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

My personal observation is that US soccer isn't concerned with the training of kids till maybe 12 years old.

Even the MLS development academies are set up this way currently. They look at development as a funnel with a large amount of players in one end and a few coming out the other. They often have difficulty staffing programs with good coaches at U12+ and there is a serious lack of quality coaches for kids below that age. The steps are as below:
1) get as many kids as possible into the program at a young/rec age

2) the quality of coaching is mostly parent coached and is used to just get them exposure to the game until age 10 to 12

3) Take the best of the kids left in the sport at that age and start coaching them up.

The problem isn't the funnel style many in - few out system. Its that what happens between age 4 and 12 is hugely variable and not at all standardized. This is also the most important age for development. Most European clubs bring in Elite kids in their area around 9, global talent is brought in by age 12.

They European clubs are grading kids on scales like these below. The American clubs are using the best of whoever is left in the game at age 12 approach.

• TIPS (Ajax): Talent, Intelligence, Personality, Speed
• TABS (L’vpool):Technical,Attitude,Balance,Speed
• SUPS : Speed,Understanding,Personality,Skill
• PAS :Pace,Attitude,Skill

We need to spend more time on the activities and coaching of younger kids and we need to keep the best athletes in soccer.

Yes, having the best athletes matters.

You can't coach speed and size. The US knows this as well and the US Youth Soccer's internal grading instructs them to find the tallest and biggest prospects with ages closest to the age qualification dates of various teams.

Having the right coaching earlier will also help us keep the best athletes in the system.