US Youth Soccer is BROKEN and no one can fix it

[@KennyMGG]

US Cities need to build more soccer fields for kids near playgrounds. In South America, almost every playground has a basketball field merged with a futsal-sized soccer field.

[@Not_Sal]

New York City has baseball fields everywhere in their parks and sports complexes. Some have since been replaced with soccer fields, some full size, some are smaller futsal style fields. NYC has a long way to go, but the important thing is they have more fields. I hope to see other cities do the same if they haven’t already.

[@Number1Camper]

Maybe they should build more cricket fields to increase Cricket youth development. Or maybe they should focus on having the sports that are popular such as basketball and American football

[@KennyMGG]

@@Number1Camper What's Cricket?

[@football4christ]

@@KennyMGG some European sport like baseball..

[@KennyMGG]

@Number1Camper Thanks @football4christ! So, it seems that cricket and soccer are the most popular sports worldwide. Let's build more fields for those sports then! Agreed!

[@dp4812]

It's sad that there are probably kids out there that have the talent to play at the highest level but money is what holds them back. This goes for any country with corrupt systems.

[@MrRob2084]

Agreed, but to add It’s not even about just the money. Plenty of kids have the money, but at the age of 11-12 aren’t equally developed as other kids their age - yet may be way more skilled on the ball. This puts all those highly skilled kids on the back burner, so the team can win now to sell more spots on their club. This produces athletes at the expense of professionals. The system doesn’t work at all, for any socioeconomic level

[@napolean_ragland]

@@MrRob2084 11-12? Giant European clubs are signing up 7 year olds

[@MrRob2084]

@@napolean_raglandwhat does that have to do with anything I said. The age is the last possible time in the US to make it. After it becomes almost impossible to get placed into an “elite” system in the country - edit in Europe you have multiple levels and ages to make it - not just 7, but throughout your teens

[@napolean_ragland]

@@MrRob2084 Differences in physical development are in all age groups is my point. Do you think Phil Foden was bigger than the other 7 year olds at Man City or smaller than them, considering he has the build of a 14 year old boy as a full grown man. This aint the NFL

[@mnb9162]

​@@napolean_ragland In soccer is actually usually the small kids that develop the best technique..... They get used to havin a physical disadvantage..... Then they get strong.... And are way ahead

[@odinfatherofthor]

Great video, I just signed up to start my coaching path. I strongly believe that every kid should have a soccer ball at home. The ball is your best friend and you should not only be touching it at training. Go to the park, use your backyard, an empty packing lot. You don't need much space to get touches on the ball. It's crazy to tell kids that they can't do anything outside of training. Growing up I always had a ball from age 8 I had a basketball (because I wanted to be Michael Jordan). Then from age 12 I got a soccer ball because I wanted to be Cafu. I don't play the game anymore but I used to bring my nephew to games to watch me play. Now he plays and loves the game. We now banter because we support different Manchester teams. So, once you introduce kids to the game they will grow to love it.

[@juliosandoval7405]

These types of vids also w tom byer are so helpful for someone planning on being a father eventually

[@bigz1179]

Growing up as a sounders fan Eddie was one of my favorite players. Really cool to see him reinvesting that wisdom to the youth!

[@DWill2022]

Yes sir EJ is doing the lords work. Thanks for the interview

[@mdca8773]

Great stuff TM... I love the youth football content. I coach myself for a non-profit trying to provide high quality competition and coaching to great kids who otherwise would not be able to have the opportunities our club offers them. There is good work out there!

[@sbfsteelchainz816]

Bless you Eddie!!! Keep it up brother.

[@nicholasjagneaux]

--> Tac, once again, you show that you are do a really good job at conducting an interview, asking cogent questions and interjecting salient opinion and analysis from your own viewpoint. --> This World Cup is critical to the development of soccer in the US. The '94 Cup brought mainstream awareness of the sport ... but the infrastructure to accommodate new players had to be built. This tournament is the one that could actually make an impact on getting kids playing the sport because there are systems in place (though they need improvement) to attract and train the next generation.

[@mikeramirez4405]

My sons are youth referees for travel soccer, so a lot of times I will go observe the games. Let me tell you, most of the "pay to play: soccer is bad, it's the same level as AYSO. Travel soccer is a money grab because they will take any kid who can pay. There are no skills being taught because most of these families are not that serious about the game. They take their kid to training twice a week and maybe a game or tournament during the weekend. Most kids are so scheduled in these families that in reality they have no time to master the skills. Dedicate more time to Soccer? but the kids need to study or go to play dates and don't forget baseball season is starting up. Like fillipo and Eddie say, kids are better off playing pick up in the street, learning skills for fun like the players we see on tv. We don't have that in the USA.

[@Bruss813]

@@mikeramirez4405 I agree with everything except the practice schedules. They actually practice 5 days a week.

[@mikeramirez4405]

@@Bruss813all "travel" teams practice 5 days a week?

[@MbisonBalrog]

Like we do with BB, or FB.

[@MbisonBalrog]

@@mikeramirez4405 improssibru

[@mikeramirez4405]

@@MbisonBalrog yes!! We will become a soccer power of they do that in every town

[@ericandrade1137]

Good conversation 👍

[@RAD_FAM3]

Great video and info inThis video. Had a a lot of questions/doubts in my head around the development of my son. Which this video answers all of them. Thanks man hope to see you around in Orlando or at one of the OC games. God bless man

[@marnfulda1758]

In England as children we just went to a local park, put down two jackets or whatever as goal posts got a football, old mainly or new, and just played with your friends....what's the problem? It gets the kids starting to play and thereby developing an interest. The cost is virtually nothing.

[@gtjohns220]

We have kids they do just that but that's where it ends. Eventually someone will see they are athletically talented and put a American football in their hands and say come play for free here. A variety of coaches who get paid to coach guide you through grade school, high school, college, and to the pros. The best kids get picked not the kid whose parents can pay for them to go to a college showcase

[@mnb9162]

​@@gtjohns220 Who is paying those American football coaches in middle/high schools? Who is paying for the equipment and the travelling?

[@gtjohns220]

@mnb9162 the state and ticket sells of the high school football games.

[@mnb9162]

@@gtjohns220 Ok got it. The Elementary - HighSchool pathway is the key...They need to create Soccer focused High Schools Its too difficult to retain the best kids in the traditional American football focused highscools.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@gtjohns220 Except in America kids RARELY IF EVER play soccer to have fun, even when no one is around. There is NO pick-up play with their friends, they have NO interest in doing so. I have lived for almost two decades across the street from a large playfield and except for the few times when teachers from a nearby school forced their kids play, never once did any kids in the area use any of the field for a game. By the way, I live 1-kilometer from the border with a major inner city and about 100-meters from a bus stop. Unfortunately, in the USA there is very little interest in the sport outside of organized suburban pay-to-play leagues.

[@PODTIER]

Subscribed...great work.

[@Tournament-26]

Well done Fillipo and Eddie! Loved this IV

[@colemanny72]

Eddie was 12-17y.o. between '97-'02. He wasn't lying about those VHS days being the only chance to see the pro's skill sets.

[@nickvincent8760]

Man, I got a lot of respect for Eddie Johnson walking the walk. Glad somone with his background and connection with USMNT and professional soccer is putting himself outthere to help add a new foundation of youth development in USA. Wishing him the best

[@khalilshahyd9063]

In practice, my son's team does the same possession drill over and over again. But there's no application of it to game situations. And they don't practice game scenarios or patterns of play. So wingers for example, aren't given instruction on how to play the position. It's just, "get the ball and try to score." If you can't, you won't play.

[@derekkatz2875]

Awesome sponsorship and great interview!

[@MbisonBalrog]

What America needs is more futsal. When before or after the BB season, you can use the courts for Futsal.

[@JimiJames528]

Agreed. I've seen some very talented kids get left behind because the cost involved. Elite level soccer has multiple out of state tournaments that are expensive, but provide little "soccer" value (ie the kids aren't learning how to pass, receive, scan, etc during a tournament). I'd much rather see the kids do an in state camp with some scrimmages, which would be more beneficial and less expensive. And it's sad to see that 90% of the clubs are still playing boom ball at U13.

[@hassanal-ansari5573]

American youth sports in general are focused on culling the best players rather than developing skilled and tactically knowledgeable players… if you go to Spain or Uruguay and watch the approach to the game it’s totally different… my son was a high level club player and high school player… trained in Brazil a couple summers but didn’t possess the size that colleges covet so he stopped at the level… anyway I had an exchange student from Uruguay 🇺🇾 who hadn’t played competitive soccer ⚽️ for like six years to focus on swimming and basketball… when we visited him down there my son played with him and his friends at a local indoor facility and my son said he was a certified ringer after not playing competitive soccer for 6 years… I noticed 10-12 year old kids on the beaches there just striking hooking upper 90 shots from distance consistently. My exchange student had a one on one class for basketball 🏀 weekly and he was a veritable ginobli on the court… he played for my 🎾 team at the high school I coached and became a top player in 2 months… so he basically exposed that our approach to physical education is not really based on learning the fundamentals of sports but rather just a way to kill time… good stuff guys… capitalism identifies and funds talented people but doesn’t do enough for the masses…

[@olanderdecastro52]

I don't think youth soccer is broken at all. And, where I live anyway (South Florida) there are tons of fields, leagues, tournaments, travel teams, instructors, camps, etc. It really comes down to competition for athletes. The best athletes in the US play (American) football, baseball and basketball. The money, fame and status are overpowering for those sports and it is hard to grab one of the real elite players and keep them in soccer. You see millions of kids playing every weeknight and weekend in the US and then, like clockwork, they reach the ages of 12-14 and, if they are truly athletic with speed, strength, size and stamina, they gravitate to the other sports. And once they are gone from soccer that is really it. Very few kids who are starting linebackers in high school suddenly decide they are taking on soccer as their full-time participation sport. Just the way it is here in the USA.

[@johnrivers9393]

@@olanderdecastro52 not really soccer is a multi dimensional now….imagine that same line backer you used as an example having to play on the offensive line, running back, quarterback and wide receiver type roles. Modern soccer requires high IQ, spacial awareness along with strong tactical and technical athleticism. Players have to be engaged for 45+ continuous minutes on the pitch. The other sports you mentioned have a lot of physical and mental “breaks” through out the competitions.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@johnrivers9393 There is one HUGE problem. Every video and every pundit loudly declares that the USA MUST start getting kids at 4-5 playing the game and ONLY the game like in the slums of Brazil or the poor sections of Europe. That will NEVER fly in the USA. There are no magic billionaires to fund a program like Little League so it up to schools. The school systems teach a variety of sports and do NOT have specialized coaching until the age of 11, which according these “experts” is far too late, even though it works just fine for all the other USA sports. Add to that parents are more interested in the kids getting into college than playing professional sports.

[@MbisonBalrog]

MLS is gaining in value and popularity. Salaries will be going up.

[@CoachOlali]

The best athletes don't make the best players. The smartest players make the best players. Messi, Maradona, and Pele are no where near the best athletes in soccer. But their intelligence, technique, and creativity make them the best. I could go around Africa, South America, and U.S.A. and can easily find thousands of players who lift more weight, jump higher, and run faster than Messi. But when it comes to the game, no one puts it all together like Messi. We already have Americans who are as athletic as Messi playing soccer. Tell me that Messi is more athletic than every U.S.A. soccer player playing

[@PerpetualAbidance]

When I was a kid there was a main season where all the kids played against each other and then an all star team that played against neighboring towns. this model allowed all kids to play against the better players during the season and then “make” the all star team whereas the current system pulls the better kids out and leaves the recreation teams with the kids who don’t know how to play plus a few good players who don’t want to or can’t commit (financially or otherwise) to the travel team. The focus seems to be how can we identify and train talented kids regardless of ability to play. What about keeping a much larger group of kids engaged with better training so that kids who develop later are not already left out?

[@gregorybiestek3431]

I have lived for almost two decades across the street from a large playfield and except for the few times when teachers from a nearby school forced their kids play, never once did any kids in the area use any of the field for a game. By the way, I live 1-kilometer from the border with a major inner city and about 100-meters from a bus stop. Unfortunately, in the USA there is very little interest in the sport outside of organized suburban pay -to-play leagues.

[@teddyomararayacrooker2240]

En la década de los 90 en ESPN transmitían los partidos de fútbol universitarios de Estados Unidos Ahí conocí a: Jason cris Scott Garly, Timothy Garly, AJ de la Garza entre muchos otros De eso Jason Christ ahora es técnico Recuerdo que en una final que fue en el año 1998 había en uno de los clubes universitarios un jugador zurdo muy interesante se llamaba Greg Krauss y él estaba en la disyuntiva pues le habían ofrecido jugar fútbol americano finalmente se decidió por ese deporte ahora en la actualidad Weston McKinney decidió jugar fútbol, Tanner Tessmann decidió jugar fútbol y ambos fueron tentados por clubes de fútbol americano la cosa está cambiando obviamente los estadounidenses no lo ven porque viven en el país pero la gente que como yo y que es de afuera no el cambio y la diferencia Pregúntale a los argentinos qué piensan de su fútbol y te hablarán peste de su torneo, de su organización y en general de cómo se está manejando el fútbol es decir una cosa es verlo desde otra perspectiva como en el caso mío que soy chileno y otra cosa es estar en el país y ver los sutiles cambios que desafortunadamente la gente no los ve porque está todo el día en el país Pero uno que es de afuera se da cuenta que hay bastantes cambios hay jugadores estadounidenses en Europa que ni siquiera ustedes conocen y no se van porque los europeos sean locos algo deben encontrarle para llevárselos El problema del dinero para jugar es un problema generalizado no sólo en Estados Unidos también en Sudamérica pasa eso acá en Sudamérica también dicen: hay muchos niños que juegan mejores que los que están en los clubes pero el talento no lo es todo la constancia y la perseverancia son factores que a la hora de jugar fútbol influyen en una carrera mira a Iván Zamorano por ejemplo técnicamente no era muy dotado pero él le sacó partido a su fortaleza que era el juego aéreo y así muchos casos pero también muchos se pierden en el camino eso pasa en todos lados y le pasará y ya le está pasando a Estados Unidos

[@fortheloveofmusic860]

The thing mostly in the way of US soccer is the high school, university and professional leagues domination of sports. Sports in the US lack a broad, well organized base, that is open to all. I'm from the Netherlands. We're a small country with about 1.5 million registered football players. All clubs, except from the two professional leagues, are amateur clubs that provide for all ages and abilities, from six year olds to walking football for pensioners. Sports in schools and universities are 100% recreational or just to get some exercise.

[@devinuzan5130]

Good interview! Even worse than pay to play (too expensive and too diffuse) is the emphasis on "winning now." (as Eddie points out)Too many shortcuts to getting results in games. Pass it to the fast kid and maybe he can score. So many kids and adult players have terrible first touches and ball mastery. It's embarrassing. We should have the kids stay on the small field longer, play futsal, work on skills and try to take a longer term approach to development.

[@kanutethegreat2908]

You wouldn’t believe how competitive my high school teams tiny soccer league is, we have beef with one or two teams and when we play them, they are out for BLOOD

[@mnb9162]

What State/area?

[@kanutethegreat2908]

@ Alaska! We travel super far sometimes for away games

[@mnb9162]

@@kanutethegreat2908 Is it mostly indoor soccer?

[@kanutethegreat2908]

@ nope, it’s always outdoors

[@NoriFire]

I really hope soccer will be more accessible to the youth here in the States in the coming years, compared to when I was growing up. I’ve played my whole life but my family couldn’t afford the expensive clubs, just the free ones till I got to High School and made it on my schools team. No matter what happens, I will still teach my children the beautiful game.

[@teddyomararayacrooker2240]

Aunque no lo creas ese problema es mundial no es sólo en Estados Unidos Te aseguro que si tus hijos tienen talento, los clubes se fijarán en ellos eso es una realidad, el fútbol en Estados Unidos ha llegado para quedarse y el mundial y Messi le darán el impulso que Estados Unidos necesita arrastrará por defecto a Canadá y México y Centroamérica se quedan solos Lo que le falta Estados Unidos es fijarse en jugadores no latinos porque no han aportado nada al país los latinos en general son un lte para Estados Unidos una molestia indeseable que desafortunadamente ha invadido el país apoyo a Trump para que los deportes a todos incluidos aquellos hijos de generaciones de latinos que están en Estados Unidos

[@belluh-1huey102]

I remember finding little time to shoot at a goal because a team would occupy it. $3k USD to just join a club team. As a broke fella that plays with his brains I could not develop my game ability well and lost my chance to make an academy.

[@mnb9162]

Small sided games are key for this..... A lot of ball contact... A lot of shots at goal

[@Domestic-r1i]

What you need is to have faith in the youth. Liga Mx made a rule where coaches have to use players born 2002-2006 and have to sum up 1000 minutes throughout the 16 games. They have been playing better than the older guys that the majority have replaced. You got 3 that went to Europe (2 to the same club) which is something but more are on the way.

[@UHollis]

Eddie is the best. Mentor for so many. Known and unknown.

[@CVA193]

Thank you for the topic. Glad you had the legend too. It's a disgrace how the us development is. I'm taking courses myself. I'm a rec soccer coach who wants to push the regular concept of development. Tactics is considered field position, 🤔 🤣 tactics is a lot more compared to that. You inspired me to push and change the norm thought

[@rickmolen7977]

To play competitively in the US in most sports, it is expensive. Some sports are massive fund raising operations. Parents and their children on these teams participate in fund raising ventures. This is prominent in Youth Football. Actually, the fund raising is impressive.

[@gtjohns220]

The drop off in participation in youth soccer happens at middle school football and basketball is free and soccer is not. Basketball is changing to pay for play and its why we are seeing a drop in American soccer talent.

[@johnrivers9393]

Have you seen how terrible the NBA is now?

[@gtjohns220]

@johnrivers9393 Basketball quietly became pay for play about a decade ago. Ja and Ant are the last of a dying breed.

[@Domestic-r1i]

In Mexico they changed it to where Liga mx teams have to debut/ let 2002-2007 players sum up 1000 minutes overall. A lot of 18-21 year olds debuted (3 have been sent to Europe) and even a 15 year old debuted (16 for Mexico national team that played Inter de Porto alegre).

[@timothywilliams713]

Rocking the ManU trainer.

[@NolanHawkeyeAnthony]

I played comp soccer. I wish there was more of a focus on development. Winning does not matter at that age, below age of 15

[@mnb9162]

American parents are probably some of those most competitive parents on the planet

[@keithhosannah3022]

What America has better than any other country: a rich sporting culture in the school system. It works with this country's major sports. The school system in the U.S. basically is the equivalent of sports clubs in other parts of the world. The unfortunate part is throughout the history of soccer in the U.S., high school and NCAA soccer has had a distant relationship with different iterations of the USSF.

[@PODTIER]

We need a nationwide identity and philosophy but it seems unlikely because the NCAA, MLS and youth programs are too focused on keeping their jobs with results over development.

[@SanFranFan30]

I think that soccer should be emphasized at the Elementary School level, not only does soccer improve eye-foot coordination, it improves stamina and mental processing/interpretation and all of those physical muscle-memory type skills apply to literally every other sport if that kid out-grows the sport height wise or the kid decides they would rather play a different sport at a higher level. I think a huge issue is the lack of governmental investment in good sporting standards at public schools across all communities.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

The kind of system you folks keep pushing is in direct opposition to EVERY governmental unit seeking to educate kids in the USA. The USA at ALL levels is constantly pushing ever more stringent learning standards and LESS time devoted to leisure activities. Who do you think is going to fund these grand schemes of kids playing soccer when most communities cannot even fund basic education? Why do you think Pay-to-Play developed? The USA WANTS University graduates, not great soccer players.

[@MbisonBalrog]

Youth sports in America is sponsored by taxpayers. The football fields which FB, T&F, soccer, lacrosse share; is maintained by schools/taxpayers.

[@rickmolen7977]

Many youth in this country have multiple activities. How will a kid have time to train 20 hours a week on soccer ?

[@mnb9162]

Soccer development needs most of a kids recreation time (if you want to become National level)

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@mnb9162 Unless their parents are already familiar with and like the sport, no American parent is going let them "love the ball" as you put it. Day care situations do NOT allow such activities, community rec programs do not start until age 5, & they don't teach technique, and almost EVERY parent is bombarded constantly on how to improve academics & have kids try a VARIETY of athletics. USA parents DO NOT CARE about single sport development.

[@danielmaia6135]

I think a lot of this is overblown. I think it's totally healthy for kids to play multiple Sports all the way up until 7/8th grade..... I do believe at that point, the kid and parent have to decide, what does the child want from sports in 5 years? If they want to use soccer as a platform to get into a better school, then that means focusing just on soccer. If they want to play sports with their buddies, then that means having a different attitude about commitment.

[@mnb9162]

@@danielmaia6135 It realy depends what the question is.... College soccer?... or Professional World class development? Two very different things (college soccer does not develop elite soccer players at a meaningful scale)

[@merycastro2608]

You need to look at the other side . Referees are not free , it takes money to put tournaments together . Unless you work for an MLS team , coaches have other jobs , it takes money to maintain fields . The county’s don’t pay for all field maintenance . Unless you have been part of the system , you would not know . Besides coaches need to travel long distances since you US is a vast country. They can not do at their kind heart only . You need hotels , gas , food . It is too easy to say system is broken

[@NoCoastRaps]

Eddie Johnson is obviously very involved with that side of it though, so that's a moot point.

[@kushmaticgames]

In an open pyramid system these costs are taken care of by the club.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@kushmaticgames Sorry but nobody in the USA has ANY interest in the sort of community support you have in Europe. People move from place to place frequently, most kids attend schools in at least three different cities during their learning years as their families change jobs several times, and sports is something that is consumed not lived in the USA. That is the USA's culture, that is why a "club" like you described or an open pyramid system will NEVER be a part of most communities.

[@kushmaticgames]

@ that is a fair point

[@Domestic-r1i]

You don’t need much money for youth players for academy players. All you need is rules like liga mx where they have to debut/ give youngsters from 2003-2007 1000 minutes by letting them play. Liga Mx debuted a 15 year old and now debuted at 16 years old because rules are being enforced. What’s interesting is that Mexicos D team (consisting of bench warmers and mid table teams) beat a Brazilian team.

[@careyfreeman5056]

It's not just kids playing pickup, but the lack of a true club system, with teams in every town and academies fielding teams from U-6 through U-21. I.E. If you're good enough, the teams pay YOU to play. Think Beckham going to United from London at 10yo.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Sorry but nobody in the USA has ANY interest in the sort of community support you have in Europe. People move from place to place frequently, most kids attend schools in at least three different cities during their learning years as their families change jobs several times, and sports is something that is consumed not lived in the USA. That is the USA's culture, that is why a "club" like you described will be a rare if ever part of most communities.

[@careyfreeman5056]

@gregorybiestek3431 True, but the MLS and even USL could step up/expand their efforts and maybe even look to replace the current model.

[@soccerlube]

Looking great in the Man Utd jacket.

[@MbisonBalrog]

Something I do not understand. Isnt Youth Sports like FB, BB, baseball, and soccer sponsored by the taxpayers in US? The parents pay a small fee to sign their kids up. The fields, and courts are paid for by the town. At least that is how NJ does it. Growing up, youth sports like pop warner, little league, and soccer were offered by the Town's rec dept. Then the middle schools, and high schools have their own teams. I thought that is the US system. It is that way with FB, and BB. How is it only for rich kids then?

[@napolean_ragland]

Being the 5th biggest sport is maybe the main issue

[@jonathangallardo9327]

I have my son that plays in a ecrl team here in socal worst decision me and my son made. Luckily he just got recruited to play in upsl division 1. Plus he's going to mexico for his first of three trials. It's all a money grab with most academy's in the U.S.

[@noting7678]

Pay to play is a problem, but the real concern is always who will cover the costs of hotels and other expenses for those good coaches. According to this video and my knowledge, the soccer coaches are more to blame for our problem than the pay-to-play issue. There are a lot of volunteers in England.

[@khalilshahyd9063]

Coaches are not teaching kids how to play. My son plays for a highly rated club team that is dominated by 2 players who dribble the ball out all game. The coach can't not play them because they're obviously talented, but the team suffers because there's no pattern of play with them dominating the ball. No crosses into the box, no combination play. It's very individualized play. Pass into space and run.

[@BALOGUN2026]

I remember how Eddie disappeared. I did not know what happened to him

[@danielmaia6135]

I truly believe this is overblown. The sad truth is, youth sports are going to cost money because 99% of the kids don't end up amounting to a professional career. As somebody who's been involved in youth soccer for the last 20 years..... I can say that it has come in such a long way. In New Jersey alone, I can tell you where kids will be after high school solely based off of the league that they're part of. I call them feeder leagues...... You can be riding the bench on a MLS next team and still make D1 team easily if you wish to play in college. Same thing applies to ecnl leagues for girls. Which I think is one of the best run leagues out there. I think it has the financial backing and it's just really well managed. I think anybody who spends time trying to highlight inequity or issues or money, is not really doing anything but almost trying to gather sympathy? I know that's hard to say but it's a youth sport....... It costs money. And let me also say that I think high school soccer in New Jersey is coming to an end...... Clubs are now restricting kids from playing high school if they play on the club team. If you want the best trainers, refs, fields......it's not cheap guys, sorry. another small fact for you..... having kids isn't cheap lol.

[@BakerClassics]

Funny thing is, nothing Eddie says is profound or groundbreaking. And what he does is done by many. But the country will always get in the way. I haven't seen a goup of his hit the ikder ages yet to see what happens but this country always gets in the way.

[@karlpk3907]

This "pay to play" complaint is not new-- it is DECADES old. I am a couple decades removed from my son playing on one of the top youth soccer clubs in the nation, where there was a Canadian national team player and a USMNT player in the age group above him, a future MLS player on his team, and a player on a rival team who did a stint in the EPL. So here is the reality. You don't become a top player in our system -- or in any other system -- BECAUSE you played in the street, or in pickup games, or 4 hours a day with Eddie Johnson as your coach. (FOUR HOURS a day? You gotta be kidding). Your become a great player PRIMARILY (though not solely) because you are gifted and wind up in demanding competitive environment. Extremely coordinated. And fast. SPEED is what matters. I bet NO player Eddie Johnson coaches in the next 10 years will ever see the inside of USMNT locker room, and maybe a kid or two will get a sniff of MLS. Even that is a long shot. And do you think, Tac, that the kids on the Palmeiras U14 team don''t care about winning? Or the coaches? Gimme a break. "Oh, nice try doing the 4 part step over Filippo, even if didn;t work" says the coach as the team walks off the field after getting shellacked 4-0. In your dreams. Look, really, dispense with the romantic Brazilian myth that the nation is great because kids play barefoot in the street. If you are talented kid, you will find your way to a club academy. From that point out, it's Darwinian, ruthless. Most fail miserably. This is true at every longstanding professional club. Parents in Holland pick up stakes and move to Amsterdam so their kid can be in the Ajax academy and at 12 it's see ya later. Declan Rice was booted out of Chelsea when he was, what, 14? Every kid at these top clubs is a fungible asset. The fact is that all the kids in England, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Argentina want to play soccer. Those countries get the pick of the litter. We have other sports the kids can gravitate to and the best athletes play football or baseball. The USA is too geographically dispersed as well. We are TOO big, ironically, to be a great soccer nation. This talk is like the talk of "If only MLS had promotion/relegation, we'd have a better league." Really?? Right now, what we have is a good as it gets -- a core of about 15 players playing in top Euro leagues. That is our ceiling for the foreseeable future. We will be a respectable national team. We will not be winning a World Cup.

[@teddyomararayacrooker2240]

Estados Unidos puede ser grande en el fútbol? La respuesta es sí Pero para ser grande, hay que crear historia Obviamente por la extensión de Estados Unidos la cuestión del fútbol tiene sus complejidades y sus particularidades propias del país pero a mi modo de ver y no siendo estadounidense si bien hay cosas que mejorar van por buen camino Cómo puedes demostrar eso? Fácil, mira la selección que participó en el mundial Estados Unidos 1994 y te darás cuenta que la influencia de los latinos principales consumidores de este deporte en Estados Unidos eran bastante respetables y respetados además de tener titulares inamovibles en esa selección Ramos, Balboa, Clavijo eran titulares inamovibles Ahora? No hay ningún latino que tenga el puesto asegurado y muchos se han quedado en el camino Cuevas, Ledezma, Méndez, Andrade, Ramos, incluso Estados Unidos ya está empezando a surtir de jugadores que no quiere o no les interesa a países centroamericanos y esto tarde o temprano llegará h y permeara a Sudamérica en mayor o menor medida Italia, Brasil, Argentina, Inglaterra, Holanda entre muchos otros países tienen historia futbolística y llevan más de 100 años cuántos años lleva Estados Unidos competitivamente en el fútbol? Ininterrunpidamente tan sólo 30 años Ahora bien: la UCL que vendría ser algo así como la segunda división del fútbol en otros países puede crecer tanto o más que la MLS el descenso no es lo importante aunque no lo crean, Esto se da porque el país es muy grande y no tiene sentido tener dos divisiones pero si dos conferencias o más bien dos federaciones de fútbol algo más competitivo que eso hay en otra parte del mundo? No Con respecto al talento y a los niños que quieran jugar fútbol pues bien, es algo que con el tiempo y de madera inexorable se dará Estados Unidos ya está padeciendo lo que padecen muchos países futboleros no todos los niños y no todos los jugadores llegan a la élite del fútbol mundial se acuerdan de Clin matis? O de Santino cuarenta? Creo que la cuestión aquí es que a los niños les guste el fútbol y que los padres sepan darse cuenta si su hijo tiene talento o no te aseguro que si un padre se da cuenta que su hijo es muy bueno en el fútbol dejará desarrollarse para convertirse en jugador profesional Pero si bien el fútbol es un deporte barato para practicar es uno de los deportes en donde es muy difícil saber que niño tiene talento o no sobre todo a edades temprana no todos los prospectos que en teoría serán las futuras estrellas del mundo llegan a hacerlo ahora que hay generalidades y ciertos comportamientos, actitudes, habilidades que te indican que el niño va a ser un gran jugador? Claro que sí miren acaban Sullivan por ejemplo no creo que el City sea tan loco como para contratarlo a tontas y locas es una apuesta como lo son todos los jóvenes y no lo encontró en Italia, Inglaterra, Francia, Alemania, Brasil o Argentina lo encontró en Estados Unidos ahora hay talento en Estados Unidos? Por supuesto y es Estados Unidos y Canadá una mina en bruto pero falta mucho tiempo para que lleguen a su madurez cada vez saldrán mejores jugadores miren por ejemplo a Brooklyn Reigns, tiene mejores prestaciones técnicas que Tyler Adams y tiene una mejor visión de juego que Tyler Adams Finalmente los latinos perderán la aparente hegemonía que tenían en el fútbol estadounidense y los estadounidenses no latinos ya se están apoderando de toda la selección estadounidense los latinos seremos cada vez más irrelevantes en el fútbol estadounidense y a mí personalmente me gusta eso

[@alincoln8377]

Always the dumbest argument relating to soccer in the U.S. There is neither the money nor the interest required to train more coaches or eliminate the pay to play system.

[@dennisnguyen8105]

The purpose of soccer clubs teaching kids is to make money. It is NOT to make great players. People forget that we're a capitalistic society. No, we worship capitalism. In that we worship making money by charging the most while providing the least. This is true of our economy. our sports, our political system. Why are people up in arms over something that is clearly aligned with our most cherished values?

[@MrRob2084]

Change needs to start at the top of the system. Force MLS to comply with FIFA rules that gives a percentage of a players sale to the club that developed that player. This will change clubs to produce professionals and not just rely on athletes to win now. Also, the clubs can afford to vastly lower costs to parents since they have the possibility of getting much much more from developing one or two professional players. College and MLS will push back on this hard, but it’s the only way *edit for Flippo; MLS fought and won in court to stop the percentage development fee (Yedlin case when the club that developed him tried to get the fee when he was sold to Tottenham). Only US soccer could force the change now

[@seltonk5136]

Why should the US be expected to beat Trinidad and Tobago at same time. It's not fair.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Because the average American parent has ZERO interest in developing the next great soccer star. They are ALL focused on getting their child the best possible education to set them up for life, not a 1-in-1000 chance of a professional soccer career. Soccer, like American Football or other USA sports, is just a means to an ends, not the goal for at least 98% of all USA parents.

[@maximusprimus827]

We need to market soccer more to the youth. We need more commercials, tv shows, product sponsorships, etc. I see a lot of Patrick Mahomes and Lebron James on TV, but not any soccer players like Christian Pulisic. If we get more kids to take interest in the game, everything else such as the free academies will fall into place.

[@PerpetualAbidance]

The youth soccer system is doing exactly what it is designed to do, extract money from parents who are trying to get a scholarship for their kid. What’s the problem? Is it supposed to be doing something different?

[@KalenAlmeida]

Love the channel Tac but the BetterHelp sponsor 😐hopefully they gave you a bag for that

[@TacticalManager]

What's wrong with them? I responded to another comment. I personally know people that have used it and speak highly of it. They had issues like 6-7 years ago, no?

[@KalenAlmeida]

@@TacticalManager As far as I know, they have changed from 5ish years ago when they were exposed for being a borderline scam. Could be wrong on that, but either way, doesnt sit right with me how they take advantage of people in need by selling therapy from not very qualified therapists. It's good to have the option available, but that site is shady

[@thesoccerdude09]

EJ!!!

[@NolanHawkeyeAnthony]

Noooo Tac! You are now on the better help train???

[@TacticalManager]

What's wrong with it? We had viewers speak highly of them when we had them in the past.

[@grimdevil8890]

I thought better help was confirmed a scam 🤔 😕

[@filipposilva7118]

Not scam but they had issues like 6-7 years ago that based on what we gathered were addressed and fixed. I know people that I know personally that use or used it and liked it a lot.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

The US system isnt design to support the naturing of futbol players and their lives. Its designed the same way as all the other US professional sports which is for sports corporations, their managers and their profits. If a young talented american player happens to succeed is this arrangement then thats counted as a success, but the majority of athletes are simply churned out and busted.

[@mnb9162]

Does Eddie offer scholarships?...... what age... whats his model for giving access to large areas?

[@gtjohns220]

Soccer needs to be positioned as the secondary sport to help with football players in the off season. We have world class track athletes bc its positioned as a secondary sport. Kids play to help with football and fall in love with the ball. We need to target and replicate programs like Uncle Luke in Miami and Snoop Dog Compton Peewee Leagues that have produced pro athletes.

[@DominicZuom-f9b]

I'm Cameroonian with French ancestry I play soccer in America and I have to pay $290 a month if not I WON'T PLAY but I remember the greatest players to rise from the African continent who achieved many great things in their career and they where born in Africa like myself seeing that pushes everyday in training in a country where soccer is trash and not very good to be in the conversation of those African legends. US Soccer kids don't have that passion or determination in training that is why American players that are in Europe are either not starting or not pushing themselves at training

[@gregorybiestek3431]

That is because the average American parent has ZERO interest in developing the next great soccer star. They are ALL focused on getting their child the best possible education to set them up for life, not a 1-in-1000 or 1-in-5000 chance of a professional soccer career. Soccer, like American Football or other USA sports, is just a means to an ends, not the goal for at least 98% of all USA parents.

[@DominicZuom-f9b]

@@gregorybiestek3431 I get what your saying 1000%, the US Soccer media praises and glazes their players meanwhile they are not even good, African players worked and earned their respect from Europe and south America players that is why you see African players thriving in European best leagues and thriving Internationally with their countries

[@DominicZuom-f9b]

@@gregorybiestek3431 In South America and Africa kids play football not just for fun, but for the means to make it out of their poor background it's like do or die example Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, R9 George Weah all these players grew up in poverty and football was there escape pushing them to achieve their football dreams harder with determination

[@snapkrr]

It’s not even just that Kids choose other sports to play at a young age because of pay to play it’s that they never play another sport because of pay to play Lol so we literally miss out on pure soccer players in the US because it’s expensive which is absolutely sad

[@snapkrr]

For Example if Clint Dempsey never received aid from other peoples families on his academy team in Texas he would’ve never became the player we know him as today because he never would have played at higher levels during his young development years

[@napolean_ragland]

You can't choose to play basketball or American football when youre 6 years old because nobody knows if these kids will even be big enough for these sports. I say 6 because thats the age European kids are already joining academies etc

[@cvm6854]

@@napolean_raglandkids do start playing football and basketball at 6 years old in America

[@napolean_ragland]

@@cvm6854 Of course, but most of them who commit to it at 6 wont have what it takes physically by the time they're in their mid teens, so thats 10 years wasted

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@@napolean_ragland Development of kids in soccer/football takes $$$. Paying liability insurance, renting fields, paying coaches & refs costs $$. In Europe it is primarily funded by an established clubs, transfer fees, and government funding. The USA has clubs that have only recently been in existence, loses entire organizations (3 USL teams folded in 2023) every year, has not had enough development for transfer fees, and absolutely will NOT get ANY state funding. Without those sources of $$$ you get Pay-to-Play.

[@coreyjacobs6784]

Money over development the usa way

[@8bitrocketstudios]

GAM! Grown Ass Man. Eddie Johnson!

[@enricomusaj7641]

Greatest sporting country in the world is a big stretch... Realistically incredible athletes, the olympic golds shows that. But this is not a sport that rewards only athleticism, it's like a 50-50. Even less. Please stop thinking in terms of athleticism and instead try pursue the way of the football culture. Which is way more valuable for the growth of the players and the fanbase. Kids play football (or soccer call it however you want) because it's exciting or because they have/make friends there. If you take the excitement out of the equation, then it's just a casual sport that you quit as soon as you grow up. Discard anything else and show the fun of the sport. Dribbling, skills, long shots, tackles or perfect long passes. Don't aim for tactics or pure athleticism. That comes on its own with time, let them kids have fun. If you are interested in the football heritage, i suggest you check some documentary/films of famous players (Like Messi, Pelé, Maradona) or legendary teams (Fabio Cappello's Ac Milan, Galacticos of Real Madrid, Guardiola's Barcelona) or straight up biographies (Like Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic). Don't put stress on the kids with the academies, ensure that they have fun, then everything will come on its own

[@enricomusaj7641]

But yeah aside from that i agree with your and coach Eddie's opinion on the matter. 🤣 I started coaching kids last year in my local team. I genuinely felt impressed by what kids were doing on their own. When i let them free to play matches or games they always exceed my expectations. They do skills or dribbling i never seen them do. They try the dumbest things but it's fascinating to watch

[@williamthompson2941]

Time to change that shirt

[@davidmiddleton6479]

It won’t be fixed until mls puts in an academy system. Pay to play is broken but it’s the only way as of now. Get involved in your local clubs and push for skill development and less emphasis on winning. U-14 and below scores shouldn’t matter. It does. Winning is all that matters. Why academy’s run by professional teams is the only solution

[@gregorybiestek3431]

The average cost of a student in a middle school is $8,778 and for a high school student is $12,756. The amount for private schools is double that amount. Now add in the additional cost for coaching, playing field maintenance, etc. and you can see that to have a soccer academy like Europe in the USA will cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per player regardless of talent level. Now you can see why we have pay-to-play.

[@TMAC803210]

MLS does have an academy system, and it’s all free.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

@ Those academies are NOT fully inclusive school & training programs as in Europe. They have to be weekend only programs that do not interfere with schooling or else they are illegal to operate in the USA. If found to be operating an illegal school by law enforcement, the operators would risk criminal sanctions.

[@bepsoccer]

How does Eddie make money currently?

[@mikexstad1121]

Honestly its just a reflection on how america operates as a whole

[@ryanjohnson6272]

We need to emulate the Japanese model if we ever want to be successful

[@noting7678]

That would not work because Japan is way smaller than the US

[@johnrivers9393]

You mean tactical, technical and disciplined soccer? You sir are 100% correct.

[@tripperdelaluna1]

The irony is that Japan owes much of their success to an American coach.

[@cvm6854]

People don’t care about soccer. Does that mean it’s broken?

[@docequis9796]

Travel issues (cost and parent availablity) and team fees leave many kids out and playing only local sports. In certain communities kids will be stuck playing only middle school and high school "free sports" despite having potential to be outstanding athletes of any kind. Soccer isn't like football or basketball where a player can compete at the highest level without good training and competition he would get from a competitive league at lower ages. That works for sports that rely on the college system... this high school system can only produce a couple of local D1 soccer players a decade and never a professional but several D1 football 🏈players a year and 1 professional 🏈 football player a decade... as a D1 team physician that's what I have seen for 20 years

[@chamberlainwonder369]

No ur lying cause I did not watceh these boys game against Venezuela and the other team, these boys were fun to watch, such as Patrick and rest of their few stars, ball control and ball jug was insane, just as good as it can gets period. Give these young boys their credit cause few of them deserve to be 2026 world cup

[@striker5458]

Allegedly, bro charges crazy high fees per month to his kids. Should have asked him how much he charges

[@TacticalManager]

The pay to play is problem is not via an individual that opens a soccer school, the issue is having a closed system where you can invest early and move up the ranks, till a point where the investment is worth due to getting promoted and FIFA Solidarity payments. There is no way he can afford to keep his project for free, it's different when you have a pro club in an open system. Ps.. I don't know how much he charges.

[@striker5458]

@ I’ve heard 800 a month. Could be false could be true, I’m not sure. If true that would definitely be extremely hypocritical imo. Same as ecnl or mls next

[@cmb0256]

its very simple.. all you guys say is true.. HOWEVER.. the MAIN reason "soccer" . i prefer FUTBOL.. is not professing or at level of south america or europe is simply a CULTURAL ISSUE.. this can only change with a few more generations.. specially when there are already 2 or 3 sports already established .. in south america its not a sports.. its a RELIGION.. that mentality is only developed over time .. 2 or 3 generations.

[@sudano9958]

He's the only one doing this? Really?

[@caseybrionessr.1444]

hire Argentinian or Spanish coaches long term programs

[@MrBongobongbongo]

Pay to play since forever. Its a class issue not race.

[@coletripp4814]

I am 5 seconds into this video and I can tell he is already wrong. Especially idiotic imo coming from someone in the US. If anyone says "pay-to-play" I already know they are incorrect.

[@gustavolazio8]

No promotion relegation is the #1 problem, & people do play pick up here only in certain pockets in Latino neighborhoods.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Everyone wants Pro/ Rel but even with the current system, teams are folding every year. In 2023 two USL team ceased operations and a third postponed operations until 2026. In 2024 another USL ceased operations. Until the USA has way more teams on sound financial footing, promotion/relegation will be a solution to a problem of having too many teams does not yet exist in a nation indifferent to the sport.

[@mauisunsetoceanfrontcondos4722]

No offense to him at all because I know he has put in the work over many years, but Eddie always represented the failure of US Soccer to develop individual technique. Watching him for the Sounders I would always think "Wow, imagine what this guy could do if he knew how to dribble or pass."

[@noting7678]

Isn't that what Alphonso Davies said? Soccer nowadays is more about dribbling and passing the ball than doing flashing tricks

[@chinopopapill5848]

I feel like ever since the usmnt team started playing good you became a hater and a foolish one at that tac these clickbait titles are super goofy so please reflect on yourself lmao

[@Number1Camper]

Just because something is a good and healthy activity doesn’t mean other people have to fund your kid’s extracurricular activities. Maybe you should pay for my kid’s art class

[@mnb9162]

If you want to fix the culture..... Get access to every PE Elementary teacher.... You need to access the Elementary schools... Set up fields.... Then make it the best option in recess.... And PE class... Filter the best kids from there

[@Redo-it]

Tactical manager falling for better help scam 🤦

[@DominicZuom-f9b]

US Soccer youth development is trash shit shitshow awful and will never ever compare to the football powerhouses and the reason why is money, in America soccer is more of a money business rather than a REAL SPORT it's more of a hobby, US Soccer coaches prioritize the money rather than the talent and passion for the game. You see why Europe South America and Africa have produce Legendary players and have been producing world class players especially Africa even though we may not have fancy infrastructure we have something US Soccer will never ever have and that is passion and the determination to play the beautiful game despite our background and where we come from. US Soccer youth system only wants the player who can afford it rather than they player who can prove to the coach that "I can do it". The US Soccer youth system is broken terrible and "pay to play" thing is the reason America will never ever be a great footballing country. Will America ever be a great footballing country? No

[@gregorybiestek3431]

Unless their parents are already familiar with and like the sport, no American parent is going let them "love the ball" as many of you have put it. Day care situations do NOT allow such activities, community rec programs do not start until age 5, & they don't teach technique, and almost EVERY parent is bombarded constantly on how to improve academics & have kids try a VARIETY of athletics. USA parents DO NOT CARE about single sport development.

[@rafacardenas5355]

Better Help sponsoring one of KZbin’s most toxic channels is crazy

[@Aguilar_2100]

Mls needs to remove the draft to be competing with global standards and pay to play got to go to

[@tacticalmanagershorts]

We need change

[@anlerden4851]

I have 3 US Youth Soccer Patches at my home Dear Filippo.🥰😍🤗❤🤍💙💯