re: The "US can't compete because athletes choose other sports" Argument

I don't think we have plenty of 5, 6 and 7 year olds that focus on soccer year round. We have some, but not the perecentage or numbers that other countries have.

I could easily be wrong on that and I don't even know where to get numbers on it, but sorry, I'm just not going to take your word for it. I don't know a single friend, co worker etc. with a boy about that age that plays soccer that doesn't also play other sports, or even do much more than kick the ball around every once in awhile when its not in season.

The few coaches I know don't seem to see kids do that until 10 at the earliest.

Also, to my point about elite players, the guys that are clearly elite athletes even from a young age, play a lot of different sports and don't settle into one until its too for soccer in a lot of cases.

You're talking about how to develop an entire generation of players. I'm talking about how just one or two more elite athleticism players make a different to our current squad. Its not the same argument but you keep trying to push mine into it.