USWNT Olympic roster announced

Poor coaching debut, poor player selection and starting lineup —why is Alex Morgan and Carly Lloyd there? Off nights from Press, Horan and Lavelle. Good Sweden team, always tough matchup. But, yes, millions paid to play on an increasing exclusive youth sport, and this is the outcome—aging stars, past prime. Based on the numbers of players we see out on the fields every week and all the various elite leagues and flights, we should be teeming with young talent coming up every year. What happened?
 
We need a makeover in the youth program. This whole ECNL pay $4k plus a another $6k in travel fees is insane. You can only attract the top athletes with money. This will not work for inner city kids that have amazing talent.

All of us who love the game agree with this. Unfortunately that's the not the path that soccer in the US is ever going to take. Way too much money at stake. Letter league soccer is status symbol for many, especially amongst parents of girls. Someone could start a 3rd, 4th, 5th league and there would be takers.

The MLS and USL1 will be the major players in finding and funding talent that normally wouldn't have access to fancy leagues and cool travel. There isn't enough horsepower in the women's game to make a dent. The NWSL struggles to exist year over year.

We really only care about soccer once every 4 years. Beyond that, nationally we don't really care if the gap between the US women's and the rest of the world is closing or has closed. We are perfectly fine sending out DDs to college, getting a great experience, then moving on to contribute to society. Nothing wrong with that really.
 
All of us who love the game agree with this. Unfortunately that's the not the path that soccer in the US is ever going to take. Way too much money at stake. Letter league soccer is status symbol for many, especially amongst parents of girls. Someone could start a 3rd, 4th, 5th league and there would be takers.

The MLS and USL1 will be the major players in finding and funding talent that normally wouldn't have access to fancy leagues and cool travel. There isn't enough horsepower in the women's game to make a dent. The NWSL struggles to exist year over year.

We really only care about soccer once every 4 years. Beyond that, nationally we don't really care if the gap between the US women's and the rest of the world is closing or has closed. We are perfectly fine sending out DDs to college, getting a great experience, then moving on to contribute to society. Nothing wrong with that really.
It will have to be a grassroot effort by top players along with college scouts. Don't put your kid in ECNL or a traveling league, do local leagues. Save the environment and your family time. If most of the top players are not in ECNL and doing discovery league to remain local, that's where the scouts will go. Don't let the DOCs convince you that lining their pockets, hotel pockets, and airline pockets to go to Dallas in the middle of June is the only way to be better. Get all the good local players together, form a local team and play to win the national championship.

Colleges-don't scout at these rich leagues, focus on local tournaments and only go to the main regional and national tourneys. If there are no scouts at ECNL or travel tournaments, then top players won't sign up for the travelling leagues.
 
It will have to be a grassroot effort by top players along with college scouts. Don't put your kid in ECNL or a traveling league, do local leagues. Save the environment and your family time. If most of the top players are not in ECNL and doing discovery league to remain local, that's where the scouts will go. Don't let the DOCs convince you that lining their pockets, hotel pockets, and airline pockets to go to Dallas in the middle of June is the only way to be better. Get all the good local players together, form a local team and play to win the national championship.

Colleges-don't scout at these rich leagues, focus on local tournaments and only go to the main regional and national tourneys. If there are no scouts at ECNL or travel tournaments, then top players won't sign up for the travelling leagues.
You're arguing that scouts wont go to ECNL events looking for players? I dont buy this.

I do believe that ECNL coaches are scouting local leagues looking for potential talent that they can put on scholarship if good enough.
 
It will have to be a grassroot effort by top players along with college scouts. Don't put your kid in ECNL or a traveling league, do local leagues. Save the environment and your family time. If most of the top players are not in ECNL and doing discovery league to remain local, that's where the scouts will go. Don't let the DOCs convince you that lining their pockets, hotel pockets, and airline pockets to go to Dallas in the middle of June is the only way to be better. Get all the good local players together, form a local team and play to win the national championship.

Colleges-don't scout at these rich leagues, focus on local tournaments and only go to the main regional and national tourneys. If there are no scouts at ECNL or travel tournaments, then top players won't sign up for the travelling leagues.

It briefs well but will never happen. The staffs at ECNL, GA, etc are too intertwined with clubs and colleges to ever become a reality.
 
You're arguing that scouts wont go to ECNL events looking for players? I dont buy this.

I do believe that ECNL coaches are scouting local leagues looking for potential talent that they can put on scholarship if good enough.
I'm suggesting college scouts stop going to ECNL events if the cost of entry and participating in ECNL is kept at a high price, exclusive to the wealthy only. If we want to make high level sports more affordable for everyone, we need college scouts to recognize they can be part of the solution.
 
It briefs well but will never happen. The staffs at ECNL, GA, etc are too intertwined with clubs and colleges to ever become a reality.
If the parents of good players unite and say they don't want to play travel leagues unless its for regional or national championships, the DOCs will oblige. The question is, can we overcome our own selfishness for the better of the game and the larger population of athletes.

I agree, it will be tough to become a reality. It will probably be an easier route to promote this to universities looking at their diversity and inclusion of female athletes. Football, basketball, MLS, etc give more access to male athletes a chance at college sports regardless of their financial means but female athletes without financial means don't have as many chances.
 
Amazing. Same could said for Iceland. The US is devoid of the top African American athletes. 100% certain if every top African American athlete played soccer their skill, size and pace on the US team would be incredible. We would also need better coaching.

Lol did you watch the Euros?? Italy not athletic at all compared to many teams and the US norm but championes as it’s futbol that matters…….
 
If the parents of good players unite and say they don't want to play travel leagues unless its for regional or national championships, the DOCs will oblige.
I love the optimism, but the parents you speak of are the same ones who can't even muster up the courage to have their kid skip a game for a family vacation, or skip a week of practice to attend an academic camp, or play for a local club instead of driving 2 hours for a brand name club, or...gasp...take a few weeks completely off from soccer for a mental break.

FOMO and fear of repercussions (eg, losing playing time) run their life and influences all family decisions. Once parents start claiming control of their family lives back, then we can move on to bigger issues.
 
I love the optimism, but the parents you speak of are the same ones who can't even muster up the courage to have their kid skip a game for a family vacation, or skip a week of practice to attend an academic camp, or play for a local club instead of driving 2 hours for a brand name club, or...gasp...take a few weeks completely off from soccer for a mental break.

FOMO and fear of repercussions (eg, losing playing time) run their life and influences all family decisions. Once parents start claiming control of their family lives back, then we can move on to bigger issues.
youth sports described... crazy isn't it.
 
I love the optimism, but the parents you speak of are the same ones who can't even muster up the courage to have their kid skip a game for a family vacation, or skip a week of practice to attend an academic camp, or play for a local club instead of driving 2 hours for a brand name club, or...gasp...take a few weeks completely off from soccer for a mental break.

FOMO and fear of repercussions (eg, losing playing time) run their life and influences all family decisions. Once parents start claiming control of their family lives back, then we can move on to bigger issues.
This is why it makes sense to have your kid try out at multiple clubs (if possible) and get connected with different coaches. Sometimes the grass is greener sometimes it's not. Once you've gone through different tryout options you'll have a good idea about when you're being fed BS. Also you won't be afraid to stand up and say "this doesn't make sense".

Coaches (especially for the youngers) know that new parents are at a disadvantage + understand how to push the fear button if needed.
 
That mostly applies in the younger years. At the olders tryouts seem to make little difference. Coaches know who is around and they call you or you call them.
Agree 1000% however I'd like to see the coach that turns away a superstar if they only show up for official tryouts + didn't call them directly and ask to join one of their sessions. The best players will get noticed. Only downside of not reaching out to a coach early is that they might have already filled up all available slots when the official tryouts occur.
 
I'm suggesting college scouts stop going to ECNL events if the cost of entry and participating in ECNL is kept at a high price, exclusive to the wealthy only. If we want to make high level sports more affordable for everyone, we need college scouts to recognize they can be part of the solution.
Why would college coaches not go to ECNL events? That's where the best players are, all at one location. That is the most efficient way to scout players. College coaches are there to get players that can help them win games and conferences so they can keep their jobs. They don't care about the social justice part.
 
Why would college coaches not go to ECNL events? That's where the best players are, all at one location. That is the most efficient way to scout players. College coaches are there to get players that can help them win games and conferences so they can keep their jobs. They don't care about the social justice part.

I believe the point being made is that the high dollar pay to play leagues do not truly capture the best talent. There are many who don't have access, who will never have access. And yes, you are right, college coaches don't care about "social justice", they operate within the system that is most efficient for them to do their job.

Pay to play is not the most efficient way to funnel the best of the best into a national program. It's worked up until now due to sheer volume. The rest of the world is catching up/caught up. The same principles/systems that have been applied to men's programs in Europe (and elsewhere) are now being applied to women's programs. Cost isn't a driving factor for development and playing in college isn't a thing. It's a thing here because it's a gateway to education. And really nothing wrong with that. As a country, we really don't care about soccer except during the world cup and the olympics. We like to be the best. We will have this discussion again in 2-4 years. By that time, it will be a new crop of parents that care. many of us will hopefully have watched our DDs play their 4 yrs and move on to positively contribute to society.

I certainly don't really care about how well we are postured in international women's soccer. Unless the timing is there, I'll likely not catch a live minute of Olympic soccer.
 
Why would college coaches not go to ECNL events? That's where the best players are, all at one location. That is the most efficient way to scout players. College coaches are there to get players that can help them win games and conferences so they can keep their jobs. They don't care about the social justice part.
Let's correct that: ECNL showcases are very convenient for college scouts to see the best rich kids play.

We're screwing the overall girls soccer program in America in order to please the wealthy rich parents. We will fall behind the soccer world if we continue to only pick amongst the best rich kids and not develop players locally at the grassroots level.

ECNL can be part of the solution by being more inclusive of teams rather than just limiting it to rich soccer clubs that charge a lot. ECNL should allow a team that is developed by a volunteer dad at the local park to enter ECNL if they're good enough.
 
Let's correct that: ECNL showcases are very convenient for college scouts to see the best rich kids play.

We're screwing the overall girls soccer program in America in order to please the wealthy rich parents. We will fall behind the soccer world if we continue to only pick amongst the best rich kids and not develop players locally at the grassroots level.

ECNL can be part of the solution by being more inclusive of teams rather than just limiting it to rich soccer clubs that charge a lot. ECNL should allow a team that is developed by a volunteer dad at the local park to enter ECNL if they're good enough.
As soon as you get those top level coaches and organizations to stop charging so much money for their services ... I will be right behind you. I am sure they will voluntarily cut their pay and start training kids for free once you explain that to them. The fields and all the other support groups will be right behind them. Actually if you could just get the airlines, hotels and car rental places to not charge so much ECNL/GA/MLS would be affordable. Lets ask them for a special "grassroots" soccer rate and see how that goes.
 
As soon as you get those top level coaches and organizations to stop charging so much money for their services ... I will be right behind you. I am sure they will voluntarily cut their pay and start training kids for free once you explain that to them. The fields and all the other support groups will be right behind them. Actually if you could just get the airlines, hotels and car rental places to not charge so much ECNL/GA/MLS would be affordable. Lets ask them for a special "grassroots" soccer rate and see how that goes.
It doesn't have to be one way or the other. You can still have coaches charge a lot for parents who can pay but you should also give scouting access to parents that can't pay and are willing to put their time into the parks on the weekends and after school. Help paying for fields and administrative costs will be part of the tournament fees, so that's not an issue.
 
It doesn't have to be one way or the other. You can still have coaches charge a lot for parents who can pay but you should also give scouting access to parents that can't pay and are willing to put their time into the parks on the weekends and after school. Help paying for fields and administrative costs will be part of the tournament fees, so that's not an issue.
Other countries do all this through player sales. The domestic clubs train the good players for free in the hopes of them getting good enough to sell. Then those sales finance the rest of the program. MLS is just now getting good enough to start becoming a source of talent for the big clubs. Until we get to the point where the MLS clubs are selling to Europe or each other more this won't change. Women's soccer is simply not profitable enough for this to happen and this is the reason why USA has done so well. Europe is now starting to subsidize their girls/women's programs so they are catching up.
 
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