Quote:
Originally Posted by Baby Lee
I don't get the 'best athletes' thing.
Soccer requires a level of fitness, and there are certain situations where some athletic edge is helpful [fast breaks, set-piece headers, goalkeeping reflexes].
But soccer is so much more about talent, skill and teamwork than any other sport. Competent opposition can neutralize just about any athletic advantage, particularly with the offsides rule.
Skill, gameplan and cohesion are much more important.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loochy
Not much of a factor at all. Our problem has NEVER been related to speed, strength, or stamina.
Posted via Mobile Device
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So you guys think if all of our athletes were funneled into soccer at a young age we would be standing in the same spot we are right now?
I'm not involved in youth soccer so I'm willing to admit making that comment without a full view of the situation. While I understand being a great basketball player does not mean you will be a great soccer player, I would think in general having all the best athletes playing soccer instead of 5 different sports would have produced us better players or atleast more options.
I say this more out of assumption and curiosity than knowledge of the situation other than being a big fan of USA soccer. I coach h.s. baseball and I know how much a poor youth program can hurt local baseball talent. I also know however that part of my issue with baseball talent is coming from losing guys to other sports. A problem baseball didn't used to have. Maybe it's an easier transition from baseball to those other sports but I watch some of these kids play and feel decently comfortable in thinking that at least a few of them would have made our soccer program deeper and stronger had they chosen that sport to play their entire lives.
I'm willing to pass the issue on to those in know more than I but it seems just based on pure numbers that a least a number of athletes that went into other sports would have been able to develop into soccer players had that been their life goal.