re: How the hell can we be good at basically all other sports

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We need better coaching and technical development

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Everyone wants this. But suggesting that a random NFL star would have been a great soccer player ignores the mountain of evidence that suggests otherwise.

Let's take Michael Bradley for example. Can you imagine him coming through the French system? At 15 years old he could run forever, he is about as tall and as strong as you will find in central midfield players. If he grew up in France, he'd be oozing with technical skill, just by virtue of the French system. We've wasted him completely, as a player of his height and his running ability would be a gem of a youth player everywhere else. But his technical skills are not up to the elite level, even though his considerable athletic abilities allow him to play in Serie A for an upper-tier team. That's how good the athletes we already have are.

I'm the college soccer guy.

I will state again that we misuse this vast resource unique to the USA.

Before I explain my opinion, I want you to understand that I do not expect college soccer to produce elite, national-team caliber players. Nor do I think college soccer as it is currently construed with a short season and practice time limits is useful.

However, if we could change the restrictions on college soccer, it could be a resource to make soccer better on the whole in the USA.

If we invested in that aspect of the game, more players would be in a high level training environment that were passed over by our thin (relative to our country's size and population) scouting resources and these late-bloomers would then go on to become professionals in our domestic league or perhaps other leagues.

The more professionals we are stocking MLS with, the more attractive it becomes as a spectator sport, and the more attractive soccer becomes as an option for youths.

The more attractive it becomes, the more money it generates.

The more money MLS generates, the less money we can then charge the families of players.

Let me expand on the development issue here in the US. My kids are elementary and middle school. Both in pay to play developmental soccer. Great coaching and have developed good skills.

My oldest is in two leagues. He has been "selected" to have the opportunity to join their developmental teams. This would mean more money out of my pocket, and travel to practices of 2 of 2.50 hours one way.

If the coaches begged him to play and offered to waive the fees, we wouldn't do it. The travel is too much. I'm focused on raising kids, not athletes.

That model will work in larger cities, but it still pales in comparison to true club development that is done in other countries.