Too much emphasis on winning?

Discussion in 'MLS: Youth & Development' started by cisco80, Feb 10, 2008.

  1. cisco80

    cisco80 Member

    Feb 9, 2008
    yokohama
    At the academy level do you think too much emphasis is put on winning? I'd be more interesting in developing technical skill then actually winning tournaments in a U-12 age bracket. What do you think?
     
  2. Trevallion

    Trevallion Member

    May 3, 2006
    The Yakima Valley
    Just a question...How do you know that "winning" is the emphasis at this academy level?

    I thought that developing these MLS Academies was to develop technical skills and move away from the "winning is everything" emphasis.

    At least I surely hope that MLS Acacademy teams are more skill and tactics driven than regular club teams are.

    Hopefully someone will be able to enlighten us all.
     
  3. Smithsoccer1721

    Smithsoccer1721 Member+

    Feb 16, 2007
    Middle of the Table
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because of the culture here in the States teams are expected to win before they worry about trying to develop players. I think that MLS academies are to young to figure out if they are to focused on winning. I would think most people would agree that most club teams are more focused on winning than development but I dont know about academies.
     
  4. FCmagic01

    FCmagic01 Member

    Nov 10, 2006
    At the club level it is.........i thought the whole idea on the academy project was to get away from that.
    Either way im gunna coach my kids, which is still a while away as im 17, to be great soccer players not winners.
    The goal for every youth soccer coach is to get at least one player on his team to MLS. Sometimes players need to lose sometimes as kids to learn lessons that will help them when the results actually matters.

    most youth coaches put their best player as a sweeper, the fastest kids as fowards, etc.

    i think at a young age the kids should play any position, basically just learn how to play the game. At a young age you need to develop quick feet, a first touch, and TACTICAL awareness. A main thing for kids to do that is to ask their parents to buy FSC and watch soccer with them ever weekend. I got FSC two years ago and my game has improved tremendously since then. It also creates a passion for the sport which most kids just dont have in our country.
     
  5. JohnR

    JohnR Member+

    Jun 23, 2000
    Chicago, IL
    There ain't no "Academies" as the term is now defined at U12.

    That said, I would say that some -- probably not most, but some -- of the big-name youth clubs are running development-oriented U12 programs, with the emphasis on skills and decisions and playing for the future. But they are not Academies as now defined by USSF, that doesn't occur until much older ages.
     
  6. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it's way too early to determine if there is too much of a emphasis on winning with the Academies. Also early on, winning is a way to attract players. These kids would still prefer to be on teams that win. For the most part I think it's in our nature to want to do well and winning is a way to see if the team is doing well. I agree that it should not be the end all in development.

    Also, I subsribe to a couple BBC podcasts and this isn't a issue that just we deal with. It's also a major complaint in both England and Scotland. And it sounds like all the complaints we have with youth soccer they also have, including the over bearing parents. And the need to get away from the winning at all costs at the youth level.
     
  7. whip

    whip Member

    Aug 5, 2000
    HOUSTON TEXAS
    Well go play Spain youth teams and ask them what they think...:D
     

Share This Page