- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Dan Wetzel blames "Travel Ball" for the lack of development of US Soccer
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:19 am to real turf fan
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:19 am to real turf fan
My kid played at a high level until 18. Could have played college, but chose otherwise. All state high school and highest level of organized. Speaking objectively based upon my observations.
Organized soccer in the US is a nightmare
1) They strongly discourage multi sport athletes. So if your kid is 12-14 and wants to play another sport, they will intentionally relegate your child down regardless of talent. I watched many extremely relented kids leave bc they were ignored or intentionally treated poorly bc they played another sport. Many were top talent type kids.
2) Pay to play is a rule. Pay out the arse for little Johnny to receive One on One training from the Coach or Assistant Coach , Little Johnny is in the top team regardless of talent. Little Johnny will get massive playing time
3) They decide a kids position at 14 and never modify it , regardless of development or growth. Watched kids play striker at 14 bc they grew quick. At 17-18, still playing striker despite the fact that four other kids grew bigger and developed better between 15-17.
Organized soccer in the US is a nightmare
1) They strongly discourage multi sport athletes. So if your kid is 12-14 and wants to play another sport, they will intentionally relegate your child down regardless of talent. I watched many extremely relented kids leave bc they were ignored or intentionally treated poorly bc they played another sport. Many were top talent type kids.
2) Pay to play is a rule. Pay out the arse for little Johnny to receive One on One training from the Coach or Assistant Coach , Little Johnny is in the top team regardless of talent. Little Johnny will get massive playing time
3) They decide a kids position at 14 and never modify it , regardless of development or growth. Watched kids play striker at 14 bc they grew quick. At 17-18, still playing striker despite the fact that four other kids grew bigger and developed better between 15-17.
0
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:20 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Do the best international soccer players make starting NFL money
Christiano Ronaldo makes $235 million. Lionel Messi is making $70 million playing soccer in the US. Mbappe makes $70mm, Haaland makes $60mm, Vini Jr makes $40mm.
If you're not a QB or an edge rusher in the NFL you're not touching soccer salaries.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:22 am to Gravitiger
The biggest issues are lack of legitimate coaches. I have nephews and nieces that played and both had tons of potential with one playing semi-pro at 16.
My niece was superstar potential and simply didn’t enjoy it anymore because the coaches were pretty bad. This was Florida soccer which is one of the toughest too.
The people that are running most of these “academies” and “travel ball” teams are incompetent and no amount of talent is going to overcome that.
They also only care about themselves and not the players. I’ve seen it over and over again.
The pay to play logistics and stupid system are the biggest detriments. For years, the USMNT was a bunch of kids whose mommies and daddies paid for them to be on the team and training. It is still mostly that.
My niece was superstar potential and simply didn’t enjoy it anymore because the coaches were pretty bad. This was Florida soccer which is one of the toughest too.
The people that are running most of these “academies” and “travel ball” teams are incompetent and no amount of talent is going to overcome that.
They also only care about themselves and not the players. I’ve seen it over and over again.
The pay to play logistics and stupid system are the biggest detriments. For years, the USMNT was a bunch of kids whose mommies and daddies paid for them to be on the team and training. It is still mostly that.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:26 am to AlonsoWDC
quote:
Youth sports in the US is backwards as hell.
Whoever downvoted this is a fricking retard.
Enjoy your kids' youth sports being hijacked by private equity and venture capitalism.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:26 am to real turf fan
travel soccer is a money making scheme. they don't care about development. i have two that have played in one of the largest clubs in the country and its a joke how little they care about identifying and nurturing talent. its strictly a business and they do shameful things all of the time that suit their interests over the parents and players.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:27 am to Wayne Campbell
quote:
Christiano Ronaldo makes $235 million.
In Saudi Arabia
quote:
Lionel Messi is making $70 million playing soccer in the US
Lionel Messi is not making 70 million because of what he’s done in the US
quote:
Mbappe makes $70mm,
In Spain
quote:
Haaland makes $60mm
In England
quote:
If you're not a QB or an edge rusher in the NFL you're not touching soccer salaries.
But it’s still life changing earnings at home in the US close to friends and family.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:27 am to real turf fan
Soccer with feet, is like basketball to hands.
If you don't dribble, a LOT, practicing daily and most times alone, then you won't do anything high level
Soccer guys are solid athletes. But how many put in the quiet unseen work, and learn to control the ball at a top level?
If you don't dribble, a LOT, practicing daily and most times alone, then you won't do anything high level
Soccer guys are solid athletes. But how many put in the quiet unseen work, and learn to control the ball at a top level?
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:33 am to Adam Banks
quote:
It’s just all our prodigies are playing other sports.
6 ft 5 in Erling Haaland could have been a great Tight End in America
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:36 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Our best athletes arent going to play soccer because they wont get extremely wealthy playing soccer.
/thread
Wro g.
Top soccer players make top NFL qb money, and there are about 1000 soccer players in the world making over $1 million per year.
The top ~250 soccer players all make over $10 million per year.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:36 am to real turf fan
Honestly, the US just doesn’t care about soccer as much as the rest of the world. That’s ok, it’s not a problem to be solved.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:37 am to lsusteve1
quote:
Football
Basketball
Baseball
Soccer
Not so fast...
Popularity of sports among the younger generations (Z and Alpha)
Football
Basketball
Soccer
Baseball
Soccer has officially overtaken baseball as a favorite sport among young Americans.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:39 am to real turf fan
He is mostly right.
Like baseball, the focus is on winning 13 "World Series" per year, rather than focusing on drilling and individual skill development.
Like baseball, the focus is on winning 13 "World Series" per year, rather than focusing on drilling and individual skill development.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:40 am to Tiger in NY
quote:
Top soccer players make top NFL qb money, and there are about 1000 soccer players in the world making over $1 million per year. The top ~250 soccer players all make over $10 million per year.
You are right. It’s not because of lack of money. It’s just not a priority by our best athletes. For whatever reason they are split in different directions.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:41 am to real turf fan
It's $$$, pure and simple.
All the great athletes can make more money in basketball, football and baseball.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:42 am to Sofaking2
quote:This is where I'm at. Why do we need to be among the best at soccer? Is the investment worth it? It's okay if not and it doesn't happen organically.
Honestly, the US just doesn’t care about soccer as much as the rest of the world. That’s ok, it’s not a problem to be solved.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:46 am to Rex Feral
quote:
t's a friend group of similar minded people who you get to hang out with and drink beer with in the evenings after the kids go to bed.
Communities used to be built around the local church. Now they're built around getting hammered and hitting on Braxtyn's mom.
And we wonder why our society is failing.
This post was edited on 7/8/26 at 11:47 am
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:49 am to Gravitiger
thing is, you can get fabulously wealthy in the US being a player nobody wants and not even close to the best at your position.
does that happen in soccer?
does that happen in soccer?
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:54 am to real turf fan
quote:
lack of development of US Soccer
The USA is fine at soccer. They just aren't elite and may never be so. They finish in the top 16 almost every WC they play in. The overall talent of the team is better than it has ever been.
However, relying on MLS goaltending and a 38 year old MLS central defender is not going to "net' you good results. Having better goaltending and Ream not playing (someone else more athletic) legit could have stopped 2 goals.
But it was clear top to bottom Belgium was far more talented. That's just how it is when a lot of their top athletes as boys want to play soccer and soccer is the 4th biggest sport in the states, and not even that depending on the part of the country. Wrestling/lacrosse/hockey/car racing/MMA/Golf/Tennis all are right in that same realm depending where you live
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:55 am to magildachunks
quote:
Soccer has officially overtaken baseball as a favorite sport among young Americans.
Given baseball complexes are so profitable PE is investing in it I doubt this is the case.
Posted on 7/8/26 at 11:56 am to Gravitiger
If "travel ball" explained our lack of men's soccer development, our women's team wouldn't be the best in the world either, because girls' youth soccer here is just as bad as boys' is.
Page 6 of 10
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News