Recruits and Parents:
Let’s put things into perspective. If there are 360 D1 Women’s programs in the country and 8 players commit that is 2880 players per year.
Transfer portal just opened today and there are over 600 players already in it on the Women’s side.
So tell me, is this a case of players and families making an error in assuming they could play at those schools, not being diligent enough to be educated on what the program/coach, location, and academics are at the school, or coaches rushing and making mistakes on evaluations? Of course you have to factor all D1-3 programs and grad students, as well as COVID holdovers.
Sad part is that most of the players entering the portal will not end up anywhere else.
I was born in Italy and raised in Brazil and travelled extensively throughout Europe for 54 years.
The US is so far behind in creating a soccer culture.
Futsal courts, small sided fields, beach soccer courts, and every municipality has a stadium for its local team.
It is a religion. It is part of a national identity.
Ironically Klinsmann was vilified by the US press, the fans for suggesting that in order for our players to grow they had to go abroad and to be immersed in a true soccer culture.
It is different overseas. It’s passion. It’s a way of life.
Invest in creating a cultural identity and the game grows.
As I’m out watching games this week:
Dear youth ⚽️ coaches,
Yelling at your players to “wake up” or “that’s not good enough” isn’t coaching.
In fact if they are even listening, what you’re yelling is going to have a negative effect more often than not.
Learning to control our emotions & knowing we don’t have to say everything that pops into our heads is part of coaching maturity.
Can we just talk about how anytime ESPN/Sportscenter posts about women’s sports the men in the comments go wild. Like sir the only draft you’ve been a part of is the one where you have to bring your own 6 pack of natty light to Billy’s house for Fantasy Football. BFFR.