Galaxy have yet to develop a single Homegrown Player of real quality...
- Thread starter lafalafa
- Start date
The overriding issue regarding soccer here is that we aren't really a soccer country. No magic system can change this. Instead of blaming a system or a club or any coach let's see the elephant in the room here. Soccer in this country, at this point in time, is a mostly parent-driven pastime. In much of the world it's like a disease.
I'm certain the Galaxy coaches know full-well at this point that their academy is an exercise in fan-building. Why would anyone expect otherwise?
SPChamp1
SILVER
Why would you say that we aren’t a soccer playing country? Soccer is the #1 most participated sport at the youth level. Is it because our “best” athletes opt to play sports that give them an opportunity to make millions? Every sport is essentially parent-driven until the child is old enough to make the decision on their own which sport they would like to focus on. College is generally parent driven as well, so I’m missing your point.
You do realize that you are on a forum that’s sole purpose is to discuss the goings on in youth soccer and even more specifically, Southern California youth soccer, right?
No one is asking for a “magic system”. If they are, they aren’t being realistic. You’re right there isn’t one, but most are just asking for a system that gives our children the best opportunity to develop their talents, here, domestically. We have the means, structure and investment opportunities to do so, if the system is rebuilt to allow that to happen. Most other countries have a globally proven means to provide that, there is no reason why we have to be so far off those means.
You do realize that you are on a forum that’s sole purpose is to discuss the goings on in youth soccer and even more specifically, Southern California youth soccer, right?
No one is asking for a “magic system”. If they are, they aren’t being realistic. You’re right there isn’t one, but most are just asking for a system that gives our children the best opportunity to develop their talents, here, domestically. We have the means, structure and investment opportunities to do so, if the system is rebuilt to allow that to happen. Most other countries have a globally proven means to provide that, there is no reason why we have to be so far off those means.
This is not true of basketball in the inner cities. Basketball is the default. Everyone plays and the parents have nothing to do with it. You just go to your local playground and shoot until it's too dark to see.
This is also not true of hockey in much of Canada. You just wait for the lakes to freeze and go skate.
And this is really not true of soccer in the rest of the world. Everyone plays, regardless of parent interaction. You just go to your local dirt patch and kick a ball. Parents don't have to do anything...
And I think this is the thrust behind @ray8's point. Not only does soccer need to become the default game in at least some areas of the country, kids need to be able to find places to play _without_ having to have parent interaction. Soccer is the default sport in LA, but if parents don't engage, if they don't have the time or the means to drive kids all over town for practices and games, what can the kids do? If they happen to live close to a local park that has pick-up games, that's great, but LA is so spread out, this is rare.
Where are they?
In the few soccer countries I'm familiar with, a kid can walk 15 minutes to play at a really high level, with kids equally talented and enthusiastic.
Grandpa played soccer. His team picture is on the mantle, like a kind of shrine. Pictures of his favorite club and players cover his bedroom walls.
No globally proven system is necessary in such an environment, in spite of what profit-seeking coaches or trainers may tell you.
For sure there is talent here, but talent is too few and far between. There are also no heroes yet to emulate. And no understanding of what it takes to really improve (hint: not poor coaching three days a week).
So to So Cal's barely existent soccer culture, maybe 30 or so years ago(?), comes along a "coach" or two from Europe. We didn't know what a real soccer coach does or looks like, so easy for anyone savvy enough to convince parents that their kids should be playing "club" soccer under superior tutelage. Soccer came from Britain, just like this geezer who played semi pro (Sunday league).
An "academy" or two are formed, with some of the trappings of a real academies in Europe, just not really academies at all. We're still stuck with this "system" because we still don't know better. And besides, it's still a lot of fun for parents.
"Does your kid have what takes to be a soccer player"? Or rather, "does your kid have what it takes to not embarrass his coach on Saturdays, and boot the ball to the talented kid"?
And of course, do you have what it takes to pay my club to do what the rest of the world does for free?
To me, that's really the issue. When you can send kids out into the neighborhood and they end up playing soccer, we'll be a competitive soccer nation. Then the formal coaching in the teen years will have some effect. But until then - when the only way to get good competition is to have parents with the means and time to drive you all around town - we're just forcing the issue. It may be that we have to force the issue now to see organic results later, but it won't be until the results are organic that we consistently produce great players.
Thank you. That's the word I couldn't think of. Organic.
No toxic clubs. No fake ingredients.
I'm guessing (educated guess) that's the way things are headed.
Wez
DA
Can you clarify this?
INFAMEE
SILVER ELITE
West Adams.
jpeter
PREMIER
For football or basketball, soccer not even a distant 3rd for kids from around there
PaytoplayinLancaster?
SILVER
I was just thinking about this earlier today... How the hell does this work? A 12 year old leaves his family and magically works out an education, raising himself, and learning to be better at Soccer all without parental guidance? Do they stay with scouts or families that help the club?