Post by bogan on Sept 20, 2023 6:47:31 GMT -5
“Foster the best playing environments” is one of the 5 pillars announced by US Soccer.
The recent (very moving) interview from Clint Dempsey on CBS Sports, gives a clear picture of the failings by US Soccer over the past 20+ years on this specific area and begs the question: why has it taken so long to be addressed?
Clint touched on lack of access to good coaching and how that negatively influenced his individual ceiling as a player, he said he had good coaches but not in comparison to his peers from overseas!
Is that because many people in US Youth Soccer fail to adopt “best practice” ideas because, the youth game here is driven by $s? The “best practice” ideas may prevent money being earned? Example; 1 game a weekend as opposed to 3/4 per weekend to justify travel costs!
Those overseas clubs who have a footprint in the USA: DONT replicate their best practice when they arrive on our shores, they convert to the $ driven model to justify their existence. They know that there is enough vulnerable, unknowledgeable parents who will pay for an opportunity that is free in their country of origin🤷♂️
US Soccer should consult with its overseas players when it talks about “fostering the best playing environments” and see what else comes up🤷♂️
Clint was truly a maverick type player and “un-American” if you like, in the way he played the game, he took risks, was unpredictable and was not afraid to keep the ball, not sure the average USA youth coach or USA soccer parent could cope with his “selfish approach”🤷♂️ they want a more “reliable” teammate who “passes” the ball more🤷♂️
Anyway US Soccer, this pillar that you have identified, will be your biggest challenge as it’s so woven into the current Youth system and culture. You are going to need strong personalities to take on the current stakeholders who have allowed this system to form over a long period of time.
There are alternatives that must to be applied in terms of “game’s programs” that will benefit the players at all levels of the youth soccer pyramid.
Taking away the “competition” between the member associations is going to be key for US Soccer, along with having a centralized registration system for players coaches and officials!
The new system must put players first in terms of: safety, development, access!
Thoughts?” Derek Broadley
The recent (very moving) interview from Clint Dempsey on CBS Sports, gives a clear picture of the failings by US Soccer over the past 20+ years on this specific area and begs the question: why has it taken so long to be addressed?
Clint touched on lack of access to good coaching and how that negatively influenced his individual ceiling as a player, he said he had good coaches but not in comparison to his peers from overseas!
Is that because many people in US Youth Soccer fail to adopt “best practice” ideas because, the youth game here is driven by $s? The “best practice” ideas may prevent money being earned? Example; 1 game a weekend as opposed to 3/4 per weekend to justify travel costs!
Those overseas clubs who have a footprint in the USA: DONT replicate their best practice when they arrive on our shores, they convert to the $ driven model to justify their existence. They know that there is enough vulnerable, unknowledgeable parents who will pay for an opportunity that is free in their country of origin🤷♂️
US Soccer should consult with its overseas players when it talks about “fostering the best playing environments” and see what else comes up🤷♂️
Clint was truly a maverick type player and “un-American” if you like, in the way he played the game, he took risks, was unpredictable and was not afraid to keep the ball, not sure the average USA youth coach or USA soccer parent could cope with his “selfish approach”🤷♂️ they want a more “reliable” teammate who “passes” the ball more🤷♂️
Anyway US Soccer, this pillar that you have identified, will be your biggest challenge as it’s so woven into the current Youth system and culture. You are going to need strong personalities to take on the current stakeholders who have allowed this system to form over a long period of time.
There are alternatives that must to be applied in terms of “game’s programs” that will benefit the players at all levels of the youth soccer pyramid.
Taking away the “competition” between the member associations is going to be key for US Soccer, along with having a centralized registration system for players coaches and officials!
The new system must put players first in terms of: safety, development, access!
Thoughts?” Derek Broadley
