Great Player Development series on a kid that went to go play in Germany. At age 11 he could see the system was flawed and wanted to pursue his dream abroad. The first 2 articles are written through the mom's eyes, pretty neat perspective.

Part 1-Is it Broken?
Part 2-The Egg Drill
Part 3-Stubborn Coaches
Part 4-Overseas Adventure

However you look at it, the kid has some major guts giving this a shot so young.

Great article and thank you for posting. My convictions in this area were tested recently and this article reinforced the insanity of the win now American system.

Puleeeze...This was an advert by a crazy soccer mom trying to drum up attention to herself and her "phenom"

I somehow get the feeling that these people also send Christmas letters. You know the kind where junior is playing in Germany , daughter passed her bar top of her class and dad was promoted to president of exxon while mom was named mom of the year by Oprah (again)....

I don't get how they decided another system is neccessarily better in all aspects than the American system? Ok so the kid learned how to trap the ball properly - that makes the US system flawed?

The more interesting question is how they got away with this. I know from recent experience that FIFA bans international transfers of all players under the age of 18 unless the move is for non soccer reasons. For them to publicly state he moved purely for soccer seems like he would be in violation of FIFA regulations on registration of players......

PG-Boy wrote:We are all cynics. This reminds me of the fabled Sherlock joke…

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fall asleep. A few hours later, Holmes wakes his friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

Watson replies, “I see a lot of stars.”

“What does that tell you?”

“Well, astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and possibly billions of planets,” answers Watson. “Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Timewise, it appears to be approximately quarter past three. And meteorologically, I suspect that we’ll have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?”

“Well, Watson, you idiot,” begins Holmes, “mostly it tells me that someone stole our f*%$*& tent.”

The kid has played in Brazil and Germany, its a fantastic experience. It's a good story. When was the last time the USA has won a World Cup like Germany or Brazil?

Homework; at the next practice or game, watch if the boys are "absorbing" the ball like little Messi or letting it bounce off their feet like LeBron James kicking a basketball.

Hate to burst your balloon, but Messi would have had great touch no matter what country he learned to play in.

Messi? In Dallas he would have been told he was too small to compete.

The theme in Dallas soccer is that coaches will ALWAYS pick athletic kids over technically skilled kids. They say things like "bring your son back when he develops".

I have a problem sending your kid abroad during crucial developmental years for soccer. There are simply more important things in life. From a scrictly sports perspective, the article had a point. The USA promotes an athletic "hit em" version of the sport that works until you get to the elite teams and then it stops working.

Barca has the smallest lineup in sports and Sir Alex admitted he never saw anything like them. None of those kids could have come from our local market because we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

We don't value technical ability in this market or apparently in the US.

Rightback wrote:Messi? In Dallas he would have been told he was too small to compete.

The theme in Dallas soccer is that coaches will ALWAYS pick athletic kids over technically skilled kids. They say things like "bring your son back when he develops".

I have a problem sending your kid abroad during crucial developmental years for soccer. There are simply more important things in life. From a scrictly sports perspective, the article had a point. The USA promotes an athletic "hit em" version of the sport that works until you get to the elite teams and then it stops working.

Barca has the smallest lineup in sports and Sir Alex admitted he never saw anything like them. None of those kids could have come from our local market because we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

We don't value technical ability in this market or apparently in the US.

I never post but couldn't resist... Rightback you are 100% correct about US Soccer... We've lived it!! Skilled players that have not developed yet from a physical standpoint are routinely told this garbage by coaches... Have to say, I loved watching "Little" Barcelona Manhandle the giants of ManU!!!! US soccer is about WIn NOW Win NOW Win NOW...

Rightback wrote:Messi? In Dallas he would have been told he was too small to compete.

The theme in Dallas soccer is that coaches will ALWAYS pick athletic kids over technically skilled kids. They say things like "bring your son back when he develops".

I have a problem sending your kid abroad during crucial developmental years for soccer. There are simply more important things in life. From a scrictly sports perspective, the article had a point. The USA promotes an athletic "hit em" version of the sport that works until you get to the elite teams and then it stops working.

Barca has the smallest lineup in sports and Sir Alex admitted he never saw anything like them. None of those kids could have come from our local market because we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

We don't value technical ability in this market or apparently in the US.

+1 Very good post.

Rightback wrote:we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

Now that's funny.

Those are some interesting stories but I find it does not square with my own experience of US Soccer.

I may be naive but are there coaches out there that actually teach only a smash and run type of soccer? My boys are only U9 and U7 but both of their club coaches focus on first touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity. The same things the author claims she could not get in the US. I would think most coaches focus on these things, but maybe I am wrong. My experience is limited, but I have yet to see coaches that do not teach these things.

First touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity does not equal ball skills. What you mention is the basic fundamentals. From what I have seen, most coaches here in N. Texas do not emphasize individual ball skills/control. The concentrate more on tactics to try to win games.
There are a few coaches that do concentrate on teaching ball skills over tactics. Watch your kids games closely, do the kids "absorb" the ball or does the ball tend to bounce all over the place on first touch.

With some of the kids it bounces off and with others they absorb it and get it under control nicely. They are all taught the proper technique and methods in practice but some do it better than others and practice more at home. You can see the kids that spend time at home, kicking against the wall and getting the reps compared to the ones that just practice at practice.

However, I do agree that there is a constant tension between winning and playing well. I have seen games where we play well and lose but the parents see it as only a loss. I am happy that the kids did some good things they worked on in practice. I think it is a balancing act where both are important and for most part, the coaches I have seen try and do both.

soccergrinder wrote:

Rightback wrote:we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

Now that's funny.

hahahaha! FREAKIN HILARIOUS!

Sprint wrote:Those are some interesting stories but I find it does not square with my own experience of US Soccer.

I may be naive but are there coaches out there that actually teach only a smash and run type of soccer? My boys are only U9 and U7 but both of their club coaches focus on first touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity. The same things the author claims she could not get in the US. I would think most coaches focus on these things, but maybe I am wrong. My experience is limited, but I have yet to see coaches that do not teach these things.

Your experience will definitely change the closer you get to select ages. As the team numbers start to reduce and the talented player pool takes shape the bigger boys are def. given more opportunities. It does not matter what the coaches tell you, youth soccer in NTX is a business. Bigger kids will win games at younger ages, and winning pays the bills.
Seen it, and experienced it first hand. Smaller players have to weather the storm, do their best to continue to develop, then work themselves back in at older ages when size does not play as large of a roll.

Rightback wrote:Messi? In Dallas he would have been told he was too small to compete.

The theme in Dallas soccer is that coaches will ALWAYS pick athletic kids over technically skilled kids. They say things like "bring your son back when he develops".

I have a problem sending your kid abroad during crucial developmental years for soccer. There are simply more important things in life. From a scrictly sports perspective, the article had a point. The USA promotes an athletic "hit em" version of the sport that works until you get to the elite teams and then it stops working.

Barca has the smallest lineup in sports and Sir Alex admitted he never saw anything like them. None of those kids could have come from our local market because we tell our little guys to do something else...unless their grandfather is in a position to say otherwise.

We don't value technical ability in this market or apparently in the US.

I stand corrected.

Sprint wrote:Those are some interesting stories but I find it does not square with my own experience of US Soccer.

I may be naive but are there coaches out there that actually teach only a smash and run type of soccer? My boys are only U9 and U7 but both of their club coaches focus on first touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity. The same things the author claims she could not get in the US. I would think most coaches focus on these things, but maybe I am wrong. My experience is limited, but I have yet to see coaches that do not teach these things.

If your kids develop strong technical fundamentals but have not yet developed physically they will be cut. By the same coach who told you technical skills is all he was lookig for. I wish it was not the case but it is the reality of win now.

Rightback wrote:

Sprint wrote:Those are some interesting stories but I find it does not square with my own experience of US Soccer.

I may be naive but are there coaches out there that actually teach only a smash and run type of soccer? My boys are only U9 and U7 but both of their club coaches focus on first touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity. The same things the author claims she could not get in the US. I would think most coaches focus on these things, but maybe I am wrong. My experience is limited, but I have yet to see coaches that do not teach these things.

If your kids develop strong technical fundamentals but have not yet developed physically they will be cut. By the same coach who told you technical skills is all he was lookig for. I wish it was not the case but it is the reality of win now.

Based upon your experience, do you think the kids that are superior skills wise can compete with the physical kids with lesser skills? Why can't the smaller, more skilled kids beat the bigger/faster less skilled kids? Do they simply get pushed off the ball?

Finale: The Last Word

"Why would we not take the training and development methods of a proven youth player development system - that just happens foreign - and implement it here in the U.S.? If our coaches and trainers have really become that arrogant, close-minded and xenophobic, then quite frankly, as a 'soccer nation', we deserve to fail."

Boom.

Sprint wrote:

Rightback wrote:

Sprint wrote:Those are some interesting stories but I find it does not square with my own experience of US Soccer.

I may be naive but are there coaches out there that actually teach only a smash and run type of soccer? My boys are only U9 and U7 but both of their club coaches focus on first touch, passing, small sided games and individual creativity. The same things the author claims she could not get in the US. I would think most coaches focus on these things, but maybe I am wrong. My experience is limited, but I have yet to see coaches that do not teach these things.

If your kids develop strong technical fundamentals but have not yet developed physically they will be cut. By the same coach who told you technical skills is all he was lookig for. I wish it was not the case but it is the reality of win now.

Based upon your experience, do you think the kids that are superior skills wise can compete with the physical kids with lesser skills? Why can't the smaller, more skilled kids beat the bigger/faster less skilled kids? Do they simply get pushed off the ball?

I think they can compete, but it requires some coaching patience. A better played ball requires the whole team to play at a higher level...and isn't it easier to kick and run? Anyway, 'your kid needs to develop athletically' is translated to mean I will not play them until they are big and fast.

At U10; U11; U12; the field is so big and there is so much space, dump and run works very well. And it wins!!! = success = D1 = bragging rights = recruiting = $. Most coaches would love to have their teams play the ball out of the back and pass like RM however when it comes to game time they have to CLEAR THE BALL and play it to the kid who is the fastest or to the kid that is physically dominate enough to push the ball up the field. In other words WIN

When I hear a coach praise a player for attempting to play the ball instead of clearing it then I know we will have made some progress. The U.S. is made up of winners and as parents WE need to focus on development as much as the coach.

One of the hardest things to do is change. We as a soccer country have grown so much, and kudos goes out to all the soccer pioneers of our country. I see great points in this story. I would not go as far as calling the American system a broken one, but rather a system in transition, or perhaps even a young system. If we take into consideration the countries that have had soccer much longer than us, well I would have to say we have come a long way. Are there changes needed? Of course. All great systems learn to adjust. But what binds us all together is that we all want whats best for our kids, and ultimately a better system of soccer. It will take time. I applaud your enthusiasm, and your son's overall resiliency. He went after his dream, and that's great. Jogo Bonito my soccer community in the Dallas, Plano area, and to all for that matter.
We all have our preferences to the style of play on the pitch. I think the FA proposal in England to ban 11v11 until the age of 13 speaks volumes. The shift in this country is beginning to change as far as style of game that we have here. We are strong, we are fit, we are quick, we are gifted athletically. It's safe to say that in this beautiful game, it takes more than that to be a truly complete player. That is the ideal, is it not?

Ban 11v11 til 13? Might as well fold up shop. We have a hard enough time getting kids to play soccer bs football, basketball etc and you want them to play some abridged game til 13? Not gonna happen. England can do that because soccer is the only game in town.

anselansel wrote:Ban 11v11 til 13? Might as well fold up shop. We have a hard enough time getting kids to play soccer bs football, basketball etc and you want them to play some abridged game til 13? Not gonna happen. England can do that because soccer is the only game in town.

How would this make the game less attractive to young players vs other sports? They would get more touches with fewer players on a smaller field, and from what I have seen most kids at this age love smaller sided games. We just don't give them enough opportunities to play that way. Hmmm, I wonder why we have pushed 11v11 down to younger ages here in the US... to make the kids grow up and develop faster by playing more like pro's early on? Nah, more players on the field = more players on the team = more $$$. Our pay to play system will continue to challenge our ability to compete with other countries, but until MLS becomes more popular and economically able to support youth development like other countries I guess we are stuck with it.

finish1 wrote:That's exaclty right, Forbs. Your point plays into the statement I made earlier this week regarding mommy and daddy's money controlling youth soccer. At some point, the MLS has to take over regional player development and create a more valuable product. We all agree America produces superior athletes. Transition...

Where do you think FC Dallas gets their money? It is from mommy and daddy. Not every kid is playing for free at FC Dallas. Plus, they call me every week to sell me on their latest ticket promotion.
The development of great soccer players in the USA has a lot less to do with the development methods and leagues, then it does with the fact that the top athletes in the USA play football and basketball. Guess what drives that? If you guessed money once again you would be correct. The promise of a $20,000 a year contract with FC Dallas is not going to change that mindset any time soon.

eagle wrote:

finish1 wrote:That's exaclty right, Forbs. Your point plays into the statement I made earlier this week regarding mommy and daddy's money controlling youth soccer. At some point, the MLS has to take over regional player development and create a more valuable product. We all agree America produces superior athletes. Transition...

Where do you think FC Dallas gets their money? It is from mommy and daddy. Not every kid is playing for free at FC Dallas. Plus, they call me every week to sell me on their latest ticket promotion.
The development of great soccer players in the USA has a lot less to do with the development methods and leagues, then it does with the fact that the top athletes in the USA play football and basketball. Guess what drives that? If you guessed money once again you would be correct. The promise of a $20,000 a year contract with FC Dallas is not going to change that mindset any time soon.

I could not agree more. Play in Europe or don't bother is what I have told my kids. The doctor on the sideline makes more than the entire starting 11. Go to medical school is the message.