Okay – before you think I am bashing anyone in this article – or the US men’s soccer team, please remember I am a proud American who loves our country and wants the best for US Soccer. But as a youth soccer pioneer I have to be honest and help educate the next generation of kids, parents and coaches.
Congratulations to German Football!
I first want to say congrats to the Brazilian Mens’ & German Women’s soccer teams for winning the Gold. I think the crowd/atmosphere was the best I have ever seen after a game! That was a special moment for the world to see, especially the Brazilians. After the 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup Semi Final & then starting this Olympics off with 2 ties, Brazilians were on edge. But from the 3rd game on it was the Brazil we all know.
Never think you are too good!
U.S. Men’s Soccer didn’t even make the Olympics 2016 or 2012! Remember, the Olympic team is mostly U21 with only 3 senior members, so it’s a different team than the full senior national team that competes in the World Cup.
The biggest problem for a while I believe was the attitude of certain players, especially teenage boys who think they are so great at soccer. Yes, the coaching could be better, but I think our coaching in America is good enough to make the Olympics. It’s more about the Passion/Attitude of who laces up the boots on the pitch.
The USMNT did very well in the World Cups 2018, 2012 and 2016 getting past the group stages. This team knew they weren’t the best. Players like Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey led by a hard working example. There was something to prove with them and it became contagious. This is how US has to play.
Some history & some growing up to do
Remember Men’s Olympic Soccer is ages 23 & under plus the addition of 3 older (Senior) National Team members. Our Senior National Team has done well in the last 12 years making it out of Group Stage of each World Cup.
Many of these young players now days don’t work on the right things enough. Oftentimes the attitude is not professional. Meaning, they want it, but they don’t work hard enough for it.
US kids need to wake up and realize playing in the English Premier League or even the MLS is very hard; you are competing against the whole world!
the Silly Rabbit was right: tricks are for kids
Today’s youth are too busy practicing stupid tricks from YouTube that they will never pull off in a game. They need to be spending more time at perfecting the weight of the pass with both feet & controlling the 1st Touch. Just look at what Klinsmann said about our young U23 National Team’s performance the last 5 years.
How does Honduras make the Olympics & USA doesn’t?
A couple years ago Klinsmann called out certain players like Freddy Adu (now 27) & Brek Shea (26) who were supposed to be the next top players in America. Freddy currently plays in the 2nd division in America. What Klinsmann was saying was that these players are not trying to keep improving like they should. Being content will keep you in the same playing field or even knock you down a level. I teach this to the athletes now because I was one of these young kids who became content. Now I want to help the next generation do better!
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” John Wooden
Be honest, hungry & humble
Parents have to be real with their kids! Especially the kids who are in the D1 Leagues early on in their childhood career because these are the players that mature faster in terms of soccer development. BTW these same players will not all stay at the top leagues for different reasons.
This is one reason you don’t want to tell them they are so great and that their skills are already good. They will end up with the attitude that they are so great and they don’t need to work as hard at technique. This is a problem that they start to believe and then they stop wanting to improve. Why do you think the world’s best athletes like, Carli Loyd or Basketball future Hall of Famer Kobi Bryant all say they personally have to keep getting better? Even Olympic Track stars who are the fastest in the world practice running every day. They don’t say, “Oh I know how to run! I don’t need to keep trying to improve.” That would never happen!
Stay hungry to improve your strengths & weaknesses
This is why Private Training or Small Groups are so important! You can nail down all the right fundamentals and more challenging skills quicker than in a team setting. Team or Large Group training is better for the older players who are fundamentally sound. But for ages 12 & Under they need to be taught in small groups to be able to keep up with today’s youth. It’s almost impossible to compete with other kids when they are doing 3 years of private lessons from ages 6-9!
The best, technically-sound soccer players must be put in pressure situations with the ball repeatedly for strong success outcomes.Click To Tweet
Teenagers and young adults who are technically sound must be put in pressure situations over and over & continue to work on the fundamentals so that they are sharp in every element of the game. I have parents of kids who play in the US Youth Academy who say when players tryout they look fancy and good, but once put under pressure they lose the ball. This tells you the kids must be doing the Right Things at the Right Time of their careers.
Players must continue to develop the fundamentals of the game so they are sharp in every element and can succeed.Click To Tweet
5 reasons US Men’s soccer team didn’t make the Olympics
- Only a certain amount of teams in each region can qualify, which is why you see small countries like Fiji participating. BTW US men’s soccer lost to Columbia, knocking us out while our region (CONCACAF) had Mexico & Honduras go on to the Olympics.
- Attitude of young players – Teenage kids who play at the top level their whole childhood career think they are going to be pro’s 100%. That’s not the case.
- Wrong training as a youth – It’s important that our soccer players become more technically sound starting at age 6-10 years old all the way up through college. Don’t get good & stop the basics. Think of ways to make the basics more challenging. For example: Practice your volley’s from 15 yards instead of 3 yards away.
- Parents telling their kids how great they are as young as age 7-9 years old. Praise & encouragement are good and necessary but so are honesty & hard work. This puts it in the kids head that they are so great. It kills a little bit of the hunger & drive to know they have to work hard to compete with other top level players. That’s why they find out they are not as good once they reach HS or even when they play the kids from New Jersey & California. You have to remember you are competing against more than the kids in your city.
- Coaches who are content and don’t try to improve themselves – If coaches are content with having the best teams and they keep doing the same drills at practice their players will lose out on learning more.
In closing learn from the US Men’s Team
Knowledge like this provides families and kids with more opportunity. The Oxford Dictionary defines opportunity as “a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.” Parents can begin equipping kids now to be honest in their self-assessment & to put in the work on & off the field to not only achieve their goals but to sustain their success.
3 Interesting Facts about the athletes listed above
- Carli Loyd: Wanted to quit soccer in her early 20s
- Kobi Bryant: Lived in Europe during his childhood & he loved soccer/football/futbol
- Freddy Adu: Signed with MLS DC United at age 14