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The Kelly Gray Column: Boost The Youth System
Youth is the future of the game in the United States, and Goal.com’s Kelly Gray would like to see MLS put more money into the development of tomorrow’s stars.
Apr 18, 2009 2:48:17 PM
By Kelly Gray
The development of youth soccer players is essential to the growth of Major League Soccer and the US National Team. But the situation our youth players find themselves in today is very confusing and unorganized.
It was bad when I was going through it, and I have heard stories from parents recently about how chaotic things continue to be. For me there was my club team, the state team, the regional team, my high school team and whatever other team I thought was going to get me more games and more exposure to college coaches. Nowadays there are all of those teams plus different leagues. Players are forced to choose which teams, competitions, and leagues to play in and are afraid that, with each choice, they may be missing out on a number of opportunities somewhere else.
This creates two main problems. The first is money. It is incredibly expensive to be an elite youth player today. When you add up uniforms, travel, hotels, meals, tournament fees, and coaching, the cost can be astronomical.
The second problem is that there is no promise of quality coaching. In many cases, players are being taught the game by people who have little on-the-field experience or coaching expertise.
Now that MLS is looking like it is going to be around for a while, it is time to start developing future professionals from the ground up. Most MLS teams have already started youth soccer academies, like the Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire. They have well organized youth programs that are coached by past and present professionals. This is a good start.
But I think the youth system in America needs to simplify the different competitions and teams and leagues and go to a more professional system that develops its players to play in the first team.
Europe already has this system in effect, and it has been hugely effective for years. Take Manchester United. Look at all of the players that started there when they were 12 and are now or have at some point played for the first team. Similar examples across Europe, from Barcelona (Xavi, Pep Guardiola) to Auxerre in France (Eric Cantona, Philippe Mexes).
As usual, the only way that this kind of program is going to be developed is if the MLS team owners spend more money. This means signing youth players to contracts that not only pay them and develop them as players but also provide education. In our country, education is a very valued and important asset. Nike had the right idea with Project-40, and Generation adidas is doing the same thing. These programs provide money for education for each player that signs a professional contract with them.
Now I would like to open it up to you. I’d hear what some of your ideas are about how to develop the youth programs for our MLS clubs. This is vital in the progress of soccer in our country.
Please send any questions or suggestions to usa@goal.com.
Kelly Gray plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, who face the New England Revolution on Saturday. He also owns clothing company Adesso Clothing. His column appears every other Tuesday on Goal.com.
The development of youth soccer players is essential to the growth of Major League Soccer and the US National Team. But the situation our youth players find themselves in today is very confusing and unorganized.
It was bad when I was going through it, and I have heard stories from parents recently about how chaotic things continue to be. For me there was my club team, the state team, the regional team, my high school team and whatever other team I thought was going to get me more games and more exposure to college coaches. Nowadays there are all of those teams plus different leagues. Players are forced to choose which teams, competitions, and leagues to play in and are afraid that, with each choice, they may be missing out on a number of opportunities somewhere else.
This creates two main problems. The first is money. It is incredibly expensive to be an elite youth player today. When you add up uniforms, travel, hotels, meals, tournament fees, and coaching, the cost can be astronomical.
The second problem is that there is no promise of quality coaching. In many cases, players are being taught the game by people who have little on-the-field experience or coaching expertise.
Now that MLS is looking like it is going to be around for a while, it is time to start developing future professionals from the ground up. Most MLS teams have already started youth soccer academies, like the Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire. They have well organized youth programs that are coached by past and present professionals. This is a good start.
But I think the youth system in America needs to simplify the different competitions and teams and leagues and go to a more professional system that develops its players to play in the first team.
Europe already has this system in effect, and it has been hugely effective for years. Take Manchester United. Look at all of the players that started there when they were 12 and are now or have at some point played for the first team. Similar examples across Europe, from Barcelona (Xavi, Pep Guardiola) to Auxerre in France (Eric Cantona, Philippe Mexes).
As usual, the only way that this kind of program is going to be developed is if the MLS team owners spend more money. This means signing youth players to contracts that not only pay them and develop them as players but also provide education. In our country, education is a very valued and important asset. Nike had the right idea with Project-40, and Generation adidas is doing the same thing. These programs provide money for education for each player that signs a professional contract with them.
Now I would like to open it up to you. I’d hear what some of your ideas are about how to develop the youth programs for our MLS clubs. This is vital in the progress of soccer in our country.
Please send any questions or suggestions to usa@goal.com.
Kelly Gray plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, who face the New England Revolution on Saturday. He also owns clothing company Adesso Clothing. His column appears every other Tuesday on Goal.com.
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