that's not going to happen
by Irishlawyer (2020-10-06 16:55:12)

In reply to: I never meant to imply that school soccer didn't suck.  posted by NDMike2001

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the schools don't care about USA soccer nor do they want to help soccer players. The only way they would is if they benefited from pay to play. So until that unlikely event occurs, high school (and college on the men's side) will never be part of the development pyramid. Hence, we have the system we have now.

What we do have though is parents who are more sophisticated. We have way better coaching today (no longer does an Eastern European, English, or South American accent get you a coaching credential like in years past). We have platforms that are adapting to the needs of the kids (the GAL is allowing some high school play in most some parts of the country).

The biggest change will come with solidarity payments. Eventually, the MLS will realize that they have a gold mine in the young players they can sell off to the rest of the world (on both the men's and, based on recent changes in the European Women's game, on the women's side). That will be the true turning point and the USA will zoom from there.

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