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What would you like to see from soccer in the US going forward?
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:05 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:05 am
We've all been batting around things that we think will make the national team better for World Cup and other competition. ie: more and better academies. A better way to identify future talent at younger ages, etc. And that's understandable since we are in the middle of a WC.
But outside of the national team, what would you like to see happen in US soccer? More viewers for MLS? More following of the top leagues?
My own goals are a lot more basic but maybe just as hard to achieve:
I'd like to see high school soccer draw say maybe 1/4 or 1/5 the fans as high school football. Here we've gotten about on a par with the baseball crowds and are above things like swimming, power lifting, tennis, etc. I'm not sure about basketball crowds because it's been awhile since I went to a game but I think soccer might be a little short of their crowds.
I'd like to see a venue for the "in between" ages - the age where most rec programs stop or the numbers dwindle dramatically and the high school and clubs of high school players kick in. Maybe Jr. High or maybe an extension of he rec teams?
I'd like to see more news coverage. We've made strides for that here with the local paper providing articles and photos weekly. And you see some television coverage throughout the state around playoff time. But there still is a long way to go to make an impression on kids and parents deciding what sport or sports to concentrate on.
But outside of the national team, what would you like to see happen in US soccer? More viewers for MLS? More following of the top leagues?
My own goals are a lot more basic but maybe just as hard to achieve:
I'd like to see high school soccer draw say maybe 1/4 or 1/5 the fans as high school football. Here we've gotten about on a par with the baseball crowds and are above things like swimming, power lifting, tennis, etc. I'm not sure about basketball crowds because it's been awhile since I went to a game but I think soccer might be a little short of their crowds.
I'd like to see a venue for the "in between" ages - the age where most rec programs stop or the numbers dwindle dramatically and the high school and clubs of high school players kick in. Maybe Jr. High or maybe an extension of he rec teams?
I'd like to see more news coverage. We've made strides for that here with the local paper providing articles and photos weekly. And you see some television coverage throughout the state around playoff time. But there still is a long way to go to make an impression on kids and parents deciding what sport or sports to concentrate on.
6
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:14 am to Methuselah
Honestly I think one thing the US really really needs is more male soccer college programs. I know with Title IX male soccer is often one of the first sports to get cut and that does not help. If you look at where the elite American athletes come from, the majority are in the south, yet a lot of these southern schools don't have soccer programs.
It's going to be hard to convince kids to play a sport where the colleges they want to go to don't have that sport
It's going to be hard to convince kids to play a sport where the colleges they want to go to don't have that sport
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:16 am to Methuselah
I'd like to see the Atlanta and Orlando teams be a success.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:18 am to pvilleguru
I want to see the MLS academies start producing some good talent.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:28 am to Methuselah
If we have any hope of becoming a bigger competitor each World Cup cycle, we can't rely on high school and college programs to develop our youth talent
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:33 am to Tiger1242
quote:
Honestly I think one thing the US really really needs is more male soccer college programs
no no no
quote:
If you look at where the elite American athletes come from, the majority are in the south, yet a lot of these southern schools don't have soccer programs.
Stop being biased. Maybe in the college football ranks but in other sports no.
Historically the best area for american soccer players has been the DC area, California and Texas. Who also produce great football talent.
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 7:35 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:38 am to StraightCashHomey21
I'm not being biased, go look at population breakdowns compared to professional athletes, the higher % is in the south...
Which are area where there is more emphasis on soccer, not to mention CA and TX are the two biggest states in the country. And why no no no to more college soccer? Less exposure is the exact opposite of what soccer needs
quote:
Historically the best area for american soccer players has been the DC area, California and Texas.
Which are area where there is more emphasis on soccer, not to mention CA and TX are the two biggest states in the country. And why no no no to more college soccer? Less exposure is the exact opposite of what soccer needs
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:38 am to Tiger1242
quote:Actually most 'experts' say that college soccer is hurtful since its a lower level of play than pro clubs. Our younger players need to get into pro run academy programs/teams and probably into the MLS at younger ages. I really don't know, I'm just regurgitating shite I've read.
Honestly I think one thing the US really really needs is more male soccer college programs.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:39 am to Tiger1242
quote:
I'm not being biased, go look at population breakdowns compared to professional athletes, the higher % is in the south...
sure in the NFL
not in the NBA and other sports leagues.
Just b/c you're from the south doesn't make you better athletes at everything
quote:b/c the rules with the NCAA
And why no no no to more college soccer? Less exposure is the exact opposite of what soccer needs
this guys need to become professionals full time and before be in youth set ups
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 7:41 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:41 am to TheZaba
quote:
If we have any hope of becoming a bigger competitor each World Cup cycle, we can't rely on high school and college programs to develop our youth talent
I agree about college. If nothing else, title IX is a roadblock that I don't think will go away anytime soon.
But I think there is something to be said for increasing the popularity of the sport here. And in the US there is really nothing able to grow the grass roots support like local high school programs. Most have built in fields (almost all football fields can be converted to soccer fields, though some are too narrow to provide a true soccer feel). Fund raising is still needed to be sure but it goes a long way to allowing the non affluent kids to experience and in some cases fall in love with the game.
I don't disagree that a true functioning academy system for the most talented would benefit the high levels like the national team. But I think you still need the broad based love of the game that academies can't provide.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:43 am to Methuselah
quote:
I agree about college. If nothing else, title IX is a roadblock that I don't think will go away anytime soon.
Thats not even the major road block. Its limiting practices, conditioning etc.
Being a professional or in a youth system doesn't have those limitations
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:47 am to StraightCashHomey21
quote:There's a reason why there are mainly only college football talent in the south. Just one small example is my hometown of Batesville, Miss. Very rural area with a county population of about 35,000. We have 3 current NFLer's and had two guys with 7+ year careers in the NFL in the last 10 years. Not to mention another 15 or 20 guys playing/played D1 ball at BCS level schools.
Stop being biased. Maybe in the college football ranks but in other sports no.
The problem is that until about 4 years ago, there was no youth soccer programs in the area at all. Yes those guys were college football talents, but who is to say that if there was more emphasis or availability of youth soccer that these guys wouldn't turn into great soccer talents instead?
Think of all the little scat backs that play American Football that have the athleticism to excel at soccer if they begin training as a youth.
I realize this isn't exclusive to the south, but the southern states may be producing far less than every other region in the soccer for the US.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:47 am to StraightCashHomey21
quote:Yea, college can only train about 6 months per year (I think they break 3 months over Christmas and 3 months summers) give or take. The better players do train with some of the MLS academies but they aren't allowed to play in games which is really fricked up. Its an NCAA eligibility issue that limits them, that has to change immediately. (I think this is accurate)
Being a professional or in a youth system doesn't have those limitations
ps - by games I mean academy teams or reserve team games, not actual MLS games.
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 7:48 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:51 am to NorthReb
quote:
There's a reason why there are mainly only college football talent in the south. Just one small example is my hometown of Batesville, Miss. Very rural area with a county population of about 35,000. We have 3 current NFLer's and had two guys with 7+ year careers in the NFL in the last 10 years. Not to mention another 15 or 20 guys playing/played D1 ball at BCS level schools.
The problem is that until about 4 years ago, there was no youth soccer programs in the area at all. Yes those guys were college football talents, but who is to say that if there was more emphasis or availability of youth soccer that these guys wouldn't turn into great soccer talents instead?
Think of all the little scat backs that play American Football that have the athleticism to excel at soccer if they begin training as a youth.
I realize this isn't exclusive to the south, but the southern states may be producing far less than every other region in the soccer for the US.
Im not arguing against potential soccer talent in the south. But the argument about the south producing the best athletes for everything is absurd.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:53 am to The Mick
quote:
The better players do train with some of the MLS academies but they aren't allowed to play in games which is really fricked up. Its an NCAA eligibility issue that limits them, that has to change immediately. (I think this is accurate)
At that age its pointless. You should be fighting for a B team or be loaded out to a team not playing in college.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:54 am to StraightCashHomey21
quote:Gotcha. My bad, I agree with you there. They have a ton of athletes, but there are great athletes all over the country. Outside of the southeast these great atheletes have many more sports to choose to participate in at a young age.
Im not arguing against potential soccer talent in the south. But the argument about the south producing the best athletes for everything is absurd.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:56 am to The Mick
In my experience, soccer is self-selling for those who play it. Once the kids get a feel for the game very many of them fall in love with it. It's something about the free flowing nature of playing it that puts it above stop and go sports like baseball and football for them.
I don't have any problems with academies and development programs. But you have to have something to feed into that. You have to be able to reach kids other than those whose parents are able and willing to shell out the big $$ for club teams.
Also, as I've said in another thread, I don't think the MLS teams are yet in a financial position to to provide full functioning academies in any great degree.
I don't have any problems with academies and development programs. But you have to have something to feed into that. You have to be able to reach kids other than those whose parents are able and willing to shell out the big $$ for club teams.
Also, as I've said in another thread, I don't think the MLS teams are yet in a financial position to to provide full functioning academies in any great degree.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 7:57 am to Methuselah
Soccer in the development of players is a lot like baseball, the sooner you can get big time prospects in with good coaching, the better off the development can be.
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 7:58 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 8:01 am to StraightCashHomey21
quote:
sure in the NFL
not in the NBA and other sports leagues.
Based off this per capita map you are wrong, it's spread out but looks like the highest is in the mid-southeast
Again with baseball the south wins, especially when you consider that the majority of those CA guys are from Southern CA
Clearly the South dominates the NFL.
I couldn't find a good MLS map but I imagine it is more spread out, plus a lot more foreign born players.
Just because I am from the south doesn't mean I a wrong that more pro athletes come from there. I am not a pro athlete, so I dk why I would really care
Posted on 7/2/14 at 8:03 am to StraightCashHomey21
quote:You're saying its too late by that age? I agree development is younger and younger every year but some of these guys take the scholly to a bigtime college for the education as well in case soccer doesn't pan out. Since they can train with the academies they should be able to play in the b team matches. Some of these college guys might actually develop into a national team level player.
At that age its pointless. You should be fighting for a B team or be loaded out to a team not playing in college.
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