ESPN FC: You mentioned the 16-to-18 age group -- is that just because not as many kids in the U.S. are in professional environments at that age?
SC: Yeah, I think it's the most important age group. I've trained this age group for the past three years now, and that's where you really see kids drop off the pace or keep up the pace of the game. I see 16-year-olds, OK -- they realize it's professional soccer or that this high level isn't for them, so they're going to go to a smaller club. That is the age where you make or break it.
It's very interesting, and I think it's very important that they have high-quality games week in, week out, and good training four times a week at that age. Prior to that, you can do a lot of wonderful things on the technical side and the physical side to get players ready, but from 16 to 18, that's where you need to learn the tactics of the game and implement them on the weekend against high-quality opponents. That's the problem in the U.S. right now.
SC: Yeah, I think it's the most important age group. I've trained this age group for the past three years now, and that's where you really see kids drop off the pace or keep up the pace of the game. I see 16-year-olds, OK -- they realize it's professional soccer or that this high level isn't for them, so they're going to go to a smaller club. That is the age where you make or break it.
It's very interesting, and I think it's very important that they have high-quality games week in, week out, and good training four times a week at that age. Prior to that, you can do a lot of wonderful things on the technical side and the physical side to get players ready, but from 16 to 18, that's where you need to learn the tactics of the game and implement them on the weekend against high-quality opponents. That's the problem in the U.S. right now.
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