Welcome to 3four3. This is the first article being published here so I thought I’d provide a little background and explain the motivation.
By attaching the “2.0” to US Soccer, I’m trying to convey the concept that things have changed. Not in the “it’s all different now” sense, but more that this country has taken steps forward in its supposed aspiration to being a world power. However, there remains fundamental issues that need to be addressed for our evolution to continue.
Our goal is to help players, coaches, clubs, and members of the media get better. But it all has to start with being good students of the game.
What Has Changed in US Soccer?
To kick things off and give you a sense of the things we plan to write about, here is a touch of what has changed in our soccer nation:
- It is now the most played sport in the country.
- The infrastructure – in an organizational sense – has improved.
- The US Development Academy was formed.
The Big Problem?
- Typical American soccer media, and as a consequence their audience, only has surface knowledge of the game.
- The typical US coach, at all levels, does not have a rich understanding of the game.
- Our players who are counseled by their soccer-challenged parents, “trained” by their soccer-challenged coaches, and priced out of competitive soccer, never develop.
- Finally, and most important of all, our soccer system is not a merit-based one. As such, how one profits in the business of soccer is not aligned with sporting excellence.
The fundamental problem that must be addressed for American soccer to mature is one of education. All the other details that keep us down can start falling into place when we become an educated soccer nation.
We will give you the tools you need to properly contextualize the game and increase your “Soccer IQ”. Only then will you be able to take your game, your player’s game, your team’s game, your club’s game, and hence the American game to the next level.
this is fucken sickk..
“el super craque” … lol.
We’re going to do our best for people who love the sport and want to improve!
Stay tuned for some great content …
ouffff finally a good subject about soccer… put the US on blast see if people actually open their eyes and improve on things like this..
im working on it myself (i know pretty hard to belive)
😀
finally lets see how many people actually see this website so they can learn a little something about soccer .
vamanosss conyo
lets talk about college soccer
Oh we will definitely be talking about college soccer! We plan on covering many games during the season.
my first college soccer game felt like I was playing kick ball always play the ball up and away out of danger never handling the ball or planning out of the back its disgusting to me. We never kept possesion for more than 5 passes then we kick it up to the forwards or in the box and then the same thing goes for the other team. back and forth back and forth
Welcome to college soccer!
It’s good you recognize this problem. You would probably be surprised to find out that your coach and teammates don’t even recognize this as any kind of problem. This is what they think soccer is! Unbelievable …
Many coaches might actually want to have more possession and build up an attack, but they just don’t know how to make that happen. In my conversations with some of them, they seem to think you need players that are far better than your opposition to make it happen. Nonsense!
You just need understanding on how to execute having possession. You have to be able to teach the details of spacing, movement off the ball, and correct decision making.
I think it might be a good thing to just softly start mentioning some things to your teammates. Like:
“Hey, why do we rarely connect more than 5 passes?” or
“Why don’t we just hold possession a bit longer, why are we always playing the ball up?”
Maybe little by little they’ll start thinking about it too. Also, send them our way. 🙂
G-man, great idea for a grass roots movement of soccer education for our country. You hit the nail on the head with your first article. But then again, I’ve always agreed with the Kleiban brothers and soccer philosophy. Can’t wait to read more. I will do my best to spread the word in the soccer community. Good luck.
Thanks for that Raffy!
Finally a blog that talks to the heart of soccer. To be the best the US needs the best coaches. Ones that can instill a greater love for the game than the kids have to begin with. Ones that don’t destroy the kid’s passion.
What to do about “clueless parents” is another problem. When I go to watch a game I am so distracted by their lack of true understanding of the game that a lot of the time I walk away…beacuse if I stay I know I will say something rude or obnoxious………………………J
Jemma,
Thank you! You’re on point with the coaches. We need capable ones that not only understand the game and can teach, but also produce a warm and nurturing environment. All while maintaining discipline, and managing “player psychology” in the squad as well.
The players will love him for that, and want to learn and work their butts off.
4 years later… same shit.