US Soccer and "development"

Every day, it seems, I read another story about the "stalled" progress of the US soccer program. Women are doing just fine -- better than fine. But this is because of economic and cultural reasons, not athletic ones Women's soccer thrives in large part because women in America have more opportunities (still) than other parts of the world.

 Men's soccer, however, struggles because the US can't seem to find the right athletic formula for success. Too much emphasis is placed on winning at a young age the critics grumble; more emphasis needs to be placed on "development." That latter term has become something of a magic word.

Perhaps a concentration on development is the key.

Maybe not.

"Development" often is tied to other terms: controlled environment; structure; fairness; age-appropriate and so on.

I can't help but compare my recent experience with youth travel basketball to youth soccer.

As a parent who loves my daughter and watches her every move with great care I am delighted with programs like The Force and the leagues they associate themselves with. At their best, these clubs do seem all about development. Much time and effort is spent making sure kids play at against good -- but not overwhelming -- competition. Kids who aren't as far a long as other have a chance to play. Coaches seem to have a good sense that kids develop physically and emotionally at different paces. Every match is reasonably well officiated. Every tournament supremely well orgranized. Kids play hard, learn, and have fun in a secure environment.

As a parent, what's not to like? Would that our public schools were so well run. And would that our public schools were so responsive to parental concerns.

But is this a formula for athletic success? At a recent basketball tournament my daughter's4/5 grade team played 5 games in 3 days. On the last day -- in 90+ heat -- they took the floor against a team that was clearly composed of (at least) seventh and maybe even eighth graders. The results were predictable. This team was not only older and bigger but good. They were led by the local high school coach. One experienced baseball player on my team asked "is there a mercy rule in basketball?" Sorry. Teams do have to stop pressing full court once they are up by 25. But there is no rule against continuing a half court trap after the press is called off.

I was furious, but I shut my mouth. I had played in lots of games like this as a kid -- in schools, on the playground, and virtually every day in back yards on my street where older kids whomped us routinely.

Such a scenario -- for better or worse -- is unthinkable in "travel" soccer with its majestic organizations. Pass cards, anyone? Birth certificates? One can hear the giggles on the basketball court.

Soccer teams choose to play "up" all the time, of course. But can you imagine the cries from the sideline (parents' sidelines) if a U11 team showed up to play and out trotted a U13?

To develop athletically such thumpings are probably necessary. It might not be that there is too much emphasis placed on winning as much as it is there is not enough willingness to lose -- and to lose badly.