National Team. Why not?

santos.l.halper wrote:Check out the USWNT player pool for 2011. Exactly 0 ladies from North Texas.

Click here

California has its fair share of representation. Florida, NY, and other states too.

As large as Texas is, and (more importantly) as competitive as we say our select leagues are (and I know we win national championships for NTX), WHY NOT any players in the USWNT pool?

Is it a genetic blip that is unusual and we usually have more ladies in the USWNT? Do we have a style of soccer that is not conducive to national team inclusion? Do we fail to do something that other states do? If so, what?

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:

santos.l.halper wrote:Check out the USWNT player pool for 2011. Exactly 0 ladies from North Texas.

Click here

California has its fair share of representation. Florida, NY, and other states too.

As large as Texas is, and (more importantly) as competitive as we say our select leagues are (and I know we win national championships for NTX), WHY NOT any players in the USWNT pool?

Is it a genetic blip that is unusual and we usually have more ladies in the USWNT? Do we have a style of soccer that is not conducive to national team inclusion? Do we fail to do something that other states do? If so, what?

So many reasons why NTX falls short on this list. I will name a few key points starting with the least and note that this what I have experienced the years I played and what I'm noticing now. Clubs, especially Big Clubs care about the coaches producing good teams not, exceptional players, its more about quantity and not quality. The possession game is forced at such a young age the players themselves don't get the chance to play freely, experiment, or be creative. You wonder why the Europeans are 10 yrs ahead of us, their kids don't even play organized soccer until they are 12. California let's their academy system play 9v9 until they are 12, and yet U10 has to play 11 once they go select. It's not rocket science, small spaces guarantees plenty of touches, but its not the clubs fault all the time, parents and coaches are to blame too. Coaches are told by the clubs to focus on building teams that win games, point blank. I can say its almost true because most coaches only work on tactics, team strategy and rarley do 1v1s, 2v1s and letting the players know that you can dribble as much as you want, but use your teammates as help. I often see this with current coaches who played in the early 80s, late 90s, yes the old guys. Hopefully the new breed of new young talented coaches weave these guys out. Lastly as a parent its is your fault that your child can't take on a player and beat them skillfully with ease, because all you care is about being on a top team. Most of these parents think skills training is a waste of time and would never bother, because "Katie" has a starting spot and is the fastest kid on the field. So think about it, 5 years from now when your DD is the big, fast, strong kid that can't beat a defender or create chances for her teammates. At that point you are most likely looking for technical trainer to improve her first touch. Perfect example is our US Women's team. All they have is athletic players who can run for days on in and love to pass, pass, pass. If you are offended, watch the last world cup when they played Japan. Remember this is just an opinion.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:

santos.l.halper wrote:Check out the USWNT player pool for 2011. Exactly 0 ladies from North Texas.

Click here

California has its fair share of representation. Florida, NY, and other states too.

As large as Texas is, and (more importantly) as competitive as we say our select leagues are (and I know we win national championships for NTX), WHY NOT any players in the USWNT pool?

Is it a genetic blip that is unusual and we usually have more ladies in the USWNT? Do we have a style of soccer that is not conducive to national team inclusion? Do we fail to do something that other states do? If so, what?

So many reasons why NTX falls short on this list. I will name a few key points starting with the least and note that this what I have experienced the years I played and what I'm noticing now. Clubs, especially Big Clubs care about the coaches producing good teams not, exceptional players, its more about quantity and not quality. The possession game is forced at such a young age the players themselves don't get the chance to play freely, experiment, or be creative. You wonder why the Europeans are 10 yrs ahead of us, their kids don't even play organized soccer until they are 12. California let's their academy system play 9v9 until they are 12, and yet U10 has to play 11 once they go select. It's not rocket science, small spaces guarantees plenty of touches, but its not the clubs fault all the time, parents and coaches are to blame too. Coaches are told by the clubs to focus on building teams that win games, point blank. I can say its almost true because most coaches only work on tactics, team strategy and rarley do 1v1s, 2v1s and letting the players know that you can dribble as much as you want, but use your teammates as help. I often see this with current coaches who played in the early 80s, late 90s, yes the old guys. Hopefully the new breed of new young talented coaches weave these guys out. Lastly as a parent its is your fault that your child can't take on a player and beat them skillfully with ease, because all you care is about being on a top team. Most of these parents think skills training is a waste of time and would never bother, because "Katie" has a starting spot and is the fastest kid on the field. So think about it, 5 years from now when your DD is the big, fast, strong kid that can't beat a defender or create chances for her teammates. At that point you are most likely looking for technical trainer to improve her first touch. Perfect example is our US Women's team. All they have is athletic players who can run for days on in and love to pass, pass, pass. If you are offended, watch the last world cup when they played Japan. Remember this is just an opinion.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:

santos.l.halper wrote:Check out the USWNT player pool for 2011. Exactly 0 ladies from North Texas.

Click here

California has its fair share of representation. Florida, NY, and other states too.

As large as Texas is, and (more importantly) as competitive as we say our select leagues are (and I know we win national championships for NTX), WHY NOT any players in the USWNT pool?

Is it a genetic blip that is unusual and we usually have more ladies in the USWNT? Do we have a style of soccer that is not conducive to national team inclusion? Do we fail to do something that other states do? If so, what?

So many reasons why NTX falls short on this list. I will name a few key points starting with the least and note that this what I have experienced the years I played and what I'm noticing now. Clubs, especially Big Clubs care about the coaches producing good teams not, exceptional players, its more about quantity and not quality. The possession game is forced at such a young age the players themselves don't get the chance to play freely, experiment, or be creative. You wonder why the Europeans are 10 yrs ahead of us, their kids don't even play organized soccer until they are 12. California let's their academy system play 9v9 until they are 12, and yet U10 has to play 11 once they go select. It's not rocket science, small spaces guarantees plenty of touches, but its not the clubs fault all the time, parents and coaches are to blame too. Coaches are told by the clubs to focus on building teams that win games, point blank. I can say its almost true because most coaches only work on tactics, team strategy and rarley do 1v1s, 2v1s and letting the players know that you can dribble as much as you want, but use your teammates as help. I often see this with current coaches who played in the early 80s, late 90s, yes the old guys. Hopefully the new breed of new young talented coaches weave these guys out. Lastly as a parent its is your fault that your child can't take on a player and beat them skillfully with ease, because all you care is about being on a top team. Most of these parents think skills training is a waste of time and would never bother, because "Katie" has a starting spot and is the fastest kid on the field. So think about it, 5 years from now when your DD is the big, fast, strong kid that can't beat a defender or create chances for her teammates. At that point you are most likely looking for technical trainer to improve her first touch. Perfect example is our US Women's team. All they have is athletic players who can run for days on in and love to pass, pass, pass. If you are offended, watch the last world cup when they played Japan. Remember this is just an opinion.

DrSoccer wrote:Developing players at the national level doesn't happen by accident. 95% of the coaches in nxt are simply incapable of teaching the skills needed at the world class level. Not that they aren't great guys who can figure out a way to win on Saturday. Or get that Nat'l trophy. And the usysa or ecnl club system simply does not reward the 5% (I may be exagerating) that actually can. By 10 or so most ntx kids have learned all the skills they ever will. It's not because they quit practicing is it? Its because most coaches around here have run out of material. Like a teacher who only mastered algebra and is trying to teach calculas. You know what? His calc class looks a lot like algebra. They teach them to the basic skill level that they learned - and then that's it, the bag is empty, lets scrimmage. Not that a guy who played NTX, NCAA, or NAIA soccer can't figure out a way to win, he just has no clue what skills the top players need and if he recognizes them (few do) he doesn't know how to teach them. And lets face it most parents havent got a clue who can actually develop players, so there is no punishment (firing) for lack of technical teaching. When is the last time your coach demonstrated a high level skill to your kid? Ever show them how to bend the ball with the outside of their feet?, chest a 30 yd cross and volley it into the goal? With both feet? No? It's because he can't, and he can't tech gretchen how to do it either...

coachr wrote:Great players don't learn how to play from coaches. Coaches only sharpen the skills a kid has learned on their own. If they haven't bothered to learn it on their own by having a ball at their feet 24/7 then forget it.
By "on their own" I mean away from the system.

BackDraft wrote: The fact is our North Texas players would be red carded within minutes of the start of the match! Due to our loose interpretation of the laws of the game. Which in return makes our players almost worthless in the international game.

international matches are much more physical games than any around here!

totalsoccer wrote:I really think that us soccer has this one wrong! The selection process of players flawed or corrupted!

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:So many reasons why NTX falls short on this list. I will name a few key points starting with the least and note that this what I have experienced the years I played and what I'm noticing now. Clubs, especially Big Clubs care about the coaches producing good teams not, exceptional players, its more about quantity and not quality. The possession game is forced at such a young age the players themselves don't get the chance to play freely, experiment, or be creative. You wonder why the Europeans are 10 yrs ahead of us, their kids don't even play organized soccer until they are 12.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
California let's their academy system play 9v9 until they are 12, and yet U10 has to play 11 once they go select. It's not rocket science, small spaces guarantees plenty of touches, but its not the clubs fault all the time, parents and coaches are to blame too. Coaches are told by the clubs to focus on building teams that win games, point blank. I can say its almost true because most coaches only work on tactics, team strategy and rarley do 1v1s, 2v1s and letting the players know that you can dribble as much as you want, but use your teammates as help.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
I often see this with current coaches who played in the early 80s, late 90s, yes the old guys. Hopefully the new breed of new young talented coaches weave these guys out. Lastly as a parent its is your fault that your child can't take on a player and beat them skillfully with ease, because all you care is about being on a top team.

A coach's age has nothing to do with anything. Some young coaches teach boot it str8 to the fast forward and some older coaches teach the beautiful game. I hate to dice up someone's opinions...but rubbish is rubbish.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
Most of these parents think skills training is a waste of time and would never bother, because "Katie" has a starting spot and is the fastest kid on the field. So think about it, 5 years from now when your DD is the big, fast, strong kid that can't beat a defender or create chances for her teammates. At that point you are most likely looking for technical trainer to improve her first touch. Perfect example is our US Women's team. All they have is athletic players who can run for days on in and love to pass, pass, pass. If you are offended, watch the last world cup when they played Japan. Remember this is just an opinion.

Can't agree with this and IMO it's mostly bass ackwards.

1) I would bet "Most" kids on a top team do skills training...regularly. We may need to visit how you define "Top".

2) U.S. Women's team has plenty players who are pretty good at 1v1. What they do after they beat a player is the issue. If they had been playing possession soccer since they were young, like you claim, they would have the sophistication to do it well.

Japan actually DOES play possession soccer and IS pass, pass, pass. Japan has fewer players that show 1v1 in games than we do. The difference is their sophistication, 1st touch, movement and decision making. They can keep the ball under pressure (as a team). We can do it only against 2nd tier competition. This is not learned overnight and you don't learn it by being ball hogs from U6 to U18 with bigger/faster 1v1 players winning you games with solo effort.

PIA has done a great job pushing the USWNT to play a different style. They haven't mastered it yet, but if the trend continues the technical players will get rewarded.

3) Of course some of it is politics. A coach with TX roots took over and lo and behold TX is now well represented on the U23s.

The overall NTX style IS a problem, but a slew of very good coaches are building young teams that are technically stellar and not dependent on 1 fast forward to score all goals and 1 fast defender to kick everything out of bounds. I see more sophistication out of some younger teams than out of some teams currently being recruited for college. We will see more NTX girls representing on our national teams...it's just a matter of time.

Just an opinon

fourfourtwo wrote:

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:So many reasons why NTX falls short on this list. I will name a few key points starting with the least and note that this what I have experienced the years I played and what I'm noticing now. Clubs, especially Big Clubs care about the coaches producing good teams not, exceptional players, its more about quantity and not quality. The possession game is forced at such a young age the players themselves don't get the chance to play freely, experiment, or be creative. You wonder why the Europeans are 10 yrs ahead of us, their kids don't even play organized soccer until they are 12.

The possession game is not "forced" here at a young age. Very few of our winningest youth teams play possession soccer. I watched top boys players U14 to U19 at FCD College Showcase last weekend. One particular club had all teams playing the exact same style of soccer...and it looked just like their girls teams I've seen in the past. Possession? Not.

It is an American myth that top level international players don't play organized soccer until they are 12. This romanticized view that they became world class playing pick up with a cloth ball on a raggedy street lot with their buddies is a FARCE. By the time they are 12, the best of the best have already been identified and train regularly with professional clubs with real financial backing. There is no point simplifying the comparison to American kids. Yes they play more non-organized soccer than American kids, but they are also formally trained in professional systems at very early ages.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
California let's their academy system play 9v9 until they are 12, and yet U10 has to play 11 once they go select. It's not rocket science, small spaces guarantees plenty of touches, but its not the clubs fault all the time, parents and coaches are to blame too. Coaches are told by the clubs to focus on building teams that win games, point blank. I can say its almost true because most coaches only work on tactics, team strategy and rarley do 1v1s, 2v1s and letting the players know that you can dribble as much as you want, but use your teammates as help.

Unless you're talking about academy ages and younger, telling kids "dribble as much you want" isn't solving much of anything. Sophisticated players see the field and understand when to do what. If all you ever learned was dribble till you lose it or score, you won't compete at higher levels once defenders are just as quick/fast/strong as you.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
I often see this with current coaches who played in the early 80s, late 90s, yes the old guys. Hopefully the new breed of new young talented coaches weave these guys out. Lastly as a parent its is your fault that your child can't take on a player and beat them skillfully with ease, because all you care is about being on a top team.

A coach's age has nothing to do with anything. Some young coaches teach boot it str8 to the fast forward and some older coaches teach the beautiful game. I hate to dice up someone's opinions...but rubbish is rubbish.

Ifyouonlyknew wrote:
Most of these parents think skills training is a waste of time and would never bother, because "Katie" has a starting spot and is the fastest kid on the field. So think about it, 5 years from now when your DD is the big, fast, strong kid that can't beat a defender or create chances for her teammates. At that point you are most likely looking for technical trainer to improve her first touch. Perfect example is our US Women's team. All they have is athletic players who can run for days on in and love to pass, pass, pass. If you are offended, watch the last world cup when they played Japan. Remember this is just an opinion.

Can't agree with this and IMO it's mostly bass ackwards.

1) I would bet "Most" kids on a top team do skills training...regularly. We may need to visit how you define "Top".

2) U.S. Women's team has plenty players who are pretty good at 1v1. What they do after they beat a player is the issue. If they had been playing possession soccer since they were young, like you claim, they would have the sophistication to do it well.

Japan actually DOES play possession soccer and IS pass, pass, pass. Japan has fewer players that show 1v1 in games than we do. The difference is their sophistication, 1st touch, movement and decision making. They can keep the ball under pressure (as a team). We can do it only against 2nd tier competition. This is not learned overnight and you don't learn it by being ball hogs from U6 to U18 with bigger/faster 1v1 players winning you games with solo effort.

PIA has done a great job pushing the USWNT to play a different style. They haven't mastered it yet, but if the trend continues the technical players will get rewarded.

3) Of course some of it is politics. A coach with TX roots took over and lo and behold TX is now well represented on the U23s.

The overall NTX style IS a problem, but a slew of very good coaches are building young teams that are technically stellar and not dependent on 1 fast forward to score all goals and 1 fast defender to kick everything out of bounds. I see more sophistication out of some younger teams than out of some teams currently being recruited for college. We will see more NTX girls representing on our national teams...it's just a matter of time.

Just an opinon Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air. Pele didn't play organized soccer until age 11.

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

If it were longer I'd agree with you!

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

If it were longer I'd agree with you!

You do agree with me you just don't know it yet. Pele got started in the 1950s. The modern game is different. How old was Messi when he went pro? How old are the kids at Ajax when they first enter their system?

Talent is identified early and snapped up into formal training all over the world.

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

If it were longer I'd agree with you!

You do agree with me you just don't know it yet. Pele got started in the 1950s. The modern game is different. How old was Messi when he went pro? How old are the kids at Ajax when they first enter their system?

Talent is identified early and snapped up into formal training all over the world.

Argentines are sent to clubs full time at a young age. Holland is a tiny country and kids are identified early. However, the favelas in Brazil, the slums of Colombia, the trailer parks of Naccadoches, the dirt patches of Ghana, etc are still churning out self trained kids.

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

If it were longer I'd agree with you!

You do agree with me you just don't know it yet. Pele got started in the 1950s. The modern game is different. How old was Messi when he went pro? How old are the kids at Ajax when they first enter their system?

Talent is identified early and snapped up into formal training all over the world.

Argentines are sent to clubs full time at a young age. Holland is a tiny country and kids are identified early. However, the favelas in Brazil, the slums of Colombia, the trailer parks of Naccadoches, the dirt patches of Ghana, etc are still churning out self trained kids.

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:

fourfourtwo wrote:

coachr wrote:Chill out dude. You almost burned me with that hot air.

You read the whole thing? My bad. I'll make my post longer next time.

If it were longer I'd agree with you!

You do agree with me you just don't know it yet. Pele got started in the 1950s. The modern game is different. How old was Messi when he went pro? How old are the kids at Ajax when they first enter their system?

Talent is identified early and snapped up into formal training all over the world.

Argentines are sent to clubs full time at a young age. Holland is a tiny country and kids are identified early. However, the favelas in Brazil, the slums of Colombia, the trailer parks of Naccadoches, the dirt patches of Ghana, etc are still churning out self trained kids.

Sure they are. And the manicured fields of PYSA rec are churning out self trained kids too. But the BEST young players are ID'd and formally trained...especially in Brazil. It's business plain and simple. Talent scouts are global.