Can someone, anyone, please tell us how much it costs a Spanish, or Dutch, or English or French girl to play elite club soccer at the youth level? Can any of you explain how many club options exist for girls in those countries? Can any of you identify a single non-American girls youth coach in the entire world who is a better than the best that US has to offer? Can someone please identify the fantasy country where girls get the best training in the world for free?
Not many people are claiming it should be free. The European club options for young women and girls are growing and mostly funded through professional clubs who pay for the coaches and and facilities and travel (and education). Their incentives are weighted heavily to finding and developing the best players regardless of the family's socio-economic background.
The incentives in US youth soccer (across genders) are heavily weighted to finding the most players with the socio-economic background to pay as much money per year as they can. Developing players still happens but is secondary as a means to justify the high costs.
The US system has the 'benefit' of creating more opportunities for youths to play organized soccer with mediocre professional coaches who aren't really held accountable to much. But the US is large enough so they will continue to produce within that system. There are some great youth coaches if you are fortunate to live close enough to where they are and can afford it.
La Masia opens doors to first female residents
Nine girls from the Barça youth football programme will be taking upper secondary education while living at the Centre de Formació Oriol Tort
www.fcbarcelona.com
Youth Women | Juventus.com
www.juventus.com
Girls Academy
www.mancity.com