Crystal Palace Academy Selection Process - EYE OPENING!

[watfly]

It has to be their systematic approach in youth sports development.

That's my theory too.

 

[focomoso]

Basketball popularity and participation in Europe is somewhat similar to soccer in US.
If they can produce top NBA players, then the argument that our "gifted" athletes are in basketball and football is not valid.

Why not? I'm not saying they have more gifted athletes. I'm saying that a larger percentage of their gifted athletes go into soccer than do here. This is starting to change which is why I think the US will start doing better on the world stage. Not because we're getting better at soccer, but because other countries are diluting their talent pool.

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

I have to say, if you have money US system is much better system

Hey, if you have money, it's pretty nice anywhere...

I'm not rich by any means... but I'm still not complaining... US system not as terrible as people make it out to be...

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

I've seen a few of these documentaries. I've heard many parents here complain about pay-to-play and say "In Europe, you don't have to pay!" type of comments. Of course, in Europe, their kid would have probably been cut years ago!

LOL

Yea I hate the blind ignorant statements against "pay to play".

And it's not "free" in Europe as in yea it's free for the kids but someone pays the coaches, and for the fields, leagues, tournaments, etc. It's paid by the pro teams who fund the academies. It's just that they have 10x (100x?) more pro teams with fully funded academies because people watch soccer like how we Americans consume American football here...

 

[Socal-Soccer-Dad]

I've seen a few of these documentaries. I've heard many parents here complain about pay-to-play and say "In Europe, you don't have to pay!" type of comments. Of course, in Europe, their kid would have probably been cut years ago!

hey this is great.

what are some others?