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Path to Success is Exclusive Academies not a Million Fields
Posted on 7/7/26 at 8:24 am
Posted on 7/7/26 at 8:24 am
Everyone gets the script flipped when we get bounced from the World Cup. They will say “If our best athletes played…” and “we need soccer pitches all over the inner city…”
But soccer is a skill sport. Messi went to Barcelona at 13. He developed by playing in an exclusive group of the best players in the world.
The U.S. system optimizes for opportunity for the most athletes because our most popular sports are “off the bus sports.”
Because of this, the U.S. isn’t very good at most skill based sports especially on the men’s side. In the Olympics we mostly win at Swimming, Track, Basketball. All of those are much more natural athleticism than skill. Even in basketball all the most skilled players are now Euros, but our guys are athletic enough to still win.
Our system focuses on opportunity, which isn’t worse all around, but it is worse for maximizing skill. If you want the best possible U.S. soccer team, the solution is a handful of extremely exclusive academies across the country that get the best players in there by 10 years old. Not a million pitches where everyone plays hoof ball.
This is how the U.S. largely does winter sports now, and it’s been very successful. The U.S. hockey team has played together for years and years.
But soccer is a skill sport. Messi went to Barcelona at 13. He developed by playing in an exclusive group of the best players in the world.
The U.S. system optimizes for opportunity for the most athletes because our most popular sports are “off the bus sports.”
Because of this, the U.S. isn’t very good at most skill based sports especially on the men’s side. In the Olympics we mostly win at Swimming, Track, Basketball. All of those are much more natural athleticism than skill. Even in basketball all the most skilled players are now Euros, but our guys are athletic enough to still win.
Our system focuses on opportunity, which isn’t worse all around, but it is worse for maximizing skill. If you want the best possible U.S. soccer team, the solution is a handful of extremely exclusive academies across the country that get the best players in there by 10 years old. Not a million pitches where everyone plays hoof ball.
This is how the U.S. largely does winter sports now, and it’s been very successful. The U.S. hockey team has played together for years and years.
12
Posted on 7/7/26 at 8:37 am to TomRollTideRitter
quote:
Everyone gets the script flipped when we get bounced from the World Cup. They will say “If our best athletes played…” and “we need soccer pitches all over the inner city…”
But soccer is a skill sport. Messi went to Barcelona at 13. He developed by playing in an exclusive group of the best players in the world.
The U.S. system optimizes for opportunity for the most athletes because our most popular sports are “off the bus sports.”
Because of this, the U.S. isn’t very good at most skill based sports especially on the men’s side. In the Olympics we mostly win at Swimming, Track, Basketball. All of those are much more natural athleticism than skill. Even in basketball all the most skilled players are now Euros, but our guys are athletic enough to still win.
Our system focuses on opportunity, which isn’t worse all around, but it is worse for maximizing skill. If you want the best possible U.S. soccer team, the solution is a handful of extremely exclusive academies across the country that get the best players in there by 10 years old. Not a million pitches where everyone plays hoof ball.
This is how the U.S. largely does winter sports now, and it’s been very successful. The U.S. hockey team has played together for years and years.
100% spot on!
Posted on 7/7/26 at 8:46 am to TomRollTideRitter
quote:
The U.S. hockey team has played together for years and years.
Said this last night to my buddy. Need to do something similar to what US hockey has been doing.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 8:49 am to TomRollTideRitter
We need basically IHG type academy(s) that are able to pluck kids as early as 10 (or even earlier). Soccer is extremely unique in this way. It’s such a technical sport that in a lot of ways you are who you are well before 13 y/o.
Arsene Wenger used to say something to the effect of your technical level is set by age 10.
Arsene Wenger used to say something to the effect of your technical level is set by age 10.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:04 am to TomRollTideRitter
Every MLS team has academies, so there are over 20 in this country.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:09 am to TomRollTideRitter
quote:
Our system focuses on opportunity, which isn’t worse all around, but it is worse for maximizing skill. If you want the best possible U.S. soccer team, the solution is a handful of extremely exclusive academies across the country that get the best players in there by 10 years old. Not a million pitches where everyone plays hoof ball.
This is what the MLS is doing. The academies are starting to produce quality players. Freeman being the latest example of going from Orlando City Academy to the first team to Villareal in like 2 years. Also have players like Tessman and Pepi from FC Dallas Academy. The path to success is clear for Americans living domestically: start in MLS academy young with MLS Next experience, get into the first team with actual MLS time for a year or so, then move to a European club where you get play time. USL having nearly 300 teams, a lot in smaller metro areas, is a good thing for getting teenagers professional experience as well.
The foundation is finally there, but still too young to impact this World Cup, which shouldn't have mattered because this generation should have produced. 2030 and 2034 are both a long way away, but we *should* have better depth by then thanks to this.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:16 am to TomRollTideRitter
Seems like there’s been a shift in the last 15 years. The US players are getting better technically. Especially the wingers and midfielders.
Where the US is still behind is (oddly now) GK, CB and striker. All 3 positions where size and athleticism play big factors, striker less than the other 2, but it still matters.
Kids that have the ideal combo are still being pulled into football and sometimes basketball.
Where the US is still behind is (oddly now) GK, CB and striker. All 3 positions where size and athleticism play big factors, striker less than the other 2, but it still matters.
Kids that have the ideal combo are still being pulled into football and sometimes basketball.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:17 am to TomRollTideRitter
quote:
The U.S. hockey team has played together for years and years.
Im not sure thats true, and how often is that team actually together? Olympics (and this past one was the first with NHL players in some time
And world championships? They arent playing friendlies every couple of months
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:17 am to RB10
Need to start recruiting the lacrosse kids for CBs
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:24 am to RB10
quote:
Where the US is still behind is (oddly now) GK, CB and striker.
My 3 year old has been loving watching games with me and wanted a net. He's been loving "scoring goals" since we got it. Might have to break his heart and convert him to a CB. Don't worry, we will be STOUT at CB in the 2042 World Cup!
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:24 am to BamaCoaster
quote:
Every MLS team has academies, so there are over 20 in this country.
Maybe the MLS led academies aren’t very good. They all have different leadership and different ideas.
We need a massive US Soccer branded academy that combines school with training, more like an IMG but with 100 of them.
Here is what AI said:
Criticism of MLS academies and the U.S. soccer development structure stems from a combination of structural constraints, limited capacity, and restricted competition. Critics frequently point to several interconnected factors:
Closed System & Lack of Incentives: The lack of promotion and relegation means MLS teams have no threat of dropping down, reducing the pressure to constantly scout, develop, and sell top-tier talent for survival. Furthermore, independent youth clubs outside MLS receive little to no financial compensation when they develop a player who later turns professional.
Limited Capacity: There are disproportionately few academy spots for a country of over 350 million people. With fewer than 30 MLS academies in major cities, vast geographical areas are underserved, forcing many young athletes into the expensive, disjointed "pay-to-play" youth ecosystem.
Tactical & Technical Shortcomings: Observers, including voices on platforms like U.S. Soccer Collective, argue that youth systems often prioritize safe, methodical tactics over risk-taking and individual creativity.Scouting and Roster Bottlenecks: Because roster sizes are limited, early selections are often retained for years due to a "virtuous cycle" of familiarity. This heavily gatekeeps entry to the sport, making it notoriously difficult for highly talented players who do not enter the MLS academy system early to break through.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:33 am to TomRollTideRitter
quote:
Messi went to Barcelona at 13.
And he was the best 13 year old there the day he arrived.
quote:
But soccer is a skill sport
A huge part of that, the technical ability, is developed without coaching. You can find any random brazilian male on a beach in Rio that's never had formal coaching that can keep the ball up for 100 touches. Soccer is also a rep sport and most of those at a young age happen away from formal coaching. Dominicans are good at baseball because by the time they're 18 they've hit a million bottle caps or black beans with a broomstick.
quote:
If you want the best possible U.S. soccer team, the solution is a handful of extremely exclusive academies across the country that get the best players in there by 10 years old
Fine in theory, but multiple issues with this line of reasoning:
1. How are you going to identify the 50-100 best 10 year olds in an area nearly 4 million square miles?
2. Many of the best 10 year olds flame out, and some of the average 10 year olds become global superstars
The solution I proposed is that MLS teams have an academy in every 100-150K metro within an X mile radius. So Miami has an academy in Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, Miami, West Palm. Orlando has an academy in Tampa, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola.
That's how you do both, you identify the best players in a workable area and let them play together. The best 2 or 3 from each metro eventually moves to the "main" academy for said club and go from there. You don't cast the others to the side, you continue to develop them in their competitive environment. OCSC Panama City plays OCSC Pensacola twice a month. The goal becomes develop instead of win because you're all the same organization. It's a hyrbrid version of European academies and minor league baseball.
The hang up there is that all of that stuff costs money. Now, in theory, if that's happening across the country you've eventually built a Ligue 1, Eredivise type league full of uber talented 18-23 year olds that you can sell to Spain and England for a boatload of money. One elite player being sold can fund 5 years of overhead for an entire academy. Nothing similar will ever be implemented with an ROI though
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 9:43 am
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:33 am to TomRollTideRitter
I know that "we need more black kids to play soccer" is polarizing, but maybe the MLS academies could do a better job of outreach in the African-American parts of their cities and identifying kids for their academies.
Host events in a park. Bring out some of the players. You don't even need a soccer goal. Grill some hot dogs. Give away some jersey tee shirts. Have all the kids line up and race. Take the 5 fastest kids and see how far they can kick a kickball. Proceed from there.
Host events in a park. Bring out some of the players. You don't even need a soccer goal. Grill some hot dogs. Give away some jersey tee shirts. Have all the kids line up and race. Take the 5 fastest kids and see how far they can kick a kickball. Proceed from there.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:35 am to TomRollTideRitter
Using Messi is a ridiculously stupid example and I hear it all the damn time from coaches locally. Furthermore, Messi went to Barca when he was 13 because he developed on the streets of Argentina.
There’s tons of guys like Pulisic that went to Europe in HS after developing just fine.
The one and only issue with American soccer development is that it’s not the only sport like it is in most countries. New Zealand will never be great because they favor Rugby.
If the U.S. wants to beat every other country in the world in their #1 sport, it has to be our #1 sport and it just never will be.
There’s tons of guys like Pulisic that went to Europe in HS after developing just fine.
The one and only issue with American soccer development is that it’s not the only sport like it is in most countries. New Zealand will never be great because they favor Rugby.
If the U.S. wants to beat every other country in the world in their #1 sport, it has to be our #1 sport and it just never will be.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:38 am to Riseupfromtherubble
quote:
The solution I proposed is that MLS teams have an academy in every 100-150K metro within an X mile radius. So Miami has an academy in Fort Lauderdale, the Keys,
This is already occurring. My daughter plays for the FC Dallas system. We are in Florida.
By the way, it sucks imo. They try to push everyone to be a Messi and try to focus on individual development over just playing the game. I hear their leadership push all the time “it’s not about winning today it’s about where your kid is at 16,17,18”
That’s great in theory, but no one wants to lose today so the one ball hog that maybe good in 5 years can develop.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 9:39 am
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:39 am to AGGIES
quote:
US Soccer branded academy that combines school with training
I mean we've had that in Bradenton since 1998 that turned into IMG in 2017 and it wasn't very successful.
quote:
Closed System & Lack of Incentives: The lack of promotion and relegation means MLS teams have no threat of dropping down, reducing the pressure to constantly scout, develop, and sell top-tier talent for survival. Furthermore, independent youth clubs outside MLS receive little to no financial compensation when they develop a player who later turns professional.
The lack of compensation paid to youth clubs is they #1 reason that youth development is being held back in this country. If they could receive comp for transfers then the entire play for pay system ends because the need to pay, at least the huge amounts currently being charged, are no longer needed.
I disagree with the AI on the incentive for MLS teams to no not develop talent. The owners clearly want to make money, and now there are 3 other competitions to play in besides MLS that they can make significant money in (US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, and League's Cup). You need the depth to compete there, and the MLS salary cap restrictions makes the homegrown and U-23 contracts extremely coveted for that depth. Plus they do get transfer fees. Transferring an academy player you developed for multiple millions of dollars is highly lucrative.
There are issues, mainly this:
quote:
With fewer than 30 MLS academies in major cities, vast geographical areas are underserved, forcing many young athletes into the expensive, disjointed "pay-to-play" youth ecosystem.
But there are finally tangible steps being taken to rectify it.
I've often been overly optimistic about things though, so I can be totally off base.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:47 am to baldona
quote:
This is already occurring. My daughter plays for the FC Dallas system. We are in Florida.
By the way, it sucks imo. They try to push everyone to be a Messi and try to focus on individual development over just playing the game. I hear their leadership push all the time “it’s not about winning today it’s about where your kid is at 16,17,18”
That’s great in theory, but no one wants to lose today so the one ball hog that maybe good in 5 years can develop.
I don't know if you're being facetious or not, but these clubs in the first tier are still businesses and the prospects are assets. It makes all the sense in the world to maximize your individual asset value over winning a match. I don't care if my 401K sees a 10% spike today only to have the bottom fall out a year before I retire.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 9:53 am to TomRollTideRitter
Do whatever it is that the French are doing. They've produced the most successful system in the last 30 years. Beyond Mbappe and Zidane, top to bottom they have the best rosters, so their developmental system is probably one we should study and emulate to a certain extent.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 10:03 am to KiwiHead
quote:
Do whatever it is that the French are doing. They've produced the most successful system in the last 30 years. Beyond Mbappe and Zidane, top to bottom they have the best rosters, so their developmental system is probably one we should study and emulate to a certain extent.
Easier said than done. The best athletes in France play soccer and they’re extremely skilled to top it off.
It doesn’t matter how much the US emulates their system when the top athletes aren’t going to choose soccer.
Just go look at the measurables for the French roster. If they had been born in America most of them would have been scooped up as kids by football teams, a handful by basketball and baseball. The majority of them would have done it at a high level, D1 college or better. Soccer would be an afterthought.
ETA: Think about it like this:
20 of the most promising 12 year old athletes in the country are lined up, with their parents. I tell them they have 2 choices:
Your child can play football, basketball or baseball. They are a lock to receive a P5 scholarship and have a shot at the pros.
Or
Your child can play soccer. They are a lock to be a professional, but the level is unknown. Could be EPL or La Liga, could be MLS.
Right now, 19 out of 20 will not choose soccer. Maybe all 20.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 10:18 am
Posted on 7/7/26 at 10:28 am to KiwiHead
quote:
Do whatever it is that the French are doing. They've produced the most successful system in the last 30 years. Beyond Mbappe and Zidane, top to bottom they have the best rosters, so their developmental system is probably one we should study and emulate to a certain extent.
I watched a documentary about Mbappe the other day. He grew up in a shitty neighborhood and his bedroom window overlooked the neighborhood soccer field. He got identified and picked up by the national team academy, nd the rest is history.
But I agree with you that we should "do whatever it is that the French are doing." We don't have to get "all the best athletes." Just some of them. There are 3-5 million black people in France, and 45 million black people in the U.S.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 10:30 am
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