Early Specialization in Youth Soccer – A “Catch 22″
Today’s post is from our Soccer Conditioning Experts at Soccer F.I.T Academy and looks at whether or not having our kids specialize in soccer at an early age is beneficial or harmful.
As a fitness professional, youth club staff member, and soccer dad, I hear ALL sides of the discussions about “early specialization in youth sports across the U.S.” While this trend affects many youth sports, this dilemma as it pertains to the American soccer landscape is the most interesting in my opinion. FACT- The U.S. is behind the rest of the world in technical ability, tactical competency, and situational soccer awareness compared to our competition across the world. FACT – The ONLY way to narrow this gap is for our youth..our children… the future of U.S. Men’s & Women’s Soccer is to play…and play more. FACT – The U.S has highest rate of youth obesity in the world…by far!!! FACT- There are 7 days in a week, and 24 hours in a day. In order to gain clarity about our position on youth soccer specialization, we’ll examine these facts mixed with a few opinions and hopefully arrive at sensible conclusions.
The facts mentioned above are dilemmas that are constantly discussed and appraised by US youth club directors, soccer coaches, and youth sports’ specialists across the country (other than the chronological explanation of the 24/7 limitation on time available for playing, training, etc). Noted experts cite that our system is “upside down…in that families must pay to play youth soccer…and the ultimate goal is to get a college scholarship.” Upon being named USMNT Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann asked parents, coaches, and players to identify “where do we want to go?” This is the ultimate question in terms of a child’s youth sports experience. The answer to THIS question ultimately determines the path which leads our youth to their appropriate goal. As the youth embarks on this journey of being a footballer, one assumption must be guaranteed – the child is a WILLING participant who LOVES the game! Anything short of these two conditions is a recipe for youth sports disaster, burnout, “I QUIT”, etc. We must remember that soccer isn’t a SPORT…but a GAME…. which our kids are playing. Do you think the player in the video below (walking around the exhibit hall at the NSCAA convention) is overworked, over trained or being pushed to play?
Now that we’ve identified some conditions and gotten a lay of the US youth soccer landscape, let’s follow this path:
- Soccer is a game that places emphasis on a player’s physical conditioning as well as a player’s soccer skills. None of the major sports demand such a balance between aerobic, anaerobic fitness, and sport-specific skills.
- A skill is something that can only be improved by practicing & refining THAT skill in a deliberate fashion (i.e. you get better at dribbling by dribbling…not by heading the ball) (PS – See The Talent Code)
- Soccer is not only the World’s Game but also the sport of choice for kids throughout the world.
- Youth sports related injuries in the United States are at an ALL-TIME high
- Youth obesity in the United States is at an ALL-TIME high
- The cause for this rapid increase in youth sports related injuries is the rigorous training schedule and consistent practices that they’re obviously not participating in because the vast majority of US youth are unfit & unskilled in comparison to their Brazilian, German, and Spanish counterparts???? If our kids are not as skilled or fit as those in other countries that are playing the exact same sport – SOCCER; then I don’t see how EARLY SPORT SPECIALIZATION is the problem!
- The problem is laying sport-specificity on top of a doughy foundation of fitness, strength, and overall athleticism. This combination equals burnout & injury.
In general, the above points show that our youth soccer culture is OVERpopulated with UNDERmoved and UNDERplayed children who are consequently UNDERskilled and therefore become OVERpracticed to “develop” in a sport that is generally UNDERappreciated across the country (doesn’t sound like much fun to me???). Ultimately, this slippery slope of underexposed youth with overbearing coach/parent is the problem!
Whether we serve as youth sports, fitness professionals, or parents, we must put the long-term physical & mental health of our little athletes above all else. It’s our job to set them up to be successful.
At SoccerFIT, we try to show them that F.I.T. is FUN!
Have a Great Day!
Tom
I don’t disagree with the analysis, but I think that the problem is that in many parts of the country, while kids enjoy playing soccer, they also enjoy playing other sports, both for social reasons as well as the merits of the other sports. For a kid who does not have an ethnic connection to soccer culture, it would be quite unusual to be specializing in soccer in the manner you describe.
I agree with what you are saying but the problem also lies that today’s kids have no where to play for free. In the Los Angeles area there are not enough parks available for kids to have pick up games. If one got lucky and found open space and then you have more than eight kids you need a permit. There needs to be more development of parks whether it’s just one field or a Futsal field and free or charge to get these kids playing and grow up with soccer like other countries. A movement needs to be created to created more parks.
Please explain, I have heard that phrase before, “that youth soccer in the US is ‘upside down’ because we pay to play.” Which part or parts is that reffering to – club soccer? recreational soccer? How does it work in other countries?
Regarding the youth obesity issue – these days kids in general have more distractions and less desire to go outside & play on their own. Couple that with the numerous activities available and and young kids in multiple activities at the same time; and you have limited free time for kids to just go mess around w/ a ball let alone get a group to play in the backyard.
Soccer Training in the USA is better than ever. Especially now that we are seeing more former players become coaches. Compare that to 25 yrs ago, when that system was just starting to grow outside the soccer havens of the bigger cities.
Soccer in the USA 1.
Soccer will, I believe, always be a niche sport in the USA. It is unlikely it will replace football, basketball, or baseball as a top 3 sport. And for that matter, who cares if soccer does. We have our growing soccer community. Our facilities, support organizations, players, and coaching ability are great and getting better. That percentage of soccer passionate people in the USA is enough to equal or surpass most of the world. Coaching and developing players is all we need to complete the process, and we are knocking that door busting to enter the world scene. We are close to entering that top tier of national teams on the men’s side. Again compare where we are now to where we were at Italia 90. Do you even want to remember that?
Soccer in the USA 2.
US Soccer is more than one person. It is more than Jurgen or Sunil. It is not Mia Hamm, nor is it Landon Donovan, it is all of us. We who want to see soccer grow and the USA be one of the best on both man’s and women’s side. If we the soccer passionate create fun, learning environments, then players and parents will continue to come and stay.
To bring it back to ‘soccer specialization’ and youth obesity the answer to where we go is this: if you want active healthy, more fit kids. Get more parents up and out there turning off their electronic devices and those of their kids too. Get up and get moving. Specialization is not an issue. Kids will participate and practice the events they enjoy the most, and get the most out of.
Coach Z,
In European countries the top player are trained at professional clubs and don’t pay anything to play. This means that they have the best players from a given area because money is not a factor. Although many U.S clubs have scholarship programs, lower income players are largely locked out of the player development system because they can’t afford to play club soccer. They receive less qualified coaching so they don’t reach their potential.
MLS clubs are trying to remedy this by starting development academies but many are still at least partially paid for by the families.
The frequently quoted 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” (read, passionate/mastery-motivated play) does not equal a mandate for early specialisation, nor is there any evidence that early specialisation in sport is a guaranteed predictor of ultimate elite performance capabilities. More importantly, there is mounting evidence that a “one-size fits all” recipe promoting early specialisation as the ONLY pathway to a professional sporting future is in fact worsening the childhood obesity problem through decreasing childhood and youth sporting participation as the “less talented” majority reject adult-controlled play experiences focused on adult goals and offering potential “benefits” only a very small minority of participants. The 10,000 hours “prescription” has also tended to encourage quantity over quality of the learning environment, and the focus on the individual disregards almost entirely the crucial importance of broader social, economic, cultural and environmental factors on individual and collective behaviour.
Let’s look at three other sports which require a high level of skill. Tennis, golf, and gymnastics. To compete at the highest level in these sports always requires massive amounts of dedication away from “playing”. Parents often push younger children before they become older children and push themselves. This is probably where 90% of them got their work ethic. I would venture to say that there is not a professional athlete in these three sports (you can add soccer as well if you like) who ever lived and, as a child, did not practice the sport thinking of it as a chore, something that wasn’t fun at the moment, at least at some point in their childhood. Becoming great at something requires work. We need to stop babying our youth. Do you think parents in Germany, Holland, England, etc, don’t make their children practice. Many of them do. And when a child turns ten or eleven and looks around and sees how remarkably better she is than everyone else, she will continue to practice more to improve her skill. At some point, she will decide she wants to be the best in the world, and she will work even harder. Fun can wait until the moment the team puts the ball in the back of the net because of how hard the player worked her whole life. That’s fun.
Let’s compare the number of serves a child tennis player takes to the number of shots or kicks that a child soccer player takes….I tire.
I agree with Stephen Smith, in other countries, parents teach their children work ethics and the benefits of long-term commitment (though there are some parents in the US that do as well, just not the majority). As these kids grow, they see the results of their hard work and know that their parents are right. Many kids in the United States act entitled. As far as the pay to play argument, all that is needed is a ball to play, you don’t have to belong to the best sports club and be trained by the best coach. I know kids who practiced in their (small) backyards and developed their skills just fine. Keep in shape by eating right and exercising.
[...] There’s a lot of info about young players specializing in certain roles and how this adversely affect them. i found a great article at http://www.finesoccer.com [...]
[...] This is a link Posted by admin on January 18th, 2012 Posted in Uncategorized [...]
Great thread!!!!
This is obviously a “hot topic” with many of you.
In terms of the “youth obesity” issue, modeling parental behavior is the definite driving force. Single parent families, both parents working, etc are all more common today than ever. These situations many times leave our children without the active role models that many of us had as we grew up (I’m speaking from an American perspective…would love to hear if this is case elsewhere).
In reference to “early specialization,” I feel it gets back to the selection process – why are kids selecting these activities??? Our passion with AthleteFIT and SoccerFIT Academy is to offer practical and innovative methodologies that encourage youth activity & youth sport participation.
This participation comes in various shapes and sizes – organized game/practice, family fitness outing, or “free play.” We have several “free play” sessions a week where kids can come play & participate in our program and take part in exercises/drills that they enjoy & show some proclivity for. This addresses the sub-standard activity levels and non-existent PE programs that many of our youth are confronted with in today’s society. Our goal is to promote & encourage a healthy lifestyle and enjoyment through activity (why do kids need to play badminton, basketball, four square if they HATE doing so? Aren’t they more likely to stick with activities that they enjoy and experience success with?)
Our job as professionals – whether coaching or parenting – is to make a long-term, positive impact in the lives of our youth. If it means that we must get off the couch to do so, then by all means stand up and start doing!
where is the video?
In Sweden there is an abundance of clubs. Independently of your skill level you can always find a club that fits your ability and still get high level coaching. Also, the fee is very low as the government gives the a club certain amount of money depending on number of participants. Here in the US the selection for travel soccer is more narrow at early age and those players not selected will go to other sports or play rec soccer where unfortunately the level of coaching is poor and the likehood of getting better is slim at best. Also, the cost of playing travel soccer is high (can easily be $2500 per year) and some families simply cannot afford it.
Finally I don’t see child obesity in the US as a soccer or any other sport problem. It is a society problem with multiple factors, fat parents, overall inactivity (watching on average 34 hrs of TV per week), food industry marketing forces etc. Until we deal with all these factors people in his country will get fatter and unhealthier.
My stance on this is actually very simple. At ages 6-10 the windows of opportunity for learning a new skill (technical sports skill, movement based skill, etc.) are wide open and as some might say the iron is hot, and ready to be struck and molded.
Additionally… to paraphrase several of the comments above (Lars, Coach Z…), we need to introduce and encourage a large variety of active and athletic activities at this age to allow the kids to learn, acquire skill and develop a passion for a specific sport or activity that they might have the ideal mental, physical and emotional qualities to enjoy.
If we miss this window because we can’t get our kids off the couch, or live in a region that doesn’t offer affordable opportunities to get involved in sport, then our kids will not acquire the skill, and therefore lack the confidence, to participate. This occurs far too often and is most likely what Tristan was referring to in his original post.
Scott Moody
Founder and CEO – SoccerFIT Academy