Death of the American Youth Soccer Player

outside! said:
In much of California, there are now more kids trying out for HS soccer than there are kids trying out for football (and that is just talking about boys, add in the girls and it is not even close). Many HS football programs do not have enough players to form JV teams.
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Yes, in CA. Demographically and culturally, yea soccer is HUGE here. I mean it's my favorite sport and my kids have played it varying levels throughout their youth here... so I do love that about CA, especially SoCal...

But I spent most of my life in the deep south... and in places like GA, TX, FL, AL... football is KING, a religion... in the similar way it is in the boroughs of London or Paris or Barcelona... I know how it's like there... and I don't think it can be eclipsed in the US... not for a long time, and I think never.
 
Grace T. said:
And sports just aren’t that popular among Chinese parents (too much of a risk your kid won’t get tapped and if he does that he’ll flame out given the odds a pro career are tiny and there is no academic fallback since admissions to university are strictly test based and tracked). The roi runs up hard against Confucianism in the culture. Every minute spent by a u8 in soccer is a minute not spent studying for exams.
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Sorry, I don't mean to.. but HARD disagree on Chinese parents (in China) not caring about sports... Obviously not everyone and I'm not talking about Chinese Americans here in the US... but in China, kids turn "pro" at like 10... and I don't mean that in a traditional sense here... It becomes their profession as in to develop into performing robots on whatever sport they take up... no academics, there is no concept of "student athlete", you're ALL IN... it's all completely fully funded by the state... as they get older, they get a stipend, food housing all living expenses paid for... no they don't get rich doing that (until they win a Gold or something) but sports are popular... it's not popular like "oh let's let little Johnny play recreational soccer to enjoy himself" but popular like sports and athletic achievements are a thing as it is here...

I'm not making a moral judgment either way on this. It does all sound a little crazy but who am I to judge... we're traveling out of state for tournaments and competitions.... so there is a little crazy in all of us...
 
Socal-Soccer-Dad said:
Sorry, I don't mean to.. but HARD disagree on Chinese parents (in China) not caring about sports... Obviously not everyone and I'm not talking about Chinese Americans here in the US... but in China, kids turn "pro" at like 10... and I don't mean that in a traditional sense here... It becomes their profession as in to develop into performing robots on whatever sport they take up... no academics, there is no concept of "student athlete", you're ALL IN... it's all completely fully funded by the state... as they get older, they get a stipend, food housing all living expenses paid for... no they don't get rich doing that (until they win a Gold or something) but sports are popular... it's not popular like "oh let's let little Johnny play recreational soccer to enjoy himself" but popular like sports and athletic achievements are a thing as it is here...

I'm not making a moral judgment either way on this. It does all sound a little crazy but who am I to judge... we're traveling out of state for tournaments and competitions.... so there is a little crazy in all of us...
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I don’t disagree with anything here. But my point is the “oh let’s let little Johnny play recreational soccer to enjoy himself” is the problem. Soccer requires the casting of a very large net particularly at the early ages. Reason why is because it takes a very unique combination of athleticism, soccer iq, and technical skills. China represents the limits of the academy system: you need a broad grassroots and not just a strong academy system. As you point out academies particularly function in other sports (particularly the individual ones based purely on athleticism). In soccer to work you need to be able to churn: pick up players you think will work; some portion won’t work; that part needs to be ruthlessly dumped; go back to the well to pick up more players; rinse and repeat. It doesn’t work without the well, which in most of the world is kids playing tiered rec or lower level academy ball. In China, you aren’t an obvious pick on the academy track and they shift, especially given the Confucian prejudice against athletics and towards study.

As to success they’ve been at it a very short time: they only made it a priority at the 2014 party congress at the personal insistence of Xi. The us has been at it since the 90s. In that short time period they’ve established a national league, broadened the appeal of the game, and developed the infrastructure of an academy system. I agree however that their success on the international stage has been a disappointment for the leadership, and if Xi were suddenly to exit the stage Chinese soccer might lose its investment status as a result.
 
Socal-Soccer-Dad said:
Yes, in CA. Demographically and culturally, yea soccer is HUGE here. I mean it's my favorite sport and my kids have played it varying levels throughout their youth here... so I do love that about CA, especially SoCal...

But I spent most of my life in the deep south... and in places like GA, TX, FL, AL... football is KING, a religion... in the similar way it is in the boroughs of London or Paris or Barcelona... I know how it's like there... and I don't think it can be eclipsed in the US... not for a long time, and I think never.
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I've spent plenty of time in the deep south. Soccer is huge in FL, the Atlanta area, and North Carolina. The little town I went to high school in has a large soccer complex that is now over 20 years old. This is the town where I could not find soccer cleats or a ball at the sporting goods store and the PE coaches laughed at me when I asked if we could have a soccer team. Soccer is the better sport, over time it will win (providing that kids keep playing sports).
 
Orangeteam said:
There are too many cooks in the kitchen. There is no real plan, structure, or hierarchy.
Every few years there's something new, it gets funded, has a great marketing plan, but regardless of whether the idea is good or not the program or funding is pulled usually from a lack of patience.

In contrast. I'm really enjoying watching the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament right now and what Japan has done with federation and programs.
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Wasn't Byers a big part of that? I wonder if Byer's program would work in the US? Of course, we will never know since US Soccer fired him before he could fully implement his program.
 
Socal-Soccer-Dad said:
Yes, in CA. Demographically and culturally, yea soccer is HUGE here. I mean it's my favorite sport and my kids have played it varying levels throughout their youth here... so I do love that about CA, especially SoCal...

But I spent most of my life in the deep south... and in places like GA, TX, FL, AL... football is KING, a religion... in the similar way it is in the boroughs of London or Paris or Barcelona... I know how it's like there... and I don't think it can be eclipsed in the US... not for a long time, and I think never.
Click to expand...
Youth soccer is huge in SoCal and some other places, but by the time kids get to High School it becomes a niche sport.
 

I went away for a few days and returned to some incredibly engaging discussions. It’s no wonder soccer participation statistics are declining.​

Here are the topics I’d like to discuss after reading everyones responses:

Systemic Challenges in U.S. Youth Soccer (not USYS)​

  • By next year, 26/27 soccer in the US will face a unique landscape where MLS NEXT operates on a birth-year calendar (1/1–12/31), while other youth soccer organizations, such as AYSO, US Club, and US Youth, use a school-year calendar (9/1–8/31).
    • What implications might this divergence have on player development and league alignment?

MLS NEXT & Girls Academy & ECNL & EA & USYS​

  • Unlike most countries, the U.S. has leagues competing to recruit clubs from rival platforms.
    • MLS NEXT is actively contacting clubs with GA (Girls Academy) and non-MLSN affiliations to switch over.
    • Similarly, ECNL is pursuing GA clubs to join their league.
    • How does this rivalry affect club stability and player development?

NCAA Rule Changes and Collegiate Soccer​

  1. Fifth-Year Eligibility Rule
    • The NCAA is considering allowing a fifth year of eligibility for collegiate athletes.
      Read more.
    • What are the potential effects of this rule on development and opportunities for domestic players?
  2. Limit on International Student-Athletes
    • From a developmental and opportunity-based perspective, should there be a cap on the number of international student-athletes on collegiate soccer teams? Just look at the number of international players in the College Final Four.
      Read about the crisis in college soccer.
  3. New NCAA Eligibility Rules for JUCO and NAIA Athletes
    • The NCAA recently updated eligibility rules for athletes transferring from JUCO and NAIA programs.
      Learn more.
    • How will these changes influence player pathways? Older players transferring to 4 year school, maybe helping level the playing field with International older student recruitment?

Development Concerns and Pay to Play. ​

  1. Participation Trends
    • Outdoor soccer participation among kids aged 6–12 has steadily declined from 2008 to 2021.
      View the data.
    • “Soccer is the sport that kids most often play first,” said Farrey. “But it loses them as travel teams form and community leagues wither, leaving late bloomers and families without resources behind.”
    • How can we rebuild sustainable, inclusive in-town leagues to reverse these trends?
  2. Core Participation Data by Age
  3. Pay-to-Play Model
    • Over the last 20 years, U.S. soccer clubs have transitioned from small, volunteer-led organizations to large entities with paid coaches and Boards of Directors.
      Read more about this evolution.
    • As leagues have increased, so has access to creating clubs. Too many clubs, all in their own elite leagues, most charging. US Soccer has fragmented youth soccer in this country by allowing any individual to create a club and thus giving them access to "develop" a pool of players in their regions. Do this hundreds of times across all states and add them together, and you realize how pay-to-play and the ability to join any organization has impacted youth soccer players in the US.

Financial Concerns​

  • NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and MLSN Grants
    • With NIL now dominating college football, do MLS NEXT development grants still serve their purpose?
      Explore what MLS NEXT grants could mean for youth soccer.
    • Should we instead implement FIFA Solidarity payments to reward clubs for player development and help reduce costs? Not just those in MLS?
 
soccerpalace said:

I went away for a few days and returned to some incredibly engaging discussions. It’s no wonder soccer participation statistics are declining.​

Here are the topics I’d like to discuss after reading everyones responses:

Systemic Challenges in U.S. Youth Soccer (not USYS)​

  • By next year, 26/27 soccer in the US will face a unique landscape where MLS NEXT operates on a birth-year calendar (1/1–12/31), while other youth soccer organizations, such as AYSO, US Club, and US Youth, use a school-year calendar (9/1–8/31).
    • What implications might this divergence have on player development and league alignment?

MLS NEXT & Girls Academy & ECNL & EA & USYS​

  • Unlike most countries, the U.S. has leagues competing to recruit clubs from rival platforms.
    • MLS NEXT is actively contacting clubs with GA (Girls Academy) and non-MLSN affiliations to switch over.
    • Similarly, ECNL is pursuing GA clubs to join their league.
    • How does this rivalry affect club stability and player development?

NCAA Rule Changes and Collegiate Soccer​

  1. Fifth-Year Eligibility Rule
    • The NCAA is considering allowing a fifth year of eligibility for collegiate athletes.
      Read more.
    • What are the potential effects of this rule on development and opportunities for domestic players?
  2. Limit on International Student-Athletes
    • From a developmental and opportunity-based perspective, should there be a cap on the number of international student-athletes on collegiate soccer teams? Just look at the number of international players in the College Final Four.
      Read about the crisis in college soccer.
  3. New NCAA Eligibility Rules for JUCO and NAIA Athletes
    • The NCAA recently updated eligibility rules for athletes transferring from JUCO and NAIA programs.
      Learn more.
    • How will these changes influence player pathways? Older players transferring to 4 year school, maybe helping level the playing field with International older student recruitment?

Development Concerns and Pay to Play. ​

  1. Participation Trends
    • Outdoor soccer participation among kids aged 6–12 has steadily declined from 2008 to 2021.
      View the data.
    • “Soccer is the sport that kids most often play first,” said Farrey. “But it loses them as travel teams form and community leagues wither, leaving late bloomers and families without resources behind.”
    • How can we rebuild sustainable, inclusive in-town leagues to reverse these trends?
  2. Core Participation Data by Age
  3. Pay-to-Play Model
    • Over the last 20 years, U.S. soccer clubs have transitioned from small, volunteer-led organizations to large entities with paid coaches and Boards of Directors.
      Read more about this evolution.
    • As leagues have increased, so has access to creating clubs. Too many clubs, all in their own elite leagues, most charging. US Soccer has fragmented youth soccer in this country by allowing any individual to create a club and thus giving them access to "develop" a pool of players in their regions. Do this hundreds of times across all states and add them together, and you realize how pay-to-play and the ability to join any organization has impacted youth soccer players in the US.

Financial Concerns​

  • NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and MLSN Grants
    • With NIL now dominating college football, do MLS NEXT development grants still serve their purpose?
      Explore what MLS NEXT grants could mean for youth soccer.
    • Should we instead implement FIFA Solidarity payments to reward clubs for player development and help reduce costs? Not just those in MLS?
Click to expand...
Only in America..
 
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