Anonymous
12/19/2021 02:15
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Parents that have never touched a ball or played a game in their life, believing they have a clue about this game.
Anonymous
12/18/2021 11:54
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
For ages 8, 9 and 10, I think the fields are too large and too few kids get touches on the ball.
Small-sided games (5v5) on smaller fields would, IMO, lead to better skill development and would facilitate more touches on the ball. And those touches would be more evenly distributed across all players.
Under the existing format, a few tall, long-legged players tend to dominate, but this domination is mainly because of their size (they can't outrun the smaller kids) as opposed to their soccer skills. This is an inefficient and wasteful approach to teaching the game.
Small-sided games (5v5) on smaller fields would, IMO, lead to better skill development and would facilitate more touches on the ball. And those touches would be more evenly distributed across all players.
Under the existing format, a few tall, long-legged players tend to dominate, but this domination is mainly because of their size (they can't outrun the smaller kids) as opposed to their soccer skills. This is an inefficient and wasteful approach to teaching the game.
Anonymous
12/18/2021 07:45
Subject: What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Many of the know it alls on this forum don’t actually know anything. It’s like a Holiday Express convention.
Anyhow here’s my actually unpopular opinion: athleticism does matter in soccer because … wait for it … it’s a sport. Juggle and perfect your first touch and soccer IQ all you’d like but that will not get you above a certain level. The Euros know this. The South Americans know this. All the big time American sports coaches and players know this. Somehow many on this forum don’t know this (or maybe deep down they do but won’t admit it).
Speed does matter, but turn the ball over every time you touch it and see how much playing time you get.
Speed is only a part of athleticism. Coordination, quickness, stamina, strength, balance, power. Those are also components of athleticism. You need to be a superior athlete AND have high quality skill and soccer IQ to be a high quality soccer player. The unpopular opinion I stated is that many on this forum think it is just the latter (skill/IQ) and not both. You need both. It is not a choice. However, more could acquire the skill/IQ thru hard work, while athleticism can be improved for sure, but there are natural and genetic limits. Some folks don’t like to admit this for themselves or their kids, so they bang the athleticism doesn’t matter drum. And please, please don’t bring up height. Nowhere do I state that height is critical for soccer success. Height is not a critical component of athleticism.
So the ultimate unpopular opinion is that no matter how skillful and smart your kid might be, if they are not athletic, they will be limited in their soccer success. There’s nothing wrong with that. They should play and enjoy the sport, but set expectations in your mind accordingly.
BTW this is also why women aren’t as good as men at soccer. They are not as athletic (on average). Yes, some women are more athletic than some men, but the overwhelming majority of men are more athletic than the overwhelming majority of women.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 21:33
Subject: What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Many of the know it alls on this forum don’t actually know anything. It’s like a Holiday Express convention.
Anyhow here’s my actually unpopular opinion: athleticism does matter in soccer because … wait for it … it’s a sport. Juggle and perfect your first touch and soccer IQ all you’d like but that will not get you above a certain level. The Euros know this. The South Americans know this. All the big time American sports coaches and players know this. Somehow many on this forum don’t know this (or maybe deep down they do but won’t admit it).
Speed does matter, but turn the ball over every time you touch it and see how much playing time you get.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 21:07
Subject: What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Unpopular opinion: I'd play a fast player who gets tired rather than a slow player who can run slow all day long.
Parents of objectively slow players should be told so, since it is the biggest hurdle to success in the sport.
Parents of objectively slow players should be told so, since it is the biggest hurdle to success in the sport.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 17:25
Subject: What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Unpopular opinion. Many of the know it alls on this forum don’t actually know anything. It’s like a Holiday Express convention.
Anyhow here’s my actually unpopular opinion: athleticism does matter in soccer because … wait for it … it’s a sport. Juggle and perfect your first touch and soccer IQ all you’d like but that will not get you above a certain level. The Euros know this. The South Americans know this. All the big time American sports coaches and players know this. Somehow many on this forum don’t know this (or maybe deep down they do but won’t admit it).
Anyhow here’s my actually unpopular opinion: athleticism does matter in soccer because … wait for it … it’s a sport. Juggle and perfect your first touch and soccer IQ all you’d like but that will not get you above a certain level. The Euros know this. The South Americans know this. All the big time American sports coaches and players know this. Somehow many on this forum don’t know this (or maybe deep down they do but won’t admit it).
Anonymous
12/17/2021 16:43
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
Boy do I not care what your brother said or whether he played pro. There are plenty of dumb jocks who don't have a clue about the sport they play.
DP. He speaks the truth, especially about high school and college (minus 1 or 2 schools). Top level DA/ECNL/MLSnxt is different.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 16:43
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
DP. He speaks the truth, especially about high school and college (minus 1 or 2 schools). Top level DA/ECNL/MLSnxt is different.
Boy do I not care what your brother said or whether he played pro. There are plenty of dumb jocks who don't have a clue about the sport they play.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 16:10
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
Boy do I not care what your brother said or whether he played pro. There are plenty of dumb jocks who don't have a clue about the sport they play.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 10:28
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
People let's stick to the 'unpopular opinions'!! This isn't met to argue with people. They are stating their 'unpopular opinions'. Things they feel deep down that are not a popular train of thought. DUH. Why are arguing with it? That's not the point of the thread.
This is a safe space thread.
This is a safe space thread.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 10:26
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
^^ pp. We eventually came to the conclusion that our kids would have been better served staying on their kickball teams throughout development. There comes a point when nobody around you (when you leave your possession based club) knows how to play that way, nor do the coaches understand it so what was the point? We live in America. Minus a very few number of colleges--they all play American-style soccer. If you want to play--you are going to have to play their way and if you haven't been playing that way throughout your youth you aren't going to adapt to the air balls being zinged up in the air around your head 99% of the game. Nobody playing anything on the ground. Trust me on this one.
The problem is it was impossible for me or my spouse to get over 'knowing better'. I hate to see the beautiful game played so ugly...so we would drive our kids around to find places where it was taught correctly--only to find it's wasted because at a certain point you are playing with and for people that have no idea what is 'the smart decision', don't know where to move and can't recognize it.
So weight room, track and boot ball. And get a handle on headers. Good to go. Sigh.
The problem is it was impossible for me or my spouse to get over 'knowing better'. I hate to see the beautiful game played so ugly...so we would drive our kids around to find places where it was taught correctly--only to find it's wasted because at a certain point you are playing with and for people that have no idea what is 'the smart decision', don't know where to move and can't recognize it.
So weight room, track and boot ball. And get a handle on headers. Good to go. Sigh.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 10:20
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
SO now all the years we spent making sure they were 'developed' and playing 'smart soccer', possession, etc. At the high school age we are telling them 'STOP passing it back', stop giving it to someone who is just going to lose the ball and dribble it into the ground....and start launching them toward the net
LOL, you’ll succeed only when you play against a team with a weak defense. When you play against the better teams then you need to play a smart.
Yes. In theory, BUT that's the ENTIRE POINT. Too many coaches and teams in the area will not play smart against better teams. My son's high school coach this Fall would keep putting in the mids that booted it from midfield to the goal---hell mary hoping they could get one in. If they actually played the smarter players and at the same time (and they had many on this team) they wouldn't have lost some of their games. I've seen the same thing in Club with some coaches.
That is why my unpopular opinion at the high school age is that if the kids around you don't have soccer IQ and can't anticipate runs and won't pass back to you and your coach is on your ass if the only option is to go back and you do...then by all means EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. It ain't going to change. F*** ck it. You can beat 99% of kids 1v1 and even if you don't coach isn't penalizing the kids for dribbling it into the ground or taking wasted shots when someone else is wide open...so JUST DO IT. F### ck it. And start putting them in the net. It's the only thing they understand.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 09:58
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
SO now all the years we spent making sure they were 'developed' and playing 'smart soccer', possession, etc. At the high school age we are telling them 'STOP passing it back', stop giving it to someone who is just going to lose the ball and dribble it into the ground....and start launching them toward the net
Look at the rosters for top college teams and you see high school center mids and strikers overrepresented at every position in college
Anonymous
12/17/2021 09:56
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
SO now all the years we spent making sure they were 'developed' and playing 'smart soccer', possession, etc. At the high school age we are telling them 'STOP passing it back', stop giving it to someone who is just going to lose the ball and dribble it into the ground....and start launching them toward the net
LOL, you’ll succeed only when you play against a team with a weak defense. When you play against the better teams then you need to play a smart.
Anonymous
12/17/2021 09:42
Subject: Re:What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?
Anonymous wrote:As my brother loves to say (he played pro):
Only 2 things you should be doing on the field:
Putting a ball in the net or stopping a ball from going in the net.
If you can't do either, you shouldn't be out there.
Truthfully, as subjective as the sport is ---you are on nobody's radar unless you score many goals or are saving many goals. It's the only way you get your name out there and one of the truly 'objective' measures out there.
We tell our kids all the time---the kids they think suck (boot ballers)---well they have been lucky with some going in the net which is why the High School coach and travel coach plays them. It doesn't matter how many pretty through balls you put on someone else's feet or how well you are controlling the midfield. They only care about the points on the scoreboard because that wins the game. Period. Mic drop.
SO now all the years we spent making sure they were 'developed' and playing 'smart soccer', possession, etc. At the high school age we are telling them 'STOP passing it back', stop giving it to someone who is just going to lose the ball and dribble it into the ground....and start launching them toward the net