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From someone who is around the game for several years now (and whose kid is on a DA team, with frequent (all too frequent) showcases), I do think it is a rich kid's sport in America. $5k minimum per year.
That being said, the biggest problem in the USA is a question of resources. We don't have the clubs spending money, and our infrastructure is poor. US Soccer's intent to build fields in the cities is a very good start. But anyone who thinks playing soccer on pavement for poor kids is just as good as an actual field needs to put boots on the ground in those neighborhoods. In my city, we have a ton of refugees (Somali, Mali, Nigeria, SE Asia) playing soccer. I donate some time and money to a local club that is almost exclusively refugee. What do I see? Good athletes who have to walk 45 minutes to an hour to even get to a field (through not so nice neighborhoods). They receive coaching from decent instructors and well meaning people. They try hard, but the level of discipline required of them does them no favors. I see a lot of them opt out during the middle of hard workouts. They are skilled, but show little interest in structured soccer. A few of them excel enough to have earned college scholarships. Others, who are good athletes, lack the support and family involvement they need to succeed. Plus, who is picking these kids up for travel league games? The few parents who do it inevitably stop after a year's commitment (try driving around the city's dangerous neighborhoods to pick 7 or 8 kids up in a van week after week).
Unlike other countries, we don't have heavy investment and resources to develop such athletes. The basket ball courts are filled with African-American kids in my neighborhood, while soccer is much more of a tough sell. Next to a rundown soccer field, I see an American football coach teaching young African-Americans the game. He is a taskmaster, really laying into them, and frequently screaming M-Fer at 8 year olds. The kids make not a single peep back. If you could get those kids playing soccer, you'd have something. As for the immigrant/refugee community, I despair. Good luck with the parents never home and their 3 jobs!
This is why the kids at the premier and DA clubs will run circles around the kids who would otherwise be more developed if we were in a better soccer country.
I introduced one of these poor kids to our club director, and he put him on a team gratis. He is thriving. But I only recommended him because I saw he was showing up on time and keeping his nose to the grindstone all through practice. Just like those 8 year old football kids.
I don't have a lot of faith that US Soccer will improve much.
That being said, the biggest problem in the USA is a question of resources. We don't have the clubs spending money, and our infrastructure is poor. US Soccer's intent to build fields in the cities is a very good start. But anyone who thinks playing soccer on pavement for poor kids is just as good as an actual field needs to put boots on the ground in those neighborhoods. In my city, we have a ton of refugees (Somali, Mali, Nigeria, SE Asia) playing soccer. I donate some time and money to a local club that is almost exclusively refugee. What do I see? Good athletes who have to walk 45 minutes to an hour to even get to a field (through not so nice neighborhoods). They receive coaching from decent instructors and well meaning people. They try hard, but the level of discipline required of them does them no favors. I see a lot of them opt out during the middle of hard workouts. They are skilled, but show little interest in structured soccer. A few of them excel enough to have earned college scholarships. Others, who are good athletes, lack the support and family involvement they need to succeed. Plus, who is picking these kids up for travel league games? The few parents who do it inevitably stop after a year's commitment (try driving around the city's dangerous neighborhoods to pick 7 or 8 kids up in a van week after week).
Unlike other countries, we don't have heavy investment and resources to develop such athletes. The basket ball courts are filled with African-American kids in my neighborhood, while soccer is much more of a tough sell. Next to a rundown soccer field, I see an American football coach teaching young African-Americans the game. He is a taskmaster, really laying into them, and frequently screaming M-Fer at 8 year olds. The kids make not a single peep back. If you could get those kids playing soccer, you'd have something. As for the immigrant/refugee community, I despair. Good luck with the parents never home and their 3 jobs!
This is why the kids at the premier and DA clubs will run circles around the kids who would otherwise be more developed if we were in a better soccer country.
I introduced one of these poor kids to our club director, and he put him on a team gratis. He is thriving. But I only recommended him because I saw he was showing up on time and keeping his nose to the grindstone all through practice. Just like those 8 year old football kids.
I don't have a lot of faith that US Soccer will improve much.
.
