I'm with you on Pynadath, I've seen US youth players with as much if not more ball skills at that age. However, I disagree that there are lots of youth players in the US with Lederman's specific skill set, it's uncommon for US youth to have the truly elite level soccer IQ that he displays. In fact I wouldn't be remotely surprised if Ben has a genius level IQ.
I'd say that at 10, when Lederman first moved to Barca, his skill set was more common with US based players than it is today. La Masia has taken his skill set and enhanced it because of the curriculum they use. What I would be willing to say is that Lederman's brain, his soccer IQ, is and always has been fairly unique for a US based player. However, it's fairly unique for a player from anywhere else, too. The cream of the crop in most countries will have it, but the vast majority of kids even in soccer countries like Spain, Germany or Brazil won't, because it isn't something that can be taught.
Very good post. Insightful and opens up some issues I'd like to dive into a little bit. We are developing a soccer culture, just not to the level of the international greats. I see kids playing soccer in neighborhoods I didn't see 5-10 yrs ago. I see little ball wizards that will never advance HS for a variety of reasons. The statistical realities are just that. It is unlikely but still fun for me nonetheless to watch and track his progress. Hoping they play some level of professional soccer is what I'd like to see and let the rest take care of itself. Josh is an elite 11 yr old. How that translates as he matures will have alot to do with his physical, psychological, emotional, and tactical growth. He has a very good foundation. Interesting in Chicago you see alot of very good 10 yr olds because that hasn't always been the case. We're getting better players on the ball. Where I'd like to dive into the 'damage' at later yrs for these talented youth. Is it just an ongoing narrative, is it just natural selection occuring, or is it a real isse. My question is how do you really screw up that kind of talent? I have never coached and don't think I could screw it up. You appreciate and fine tune that talent not change it. So with our growth of a somewhat burgeoning soccer culture how is that culture ruining talent? Or is just intellectually dishonest or just easy to say.
It's not just an ongoing narrative. It is exaggerated by some, and it gets better every year, but it is still a problem. The main issue is not with the culture at the grassroots level, but at the higher levels, where politics still trumps resumes when positions that have real influence on developing our talent are to be filled. At 10 years old, kids have only experienced the grassroots level of the culture, which is the same everywhere. It may be less prevalent here than in Brazil, for example, but the idea of kids just playing is the same no matter where you go. At that age, even within organized club sides, most of the emphasis is on individual development of technique. Small situation tactics may be taught, such as giving multiple short options in possession or finding the space in between defenders, but everything about the game at that age, down to the small sided nature of it, is designed to get all the kids touches on the ball to help them develop. As kids get older, the game gets more organized. This is when the grasp a coach has on the tactical side of the game becomes vitally important. They need to be able to take the kids that have adequately developed the skill necessary, and teach them what to do with that skill. This starts at around the U13 level, when the game becomes 11 a side. The pay to play club situation was falling short in one area: getting the talented kids to the clubs that had good coaches. Because of this, the kids learning what to do were largely not capable of doing it, and the kids capable of putting into effect the higher level tactical side of the game were not learning it. So all of the kids that were just as good as their Spanish or German counterparts at 10 would now be demolished by them at 14 or 15. Honestly, I could write a lot more on this, but this isn't the thread and people wouldn't read it anyway. This post is already gonna be too long for most.
If we have an El Classico in the not too distant future with even one American in it, I'll be thrilled.
I agree with all the statements that concluded that Josh is an elite level 11 year old with superb ball skills for his age. I also think similar players exist throughout the U.S. I am very familiar with 10 year old soccer players in the highest division in a mid-sized state and I think there are two or three who are in the same or nearly the same category as Josh as far as ball skills with extreme quickness go. As the parent of a 10 year old, I am curious what do Josh and other exceptionally talented 10-11-12 year olds need to develop as the next step? I understand from the previous comments that tactical awareness, movement, and things like that will become increasingly important. Going back to ball skills, what ball skills will need to be developed next? Curving the ball, chipping the ball is what I have seen as a next step. Any other specific dribbling, ball striking that should be developed at this point 10-11-12 years of age? Maybe just doing things at increased speed? Any suggestions as to what needs to be worked on? I also think that there are an awful lot of kids who are technically quite proficient at 10, but not quite at Josh's elite level. By that I mean they can execute every Coerver type move with both feet, shoot well with laces and with the inside and outside of their feet but not with his quickness or confidence. There definitely is a deep pool of talent one level down from him. The reason for this is that even parents who do not have good coaches/clubs can assist their kids fairly easily through watching instructional videos/reading books and practicing repetitively on their own. I am worried though that parents cannot take the kids to the next level re tactics. I think thousands of excellent, willing 10-11-12 year olds will fall behind by a lot -- there are not enough good coaches to serve the entire country. Any solution to this?
I'll tell what ruins development: high school soccer coaches. They all emphasize fitness and speed over tactical nous and passing ability. I was a decent middle-school player who had good vision on the ball, good passer, and was tall, but I was never very fast or able to play a running press for 90min. Usually played as a central defender. But in high school, coaches usually emphasize fitness over touch (especially tough among freshman who are on the same team as seniors).
I think that Josh is very underrated in this thread. I've seen a plenty of elite kids of that age in SoCal and I don't buy "we have five like him next door, we bring them to Spain and Real takes them". This kid is absolutely special, his quickness which is even more unique than his skills puts him at a totally different level.
When you compare him to other 11th year kids? Easily. Youth forum is full of clips of "prodigies" that aren't. This kid is taken by Real for a reason. He might not become a great player, but he definitely has a chance.
...And so it begins. It is up to those of us who gazed upon the magnificence of this fleeting spectacle to keep the legend of Joshua (and Jason)Pyandath at Real Madrid alive. I will not let you all down. Let me just say that what I have seen on this video ranks right up there with Peter Philipakos' assist to that Yank kid at Torino. It's pure magic.
My high school coach told me to "play direct," then took me off the field and screamed at me when I completed passes out of the back to feet because I was 16 and had no clue what that meant.
Returning to RM: Joshua Pynadath accepted an invite to return to Real Madrid's academy for next season, his father told TDS. His 2nd season with Madrid.— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) July 3, 2014
Sorry but this is not true. High School coaches have exposure to their group of players for just under 3 of the 10+ months players are playing competitive soccer during the calendar year. Singling out high school coaches as the key problem when it comes to youth development in the country is silly. They could be stone trolls with clipboards on the sidelines and in theory they shouldn't have the affect on their players that you claim, unless said oompa loompas also are that specific group of players club coaches. Another thing, your assertion that all high school coaches emphasize fitness over other areas is false and honestly you sound a bit out of touch. Maybe things are different in states where there isn't a high level of soccer being played, whether it be at the high school or the club level, but in California the vast majority of kids playing varsity and junior varsity high school soccer are also playing high level club ball and they come into the high school season fresh off their club's fall seasons already at peak fitness. The high school season in CA is also completely overloaded with games. The schedule is always either front loaded or back loaded meaning two games a week and three days of training before the winter break, and three games and two days of training a week after the winter break, or vice versa. Point being at the high school level no successful high school program is focusing on fitness, there's simply not a enough available training time which is a high school coaches most scare resource. The overwhelming majority of time is spent on tactics. Lastly, and again maybe things are different in your part of the country, but all the high school coaches in CA coach club as well. The coaches at the top i.e. most successful high schools are also top coaches at the club level. So really, it's silly to say high school coaches are the problem, unless we're acknowledging/asserting that ALL our coaches suck. edit: Just saw your last line about freshman players playing with the seniors, obviously the situation in your area is different. The only freshman who are playing varsity soccer at decent to strong programs here are elite players are the club level. Like ECNL players or players with DA academy level ability. I maintain my stance though, singling out high school coaches as a key part of the problem is silly, in large part because of the overlap being high school and club coaches.
Appreciate your perspective. I last played organized high school soccer in 1997 in an east coast state, so I imagine things have changed a bit since then. I'm just explaining how the coaches acted (as I saw them). Granted, I wasn't a great athlete so I'm not claiming to be an overlooked prodigy or anything.
I will also add that now elite players are not even allowed to play high school soccer according to DA rules.
http://www.theguardian.com/info/2013/aug/08/1 "This video has been removed from the site pending investigation." uh....