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Post by bogan on Aug 20, 2023 7:24:45 GMT -5
“Are you watching USA?
Spain’s victory was very much earned and deserved!
Champions at multiple age levels is due to a plan to grow the game in a country rich in soccer culture!
Now the failure for the USA is to do nothing!!!
New structure!
New people driving the new structure!
Oversight of the New structure!
There is evidence right in from of your eyes now it’s whether you want to look?
Use the “American qualities” that are clearly evident in the game and culture of American soccer right now, then add to those qualities by putting in place a youth structure that will add the missing ingredients!
Thoughts!”
Derek Broadley-Technical Director at Charleston Soccer Club
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Post by rifle on Aug 20, 2023 8:10:53 GMT -5
I suspect those women grew up watching LaLiga’s best. And also LaLiga’s worst.. but at least those teams are proven worthy of competing at that level. Congrats Spain.
Team USA’s forty year head start can’t help us anymore. Germany had Das Reboot. Why do I suspect we’ll only see more nepotism?
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Post by bogan on Aug 20, 2023 8:16:27 GMT -5
I suspect those women grew up watching LaLiga’s best. And also LaLiga’s worst.. but at least those teams are proven worthy of competing at that level. Congrats Spain. Team USA’s forty year head start can’t help us anymore. Germany had Das Reboot. Why do I suspect we’ll only see more nepotism? . I suspect you are right. I (casually) know two former USWNT scouts and both of them had a similar story-who could get in the coaches graces and shout the loudest for their player(s). It’s unfortunate. |
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Post by dabe on Aug 20, 2023 13:21:09 GMT -5
Might be an unpopular opinion, but there is no part of the American game/structure that works anymore. Maybe college but arguably it could be hindering the youth-to-pro pipeline that we lack and other countries have. Plus the debt isn't worth it for the potential of a $35,000/yr salary with the NWSL. Nepotism as rifle mentioned will always be an issue. That combined with athleticism and size being prioritized over everything else. After the 2019 WC there was a real chance to seek out players like Rose Lavelle. She's not the biggest or the strongest, but she is the smartest. It's so frustrating to hear that the saying "Iron sharpens iron" is trending with youth players because it feeds into "If you lose you weren't working hard enough" or "winning is all that matters". Why aren't we teaching players that you don't have to work as hard if you're the smartest on the field? When your passing is as precise as Spain, your first touch as clean as France and your vision as intelligent as Japan the ball and your brain do most of the work. Snubbing Macario in Tokyo was a huge red flag. 7 minutes at the Olympics for a player of her caliber is horrifying.
I hope whoever takes over for Vlatko is able to see the shift that's happened (seems like we just caught on to something happened 5+ years ago). We should be using the sheer number of girls who play at the youth level to our advantage. The USWNT has been successful so it's not like the USSF is selling a pipe dream to kids. It's achievable. In my opinion we should stop creating leagues and just start scouting at "lower levels" to bypass the pay-to-play issue. If the senior team shifts play styles it will eventually trickle down to every club and ultimately will change the development which is the biggest issue.
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Post by rifle on Aug 20, 2023 18:17:16 GMT -5
Might be an unpopular opinion, but there is no part of the American game/structure that works anymore. Maybe college but arguably it could be hindering the youth-to-pro pipeline that we lack and other countries have. Plus the debt isn't worth it for the potential of a $35,000/yr salary with the NWSL. …(Snip)… I haven’t watched a ton of women’s college soccer but what I have seen is mostly really big girls with skills - running as hard as they can until they’re exhausted, being subbed for the next one to do the same. It’s a track meet and it can’t be helping development when pro soccer doesn’t have unlimited subs. Broken system that seemed good until more countries started to let their girls play. |
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Post by mamadona on Aug 21, 2023 12:13:37 GMT -5
This American thing that “effort”, “working hard”, “being aggressive” are the most important things… This is different in Europe. They’re more work smarter not harder. Soccer is about being smart as much as working hard.
It took me & my daughter a long time to realize that you gotta do what the coaches want. Which is not always necessarily what’s the best for the game.
When I grew up playing in Europe it was so different. Coaches never talked about “effort”. We also didn’t really have tryouts, fighting against team mates for playing time. We were just a team loving to play together. I guess if someone wanted to join the team they could come practice. If we didn’t need anyone they were told the team was full already. This probably has some cons too but it created a good team spirit.
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Post by rifle on Aug 21, 2023 12:25:39 GMT -5
Kinda shoots a hole in the theory that US Men or MLS just need more time, doesn’t it? It is a shame that Spain, like US women both suffer from the patriarchy crap. A bunch of their best players even quit the team in protest and they STILL won the cup.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 21, 2023 13:32:19 GMT -5
US men will never be a powerhouse, no way, It would take having a very lucky group and then a couple of top teams getting upset before we play them.
I think we are close on the men's side, but the federation has shown they can't do anything right and their is becoming less and less opportunity for young domestic players in the States. I know we have a few cases, but the late bloomer has very little chance to continue on in this sport.
I'd remove every person in the federation except for their IT staff.
scouting is dreadful and not existent. The US is too big for one shoe fits all approach. Need regional scouting, regional teams. Maybe Atlanta is a bad representation, but we have better coaches in the ATL then the federation has, we have incredible players at every level and every position, most of whom will never be scouted or seen since they don't play at an MLS patch on their kits.
I think the women like i have said have been passed for the past 4-8 years, but with a competent coach, still could have won the world cup. Winning the past 2, hid our deficiencies.
This team has always relied on brute force, strength, athleticism, size and a great keeper. Keeper play in the rest of the world has drastically improved.
I'll never forget the first time I stood next to Michelle Akers, that women is huge! She would of have broken a Spanish player in half.
I don't watch the nwsl, so not sure what the style of play is like and how it compares to the english league.
I'm not sure bypassing college is the solution either.
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Post by triffling on Aug 22, 2023 15:26:18 GMT -5
Might be an unpopular opinion, but there is no part of the American game/structure that works anymore. Maybe college but arguably it could be hindering the youth-to-pro pipeline that we lack and other countries have. Plus the debt isn't worth it for the potential of a $35,000/yr salary with the NWSL. …(Snip)… I haven’t watched a ton of women’s college soccer but what I have seen is mostly really big girls with skills - running as hard as they can until they’re exhausted, being subbed for the next one to do the same. It’s a track meet and it can’t be helping development when pro soccer doesn’t have unlimited subs. Broken system that seemed good until more countries started to let their girls play. The irony here is that on another active thread there are people complaining about competitions that limit subs and that club soccer sub rules should be more like the college game so that the players can develop. |
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Post by rifle on Aug 22, 2023 19:39:19 GMT -5
The irony here is that on another active thread there are people complaining about competitions that limit subs and that club soccer sub rules should be more like the college game so that the players can develop. Definitely ironic. |
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Post by oraclesfriend on Aug 23, 2023 14:35:53 GMT -5
I haven’t watched a ton of women’s college soccer but what I have seen is mostly really big girls with skills - running as hard as they can until they’re exhausted, being subbed for the next one to do the same. It’s a track meet and it can’t be helping development when pro soccer doesn’t have unlimited subs. Broken system that seemed good until more countries started to let their girls play. The irony here is that on another active thread there are people complaining about competitions that limit subs and that club soccer sub rules should be more like the college game so that the players can develop. Children are not the same as college kids. But the sub rules for children should not be STRICTER than the college rules. It makes no sense. |
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Post by BubbleDad on Aug 23, 2023 16:52:42 GMT -5
Has anyone mentioned that soccer in the USA on the elite level is just too damn expensive!!!!!
You price out the kids you can teach to combine IQ, athleticism and skill on the pitch. Look at France ... the diversity is crazy ... they are providing training to those with potential.
You are right about size on the academy to college level. This U19 cycle of tryouts favored the bigger girls on the ECNL side. Japan proved you can be good without size.
Also, kids in America only play soccer when it's organized most times instead of in the streets and random fields. The clubs are gobbling up the fields that non-academy kids can play on.
Whew ... we probably won't ever catch up with Europe ... more money and the relentless pursuit to train anyone for free to minimal money to breed the assassins of tomorrow.
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Post by soccerlegacy on Aug 23, 2023 19:10:41 GMT -5
Has anyone mentioned that soccer in the USA on the elite level is just too damn expensive!!!!! You price out the kids you can teach to combine IQ, athleticism and skill on the pitch. Look at France ... the diversity is crazy ... they are providing training to those with potential. You are right about size on the academy to college level. This U19 cycle of tryouts favored the bigger girls on the ECNL side. Japan proved you can be good without size. Also, kids in America only play soccer when it's organized most times instead of in the streets and random fields. The clubs are gobbling up the fields that non-academy kids can play on. Whew ... we probably won't ever catch up with Europe ... more money and the relentless pursuit to train anyone for free to minimal money to breed the assassins of tomorrow. Although I am quoting BubbleDad, others have mentioned the same or similar about the cost of youth soccer. However, this isn't necessarily just a soccer issue. Have you seen or know of the other youth travel sports out there? Heck, some might say soccer is a bargain by comparison. I wonder if the other sports message boards are having the same arguments? Gymnastics, Volleyball, and Hockey are through the roof prices! Basketball, Softball, and Baseball are right there with soccer. Someone has to pay for the kids to play, in America it falls to the parents, in other countries it seems to have fallen to sponsors or governments mostly. The money has to come from somewhere, should American citizens be asked to carry the cost of youth sports? Countries like Spain are actually starting to make the parents pay more recently (not anywhere near here in the USA) but it is costly to play competitive youth sports. Excerpt from sportsbusinessjournal.com:
Cost Of Participation In Youth Sports In Spain Up Around 20% Since '08
The "regulation of personnel in youth sports -- in addition to other measures like eliminating tax exemptions -- could cause what clubs spend to increase by 20% annually," according to Alberto Martínez of AS. Some clubs and autonomous communities have "raised complaints" with Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) over concerns "that accounts are not adding up and that they could be close to raising the cost for athletes." One example is Barcelona's Molins de Rei Club de Futbol, with 25 youth teams from ages 4-19, two amateur teams and one for veterans. The amount that parents of youth players paid last season ranged from €365-€395. That figure that has increased "nearly 30%" since '08 due to a "reduction in the public contribution -- from €12,000-€8,000 -- and the loss of sponsors due to the country's economic crisis: this contribution has fallen from €28,000-€7,000" (AS, 4/21). Just sayin' |
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Post by BubbleDad on Aug 23, 2023 23:26:02 GMT -5
Has anyone mentioned that soccer in the USA on the elite level is just too damn expensive!!!!! You price out the kids you can teach to combine IQ, athleticism and skill on the pitch. Look at France ... the diversity is crazy ... they are providing training to those with potential. You are right about size on the academy to college level. This U19 cycle of tryouts favored the bigger girls on the ECNL side. Japan proved you can be good without size. Also, kids in America only play soccer when it's organized most times instead of in the streets and random fields. The clubs are gobbling up the fields that non-academy kids can play on. Whew ... we probably won't ever catch up with Europe ... more money and the relentless pursuit to train anyone for free to minimal money to breed the assassins of tomorrow. Although I am quoting BubbleDad, others have mentioned the same or similar about the cost of youth soccer. However, this isn't necessarily just a soccer issue. Have you seen or know of the other youth travel sports out there? Heck, some might say soccer is a bargain by comparison. I wonder if the other sports message boards are having the same arguments? Gymnastics, Volleyball, and Hockey are through the roof prices! Basketball, Softball, and Baseball are right there with soccer. Someone has to pay for the kids to play, in America it falls to the parents, in other countries it seems to have fallen to sponsors or governments mostly. The money has to come from somewhere, should American citizens be asked to carry the cost of youth sports? Countries like Spain are actually starting to make the parents pay more recently (not anywhere near here in the USA) but it is costly to play competitive youth sports. Excerpt from sportsbusinessjournal.com:
Cost Of Participation In Youth Sports In Spain Up Around 20% Since '08
The "regulation of personnel in youth sports -- in addition to other measures like eliminating tax exemptions -- could cause what clubs spend to increase by 20% annually," according to Alberto Martínez of AS. Some clubs and autonomous communities have "raised complaints" with Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) over concerns "that accounts are not adding up and that they could be close to raising the cost for athletes." One example is Barcelona's Molins de Rei Club de Futbol, with 25 youth teams from ages 4-19, two amateur teams and one for veterans. The amount that parents of youth players paid last season ranged from €365-€395. That figure that has increased "nearly 30%" since '08 due to a "reduction in the public contribution -- from €12,000-€8,000 -- and the loss of sponsors due to the country's economic crisis: this contribution has fallen from €28,000-€7,000" (AS, 4/21). Just sayin' Well ... of course someone has to pay ... we are paying for what? An elite youth sports system that the world is catching up with b/c they invest in the youth and the USA doesn't if you can't pay. Tophat offers scholarships to pay for club fees which is awesome, but travel and kit costs can break the bank. Not to mention personal training that ranges from $40-85 per hour. Pros who come from Europe to the US complain about the price of soccer and they are millionaires. |
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Post by BubbleDad on Aug 23, 2023 23:38:34 GMT -5
This American thing that “effort”, “working hard”, “being aggressive” are the most important things… This is different in Europe. They’re more work smarter not harder. Soccer is about being smart as much as working hard. It took me & my daughter a long time to realize that you gotta do what the coaches want. Which is not always necessarily what’s the best for the game. When I grew up playing in Europe it was so different. Coaches never talked about “effort”. We also didn’t really have tryouts, fighting against team mates for playing time. We were just a team loving to play together. I guess if someone wanted to join the team they could come practice. If we didn’t need anyone they were told the team was full already. This probably has some cons too but it created a good team spirit. film, film, film ... we record the games but who is watching them? It's a lost art that more coaches on the youth side should use more. Recovery and film Mondays and technical and film Tuesdays |
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Post by oraclesfriend on Aug 24, 2023 7:40:12 GMT -5
This American thing that “effort”, “working hard”, “being aggressive” are the most important things… This is different in Europe. They’re more work smarter not harder. Soccer is about being smart as much as working hard. It took me & my daughter a long time to realize that you gotta do what the coaches want. Which is not always necessarily what’s the best for the game. When I grew up playing in Europe it was so different. Coaches never talked about “effort”. We also didn’t really have tryouts, fighting against team mates for playing time. We were just a team loving to play together. I guess if someone wanted to join the team they could come practice. If we didn’t need anyone they were told the team was full already. This probably has some cons too but it created a good team spirit. film, film, film ... we record the games but who is watching them? It's a lost art that more coaches on the youth side should use more. Recovery and film Mondays and technical and film Tuesdays Totally agree on the lack of film review My older child had one year when a coach reviewed film with the team. Funny how that was a coach that played in multiple World Cups. 🤔 That was NOT the highest league that my child ever played in. My younger child has had a little review of film last year and this year. It has been assigning the kids that as “homework” when training is canceled due to weather. This is sometimes review of a tactical post by another coach. Sometimes it is of the team’s own games. It is good that they are looking at film but I would rather they were getting feedback on it rather than handing in a piece of paper and not having time to answer questions or have some dialogue. It seems more like busy work this way and less instructive. It is better than nothing though. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 24, 2023 7:58:51 GMT -5
Film is a must, allows for a rest day as well. That is the beauty of rainouts!! Watch film as a team.
Here is the problem that still remains, you could be the next Mia Hamm or Ashley Sanchez (sorry had to), but if your at small club or live outside a major city, you have very little chance these days. Back in the day, these kids could be identified through ODP and regional teams, obviously that is no more.
I'll just repeat it, at the end of the day, Vlatko was in over his head. Hence why I'd throw all the money in the world at the UCLA coach or Krikorian. Both teams, moved the ball around, spread the field, and then attack with pace down the flanks. Keep the ball when you need to, but then be direct when Its open.
I still think with the proper starting 11, this team walks over all three teams in our group and we avoid sweden and Japan. The top of the bracket was wide open, and I think Spain would have had a tough time against us because of how careless they can be with the ball. And when they beat us in Oct, the starting 11 was lacking quality at left and right back.
Their is no question this team and most of the players, can't play in tight spaces or have never been taught how. They don't understand the importance of quick 1 and 2 touches, and then the defenders are off balance and your exploit it.
I'm super harsh, Dunn would come off the bench for me, her first touch is absolutely horrendous. Been saying it for years, I don't get how it's even possible.
I'm not a Sullivan fan at all, very careless with the ball, then she commits a foul after turning the ball over. Obviously Rapinoe is washed up, and as I mentioned above even in the last world cup with all her goals, they were gifts.
When I'm in charge, I'm bringing in 2 full rosters to camp, 3-4 deep at every position. I'd have them show up to the training field decked out in USWNT warmup gear like normal.
I'd bring new plain training gear with no branding, other than a nike swoosh. Tell them all to go to the locker rooms and change, and then outfit them with new plain gear for the rest of the week. No USWNT gear can be worn until they earn their spots at the end of the week. Boom done. I'd encourage creativity, but we would be possession driven with mad pace on the wings.
when can I start?
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Post by soccerlegacy on Aug 24, 2023 10:27:13 GMT -5
Film is a must, allows for a rest day as well. That is the beauty of rainouts!! Watch film as a team. Here is the problem that still remains, you could be the next Mia Hamm or Ashley Sanchez (sorry had to), but if your at small club or live outside a major city, you have very little chance these days. Back in the day, these kids could be identified through ODP and regional teams, obviously that is no more. I'll just repeat it, at the end of the day, Vlatko was in over his head. Hence why I'd throw all the money in the world at the UCLA coach or Krikorian. Both teams, moved the ball around, spread the field, and then attack with pace down the flanks. Keep the ball when you need to, but then be direct when Its open. I still think with the proper starting 11, this team walks over all three teams in our group and we avoid sweden and Japan. The top of the bracket was wide open, and I think Spain would have had a tough time against us because of how careless they can be with the ball. And when they beat us in Oct, the starting 11 was lacking quality at left and right back. Their is no question this team and most of the players, can't play in tight spaces or have never been taught how. They don't understand the importance of quick 1 and 2 touches, and then the defenders are off balance and your exploit it. I'm super harsh, Dunn would come off the bench for me, her first touch is absolutely horrendous. Been saying it for years, I don't get how it's even possible. I'm not a Sullivan fan at all, very careless with the ball, then she commits a foul after turning the ball over. Obviously Rapinoe is washed up, and as I mentioned above even in the last world cup with all her goals, they were gifts. When I'm in charge, I'm bringing in 2 full rosters to camp, 3-4 deep at every position. I'd have them show up to the training field decked out in USWNT warmup gear like normal.
I'd bring new plain training gear with no branding, other than a nike swoosh. Tell them all to go to the locker rooms and change, and then outfit them with new plain gear for the rest of the week. No USWNT gear can be worn until they earn their spots at the end of the week. Boom done. I'd encourage creativity, but we would be possession driven with mad pace on the wings.
when can I start?IF I had the power, I'd hire you today!! Excellent suggestions and I'm in total agreement with your observations of the current team. |
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Post by soccerlegacy on Aug 24, 2023 10:46:55 GMT -5
Although I am quoting BubbleDad, others have mentioned the same or similar about the cost of youth soccer. However, this isn't necessarily just a soccer issue. Have you seen or know of the other youth travel sports out there? Heck, some might say soccer is a bargain by comparison. I wonder if the other sports message boards are having the same arguments? Gymnastics, Volleyball, and Hockey are through the roof prices! Basketball, Softball, and Baseball are right there with soccer. Someone has to pay for the kids to play, in America it falls to the parents, in other countries it seems to have fallen to sponsors or governments mostly. The money has to come from somewhere, should American citizens be asked to carry the cost of youth sports? Countries like Spain are actually starting to make the parents pay more recently (not anywhere near here in the USA) but it is costly to play competitive youth sports. Excerpt from sportsbusinessjournal.com:
Cost Of Participation In Youth Sports In Spain Up Around 20% Since '08
The "regulation of personnel in youth sports -- in addition to other measures like eliminating tax exemptions -- could cause what clubs spend to increase by 20% annually," according to Alberto Martínez of AS. Some clubs and autonomous communities have "raised complaints" with Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) over concerns "that accounts are not adding up and that they could be close to raising the cost for athletes." One example is Barcelona's Molins de Rei Club de Futbol, with 25 youth teams from ages 4-19, two amateur teams and one for veterans. The amount that parents of youth players paid last season ranged from €365-€395. That figure that has increased "nearly 30%" since '08 due to a "reduction in the public contribution -- from €12,000-€8,000 -- and the loss of sponsors due to the country's economic crisis: this contribution has fallen from €28,000-€7,000" (AS, 4/21). Just sayin' Well ... of course someone has to pay ... we are paying for what? An elite youth sports system that the world is catching up with b/c they invest in the youth and the USA doesn't if you can't pay. Tophat offers scholarships to pay for club fees which is awesome, but travel and kit costs can break the bank. Not to mention personal training that ranges from $40-85 per hour. Pros who come from Europe to the US complain about the price of soccer and they are millionaires. Sorry if it seemed I was attacking you... I was not. I was simply borrowing your general thought that it was too expensive... which I agree with. I just don't know the answer either. If we did ask the government to help pay, who would they pay? There's too many clubs, big and small. And the government doesn't have the best track record of spending money wisely, along with a strong possibility of even more corruption. Also, they would have to spend on a multitude of sports... and which ones would get preferential payouts? Although we are all here because of our love for soccer, there is a large swath of America that don't see it our way (some even calling it a "communist" sport, ugh). I've even seen it locally, where our county was set to provide us brand new soccer fields only to have them be re-designated for football and baseball, at the last minute. It's the same reason many soccer fields are relegated to flood plains and undesirable locations. Signed - Devil's advocate |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Aug 24, 2023 11:21:11 GMT -5
basketball has the luxury where celebrities and ex pros sponsor teams. yes, it's hard to get on these teams as well, but I know many kids playing on aau teams at very minimal costs.
football has highschool
baseball is crazy expensive as well, and are more of business than probably soccer now. private hitting coaches, pitching coaches, its crazy.
soccer is in a tough spot because of this. not enough pro teams to support youth soccer like is needed. an open system would fix it.
However, still the challenge for funding both boys and girls.
But still, the resources are there at the mega clubs to subsidize the cost for top teams - still somewhat controversial, but again funding both boys and girls? and the business model would have to take a hit and limit the amount of profit these clubs are making.
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Post by rudy on Aug 24, 2023 11:34:42 GMT -5
If the government pays, WE ALL pay in the form of higher texes. The government doesn't pay for anything. It simply redistributes what the government collects. If not enough is collected, it borrows or just has the Fed print more money lowering the value of the dollar and increasing inflation. Let the criticism begin...
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Post by rifle on Aug 24, 2023 18:00:48 GMT -5
I wish HS and college soccer were legit like pointyball. Play other sports like basketball, not stuck paying ten grand per year flying around the country to play teams not as good as teams next door.
IMO a LOT more soccer players should play rec and enjoy it, and then have truly select teams. Save 80% of the players from the stupidity and probably keep playing the game instead of getting frustrated and walking away at age 14 or 15 because it felt like a job.
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Post by rpsoccer on Aug 31, 2023 9:47:33 GMT -5
USA advantage right now is the amount (and diversity) of kids playing soccer, along with the infrastructure to transform them into high end athletes.
But in USA there is not a clear path to get Pro. Usually in other countries a given Club has both men and women pro soccer teams, for example Barcelona or Real Madrid. In USA none of the MLS teams have a women team, and probably are not interested since there is the NWSL. Now, the NWSL is in disadvantage to European leagues like La Liga and Premier League, teams in those leagues play their own tournaments (regular season and cup), plus Champions League (all Europe teams). The result of that intense competition was visible in this WC.
It seems that if the US women's national team wants to keep competitive, then more American players have to migrate to Europe, as it is happening with the men team. Younger players that want to go pro, might want to tryout into an Europe soccer team, I guess if you have money to pay for ECNL then going to a tryout in Europe would not be a problem. Finally, I would leave college soccer to those players that cannot reach Pro yet, although it is at a great level it is not the same as playing professionally.
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Post by soccerlegacy on Aug 31, 2023 14:33:25 GMT -5
USA advantage right now is the amount (and diversity) of kids playing soccer, along with the infrastructure to transform them into high end athletes. But in USA there is not a clear path to get Pro. Usually in other countries a given Club has both men and women pro soccer teams, for example Barcelona or Real Madrid. In USA none of the MLS teams have a women team, and probably are not interested since there is the NWSL. Now, the NWSL is in disadvantage to European leagues like La Liga and Premier League, teams in those leagues play their own tournaments (regular season and cup), plus Champions League (all Europe teams). The result of that intense competition was visible in this WC. It seems that if the US women's national team wants to keep competitive, then more American players have to migrate to Europe, as it is happening with the men team. Younger players that want to go pro, might want to tryout into an Europe soccer team, I guess if you have money to pay for ECNL then going to a tryout in Europe would not be a problem. Finally, I would leave college soccer to those players that cannot reach Pro yet, although it is at a great level it is not the same as playing professionally. Actually, my understanding is that it isn't so easy for an American player to just go over to Europe and tryout. They are strict with permitting even a temporary visa and unless you are a full grown adult that has offers, they probably won't just allow you to go do that. I'm sure someone here can break it down more thoroughly. And it would have to be really worthwhile, moneywise, for women to do it ... which hasn't been the case mostly. Instead, the youth girls look to college as the most advantageous choice to extend their soccer career beyond high school age. Portland and Orland City both have a men's and a women's affiliation together in the NWSL and MLS, but I wish others would join them. |
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