world playing the game better than anyone on your club and so many teams playing better than yours, it can be quite an eye-opening revelation that there is more than just your league title or beating the same old rival you play every year. It may be discouraging or inspiring. For one family who was really chasing the dream, an overseas tournament in Germany was enough to convince them they had to move to Europe to get to the level they wanted their kids to be at and they relocated a year later (to the Netherlands actually).

Finally there is a significant financial cost involved, often more than a year’s worth of club fees. Flights, hotels, food, coaches (and their expenses) and all that can easily be $2,000+ per kid and per parent.

What are you hoping to get out of the tournament?

Just go visit Europe. Stop feeding the beast.

A lot of people I know have taken their kid to an overseas tournament such as in Holland, Italy, or Spain. If you've done this, did you find it to be a good experience. Before all the people say...you aren't going to make it over there. You need a EU card or whatever...save that please. I'm just wondering if parents found the experience worth it as in motivating for the soccer player. You got what you paid for? Inspirational? Fun? etc. Thanks