U.S Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert and the growth of the sport | Youth Inc. | Greg Olsen

In this episode, Greg sits down with Skip Gilbert, CEO of U.S. Youth #soccer. The pair discuss the culture of soccer in America, the negative effects of specialization, and the importance of coaching in youth development.
#worldcup2022 #soccerlife #youthsports
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About Youth Inc.:
Youth Inc. is a journey into the changing world of youth sports in America, led by Greg Olsen: 14 year NFL veteran and father of 3 young children.
After a lifetime of sports, Greg finds himself caught in the uncertainty and stress of balancing his experience as the son of a coach and a pro athlete, the responsibility of being a youth coach, and his primary role as a father.
Join Greg on Youth, Inc as he sits down with legacy sports families, coaches, psychologists, authors, and more in search of guidance and tools to make the best decisions for his family.

[@simondavies6270]

I'm from the UK and I really love listening to your conversation Skip Gilbert is a 'real gent' as we say here in the East End of London.

[@frvgtbfrvgtb]

I’ve been a Soccer volunteer Coach for 5+ Yrs and my kids have been consistently playing soccer in both parent-driven and club leagues… I feel that US Soccer should do much more in order to empower parent/volunteer recreational leagues across the Country to become a TRUE option as a path towards competitive Soccer…

[@liceafilms]

The issue is pay…nobody wants to pay coaches at youth levels

[@stronkveak5917]

Great interview btw

[@frvgtbfrvgtb]

Surprised to heat that he did not mention Spain, Portugal and Brazil as youth soccer development powerhouses… UK has “spoiled” their youth Soccer a bit IMO

[@Michael-cb5nm]

The “best athletes” argument is the biggest cop out for US soccer. As pointed out by other comments, the nature of the sport is such that people of average size can become world class. US soccer has had millions of kids exposed to the game for nigh half a century, and we have not produced a player even close to a Luka Modric for instance…a diminutive player from a country with less than 4 million people (Croatia). We have plenty of athletes, it’s our development system that stinks.

[@stronkveak5917]

Soccer is skill based, body type and physique is irrelevant, all it needs is stamina and you get that by training, the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi would never be considered as a potential athlete for any of the american sports. Soccer does not compete for athletes with any of the American Sports.

[@TheRoad2ProOfficial]

And We need to boost up those skills

[@Michael-cb5nm]

I like to run the following hypothetical. Zlatan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Pirlo all move to the US as infants. Maybe Zlatan and Ronaldo get snapped up by other sports, but not Messi or Pirlo. They would play soccer…and there is no way they’d realize their full potential here!

[@r2dad282]

Sad to hear Skip give relevance to the "Best Athletes" argument, which is a noob perspective--stronkveak below also makes this case. American Parents, please realize that getting a D1 scholarship is a terrible return on your investment in your child so stop thinking this is the goal. Advocate they play university club soccer so your kid gets the sport experience without having to spend 6 hours per day training in a NCAA fall-only sport structure (requiring a non-STEM education).