I agree with a lot of what you said here.
Great explaination of how we find soccer at these crossroads again. I just find it hard to understand why US Soccer would decide to create problems for thousands, actually even tens of thousands of youth players, for the convenence of a couple hundred players who will get a call up. If US Soccer is really concerned with growing the sport, snubbing 1/3 of the population probably isn't the way to go.
Thanks. That makes sense. For us, it would not be an issue then. Cutoff for school here is 9/1. So their grade year group and birth year group are one in the same. They are both on the younger side for their teams but by no means the youngest. I guess that would change with this change.
That's exactly how I see things as well.
Lol, you are probably right on with this prediction.
Trapped players are not generally better .
100% and who they align themselves with is no bueno. Pockets of cash can buy your kid a spot on the team. So many of us in 2016 complained to the higher ups that this was bad for the 99% of the kids who won't go pro. They told us to STFU because "The World is Watching."
the18.com
100%. The rich elites took over with backroom deals. It's a dumpster fire that needs to be put out, cleaned and all big re-do is in order.Landon Donovan says youth soccer in the U.S. is a disaster; Pochettino not a guaranteed success
Donovan will manage NWSL's San Diego Wave for the rest of the season.
“My kids are in youth soccer and I see the youth soccer environment — it’s a disaster, it’s an absolute disaster.”
And if you come from a lower income hard-working, or maybe even broken family... you'll have a chip on your shoulder, that chip will be held against you even as you work hard to attain your dream of being the best goal scorer or goal stopper (the only 2 ways to push through soccer politics) - and you can be treated like Hope Solo.
Wow, that was quite entertaining to hear Landon Donovan's take. I was also cracking up when he was talking about how much easier it is to coach women than men since men have egos and women listenLandon Donovan says youth soccer in the U.S. is a disaster; Pochettino not a guaranteed success
Donovan will manage NWSL's San Diego Wave for the rest of the season.
“My kids are in youth soccer and I see the youth soccer environment — it’s a disaster, it’s an absolute disaster.”
I read that as well. I'm no Landon fan but he's spot on. Men don't listen to bullshit from coaches. Girls have been staying quiet way too long and the one's that do speak up get retaliated against from the men with big fat rich egos.Wow, that was quite entertaining to hear Landon Donovan's take. I was also cracking up when he was talking about how much easier it is to coach women than men since men have egos and women listen
Landon, and many of his USMNT teammates, played high school soccer without playing Club year round. Somehow they managed to be relatively competitive despite HS soccer being a "significantly inferior" product. Which is a self-fulfilling prophecy since leagues like the MLS Next prohibit HS play. I'm a proponent of making HS soccer relevant again. It might stem the tide of losing some of the better players to other high school sports. There is a certain unearned arrogance from coaches that disparage HS soccer.Wow, that was quite entertaining to hear Landon Donovan's take. I was also cracking up when he was talking about how much easier it is to coach women than men since men have egos and women listen
100%. Me and my little girl was told by a British Doc, "High school soccer is horrible. You can't play in the Girls Development (Grooming) Academy and do High School soccer." My buddy had an All-American Water polo player at Laguna that made the YNT and got a full ride to Cal and he was able to do both. I was shocked when Doc told me under no circumstances are the girls allowed to do both. We followed the rules and guess what? Well, this lying sack of shit Doc was told by his bosses that their daughters also wanted to do both, like my little one. These smart asses got together and figured out a way for their rich kids to have their cake and ice cream. They got the top brace at the now closed GDA to give a waiver to the rich kids at private schools. I know I repeat this story over and over but it's worth repeating because these punks will pay for their deceit and lies. I know Larz hates it when I bring this crap up but I'm still waiting for them to say sorry. My little one was the leader of the #1 team in the country and she did what she wanted to do. When this went down, I thought the Doc was joking at first and then I could see through the wolfs eyes that this was all about control and business. If a kid plays soccer 24/7 then mommy and daddy will pay all year around. No other sports either so all the rich parents' money stay in the soccer hub. You MUST play soccer soccer soccer soccer only and pay pay pay pay the man or else. I think both and, is the way to go, not either or.
It's easier to lie if you have an accent.
Different era. HS soccer was the main pathway to college at that time, and much of the YNT recruiting came from a combination of state HS tournaments, NPL play as well as ODP.
You must be a club coach. The US doesn't have "elite football", that's a dream being sold to parents. Yes, of course, players today are better than they were 20 years ago when Landon was in high school. The same goes for all sports. However, the US as an international power hasn't gained any ground on other countries in terms of developing players. We have a few more players playing internationally, but many of those players developed overseas. Any improvement is immaterial, despite the fact that we have significantly more youth playing soccer than any other country.
I haven't watched the whole thing, but the part on the reasons for youth soccer dropout rates is spot on. Its no longer fun at 14 and more about a coaches ego than anything else.
