In a perfect world, money wouldn't matter. All talent development models (regardless of funding sources) would be completely objective. But of course, in the real world, funding may introduce biases — for example, when the backer has a stake in the player's outcome. The more invested the individual is in the player, the more potential for bias.
Here are a few realities concerning talent identification in club soccer in the U.S. More specifically, pay-to-play club soccer (any time a parent pays for their player to participate).
The coach determines who is talented. Right or wrong, every coach makes their own decision on who has the talent to play. Every coach has a style of play and a type of player they prefer, and they are typically not looking at a future potential development horizon beyond the amount of time they will be coaching a player.
The club is fielding a team that needs to perform now. There is no "first team" or pro team where players at every age and level are funneled toward producing a pro player that generates profit. Instead, club teams are scattered across ages and various skill levels with different objectives in mind to provide everyone who wants to play the opportunity to play at their talent level. Each competitive track may have different outcomes in mind. For example, the top teams in each age are more likely to cater to college-bound talent.
You need to know that every player's development journey is different. Some players realize their athletic ability earlier than others. Some players lose their motivation earlier than others. Some players realize that the demands of the game are more than they want to accept earlier than others. The talent development pathway is narrow and navigates through an uncertain club experience. Some will experience a smother direct path, while others will experience a bumpy, more indirect route.
At Next Level Soccer Academy, I've identified the following areas every player must work on to close the performance gap.
A player's identity is secure in who they are, not how others see them. It is not what you do that defines who you are. It is what you believe in, how you see the world, and the habits you have that build your identity. Building this identity outside the game is essential to the success of a player's short-term and long-term quality of life.
A player on their elite pathway works away from team training on their development. Studies in Europe have shown that the top players attend additional training with coaches and trainers outside their regular team training. My experience has confirmed that this may be even more necessary in the U.S.
A player needs a support system around them to be successful on the elite pathway because psychological factors such as stress tolerance, commitment to training, and mental toughness are highly relevant in soccer. Therefore, the support a player receives from parents, peers, and coaches to help them with stress, stay committed, and hone their mental toughness is critical.
At Next Level Soccer Academy, we are here to help you turn your performance gap into an opportunity. I will teach you the secret to finding optimal performance.
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