Smaller soccer players

[Unregistered]

What about extending DAP by a few years? That way, those players who have come up through the system and are identified as having exceptional ball skills and field vision, but need to develop more physically (having been passed over by the best college programs), can continue on training in an environment which values their development, rather than languishing on a sub-par college team or quitting altogether. The club should be invested in these kids, having put in years training them, so want to see them succeed. The players could be taking college classes while training. Yes, yes, I know, there is always the funding issue.

The problem is soccer coaches genuinely believe that they are selecting talent when in truth they are selecting maturity, size and experience in the early years.

Their internal bias equates size and speed and maturity with skill. "Maturity" is one aspect of relative age affect. At U9, these are not true predictors of future skill but they are self fulfilling predictors because they show immediate results.

[Unregistered]

The problem is soccer coaches genuinely believe that they are selecting talent when in truth they are selecting maturity, size and experience in the early years.

Their internal bias equates size and speed and maturity with skill. "Maturity" is one aspect of relative age affect. At U9, these are not true predictors of future skill but they are self fulfilling predictors because they show immediate results.

Not so sure about this at many clubs during the early years. As I mentioned, there are many very good smaller players at my sons club on U9-U13 teams that are being properly developed and placed on the top teams. My kid is still young, but it sounds like it's in the high school years around U15/U16, and, of course, at college recruiting time, where your statement above definitely starts coming into play. It will be interesting to how his club handles all these strong smaller players over the next few years. Hopefully, they'll pass the test and stay true to their philosophy of development being the number one priority.

[Unregistered]

The problem is soccer coaches genuinely believe that they are selecting talent when in truth they are selecting maturity, size and experience in the early years.

Their internal bias equates size and speed and maturity with skill. "Maturity" is one aspect of relative age affect. At U9, these are not true predictors of future skill but they are self fulfilling predictors because they show immediate results.

Yes its mostly about the way most coaches here don't know how to ID talent like the soccer playing countries. it really is opposite here, try to take an early maturing kid and teach him ball skills ( or play low level team style ofsoccer without ball skills).

In rest of world, they ID and will work around skills, and be patient/train the physical over the years in pro academy.

Of course you have to be athletic (relative to your physical Maturity)- big and small players both can be athletic-

Again, the top youth players in the US that are in UK and Spain TOP pro academies are SMALL.

most parents don't know who these kids are cause they are not in that circle around truly high level players. Not there fault its the ir kidscoaches that are misrepresentring to them what true talent is, cause they dotn know how to teach it.

Most US academy teams are mediocre ( ie training to win now, and training college physical style for future colleg players not future pro players)-- a notable exception is LA Galaxy-- and small skilled athletic players are VERY welcome there, no surprise.


The D1 coaches are lining up here at academy showcase cause generally that's the best they can hope for here, there are few teams training highest level beyond physical-- but the top teams are getting many players from overseas (often the shortest on the roster) and those [players often the impact players.

Its very obvious to a trained eye- example, look at a one v one vs goalies situation in a typical academy game- kid just blasts the ball (often to the goalie) - in any pro academy around the world soccer 101 is to dribble/fake the goalie and simply place it in- what you are taught when are trained technically. also look at the off the ball movement- weak here, that why you need such physical players, not enough teammates open.

[Unregistered]

Yes its mostly about the way most coaches here don't know how to ID talent like the soccer playing countries. it really is opposite here, try to take an early maturing kid and teach him ball skills ( or play low level team style ofsoccer without ball skills).

In rest of world, they ID and will work around skills, and be patient/train the physical over the years in pro academy.

Of course you have to be athletic (relative to your physical Maturity)- big and small players both can be athletic-

Again, the top youth players in the US that are in UK and Spain TOP pro academies are SMALL.

most parents don't know who these kids are cause they are not in that circle around truly high level players. Not there fault its the ir kidscoaches that are misrepresentring to them what true talent is, cause they dotn know how to teach it.

Most US academy teams are mediocre ( ie training to win now, and training college physical style for future colleg players not future pro players)-- a notable exception is LA Galaxy-- and small skilled athletic players are VERY welcome there, no surprise.


The D1 coaches are lining up here at academy showcase cause generally that's the best they can hope for here, there are few teams training highest level beyond physical-- but the top teams are getting many players from overseas (often the shortest on the roster) and those [players often the impact players.

Its very obvious to a trained eye- example, look at a one v one vs goalies situation in a typical academy game- kid just blasts the ball (often to the goalie) - in any pro academy around the world soccer 101 is to dribble/fake the goalie and simply place it in- what you are taught when are trained technically. also look at the off the ball movement- weak here, that why you need such physical players, not enough teammates open.

The only way that improvement may be achieved is a totally distinct and separate training model for interested players. It can't be accomplished on a broad scale by Organizations with multiple areas of appeasement to their participants.

It can't be accomplished to any significance when the emphasis is on results. It can't be accomplished to any significance with standings , wins and " championships " at younger and younger ages.

In order to perfect what will be necessary to have the potential to be a top of the line player. there needs to be a determined concentration on basic skills first, then tactical awareness , composure and finally fitness .

That means stay away from matches and games beyond a small circle of similar participants , and in a localized more informal setting. Save the test of results for limited situations , only to expose perceived weakness in specific areas.

It might be difficult to sell this model, as the results may take many years to be revealed. When the soccer community wants to put the emphasis back on what is truly best for the player, these may be the kinds of ideas necessary . Otherwise, we will still have what we have. An alphabet soup of Leagues, multiple organizations , change after change, and an ever increasing cost of time and commitment to players and their families. We can keep on rolling the dice and hope for winners.

[Unregistered]

The only way that improvement may be achieved is a totally distinct and separate training model for interested players. It can't be accomplished on a broad scale by Organizations with multiple areas of appeasement to their participants.

It can't be accomplished to any significance when the emphasis is on results. It can't be accomplished to any significance with standings , wins and " championships " at younger and younger ages.

In order to perfect what will be necessary to have the potential to be a top of the line player. there needs to be a determined concentration on basic skills first, then tactical awareness , composure and finally fitness .

That means stay away from matches and games beyond a small circle of similar participants , and in a localized more informal setting. Save the test of results for limited situations , only to expose perceived weakness in specific areas.

It might be difficult to sell this model, as the results may take many years to be revealed. When the soccer community wants to put the emphasis back on what is truly best for the player, these may be the kinds of ideas necessary . Otherwise, we will still have what we have. An alphabet soup of Leagues, multiple organizations , change after change, and an ever increasing cost of time and commitment to players and their families. We can keep on rolling the dice and hope for winners.

Very insightful post. Yes the teams here are looking to win ST to get more players/money - and that includes showing wins to the parents paying the bill who want to brag about u10 trophies. That is because travel clubs have no skin in the game except for this - get money from bunch of players. Be popular.
In soccer countries true academies it is very different -- this is why-- they are looking to ID players that can can either SELL or have join their first pro team many years later ( if you take a kid in at year 10 then it could be a ten year development process. Including physical which is easier to teach then outstanding skills

So in this situation- what is most highly valued is SKILL and INTELLIGENCE and hard work ethic and desire. Yes they look at quickness have to have it but this also equals quickness of mind. Some big kid with no skills means nothing. If the big or small kid is unbelievably fast and strong that may put them on the radar - but have to stand out here muchore then the typical da kid here - just typical big strong kids are a dime a dozen. Players with skill ( including small) or with Olympic level speed aren't. Most high level USA kids aren't in either of those two categories - particularly in the skills area cause it's not taught by most coaches here to a high enough level.

[Unregistered]

Very insightful post. Yes the teams here are looking to win ST to get more players/money - and that includes showing wins to the parents paying the bill who want to brag about u10 trophies. That is because travel clubs have no skin in the game except for this - get money from bunch of players. Be popular.
In soccer countries true academies it is very different -- this is why-- they are looking to ID players that can can either SELL or have join their first pro team many years later ( if you take a kid in at year 10 then it could be a ten year development process. Including physical which is easier to teach then outstanding skills

So in this situation- what is most highly valued is SKILL and INTELLIGENCE and hard work ethic and desire. Yes they look at quickness have to have it but this also equals quickness of mind. Some big kid with no skills means nothing. If the big or small kid is unbelievably fast and strong that may put them on the radar - but have to stand out here muchore then the typical da kid here - just typical big strong kids are a dime a dozen. Players with skill ( including small) or with Olympic level speed aren't. Most high level USA kids aren't in either of those two categories - particularly in the skills area cause it's not taught by most coaches here to a high enough level.

All I heard is that US and Rest of World are identical - they follow the money.
in ROW the real money is at the top of the pyramid (pros)
in US it's at the bottom (parents)