3FOUR3

Soccer at the cutting edge

“Culture” Problem? What Culture Problem?

By 83 Comments

white boy soccer

In the US, people point to “culture” as our fundamental impediment to excellence.

And the arguments come in many flavors. But what they say essentially boils down to one theme:

Numbers

We don’t have the numbers, they say.

  • Numbers in terms of audience
  • Numbers in terms of consumers
  • Numbers in terms of money
  • Numbers in terms of “best athletes” (whatever that means)
  • Numbers in terms of how many years MLS (or any infrastructure) has been around

They argue that if we did have the numbers (always sold out stadiums, NFL level TV audiences, MLB level player salaries, a 70 year old league instead of 19, etc …), that would change everything. Our problem of mediocrity would be solved.

Wrong!

So what’s England’s problem? They have it all!

And yet. And yet the English player and team is no Spain, Holland, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, or even Germany.

Why?
Because the real cultural problem is not about the numbers!
It’s a fundamental and personal socio-economic issue. It’s in the attitude and the way of life.

p.s.  I’ll be writing dozens of articles on this topic. It’s huge, and riddled with loads of things people are frankly blind to, or scared to talk about. Help get me started with your contributions.

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Comments

    • That article is absolutely ridiculous! There are so many factors that aren’t even considered. Many of those great Latino kids on the brazil team aren’t playing because they can’t afford to. The remaining ones that do play are forced to join those suburban mids that they spent years whooping up on and now have to play in a.team with no style and players who are willing to work hard but don’t have the technique and intelligence to help their superstar. The poor kid is pigeon holed and hidden because people think he can’t defend and he has no one to combine with because no one else is at his level of quality and understanding so that potentially brilliant Latino kid from the brazil team becomes turns out to be a small shadow of what he could have been. And is probably still one of the better players in the country but nowhere near what he could have been. Other factors ignored is that these kids aren’t getting the training they need when they get older because they can’t afford it so their development stagnates because of that. This view is incredibly wrong and completely misses the points by just looking at results. The most concerning comment is how they try to say that as you get older athleticism makes up for lack of technique. Are you kidding me!?! And I didn’t realize our ultimate goal was to be better than Mexico, if it is we should just quit now. The bar needs to be a he’ll of a lot higher than beating Mexico and dominating concacaf the goal needs to be a consistent top ten nation in the world and consistenly produce champions league caliber players.

      Reply

      • Kevin,

        The point of the article isn’t to write a book on why we aren’t seeing more Latino kids on our U.S. National team and in leagues around the world… it is to talk about how we foster, as coaches/parents, accepting challenges and create a “growth mindset.” Read Dweck’s book to get a better understanding. OUR current CULTURE of winning first at young ages, kills development. $$ are an issue, exposure is an issue, parental support is an issue, player selection is an issue for the latino players. Ask Gary why they go to the tournament in Europe… to challenge the kids. Why is this Brasil team playing in a league where they win by 10-15 goals a game… because the parents want to win — which is more important than development.

        Reply

        • I think these are separate points you and I are referring to, and the points you are bringing up with I agree with, I just chose to focus on the other half of the article I guess. In the article about the challenging of players, it makes some good points. The rest of the article dropped the ball saying how inferior players catch up because when your older you can just be athletic. Most likely these kids parents aren’t even at the games, so I I don’t really think these kids are trophy hunting, they are probably just playing their age level and are significantly better than their peers. I think basically this article covers two points with mentality development and player development, it does fairly well with the mentality development, but fails horribly on the player development points in my opinion. (Typical of soccer in the U.S.- strong mentality but just not enough class/quality). Also just a side note, but the article also fails to mention anything about tactical understanding and creating thinkers.

          Reply

          • “The most concerning comment is how they try to say that as you get older athleticism makes up for lack of technique.”

            Kevin, you wrote this above. I just want to understand your point. So, you don’t think athleticism makes it more difficult for the “skilled” players to score? I would use the US Men’s team as the example here… how is it, they don’t score much but neither do the teams they play against. The USMNT is known for “athleticism” but missing the technical, tactical and creative aspects… if athleticism doesn’t “catch-up” as you say, then how do they stop so many great players and teams from scoring?

            Where, on the field, do you put your athletes that don’t have the touch/creativity/technique of your other players?

            The development of our youth players needs to address the technical and the mental. The mind powers creativity and motivation which drive the development of technique and willingness to work on technique and enjoy the game.

            “Most likely these kids parents aren’t even at the games, so I I don’t really think these kids are trophy hunting, they are probably just playing their age level and are significantly better than their peers. ” – kids aren’t trophy hunting, they are 7/8 years old… the parents are trophy hunting and they are definitely at the games… that’s the point of the article… we need to make sure that we are fostering a willingness to take on challenges, embrace challenges.

            Unfortunately most evidence we have is anecdotal, but Dweck’s book provides some great understanding of the damage “winning at all costs” causes… being labeled talented, smart or winners. The kids with those labels want to protect the perception and when they are faced with the opportunity for challenges to lead to growth they quit because it is easier.

            Whey does Barcelona push the kids up into teams where they are challenged?… why is their program skill based?… My belief is that it is to instill the understanding of how important it is to always challenge yourself. Why has Barcelona been able to stay at such a high level of performance for the last 5 years with their crop of players?… when most teams drop… aka Rijkaard’s final season and the apparent lack of motivation/discipline he was able to maintain among the team. Again, I believe it is that the core group of players have been raised in a culture where “challenging” oneself and internal motivation drives them to keep getting better.

    • I read the article and its another example of American culture- we always think our way is better than everyone else even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Although your team is bigger stronger and faster, you lose by 20. The Brazil team is technically and tactically stronger in every part of the game. Yet you are convinced your way is better and you feel inclined to offer advice to the other Coach! You should be studying his team and his coaching instead of celebrating scoring one goal. IMHO the team that should be looking for a new league is the one that is not competitive, not the one that is doing everything right.

      Reply

      • LOL – you obviously didn’t read the article. I didn’t give the guy coaching points on his players – he’s doing a fine job there. My team’s not BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER (we were a year younger). It’s a U8 league – so players just need to not be older than 7.

        I’m relating a problem I’ve seen, discussed with fellow coaches and tried to understand. My point is we, as coaches/parents, don’t take into consideration the LEARNING environments we are structuring for our players – what we say to them matters 5,6,7-10 years down the road…

        I played with a player that was magic with the ball at 8-12 years old… everyone new this, his parents, coaches and players…. he was constantly told he was great. We had another player on the team that was immature from 8-12, had a hard time focusing and was just an average skilled player – he had supportive/encouraging parents. One quit soccer at 14, one got to play soccer on a scholarship for Duke. Guess which one quit? Why?

        Reply

  2. hahha can’t wait to see the responses, I’m going to lay back and chill off this one and see who i can air out later when they come with their’s no culture problem or “I’m tired of this latin thing” etc…. Let the Games Begin…..

    Reply

  3. Ok…here goes world!!!

    You might call me CRAZY but this is what I see.

    IF YOU CAN’T DANCE THEN YOU CAN’T PLAY SOCCER!!!

    Dance and music must be ingrained and part of your cultural upbringing. You can be black, white, brown or whatever but you must have been born in an environment that marries dance, music, and soccer in harmony and rhythm. Time & space coordination, agility, balance, reaction, differentiation, anticipation, mobility, postural & acrobatic movements, adaption & transformation, and creativity is the result of this special marriage.

    Check these videos out where great soccer players are dancing with the ball.

    Best Soccer Dance Compilation
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te-BZGs4UZI

    Dancing Maradona
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebs7Qe2nmOI

    Crazy Skill
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRT64z5gf5A

    These countries have great dance and music cultures.
    Spain – Flamenco
    Holland – “Dutch dance music has conquered the world. DJs like Armin van Buuren, Tiësto and Afrojack are exporting their music to the remotest corners of the world.” Sound like Ajax soccer???
    Brazil – Samba
    Argentina – Argentine Tango
    Italy – Tarantella Pugliese/Musica Disco
    France – French House/Neu-Disco Dance
    Germany – Electro/House Dance

    The US has a huge dance and music culture but the wrong demographics are displayed in soccer.
    USA – Hip hop/BreakDance/House/Electronica

    England does have a big music culture but can’t really find a big dance culture.
    England – Bagpipes/Beatles/Duran Duran/Boy George/Cyndi Lauper/Fergalicious

    “It’s in the attitude and the way of life.”

    IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT ETHNIC PEOPLE HAVE THE CULTURAL FOUNDATION TO BE GREAT SOCCER PLAYERS.

    Reply

    • Oscar, I like what you are saying, but to me it seems more a case of association, rather than causality. Also, you left out the African nations, who have rich dance cultures and are the REAL sleeper countries in soccer. If they ever put together any development infrastructure, look out!

      Reply

    • “Ethnic people” ???? Please define. Also, is there such a thing as a “non-ethnic” person?

      .

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      • Hi NOVA Mike:

        An ethnic person is a member of a minority group that retains the language, culture, and customs of that group. All of the definitions I have seen include the reference to a minority group. I think what Oscar is saying is that soccer is part of the Latino ethnicity, because soccer finds it’s way into Latino life socially, culturally, etc.

        I definitely think there can be “non-ethnic” people. These are the people that reject all of the aspects of their ethnicity (language, food, sport, customs) in order to be accepted by all groups – sort of like a politician….. 🙂

        Reply

        • Hmm… So if an “ethnic person” is by definition a member of a minority group, then what’s an “ethnic minority”? A little redundant isn’t it? Following that logic though, I guess it would mean that my son’s friend M__, who’s from Argentina originally, is an ethnic person, but his brother – who still lives in Argentina – is not. And if M___ were ever to move back to Argentina, I suppose he would all of a sudden lose his ethnicity, since he would obviously no longer be in the minority? Nonsense.
          How about this definition instead: “An ethnic group is a group of people who share a common ethnicity. That is, its members identify with each other through a common heritage, consisting of a common culture, including a shared language or dialect. The group’s ethos or ideology may also stress common ancestry, religion, or race.” So one could be ethnically Russian, Polish, German, Peruvian, Bolivian, Mexican, Italian, Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh, Croation, Slovakian, Turkish, Indian, Kurdish, Dutch, Castillian, Basque, Catalunyan, Brazilian, Portugese,etc… or as is common in this country, a mix of 2 or more different ethnicities.

          I’m not really sure what Oscar meant by “ethnic people”, but I think he was trying to make a point about the important influence that music and dance have in many different cultures, and how that is often reflected in the way they play soccer. The Brazilians are of course the most well-known and probably best example of this – Samba and football are inseparable parts of their culture. I’ll always remember my wife’s spontaneous expression of admiration and awe the 1st time she ever saw Ronaldinho with the ball, in the ’06 WC, “Oh my God, he looks like he’s dancing!” And she was hooked. 🙂

          That’s a quality I hope we can incorporate in the American style as well, which is why most of my training sessions are set to the background of an ipod loaded with an eclectic mix of dance music from many different cultures and languages, and encourage the kids to “show me some moves”, “dance with the ball”, and so on …

          On the other hand, as some may have noticed, I find it hard to let sweeping generalities go by unchallenged, which is why I can’t resist the following. In response to Oscar’s “IF YOU CAN’T DANCE THEN YOU CAN’T PLAY SOCCER!!!” Call this an educated hunch, and it’s possible I’m wrong, but I strongly suspect that there’s a certain painfully shy kid from Rosario who proves the exception to that rule.

          Reply

          • That sky kid from Rosario probably dances at home alone in his bedroom. One day when he is on the grand stage he will show his moves.

          • There is a kid on our team that has the same style as Messi. He’s 7 and wears out the 10 yr olds consistently. Lately he has started dancing during training breaks, spontaneously to the music in his head. You can’t tell me that Messi isn’t hearing some sort of music or rhythmic chant while he’s playing. There is a rhythm to superior play…and being able to change that rhythm at a moment’s notice but stay in it…like jazz. Notice in the video Gary posted, he knew exactly where the edge of the stage was…just like knowing exactly where all the players are.

  4. Oscar, we may be crazy together. I’ve always believed that. If you can dance, you can play soccer. But its just a huge advantage. Other things need to happen too

    Reply

  5. The classic American view of what constitutes a good athlete. It involves being big and fast with the archetypical statement “if our best athletes played soccer, we’d be unbeatable,” “if LeBron played soccer”… complete and utter bullshit. Our view of athletes is shaped by football and basketball (and to a lesser extent baseball), and these biases extend to soccer. Americans do not value intelligence as a value in an athlete, in fact, it is often ignored. In soccer the brain is essential to success.

    This point-of-view effects player selection across the country. I see it every day, coaches pick big, or fast, or better yet big and fast. They form a team out of the big, fast early maturing players then they simply overpower everyone else. They play like a typical college team, and college scholarships are the primary objective. This describes our state champs, but since we’re a small state they get creamed at Regionals by teams that have similar athleticism, but actually play well (or at least better).

    We played them the other day and we got over-powered, but to give you an idea of how they play consider what a couple of players did to warm up before subbing in. This was hard to believe, they practiced long throw-ins on the sideline. I was speechless, and turned to our coach and said WTF. He replied its one of their important set plays, as visions of Stoke City floated in my head. I truly hope that one of the teams that plays good soccer beats them this year. The sad thing is that if these athletes were actually developed with an appropriate approach to the game, they could be so much better.

    Reply

    • “Americans do not value intelligence as a value in an athlete,”

      I’m sorry but that is complete and utter bullshit as well. Maybe a lot of crappy soccer coaches in America don’t. However I’m pretty sure guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are some of the most respected and loved athletes in America. In basketball PG’s and players with high game intelligence and are always loved for what they bring to the game.

      Reply

  6. Hahaha long throw ins as warmups!?! That’s comical! As for athletes I agree that the whole idea is pretty much bs however the one amazing fit of a great American athlete that would seem to translate well to soccer is point guards in basketball. If these specific type of ballers took up soccer at a young age it could be special guys like Derek rose Rajon rondo Chris Paul etc. They are incredibly dynamic and explosive players with tremendous skill agility vision and creativity. They read the game and the rhythym of the game understand spacing and solve one problem after the next. To me guys like lebron and a lotmof NFL players wouldn’t fit as soccer players but point guards in the NBA I think are the one athlete type that could translate brilliantly. Granted they would have to play from a young age so that all those skills are with their feet not their hands and that’s where the challenge is to get those guys in soccer early and not lose them.

    Reply

  7. Numbers! It ‘is’ all about the numbers. How many touches did your players get this week? In a game? In practice/training? At home? Playing pick-up soccer in a park? Juggling in the basement, living room, dining (ooops) room, and outside? How many times did they try a move they saw on TV, YouTube, etc? How many times did they watch soccer? How many times (when left alone) do they shoot on a goal (or anything resembling a goal) – over and over and over? How many times did YOU encourage or emulate any of that behavior for your children. Yes, numbers…It’s a cultural thing.

    Something I actually agree with from this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7JrkN5O6Eg

    Reply

    • Gary’s simple point about numbers is that this country is so big that it is no excuse to say it’s not popular enough for us to be great because we have the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc. Even if a tiny percentage of our population played soccer we would have a larger player pool than many elite soccer countries. It is about quality not quantity.

      Reply

      • Kevin – I completely agree and read much of what is written on Gary’s blog and am chomping at the bit. My point was fairly tangential to the article, in line more with “how do you expect quality when our kids never play?” My double entendre ‘culture’ term was mostly meant for (Tyler Dennis), because I read that [insert favorite descriptive] he wrote. BTW, in the piddly little multi-sport youth club in which we play, soccer registrations still outnumber all other sports, combined. Kids are playing soccer, just not a lot of it – even less at a high level.

        Reply

  8. I think it was Pink Floyd who wrote lyrics about the negative or pessimistic attitude of the British. For me this plays a lot into the style of get the ball and get it forward. Instead of focusing on the good that can come from keeping possession in the back it’s on what will happen if we make a mistake in doing so. It’s a very much the outlook that shapes your vision of how to play the game.

    This carries over to your point about the excuses so many make for why they CAN’T play possession soccer. I always tell my own children and players you will never be able to do anything you convince yourself you CAN’T do. Usually the fact is you CAN do it if you have the courage to try, fail and try again until you have it down. So it goes with teaching and learning possession soccer.

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  10. On numbers, let’s take the following 2 examples for comparison purposes:
    1) Netherlands – total population = 16 million
    2) Catalunya – total population = 7.5 million
    According to some estimates, the US has more soccer players (16-18 million maybe) than the total population of either of them. In terms of absolute numbers – quantity isn’t the issue. We’re a big country. Soccer is the most popular youth sport to play, the 3rd most popular spectator sport in terms of average attendance, and the 2nd most popular sport overall for ages <26. The MLS is a 3rd tier league at best and it still does OK. When quality clubs come here for meaningless summer friendlies – pre-season exhibition games — sellouts of 70,000-80,000 seat stadiums are now routine. In terms of shear #s, we have a large enough soccer culture.

    The probelm, as ChrisR alluded to, is that for the most part our soccer culture it isn't passionate enough (overall), isn't committed enough (overall) … . Basically that too many of our kids who are signed up as soccer players don't play or watch the game nearly enough.

    That is changing though. In the U.S. today there are 2 large and distinct soccer cultures. One is the recent immigrant community – people who hail from countries where soccer (futbol) is woven into the fabric of their lives and culture, from childhood to adulthood – it is an integral component of their very cultural identity. The majority are Latino but depending on where you live it also includes Africans, Middle Easterners, Eastern Europeans, and Asians. The other soccer culture is made up primarily of 2nd generation suburban soccer players. These are parents who were signed up for the sport as kids during the soccer boom of the 70s and 80s, without their parents knowing too much about it other than it had a lot of running so therefore had to be much healthier than baseball (this was the same time as the running boom). Over the years many continued to follow the sport a little – mostly during WCs — and then they had kids. Remembering how much they liked soccer growing up, they signed their kids up too. They play with them in the back yard, teach them, coach them, encourage them to excel, … and many do. Eventually for those w/ multiple kids it is fairly common for them to be at the side of a practice or game field 7 days/week – sometimes more than 1 in the same day. Soccer dominates their free time – and they enjoy it. A small but rapidly growing sub-culture within this latter group includes people like me – whose re-immersion into the sport in adulthood has reached truly obsessive proportions, aided in no small part by the literally endless options of top-level global soccer we can know get wired into our living rooms, laptops and even mobile phones (I had to watch the end of the Clasico while getting my team warmed up before a game!).

    What is interesting to watch – and granted it probably doesn't happen everywhere – is when these two cultures begin to mix and integrate. Parents who are united by 2 common passions – soccer + an absolute 100% commitment to doing whatever is necessary for the betterment of their kids (even if means moving thousands of miles to a new country). But here's the thing – that integration does not and will not happen without a common understanding and agreement of how to play. A club still playing direct long-ball / English-style soccer is not going to see that. In order for the 2 biggest soccer cultures in America to come together, the soccer culture of the 2nd generation suburban soccer players has had to change. As others have mentioned, there really is a "culture war" within the soccer establishment, and the more the possession-based soccer believers start to win that battle, the more we will continue to see more integration of our recent immigrant soccer community within that establishment.

    From other posts on here I know there is a lot of pessimism about that prospect, but from where I sit the tide has clearly turned. The success of Barcelona & Spain (other teams as well) over the last few years has helped tip the balance. At this point the # of clubs not teaching possession soccer in the younger age groups in our area is a distinct minority – b/c educated parents are voting with their registrations and their $$s.

    I'll close w/ one example that is good indicator of the prevailing cultural winds. One of the teams in our (small) club is currently very successful at U11 – ranked in the top division, winning tournaments, considered 1 of the best teams in their age group in the state – but they don't look anything like Brian's U11 team. Instead they have done this "the old fashioned way" – good athletes, basic fundamentals, English style. From a results standpoint there is not yet any need to worry – yet the parents are not satisfied and are shopping around for a new coach. They want their kids to learn to play possession soccer – b/c they believe this will provide better opportunities for them in the medium and long-term future. I don't think that would have happened even 3 years ago, but the times they are a changing.

    Reply

    • I want to second that what Nova Mike describes is happening elsewhere in the country. Here in the pacific northwest the majority of my son’s u10 premier team is comprised of the offspring of those the two cultures Mike describes: kids of previous soccer players and kids of parents from futball loving countries. Lucky for my son he is the progeny of a parent from each culture!

      And what are the head coach’s two overriding messages? “There are no mistakes; we must fail to succeed”, and “possession will be the key to everything we do.” As parents we are delighted to pony up the $$ for both the team and the scholarship fund to bring these two cultures together. We spend our sideline time sharing strategies for finding channels and online sites to view games from around the world!

      I may be completely biased since it reflects my own little family but I believe that it will be the joining of these two communities that will lead to the “whole is better than the parts” and lift American soccer/futball to it’s full potential. It’s going to take time-at the U14 and up levels the same club is still going for athleticism over finesse.

      Reply

      • What’s up ASO,
        Haven’t seen you around here before, so just wanted to give you a warm welcome to the community!

        Oh and Mike …
        Jesus your contribution is badass!
        One note: There are demographics where the kids definitely do play enough to achieve the highest levels.

        Reply

        • Thanks Gary, I am mostly a lurker. My spouse is the fighting latino… On the subject of culture, can you tell me why the La Liga games on GolTV have an Irish announcer who spouts obnoxiously florid metaphors such as “prickly like a badgers back.” This was not what my son expected when I ponied up the extra $$ for the Multilatino package on my cable. We want Goooooooooooolllllllllll.

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  11. Let me take a deep breath – because I know this may piss off a lot of people. I agree with Gary it is a personal and socio-economic problem. The American culture does not lend itself well to the pursuit of excellence in soccer for a number of reasons, a few of which I have listed below. Please remember I am speaking in generalities because when you are discussing culture, that’s the only way you can look at it. I am using “We” in a general sense for all of those Americans out there who are part of the problem – but may or may not know it.

    1. Patience – we don’t have any. We want our food fast, our money now, our college education in 3 years (not 4), on and on and on. Playing world class soccer takes years, generations even, and America doesn’t seem willing to wait. Current youth soccer development is looking for the quickest way between “A” and “B” and they don’t understand there are no shortcuts. We haven’t even learned to appreciate “B”, how can we pursue it?

    2. Individualism. The American culture is largely built upon the success of the individual. The “star”, the center of attention, the CEO, the lead singer, whatever you want to call it. We lack appreciation for teamwork and collaboration. Everybody wants to be famous – recognized only in an individual way…

    3. Collaboration – we’re not good at – a side effect of #2. Kids up to about age 10 or 12 seem to do a pretty good job of it, but once they become a “tween”, and parents allow the biggest influence on their lives to be their peers and pop culture, this all goes to shit. Collaboration requires a desire to put the greater good of the team ahead of yourself. Our society (government, healthcare, education, you name it) is not set up that way. And this goes way back….no history lesson needed. Excellent soccer requires selfless and tireless collaboration. Oscar, totally feeds into your dance theory buddy…

    4. Winner vs Loser mentality. This is where our cultural obsesson with numbers comes in. The team who is the “best” must be the team with all the Ws, right? We measure everything and everyone. We are all about quantity, not quality, and soccer is about quality. Number of touches – ok – but were they quality? Did the touch create something that wouldn’t have happened otherwise? Most coach/kids/parents don’t give any credit to the play, quality, sportsmanship, creativity of the team who has the smaller number in the Goal column….they are simply called “loser”.

    5. Lack of the appreciation for the arts. Creativity, intuition, attention to detail, all very important to obtaining excellence in soccer. These are words that mainly come up while studying the arts. Americans are behind the rest of the world when it comes to art education, therefore, our young minds are not trained to explore these concepts. I look at the greatest players and seem them as true artists, Renaissance men so to speak. How many Renaissance men do you think are being raised on American soil right now? Many American children are even bullied for being creative, labeled as “band geeks”, “artsy-fartsy”. These art appreciation classes, along with physical education, are the first things cut when schools are over budget. The message the school system is sending is we don’t care if you are physically fit and we don’t care if you are creative. Makes it tough on those of us who love the game.

    6. We are fighters, not lovers. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

    Thanks, Gary, for giving us a safe place to lay it down.

    Reply

    • Great post M. I think #1 and especially #4 are a huge part of it at the youth level. Many coaches at clubs are afraid to develop because losing games may get them run out of town.

      As far as #6, fortunately some of us are both. 🙂

      Reply

    • M:

      You and I obviously have some differences of opinion some of the characteristics of American culture, but nothing you wrote pisses me off. This comment by Kevin, referring to a soccer team of Latino kids, “Most likely these kids parents aren’t even at the games.” THAT pisses me off. WTF????

      Anyone interested in the interplay b/n culture and soccer would thoroughly enjoy the following 2 books: “Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football”, and “Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football.” Both are wonderfully well-written, in large part b/c both writers are able to write about sweeping generalities, because reality is a lot more complex than that.

      For example, one thing we share with the Dutch is that there is a certain tension b/n individualism and collectivism. Sometimes the balance is right and it works, and sometimes everything falls apart. Read the book. I think you’ll like it. Speaking specifically about American soccer though, I’m not so sure that that excess individualism has been our problem. If anything, it may even be the opposite. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/12/20/hog_the_ball_kid/

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      • Nice article.

        Dancing is about individual expression.

        If you got GAME then come join the DANCE otherwise get out!

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      • NOVA Mike:

        I really liked the article. Very interesting analysis. I think the problem with “Everyone Plays” philosophy of youth soccer is that it needs to be expaned to “Everyone Plays Year Round”. The 10 month season should help. I also agree that the individual creativity is fed through individual work with the ball, which is what my kid has every day except training days and game days. I don’t think the greatest academies in the world (Ajax or Barca) are preaching individualism. Individual expression is fine, it’s when we start taking individual credit that it becomes a problem. For instance, I’ve seen some great jugglers and dribblers who couldn’t pass to save their lives – too much individual focus. I think the key here would be proper coaching and assessment so that the player is well rounded.

        Reply

          • I think this is referring to individual based training, not individual based play. But I’m obviously not the expert that some of you guys are….I would hope this blog would tolerate all levels of understanding. The problem at my local level is a mindset of individualism among the players that is not developed into something team oriented. One kid plays well, one kid hogs the ball, one kid scores, one kid kicks the ball and runs, one kid plays…the others run up and down the field hoping that the “individual” I’m describing gives them a chance to at least touch the ball so at least they can see if all their hours of hard work have paid off. Meanwhile, most parents (including some of the parents of the kids who never get to touch the ball) are perfectly content to let the “individual” play as he wishes as long as the team wins. All of the individual development must roll up into something bigger….

            I think this whole discussion is a testament to the horrible variation in quality of coaching throughout the geography of this country. You guys are at a place where you can think of individualism in a completely different context. We are still trying to prove to some kids/parents that soccer was meant to be played a as a team sport…

          • I think the takeaway from the article is that at critical moments, it’s individual play (1v1 or individual genius through insight/passing/whatever) that produces winning football. So in your example, there’s nothing wrong with the ball hogs, it’s just that the others aren’t being trained in the same fashion or developed to the same degree (i.e. the youth coaches are relying on a couple quick-study and confident players to win games, and couldnt’ care less about developing anyone else.) We’re taking the approach of applying this philosophy to ALL our U8 girls. Soccer is an individual sport played in a team setting, and as the kids grow up with the individual abilities, they’ll find themselves meshing into a team where each is capable of those moments. I think that’s a fundamental issue in this country. Barca play like they do by choice, but the level of individual technical ablity and tactical insight is OWNED within each player at an exceedingly high level. Players who didn’t have those individual qualities couldn’t move the ball around like they do (first from a physical standpoint, but also from an emotional one: i.e. they know their teammates are just as good, therefore they trust they don’t have to do it all themselves, and the ball will find it’s way back to them if they lend it out.) The selfishness of young players HAS to be used to constructively–they want the ball all the time, so we use that as a way to get them to learn how to handle it individually. That selfishness is a known psychological phase kids go through, and tactical insight can only come through the experimentation gained through freedom of letting them solve those problems individually. Then they’ll begin to roll their teammates into their thinking. It’s happening with our team, and it’s pretty cool to watch.

          • So, an indvidual sport played in a team setting, I get. Do you think that a child’s personality can have any impact on whether they make a successful psychological jump from individual thinking to team thinking? Sometimes I see not only impatience, but downright hostility from the advanced players towards the other children. I agree it’s not the ball hogs “fault” that the others aren’t well developed – it’s the fault of the coaches for relying on him…do the coaches do this in part because they were brought up in our “win at all costs” culture?

          • “an indvidual sport played in a team setting”

            No…individual dancers choreographed by a great coach to produce harmony on the field.

            Remember this quote…”If they think you are crazy, you are probably on track.”

            I will admit I’m crazy.

          • Yes, and that’s the problem. The earliest “stars” are both the coach’s biggest asset and biggest liability. Those kids need to keep playing the way they play, but their attitude toward others needs to be reined in. It’s a natural human reaction to feel superior (especially when you actually are), but young kids don’t have any ability to moderate or modulate that. This is one of the fundamental jobs of a coach. A coach who wants only to win will never acknowledge this let alone try to fix it. All kids are capable of making the leap from individual thinking to team thinking, but it’s a journey and it takes work by all parties even though the process itself is normal and does follow it’s own timing (strict textbook definition). If it’s never even acknowledged, that work can’t happen. How does this relate to culture? The predominant soccer-playing portion of this country (think white-bread suburbia, relatively well-off) don’t have a set process for this or even an understanding of it, so culturally we’re all over the road.

      • +1 on Brilliant Orange. Great book!

        The author, David Winner, penned my favorite football quote:

        “Opponents were not seen as foes to be fought and beaten;
        rather as posing a problem which had to be solved.”

        Reply

  12. You are right, Dave C, some of us can be both. I guess the more important thing is which one do we do first? If we love first, the fight is justified. If we fight first – well then we just tear down something that we then claim to love and have to rebuild in our own image.

    Reply

  13. Yesterday I was talking with someone who doing some similiar things with inner city soccer in New York like i’m starting to do in DC and he just came out and said: “America is not ready for the face of soccer to be a Latin American” And you know what i agree with him 100%. Germany issue with the Turks, France issue with africans and middle easterns, US same problem but they don’t want to admit it.
    The Last 20 Years:

    The US System has had almost 20 years since 1994 what has that yielded us? Popularity yes increased but what player really defines American soccer that anyone is really really proud of and represents this country. For me….No one (Donovan and Demps good but counter that to how aguero, messi, di maria wanted to be maradona in the streets or robinho, ronaldo, neymar wanted to emulate pele. My kids im teaching in the inner city are seeing Neymar and they are like whoaaaaaaa that’s tight, i want to be like him etc.

    Where can US Soccer Culture derive from:
    US Soccer knows they really don’t want the game in hands of Latin America or African American, and minorities in my opinion because it will look like bball, it would look like Brazil, Argentina etc soccer talent from Sao Paulo favelas (Pele) or Streets of Rosario (Messi), or streets of Amsterdam (Cruyff). They would be welcoming people who don’t fit their mold of what they want a soccer player to be and to them that’s scary.

    ”Football players created their own language in that tiny space where they chose to retain and possess the ball rather than kick it, as if their feet were hands braiding the leather.” – Edgar Gaelano

    Examples of how sports culture changed in US/World:

    Think of when Muhammad Ali came on the scene with his brashness, confidence etc it scared the hell out of a lot of ppl. They didin’t know what this meant they felt threatened. Or the Fab 5 or Miami Hurricanes in the 80’s they were different did things different and made the establishment weary, like “oh no we don’t have them taunting or dancing like that” we want them to essentially be robots do as your told.

    There is a certain “CULTURE” that is lived and breathed in those environments that creates these talents which in turn effects the whole culture, style, attention, passion, economy of the game that the US is oblivious too. Do we really live and breathe this game, if not who does? Why are they not then the leaders of the game? Why are they not driving the style, systems of play, player identification etc. They would do anything to make it to the top. Instead are leaders at the top are parasites who don’t mind the status quo who do not love, live and breathe the game which is why we are where we are now. And trust me that effects who is even representing US Soccer now, the talent is out there ready but they really have no clue.

    I tell you this I’m an African American who grew up playing soccer getting clowned my whole life by other black friends why? Because how it was packaged here, the way it looks, the way it is expressed, essentially those who run the game have no clue, and the culture of the game here in the US did not represent them. Now with Joga Hip hop music is on, i don’t say take him on “i say shake ’em, break ’em up” to those kids from the inner city why because culturally they can tie into that, they can “FEEL” that.

    “the black schoolyard game demanded all the flash, guile, and individual reckless brilliance each man would need in the world facing him.”- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    Just like this goal by Brazil (Robinho doesn’t score but look how he celebrates like he did because his dribble represented brazilian football, creativity Ginga, Joga)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ep-Iyg2lx8

    Reply

  14. The one thing that nobody else talks about (and maybe we should) is the flip-side of the 10,000 hour “rule”. You know from the Outliers book… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_%28book%29.? Maybe we Americans just don’t have enough time to compete?

    So, I do not take Outliers concept as gospel, but let’s just say for argument’s sake it is true. You must spend 10,000 hours to be excellent (an outlier) at soccer. That’s the given in my argument 10,000 hours by age 18. Assuming we start at age 4 that is about 700 hours per year and about 13 hours per week through the winter playing soccer. Well, culturally in the US that is just not happening, but why? Maybe it just can’t. Even if you have a kid from abroad that plays all day and night soccer as soon as he moves here it is almost impossible to play that much. 13 hours per week with who? And how with the other sports enticing them for trial? Even if soccer is your number 1 you have to spend some time dabbling in baseball and football and all of those other American sports just to immerse yourself in the culture.

    Actually all of that is no excuse. My main point is that soccer is a serious competitive undertaking we are talking about here folks. It may be the most serious in all the world. It may actually take more than 10,000 to be proficient on the world stage. It may have something to do with the quality of those hours too and not just the quantity. We can do it, but a first step should be marveling at how proficient those athletes are from other soccer obsessed countries after putting in all of those quality hours to show the world what they can do. Then we need to systematically kick all of their asses. I think we are doing the right thing by expanding the academy season to 10 months (to increase the quantity of soccer hours). We are also doing the right having a national curriculum http://resources.ussoccer.com/n7v8b8j3/cds/downloads/Full%20U.S.%20Soccer%20Coaching%20Curriculum.pdf to increase the quality of those hours. We also need to be smarter with the seasons in different regions of the country. Why did our season end this past weekend in the Mid-Atlantic. It’s just getting nice. Also, maybe we start taking some shots at the other activities that are taking up hours from children’s time that could be spent learning soccer proficiency; like video games, TV and maybe even some time sucking sports that interfere with the season like football, lacrosse and baseball.

    Just some thoughts…

    Reply

  16. On the culture topic – and I don’t know if this has been mentioned before – but the role of music and dance in culture is something that in my opinion makes a noticeable difference in style of play.

    American culture, like much of England and eastern Europe, are immersed in rock, rap, or house/techno music. While I am a fan myself, it seems many of the qualities in the music come out in players. These styles of music typically have a very simple and straightforward rhythm. Likewise, the forms of dance they spawn tend to be similarly straightforward, simple and easy to replicate. The music and dance are simple in form and the greatest variations only seem to be in tempo or intensity.

    However, when you look at several of the cultures who play the game beautifully there is a noticeable difference in the prominence of more rhythmic music and dance (samba, salsa, ect…). The key difference is in the complexity of the rhythm an the correlating movements. Music is engrained in your mind and is one of the most basic tools for mental development. My theory is that in early development the more rhythmic music helps develop better rhythmic movement and thought process in the future.

    While American culture becomes accustomed to moving and thinking in very base rhythm:

    1 and 2 and 3 and 4

    Or

    Touch and pass and touch and pass

    Other cultures are more naturally capable of

    1 and a 2 and 3 4 and a 5

    Or

    Pass touch touch pass touch pass pass touch pass shot

    While both follow a learned form, the latter provides less predictability and more creativity and it shows on the field.

    Reply

  18. Just saw the movie Battleship with my son. There is a scene in the movie where the US Navy is playing soccer against the Japanese Navy… how’s that for soccer seeping into the culture. I’d bet a few years ago it would have been a baseball/softball game they showed.

    Reply

  19. Could Chelsea’s anti-football winning a champions league revert the American players fans and coaches that jumped on the Spain/Barcelona bandwagon back to their old ways? “Just as in the Europa League final, the FA Cup final and the German Cup final, the more reactive side emerged victorious.”-Zonal Marking.

    Reply

    • I don’t understand what the hell the big deal is. Why are some people (and the media) pushing the panic button? Sometimes the more “reactive” competitor wins and it happens in all sports, not just soccer. Personally I’ve watched tennis matches where this has happened – the superior player stays at the baseline making zero errors and wears out the more “reactive” player on the other side of the net and wins. And then sometimes the superior player goes out there and has an “off” day, the reactive player wins and everybody calls it an upset and goes on. To me, I think there were so many factors feeding into the overall results of the UEFA. I hope no one changes their philosophies based on one year’s results. Weird things happened all season in all of the leagues. Maybe we should statistically consider this year an outlier and be done with it….

      Reply

  20. Ok been doing some more research on culture as it pertains to soccer in the US and in general. I found some interesting things that i think can help enlighten people on the plight facing US Soccer, and where we are going in the future:

    Great Article by a British writer about the racial divide in US Soccer that i found years ago (absolute great read):
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/jun/17/ussport.football
    “Boston’s Pop Warner “urban suburban” American football league collapsed earlier this month. Parents of the suburban 7-14-year-olds said that the urban kids played too rough. And urban playing fields were “unsafe”. And that the urban kids played “intimidating” rap music.”

    “Everybody seems to agree that monoculturalism is holding the game back, but nobody seems sure how to change the situation. And perhaps not everybody wants to. And there’s the rub. Most African-American kids grow up assuming that soccer is a white sport. And there is the suspicion (although no one is actually saying it) that an awful lot of white middle-class parents and officials would really like to keep it that way.

    “While attending an awards ceremony, Bandura, coach of the all African-American Anderson Monarchs youth soccer team, overheard a local official muttering: “If they think they’re going to do what they did to basketball, they’re crazy.”

    New York Times article featuring Kobe Bryant: I don’t agree with everything they say in this one, but understand the point
    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/sports/soccer/28rhoden.html?_r=1
    Bryant suggested an education blitz aimed at young people whose primary interest is football and basketball.

    “I don’t think kids really understand the creativity that you can have playing soccer,” Bryant said. “I think they think you just kick a ball around, but if you watch clips of Ronaldinho and see some of the things he can do with that ball if you have imagination. …”

    Bryant said it was important for young people to see what they wanted to become.

    “I think it’s seeing the future,” he said. “Our youth, growing up, see the N.B.A. You say, ‘I can be that.’ N.F.L., ‘I can be that,’ because it’s easily accessible — not easily, but it’s a dream. In soccer, you don’t have that dream.”

    I found this article very interesting when talking about culture in terms of what is “white culture” by 2 white professors who brought up the topic to mixed crowd about the transforming white culture:
    Quotes

    “During their 90-minute presentation, Naimark and Madden said that the hegemony of European-centric social ideals has been the dominant worldview for nearly all of recorded history. But such thinking must end, they argued, as our nation–indeed, the entire world — is no longer under the exclusive control of white people.

    “There are some [white] people who are never going to get what we’re talking about here,” she said, “But I’m convinced there are lots more who may not come to a conference on race, but who nonetheless believe that there is something wrong as it relates to race in the country. They’re not racists, but they’re concerned and many are just scared.”

    http://www.thegrio.com/specials/trayvon-martin/transforming-white-culture-in-the-wake-of-trayvon-martin-shooting.php

    I think the last article is really a feeling that many feel about US Soccer and how it is run. Honestly as Gary always says, there is no flavor to US Soccer, lack of identification with other cultures and that’s a big problem. There are instances where things have progressed but to realize the power and influence the US should have in soccer means giving up the power to control how the game is run to groups who may not be their cup of tea…

    Reply

    • Our negative experiences with youth soccer have been all about power and control…and racism is all about power and control so they two are inextricably linked. In our geographical area, the old guard (white suburban middle aged men) extend invitations to “flavorful” coaches, but then start pushing them out as soon as these coaches start commanding more respect and better results than they do. Then, they stop communicating with them, they “forget” to invite them to planning meetings and stop asking for their input. It’s pretty blatant and really embarrassing. Now don’t get me wrong, they want the ethnic coach’s kids on the team front and center, but that’s the only input they want from the non-white, ESL, bunch.

      It pisses me off and I hate it. Until this gets fixed, nothing’s gonna get fixed.

      Reply

      • “all about power and control”

        I just took a coaching course and every time you mention something “different” everyone looks at you funny, like you are crazy. Most of these coaches know little about soccer yet they are in charge of top clubs and teams…scary!

        Let’s talk about the “culture” of coaches. Maybe I’m biased but most of the soccer coaches I see don’t even look like “soccer” coaches. A coach needs to have or share the same “culture” as the players to successfully develop players.

        If a coach doesn’t look look like a coach they should not be coaching.

        Reply

        • I like your first point, and would be interested in what any of your specific examples are. It is scary that these guys are in charge of clubs most of the time, they are better salesmen of bullshit than they are soccer minds. The second point I disagree with strongly: who is anyone to say what a coach should “look like”, I couldn’t care less if it’s a 4 foot 2 guy with blue skin from another planet dressed in an NFL uniform full pads and everything, as long as what they do as actual coaches is quality.

          Reply

          • Kevin, you think a soccer coach should be wearing a NFL uniform???

            You need to look like a professional in order to be effective in getting your message across. Would you want to go see your “doctor” if he looks and dresses like a janitor?

            If your coaches are fat and out of shape do you think athletes are going to regard them highly?

            You need to play the part in order to be convincing. I’m sure Brian/Gary mentioned that everyone in La Masia look like amazing soccer professionals from the players to the coaches.

            Your appearance, character, personality does matter as a coach, ie the same exercises will produce different results from different coaches.

          • I’m not saying I think a coach SHOULD wear an NFL uniform at a soccer game, it was just an extreme example to say that if they they are top quality coaches producing elite level players I couldn’t care less what they look like or wear. I do see what you’re saying and it can only help to look the part, but there are plenty of con artists out there who look the part, have the licences, etc. and on the field are complete and utter shit but know what misinformed parents look for to fork over large sums of money without giving anything in return other than false promises. I think we have to be careful about these things like appearance and credentials and look deeper into what really matters, what is actually happening on the field. How fit and athletic looking is Bielsa? Put Bob Bradley in the finest suit you can find and he still can’t hold a candle to Pep Guardiola in a t shirt and jeans.

          • I agree just because you wear a cool Adidas warmup suit doesn’t make you a good coach. However appearance, character, personality does matter as a coach. Coaches have to be role models for their players. We cannot ask players to be different than the coach. That is not “effective” teaching.

            Whether we like it or not teams and players are an extension of the coach in terms of appearance, character, personality. If your team looks bad, plays like shit, is clueless…it’s because the same is true of the coach. The team represents the coach and the coach represents the team.

            I wish I looked as sharp as Mourinho, Di Matteo, Guardiola. These coaches look like superstars. Isn’t that what we want our players to be?

            Personally I don’t want my players to look like Fergie, Redknapp, Bradley.

            I think soccer is a SIMPLE game and playing is SIMPLE and coaching is SIMPLE. Just look GOOD.

        • Oscar,
          You mean the coaches don’t look like:
          Bielsa – glasses and a little paunch
          Ferguson – hola profesor
          Redknapp – he looks like he could have been a regular on Cheers
          Jurgen Klopp – looks like Farley Mowatt

          Bob Bradley looked fit though 🙂

          Reply

    • Kephern, thanks for sharing the articles.

      I think the entire history of our world has been about “race” (COLOR) and “power and control” (MONEY). It’s just evolution and basic human survival. We prefer those who are similar and we don’t like change.

      We cannot deny America was founded on slavery and inequality.

      Until we accept race, power, injustice, etc we cannot move forward as a society in our country. That applies to goverment, work, education, and even sports.

      Reply

  21. A recent pertinent article:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/sports/soccer/chasing-a-soccer-dream-all-the-way-to-brazil.html?pagewanted=2
    A 24 yo American player commenting on 12yo brazilians: “I was amazed at how enthusiastic he was about all the ways to strike the ball. The curiosity he had was startling. While I ran extra drills to sharpen certain movements, young Brazilians were always thinking of new moves that nobody had seen before. And because of that constant exploration, they never got tired of the game. “

    Reply

  22. “San Diego is determined to grow into America’s Soccer Capital and is acknowledged as a hotbed of soccer in America.”
    http://www.soccernation.com/san-diego-presidio-soccer-league-helps-city-looks-at-how-to-grow-soccer–cms-2835

    Really…San Diego???

    San Diego County is the land of suburbs and bedroom communities!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    “While hundreds of youth teams compete on the fields of San Diego, few of the young athletes and their parents attend games of Boca, Flash or the SeaLions. The question is how to encourage more young players and families to these matches.”

    Why would families want to waste their time watching GARBAGE games?

    “The presence of the top adult players at club events, including clinics and tournaments, will help to grow the excitement and enthusiasm for the game at all levels.”

    Are Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Chicharito going to be there? Should be we just throw our money away so “top adult” players can provide clinics for our kids?

    “One interesting issue that came up was the difficulty at time of getting parents truly committed to the game. With so many parents still having grown up with little or no connection to soccer, the overwhelming interest that kids have is often lost.”

    “As one club representative explained, after a week of running their kids to practices and games, parents often do not want to go out to one of the WPSL, NPSL or PASL games. “The parents are the ones who drive the social calendar in most homes,” another representative mentioned.”

    “Unlike in Europe and Latin America, where everyone seems to grow up with a soccer ball attached to their feet, American kids and their parents are bombarded by images from baseball, basketball and football. The soccer culture in the United States is still basically in its youth – both literally and figuratively.”

    How long has US soccer been in existence?

    “In 1884, the United States and Canada played at Newark, New Jersey, making it the first international match ”

    It’s a F@#K^N 128 years old INFANT!!!!!

    Reply

  23. No one loves futbol more than I. I probaly watch a dozen or more matches on TV each week and go to multiple games in person . . . from MLS, to exhibitions, to NPSL, and yough games in SoCal. But here in USA, there are multiple sports and the baseball / football / basketball / TV industrial complex hasn’t opened it’s door for soccer. So what, I don’ care! Further, Americans on average may have other distractions other countries do not (XBOX, PS3, Amusement Parks, TV, etc.). Apples and oranges to compare cultures.

    If you ever go to Europe, South American and even places like Korea and Japan — futbol is literally only game in town. Everyone from grandpa, grandma, cousins, relatives, friends, neighbors, schools, and the media are all life-long futbol fanatics. They have the culture we don’t have. While I think soccer will continue to grow in USA, it will never approach fever pitch it is elsewhere. Just not the same culture to ignite same passion across generations and fabric of our society.

    Rather than be frustrated at not being Spain or Brazil in terms of culture, I think we move on and focus efforts on making “our thing” best it can. Soccer doesn’t need to be on Sports Center 24/7 to turn out a Messi or Ronaldo. I think that has way more to do with coaching and proper youth system. In fact, I don’t want to Americanize soccer too much. The more we model it after American football or baseball and that way of thinking, the further we screw it up. Soccer requires different skills and abilities than big 3 american sports. We need to follow benchmark of Spain, Germany, Brazil. Take in what works and tweak it to fit American soccer culture. Repeat: American soccer culture; not American pop culture.

    Reply

    • Kana, when you say SoCal where is that specifically?

      LA county has the largest immigrant population in the USA. You think these kids are running around with iPhones at DisneyLand? Or are you referring to San Diego county kids using the Southern California CityPASS?

      “Soccer requires different skills and abilities than big 3 american sports.” Yes, it seems Americans can’t play without using their hands.

      Reply

  24. By the way, I think Klinsmann understands what I said and I think he’s trying to model US Soccer to what works elsewhere but tweak things to fit facts of life in American culture.

    The best thing Kilsmann and USSF can do is ensure our youth system and coaches do things righ and “get it”. If not, all bets are off and we will continuo suck.

    Reply

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