Footballero
BRONZE
I heard rumors a couple months ago that they might do it, but haven’t heard a thing since. Anyone has info on that?
I heard rumors a couple months ago that they might do it, but haven’t heard a thing since. Anyone has info on that?
It makes zero sense from the US Soccer stand point. The pyramid exits to weed out that kids that can't play up.
By that logic, why not combine year groups further? U14/15? U12/13? There is so much happening on and off of the field with 14-17 year old boys who will make up the U16/17 ranks over the years...new demands of high school academics, girls, accelerated puberty, slow growers, uneven and erratic mental development.It makes zero sense from the US Soccer stand point. The pyramid exits to weed out that kids that can't play up.
By that logic, why not combine year groups further? U14/15? U12/13? There is so much happening on and off of the field with 14-17 year old boys who will make up the U16/17 ranks over the years...new demands of high school academics, girls, accelerated puberty, slow growers, uneven and erratic mental development.
To suggest that the U16s aren’t worthy of selection or playing time because they “can’t play up” is short-sided. And who’s to say what kids aren’t really capable of playing up? Do you have that much faith in all of the directors and coaches that operate in the DA sphere to get this part right? How many of those coaches are really focused on true development of players vs. winning with more physically and mentally advanced, older players?
Kids need to play to get better. A lot of 2003s will watch their 2002 counterparts from the bench this year. Those 2003s will fall short of their full potential as a result. Year over year this is happening. Why? To save US Soccer and USSDA clubs from the expense of carrying an additional year group? The special players will rise to the top. We know that. But how many 14 and 15 year old kids with potentially high ceilings yet to be realized will get overlooked and underdeveloped with this type of thinking?
By that logic, why not combine year groups further? U14/15? U12/13? There is so much happening on and off of the field with 14-17 year old boys who will make up the U16/17 ranks over the years...new demands of high school academics, girls, accelerated puberty, slow growers, uneven and erratic mental development.
To suggest that the U16s aren’t worthy of selection or playing time because they “can’t play up” is short-sided. And who’s to say what kids aren’t really capable of playing up? Do you have that much faith in all of the directors and coaches that operate in the DA sphere to get this part right? How many of those coaches are really focused on true development of players vs. winning with more physically and mentally advanced, older players?
Kids need to play to get better. A lot of 2003s will watch their 2002 counterparts from the bench this year. Those 2003s will fall short of their full potential as a result. Year over year this is happening. Why? To save US Soccer and USSDA clubs from the expense of carrying an additional year group? The special players will rise to the top. We know that. But how many 14 and 15 year old kids with potentially high ceilings yet to be realized will get overlooked and underdeveloped with this type of thinking?
By that logic, why not combine year groups further? U14/15? U12/13? There is so much happening on and off of the field with 14-17 year old boys who will make up the U16/17 ranks over the years...new demands of high school academics, girls, accelerated puberty, slow growers, uneven and erratic mental development.
To suggest that the U16s aren’t worthy of selection or playing time because they “can’t play up” is short-sided. And who’s to say what kids aren’t really capable of playing up? Do you have that much faith in all of the directors and coaches that operate in the DA sphere to get this part right? How many of those coaches are really focused on true development of players vs. winning with more physically and mentally advanced, older players?
Kids need to play to get better. A lot of 2003s will watch their 2002 counterparts from the bench this year. Those 2003s will fall short of their full potential as a result. Year over year this is happening. Why? To save US Soccer and USSDA clubs from the expense of carrying an additional year group? The special players will rise to the top. We know that. But how many 14 and 15 year old kids with potentially high ceilings yet to be realized will get overlooked and underdeveloped with this type of thinking?
US Soccer is only interested in identifying the top players that have the potential of making the US MNT and can go pro at 17-18. The goal in creating the DA was to get the top kids in the US Soccer database, create a league for the top .01% to play with the other 1-5%ers. You can disagree and kick and scream about it, but US Soccer's mission as the NGB (USOC National Governing Body - Soccer) is to field the national team and promote the sports through its various affiliates. On the youth side, the Youth Affiliates are US Club, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, etc.
Any kid that that hits U16 and can't play up a year or two is very unlikely to be of the quality that should skip college and go pro by 18 or better yet 17. I know it sounds horribly cruel to say this but US Soccer's only interest in the DA is to identify those players. This is the MLS's interest as well and why the MLS is willing to subsidize the DA teams, so it kinda works out. The 2nd tier DA clubs (those without an MLS bankroll) are only in it for the marketing spin the DA gives them.
Disagree all you want, very little is gained by adding a U16 bracket on the boys side. Let the kids that can't make it go play with the Youth affiliates for a year and then see if they have the chops to make the older team. Culling was built into the model because that is how the Europeans do it.
In the 12 years of the DA, how many of these kids who had the "chops" went straight on to play on an MLS team or the Sr. National team? I am willing guess less than 5%. Having the maturity, skill, and intelligence to play up an age group or two is a tremendous growth experience but I would argue it is not the only way for players to continue to grow.
YES! AND US Soccer has struggled to identify and develop the smaller savvy technical players. We’ve relied on athletes for ever and ever. So the answer to this is to “promote” the biggest, strongest kids while “demote” the kids who maybe haven’t grown yet or can’t out muscle their way thru a game? Makes so much sense.
Most of the replies read like "my kid is under aged year in the combined group"....
I get that you want your own age group so that they get more playing time. Been there and done that.
Lets think about this bit more logically. Less than the top 1% of the DA players actually make it into YNT pool and actually make the team that represent the country in international events. In other words, over 99% of DA players are just a pool of players that they can take a look at over time. ...
It puzzles me that we (US companies and individuals) own many top tier soccer teams in the world, including AS Roma, Liverpool, Man U and so on.
Why won't USSF talk to the owners of these clubs and workout coaches apprenticeships and youth academy exposure with those players without FIFA and Visa issues that are playing in this country as well as a formal pathway for players to be developed once they are 16 yrs of age.
The answer is that there is no interest because we want to use MSL as the primary source for American talent.
It puzzles me that we (US companies and individuals) own many top tier soccer teams in the world, including AS Roma, Liverpool, Man U and so on.
Why won't USSF talk to the owners of these clubs and workout coaches apprenticeships and youth academy exposure with those players without FIFA and Visa issues that are playing in this country as well as a formal pathway for players to be developed once they are 16 yrs of age.
The answer is that there is no interest because we want to use MSL as the primary source for American talent.
....when FIFA penalized Barcelona and started to look at other clubs as well like Real Madrid.
............unless you players has EU passport and age 16, otherwise have to wait unitl 18. By 18 academies are less interested in new players so only gets more difficult as the years go by.
.........Americans playing in Eupore at age 16 is a long process and you will need some luck, duality, lots of resources, connections. $$$,.....
$$$ is a big factor, MLS keeps the transfer fees so not much incentives there. Those top tier soccer teams have a huge pool to choice from so the 1-3 mls players that may move over a season is not worth the effort in most cases.
MLS takes on more new international player each year and fewer domestic players even make it. 4 out of the 5 forwards on the MLS all star team came from international backgrounds, as did 10 out of the 12 mids, USA is represented at the keeper postion, and a 2-3 defenders but all the others are internationals. Tyler Adams was one of the 3 total on the all-stars with any USSF/DA connections.
Out of College, nope can think of any this past season or past 3 besides Jordan Morris that had any impact in the MLS. If you ask the causal fan to name a US MLS star most would be hard press to come up with names.
Most of the replies read like "my kid is under aged year in the combined group"....
I get that you want your own age group so that they get more playing time. Been there and done that.
Perspective is that the age groups have been tinkered with over the years. Originally, it was U18/17, U16/15, U14 only. Always been calendar year grouping. With addition of younger ages, they split into today's grouping U19/18, U17/16, U15, 14 and so on.
The fact that there is U15 is a direct response to so called late bloomers and 2nd half of the year kids.
Now that my post DA kid is playing in college, I can look back and say that the combined age vs single year age made no difference. Neither will help identify "smaller creative technical players" or identify late bloomers any better.
The fact of the matter is those smaller or late bloomer players have to compete in the existing system - like it or not. And if they are competitive enough, then they are. If not, they are not.
Lets think about this bit more logically. Less than the top 1% of the DA players actually make it into YNT pool and actually make the team that represent the country in international events. In other words, over 99% of DA players are just a pool of players that they can take a look at over time. So one year, they are either in their own age group or the older of the two. Another year they are younger age group. Over time, these players are given sufficient exposure to be evaluated, regardless of how mature or small they are.
Post puberty, the size difference is only in thickness/bulk of players (which affect their strength). The age grouping only occurs at post puberty age for the VAST MAJORITY of the population.
I have a bigger issue with having U12~13 kids committing to play single sports year around....