I've seen soccer used as an example of equalit...

2011-08-09T10:48:39.672-05:00

I've seen soccer used as an example of equality in terms of US youth development relative to the international community's. However, our youth development programs are nothing like what Europe has. The best pro teams have various levels of youth 'schools' & camps where the kids starting around 7 can enroll, then live and breathe soccer while they study etc. As the kids age, talent is identified and moves on to the next level of development within this huge feeder program. The US has nothing like this in soccer. By and large most of the talent that ends up on the world stage and gets contracts with these various pro teams, comes from these programs and is identified by the age of 14-16. The pro teams fund the feeder programs, direct the system of coaching and have a serious hand in steering and bringing up these youths. So the kids get exposed to the highest level of competition and competitive support at a very young age and for a very long time if they have enough fundamental talent to progress.

So while the large end of the cone may have relatively similar numbers in terms of youth involvement here in the US vs abroad, the form this involvement takes is very different. And judging from our stagnation on the world stage, this may indeed be the critical factor.

Comments on Olympic Weightlifting | Overtraining and Recovery: Talent

I've seen soccer used as an example of equalit...