Anonymous wrote:although this is interesting stuff to speculate and discuss,

it is equally interesting that it is even a point of discussion on these boards, the reality is that:

1.almost 100% of youth can benefit from playing sport in emotional, physical, skill and teamwork

2. almost 100% of youth will never make a living from sport and play professionally

While true, this comment doesn't seem on topic for this thread.

Although only a small percentage of kids playing travel soccer make it to the pros (or even D1), there are more American teens going pro every year, and at earlier ages, both in the States and Europe. Some of us know kids in this position and/or have kids who will need to decide between college and the pros, so it's helpful to hear about the experiences of families like the Ledermans who took a signficant risk in the hopes it would help their kid's pro prospects.

although this is interesting stuff to speculate and discuss,

it is equally interesting that it is even a point of discussion on these boards, the reality is that:

1.almost 100% of youth can benefit from playing sport in emotional, physical, skill and teamwork

2. almost 100% of youth will never make a living from sport and play professionally

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One point stood out to me, because people on this forum have time and again dismissed the importance of game time, saying it's all about the training. This kid trained with Barcelona for a whole year while the club fought FIFA's ruling, but he got little game experience because he could only play in friendlies.

"It was then that the toll taken from a lack of game action revealed itself.". Kids need to play.

For the record, I think FIFA's rule does more to disenfranchise young players than it does to protect them from being exploited. It prevents them from finding opportunities at some of the best clubs in the world, and by the time they are 18, it will be too late.

Game time is extremely important, but you have to take that statement from the article with a big grain of salt given the source. I do really feel for this family, but it seems clear that a large part of why he doesn't seem to be making it is related to his physical abilities, which from various reports lag well behind his skill level. Also, while the FIFA rule hurts kids like this and John Hilton, it was put in place to prevent the horrifying exploitation of poor kids from African and elsewhere, who were brought to Europe in large numbers and then left to fend for themselves with no financial support when they didn't immediately pan out. It would be great if the rule were amended so it more narrowly targeted the population it aims to help.

Also, there are scores of US kids there now (esp. Germany) who had to wait until they were 18, but are now doing very well.

I'll try to find the article, but there was an analysis recently that talked about the impact on those poor African kids and it was negative. As much as the system needs fixing, this is making it even harder for them to find opportunities out of their poverty, unless they are lucky like Mbappe and have a French passport.

That said, none of that changes the fact that NOT playing in games was harmful to his development. Kids need to play, and play regularly.

This book https://amzn.to/2Uz6cTL has some very good # about barcelona youth development:

in 2010:
1. scouts over the worlds watched 5254 games and produced 4763 players reports between 7-23 years of age
2. 943 passed the first round (techniq) and sent to the club
3. 221 "Barca profile" candidates were chosen
4. 80 were admitted
5. youngest group has 43% renewal rate, then 28%, 18%, 6%
6. 2-3 players out of those 80 are issued first team contract
7. even those final 2-3 players will not play every game, and the book were written in La Masia's prime time.

Anonymous wrote:One point stood out to me, because people on this forum have time and again dismissed the importance of game time, saying it's all about the training. This kid trained with Barcelona for a whole year while the club fought FIFA's ruling, but he got little game experience because he could only play in friendlies.

"It was then that the toll taken from a lack of game action revealed itself.". Kids need to play.

For the record, I think FIFA's rule does more to disenfranchise young players than it does to protect them from being exploited. It prevents them from finding opportunities at some of the best clubs in the world, and by the time they are 18, it will be too late.

Game time is extremely important, but you have to take that statement from the article with a big grain of salt given the source. I do really feel for this family, but it seems clear that a large part of why he doesn't seem to be making it is related to his physical abilities, which from various reports lag well behind his skill level. Also, while the FIFA rule hurts kids like this and John Hilton, it was put in place to prevent the horrifying exploitation of poor kids from African and elsewhere, who were brought to Europe in large numbers and then left to fend for themselves with no financial support when they didn't immediately pan out. It would be great if the rule were amended so it more narrowly targeted the population it aims to help.

Also, there are scores of US kids there now (esp. Germany) who had to wait until they were 18, but are now doing very well.

One point stood out to me, because people on this forum have time and again dismissed the importance of game time, saying it's all about the training. This kid trained with Barcelona for a whole year while the club fought FIFA's ruling, but he got little game experience because he could only play in friendlies.

"It was then that the toll taken from a lack of game action revealed itself.". Kids need to play.

For the record, I think FIFA's rule does more to disenfranchise young players than it does to protect them from being exploited. It prevents them from finding opportunities at some of the best clubs in the world, and by the time they are 18, it will be too late.

Oh wow, I remember this article when it came up. It was an absolutely devastating read, especially when the mom
Mentions the sibling. I’m sorry to read the comments above that confirm he’s not playing anywhere right now as far as anyone can tell. The situation Konrad is going through right now sounds like he has a few really good things going in his favor- his family was already international I.e. not both American parents; they moved to Spain for the dads job, not for the kid’s prospects; and the whole family lives together. The article on Lederman definitely highlighted how difficult it is for the best of the best we have here to even aspire to a bottom rung of their ladder.

La masia also focuses on teaching the Barca way of playin heavy emphasis on positional play, space and time awareness, and possessional control and advancement.

It is fair to wonder if that approach develops players or limits them. In this case the ex Barca player goes to Netherlands and belgium where the style of Barca play are likewise appreciated.

I do not think La Masia can produce a Ronaldo. Or a Ronaldinho. I think a Neymar and a Messi are what La Masia produce. Which is great in its own way but different.

It seems like a no brained that to be like Messi you go to La Masia how dare anyone turn it down!! As you see with Konrad maybe everyone has to decide for themselves

The dream sellers have their own agenda , buyer beware.

Anonymous wrote:And despite not making it in Europe, he's still way ahead of most American kids. That shows you how difficult it is

Op here. That was my point of posting. A little dose of reality. We know several coaches that had made their Countries youth academies (but that's as far as they wen) that reiterate how unlikely it is even for a good majority at the youth academies around the World to make it to the first team. There was a photo of a La Masia academy U13 team doctored with how many players made it to the first team--10 years later. On that particular team, none of them. Even cream of the crop in one of the best youth academies in the World (who would be a million times better than any player in the US) don't pan out a good deal of the time.

Here you had a kid who was arguably one of the best US players in the country at the time and he struggled. But, that is how it is in every country. I hear US parents talk like the only thing holding their kid back from La Liga, Premier League or Bundesliga is an EU passport. The likelihood of even your average DA player making their own USMNT is already a shot in the dark, but the idea of making a first team in any of those leagues is like winning the power ball---extremely, extremely rare.

Thanks to the other pp for the update on him. I just was thinking I haven't heard that kid's name in a long time, I wondered what ever happened to him. He does sound like a really great kid with a good attitude and good head on his shoulders. I hope he does well.

Hard to say how much difference it made were he able to stay at la masia. Most their yorth players end up not being able to play for Barcelona.

Anonymous wrote:And despite not making it in Europe, he's still way ahead of most American kids. That shows you how difficult it is

Way ahead of most American kids in what way? Where is he playing now?

And despite not making it in Europe, he's still way ahead of most American kids. That shows you how difficult it is

The article in the OP is from a year ago. My understanding from BigSoccer is that the stint at Gent didn't work out. Lederman tried out for Nac Breda in the Netherlands, but does not appear to have played for their youth or senior teams. It's not clear where he is now.

I hope that he (and the other kids and families that took the gamble of moving overseas at a young age for soccer) at least feel that they got something valuable from the experience, like fluency in another language, a new community that they enjoy, etc. I'd hate for my kid to feel like he was washed up at 19. I'd also hate to feel that I dragged any siblings along on this gamble, which is something the mom mentions in the article.

I stopped reading at " the long-awaited Polish passport arrived"
It is mess already with the under par performance at Barcelona first team.

Who cares after that and why?

https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/united-states/660/blog/post/3746639/how-us-prodigy-ben-ledermans-career-was-almost-ruined-at-Barcelona

I remember when he left for Barcelona at age 11. It was interesting to read that his mom said if given the choice again she wouldn't have uprooted the family to chase her younger son's dream.

I hope he does well in Belgium. He sounds like a good kid.