This is an article about an 02 player and his brother that left Virginia last year to go try out for the Fulham FC's Academy program and try to make their way in European Soccer. It is a pretty good read about what they do even at that age 02 and how much they play.

The article says they practice four time a week and it looks like they play numerous games and tournaments with over 25 matches since midseason. They also traveled to other countries to play in the kiddy world cup. Sounds, hard to believe, much more intense and serious than over here in America.

The questions, do we have our kids train enough. It appears they have four organized sessions a week plus I would be willing to bet on off days they do some soccer related activity. Is two practices a week too little for kids that really have a drive to advance past youth soccer? I know with my son, he trains with his team and then trains everyday of the week on his own for at least an hour or two in the backyard. He has been doing this for three years. I have always thought it would burn him out but it seems to have the opposite effect. The better he gets, the more he enjoys the games and the more he practices.

What do you say, should our kids train more? It sounds funny just writing that, but maybe they have it right across the pond.


http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/458/17077

It comes down to touches on the ball... lots of 'em. Structured practices with coaches working directly with players to improve technique is an important aspect. I'm a believer that practice does NOT make perfect - perfect practice makes perfect. If a kid is going out and making the same technical mistakes again and again without a coach working with him to correct it early on, those mistakes become habits that are harder to break in the future. I'm also a believer that the game is the best coach when it comes to creativity. Without creativity, games start to looks more like a rugby match than and futbal game. Both quality coaching and game time are critical to developing young players and, IMHO, that is where our players are being left behind.

Thanks for sharing the article. Good read!

Running wrote:This is an article about an 02 player and his brother that left Virginia last year to go try out for the Fulham FC's Academy program and try to make their way in European Soccer. It is a pretty good read about what they do even at that age 02 and how much they play.

The article says they practice four time a week and it looks like they play numerous games and tournaments with over 25 matches since midseason. They also traveled to other countries to play in the kiddy world cup. Sounds, hard to believe, much more intense and serious than over here in America.

The questions, do we have our kids train enough. It appears they have four organized sessions a week plus I would be willing to bet on off days they do some soccer related activity. Is two practices a week too little for kids that really have a drive to advance past youth soccer? I know with my son, he trains with his team and then trains everyday of the week on his own for at least an hour or two in the backyard. He has been doing this for three years. I have always thought it would burn him out but it seems to have the opposite effect. The better he gets, the more he enjoys the games and the more he practices.

What do you say, should our kids train more? It sounds funny just writing that, but maybe they have it right across the pond.


http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/458/17077

How old is your BB?

soccerrus2 wrote:

Running wrote:This is an article about an 02 player and his brother that left Virginia last year to go try out for the Fulham FC's Academy program and try to make their way in European Soccer. It is a pretty good read about what they do even at that age 02 and how much they play.

The article says they practice four time a week and it looks like they play numerous games and tournaments with over 25 matches since midseason. They also traveled to other countries to play in the kiddy world cup. Sounds, hard to believe, much more intense and serious than over here in America.

The questions, do we have our kids train enough. It appears they have four organized sessions a week plus I would be willing to bet on off days they do some soccer related activity. Is two practices a week too little for kids that really have a drive to advance past youth soccer? I know with my son, he trains with his team and then trains everyday of the week on his own for at least an hour or two in the backyard. He has been doing this for three years. I have always thought it would burn him out but it seems to have the opposite effect. The better he gets, the more he enjoys the games and the more he practices.

What do you say, should our kids train more? It sounds funny just writing that, but maybe they have it right across the pond.


http://www.potomacsoccerwire.com/news/458/17077

How old is your BB?

He is U8.

I agree, go outside with your son and have fun. Soccer volleyball, soccer tennis, soccer basketball....do whatever to make it fun.

t5house wrote:I agree, go outside with your son and have fun. Soccer volleyball, soccer tennis, soccer basketball....do whatever to make it fun.

I agree and think the more play and touches the better as long as it is fun. However, my reading of the article is that they get very serious very early over in England with this stuff. They take trips across countries without their parents and seem to be treated like little pros. I saw a documentary on Ronaldo, the Real Madrid one, that he left his family at around age 8 to move into a boarding school for soccer. That does not sound like much fun to me. But does that make better soccer players?

I know I could never see parting with my kid at a young age to have him go to a real soccer academy like the ones they have oversees. IF that is what it takes, count us out.

he left his family at around age 8 to move into a boarding school for soccer.

That's nice and all, and obviously worked out for him. But just like we talk about on this board, how many of those kids didn't 'make it' or 'burned out'?

How much of it is 'passion and talent' versus 'effort and training'? (And yes, you have to have both)

allen04 wrote:

he left his family at around age 8 to move into a boarding school for soccer.

That's nice and all, and obviously worked out for him. But just like we talk about on this board, how many of those kids didn't 'make it' or 'burned out'?

How much of it is 'passion and talent' versus 'effort and training'? (And yes, you have to have both)

Yours is the million dollar question. I once had a former MLB scout tell me that at the top levels, they all put in the effort. The ones that make it are the onese where God reaches down and touches them with talent. I tend to think it is a little early to try and and recognize these kids at age 8 or 9 but who knows.

Running wrote:

allen04 wrote:

he left his family at around age 8 to move into a boarding school for soccer.

That's nice and all, and obviously worked out for him. But just like we talk about on this board, how many of those kids didn't 'make it' or 'burned out'?

How much of it is 'passion and talent' versus 'effort and training'? (And yes, you have to have both)

Yours is the million dollar question. I once had a former MLB scout tell me that at the top levels, they all put in the effort. The ones that make it are the onese where God reaches down and touches them with talent. I tend to think it is a little early to try and and recognize these kids at age 8 or 9 but who knows.

Agreed - anyone with a kid older than U11 knows the fate of innumerable U9 studs that simply weren't studs at age 10/11. Not that the desire wasn't there - the speed/size/ability caught them.

I'm a firm believer the majority of studs at U16-18 were probably studs at U8, but there are more players that grow into tennis players and xboxers than great teenage futbolers. Desire only gets you so far - look at how many 35 year old single A baseball players there are with that same burning desire/dream.

Therefore, the majority shouldn't demand/want/need the extra touches - but, we are all soccer parents....so, there's always that itch.

clueless wrote:

Running wrote:

allen04 wrote:

he left his family at around age 8 to move into a boarding school for soccer.

That's nice and all, and obviously worked out for him. But just like we talk about on this board, how many of those kids didn't 'make it' or 'burned out'?

How much of it is 'passion and talent' versus 'effort and training'? (And yes, you have to have both)

Yours is the million dollar question. I once had a former MLB scout tell me that at the top levels, they all put in the effort. The ones that make it are the onese where God reaches down and touches them with talent. I tend to think it is a little early to try and and recognize these kids at age 8 or 9 but who knows.

Agreed - anyone with a kid older than U11 knows the fate of innumerable U9 studs that simply weren't studs at age 10/11. Not that the desire wasn't there - the speed/size/ability caught them.

I'm a firm believer the majority of studs at U16-18 were probably studs at U8, but there are more players that grow into tennis players and xboxers than great teenage futbolers. Desire only gets you so far - look at how many 35 year old single A baseball players there are with that same burning desire/dream.

Therefore, the majority shouldn't demand/want/need the extra touches - but, we are all soccer parents....so, there's always that itch.

I don't know the answer but I'm guessing it's probably yes. Every time this topic comes up I go dust off my copy of Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin

It's an interesting read. The basic premise is his theory of "Deliberate Practice" which flies in the face of "natural talent'. In his theory natural talent may not even exist. The 8 or 9 year old studs we talk about are just kids that have had more time on the ball, in this case, than the next bb. However, the kid who gets interested in progressing and has the mental fortitude to practice a task designed to improve performance, with expert supervision, repeatedly, and can stand the pressure, will likely exceed the "stud" at some time in the future. I think we've all seen that.

He backs his theory up with several studies and empirical evidence from Tiger Woods to Mozart.
It seems to make sense to me. Messi became great because of his training not despite it. His amazing creativity is apparent because he has likely perfectly practiced the mundane 10,000 times, and has the confidence to try anything.

I generally think we are scared of coaching in this country for fear it will stifle creativity. And after watching Bob’s boys in the Gold cup we might should.
The younger we can introduce expert coaching, the better off we are as far as I’m concerned.

there is a place where this happens, kids just kick the ball, take it easy, no expert coaches, no pressure.........it's called rec. How's that working out?

Yes, a hotbed of creativity and high caliber soccer

anselansel wrote:Yes, a hotbed of creativity and high caliber soccer

I'd venture to guess there's no comparison between who is enjoying themselves more (parents and players) between rec and competitive soccer. Parents create and kids feel pressure regardless of the level of play - the true 'creativity' is in rec, not select, but it's not the creativity most are looking to see.

I do miss the tunnels - tried one in Orlando last year, but I was all by myself and it didn't take.

PG-Boy wrote:I'd like to see that Fulham '02 squad against the Dallas Texans South '02.

I think DTS takes it 6-2.

CincoB wrote:

PG-Boy wrote:I'd like to see that Fulham '02 squad against the Dallas Texans South '02.

I think DTS takes it 6-2.

According to most of the DTS parents, the DTS '02 squad could beat the EPL Fulham team!

scrdad wrote:

CincoB wrote:

PG-Boy wrote:I'd like to see that Fulham '02 squad against the Dallas Texans South '02.

I think DTS takes it 6-2.

According to most of the DTS parents, the DTS '02 squad could beat the EPL Fulham team!

Actually it would be a close game with EPL Fulham pulling it out at the end with a 2 to 1 win.

Cmon now scrdad we're not that bad. Have a good one!

Odessey 02 and Solar Dynamo 02 aren't pushovers either.

futbolista wrote:

scrdad wrote:

CincoB wrote:

PG-Boy wrote:I'd like to see that Fulham '02 squad against the Dallas Texans South '02.

I think DTS takes it 6-2.

According to most of the DTS parents, the DTS '02 squad could beat the EPL Fulham team!

Actually it would be a close game with EPL Fulham pulling it out at the end with a 2 to 1 win.

Cmon now scrdad we're not that bad. Have a good one!

I think DTS 02 would take the game in PK's..

anselansel wrote:Yes, a hotbed of creativity and high caliber soccer

Naive sarcasm. I normally referee CL games, some men's games and an occassional PPL game; however, I had the opportunity to referee a U19 boys rec game last year. One team was pretty good, the other was outstanding and could have easily played in D1. This was a hispanic team with some truly gifted players. My guess is that they got together years ago and probably couldn't afford the select route.
Don't put rec down just because it's rec. They may be few, but there are some very good teams out there.

yawn, naive huh? you pick one or two teams out of the flotsam of rec and use that as general rebuttal? amateurish at best....

donotquestion wrote:Here is a simple answer to the question of "Do the kids need to train more" If the kids want to improve and get better then Yes......show me any sport, musician, or almost anything else that one does not improve with more practice and hard work.

"Want" is ambiguous word in this context:)

Show me one kid who does NOT want to get better:) there is none.

But, does he want and is he ready to work hard or even harder, to train more to get better?
Or even is "he able" to get better? May be his strength is in the different activity.

Answer is in the balance between how "badly" kid wants to "get better" and how much he is willing to give.
And that could be very different for each person.