This article is a plea for some sanity in the youth soccer system. There are a lot of good coaches and clubs out there trying to implement appropriate developmental plans for youth players who aspire to learn how to play the game. As coaches, we are told through US Soccer and other organizations that the focus at the younger age groups should be development and learning. The number of wins and losses are irrelevant at these age groups as the kids are just learning how to play. Although player's need to be taught how to step on the field to compete to try to win, it should be a pressure free environment where risk taking, creativity, free-flow of play with less coach direction, and proper ways to play should be encouraged. As coaches develop practice sessions and manage games for their players, the focus is to help them learn and develop with a goal being for the players to have the tools to compete at the older and senior level teams, and enjoy playing the game.
Well, if that is the case, I need someone to explain to me the need of a youth ranking system for U11 teams… for 10 year olds? Seriously, someone tell me what the value is to rank teams at this age group? What does that really mean? Most importantly, how does this promote a better youth soccer experience for the players and help the United States reach their mission of developing better soccer players?
If you can answer these questions with anything that could be seen as a rational response, and with the benefit of the kids (not parents or coaches in mind), than you are smarter than me (which is not an exclusive club). I have tried to understand the need and justify something like this being needed in our youth soccer system, but I have not found a way to do that.
How does a team get a number one ranking? The team has to win a lot of tournaments. I guess a team can consider being “successful” by winning a lot tournaments, but I would measure success about HOW those teams are winning those tournaments. I would measure success with a youth team by the level of GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EACH PLAYER. Now... show me that "ranking" for a team or club!
If a team is stepping on the field, with a development first approach, trying to play the game the right way, focusing on possessing the ball, giving all kids opportunities to contribute equally in the game, giving kids the chance to play and experience the game in different positions, encouraging them to take risks, and they win the game, than that is fantastic and should be applauded (and it is how it should be done).
But, I would make a hefty bet, that the teams that are winning many of these tournaments take a much different type of approach. An approach probably closer to the other side of the spectrum than what is being promoted as appropriate for these age groups by US Soccer and other coach education organizations and leaders. I would venture a guess that the team relies on a couple “special” players to be difference makers for the team. These players are relied on to score most of the goals, control the game, take all set pieces, and never come off the field. (I bet the team does not attend a tournament that one of these players would have to miss for personal reasons. Not worth going if you are not going to win, right?) While the rest of the team is probably made up of better than average players who are asked to get the “special” players the ball as quick as possible. The other players are never given the same responsibilities or given a chance to play that type of role on the “team.”
Kids on these teams probably all play in the same position the entire time. In order to win, it helps to have your players in the position they are best (at 11) to put the strongest line up on the field. Hard to have as much success when kids are placed in different roles to help work on their weaknesses in games, and challenge the player to develop an understanding of how to play the game in those positions. Although this would benefit the players’ develop, it could be catastrophic to keeping that number one ranking.
What type of players make up the best team at the country at U11? Is it a team full of kids who are already 6 ft tall while most of the other teams are still not nearly at the same physical maturity level? These teams are physically probably much superior than your average team, comprised of 10 year olds who have the speed, strength, and size of kids years older. Will this team still be able to compete, have as much success in five years down the road, when other teams are beginning to catch up physically to them? Was the team taught the technical and tactical skills required to play that game at the older age groups, or were they just focused on using what worked to win at U11?
I bet there is very little risk-taking during games on a team like this. If a player gets a ball in his team's penalty area, I bet the player is encouraged (screamed at) to “clear it” or get it out of “danger.” Having a player try to use his skills to control the ball and build out of the back or find a way to break the pressure and keep possession is not worth the cost of a possible goal when the goal is solely to win. Again, although that composure and skill development is key for the players to gain at the younger age groups, in order to be ranked number one, some things will need to be sacrificed. Again, how many teams can say they are the best U11 team in the country? Number one baby!!!
Though I do not blame the team or the coach for any of this (for the most part), as again, the team is playing in a system that rewards this type of play through these types of accolades. What system is out there to recognize and rank teams based on what the players are being taught and how well they are being prepared to play the game at the next level? Where is that measurement? Where is that ranking? That is a ranking that I would deeply care about because A) it would recognize the actual best coaches/clubs/programs and B) it would help parents see which organizations are actually worth the investment for the benefit of their child.
The youth system is creating an environment that is sending two very different messages. On one hand, the professional coaches and leaders of the soccer community (US Soccer) are telling youth coaches and parents to focus on development and teaching their players how to play the game. On the other hand, the coaches are trying to do that in an environment that will punish a club and team for not playing to win from a young age. Tournament wins and league championships are how you get your teams ranked and recognized as the top in the country. The system promotes, encourages, and rewards coaches, teams, and clubs to focus on the wrong things from the start!
For a team, that does not have all the impressive tournament wins as a youth team, who is part of a club who really believes in a “player first development model” and it is not just a tagline on the club’s website, it will be harder for them to move into more competitive leagues or be accepted into higher level tournaments at the older age groups because they do not have an impressive resume of tournament wins. Since the system is set up to punish coaches and teams who are not in it for wins from the get go and actually really want to help players learn how to play this game, what do we expect those coaches and clubs to do?
Am I saying that winning is an indication that a team is just playing for wins and not trying to develop players? No, if a team is winning, obviously that can be a great thing. It can be the result of how good of a job the coach is doing with helping each player on the team develop and learn the game. So for me, it is not an issue with winning. It is simply HOW a team is winning at the youth ages? As I have said before, development takes time, but there are plenty of short cuts to take with youth teams to win which takes no time at all.
I am sure there are some great U11 teams out there that play fantastic soccer, and are being prepared to play the game years down the road. A measure of that would be IF those teams are still winning as time passes when they get to the older senior level age groups. Should that not be the goal for all youth coaches, teams, and clubs? To help the players learn the game so they can come back and be better next year? It would be unfortunate to watch a team who was considered “high level” at one point, slowly fall behind each season, and never be able to get back to having the same success they experienced early on in their young careers.
If as a soccer community, as a nation, we are serious about making sweeping changes about the youth soccer system, to promote and encourage coaches to teach the game, this is one part of the system that needs to be eliminated. There is no need to rank teams at the younger age groups. You cannot promote a better playing and developmental experience for players, and promote a youth team ranking system at the same time. It immediately switches the focus for the players, parents, coaches, and clubs to a part of the game that does not matter at the youth level. Step on the field to compete, and try to win, but do it in a way that teaches the kids how to play the game. Do not do it so the team moves up a spot in the rankings.
For fun, I tried to find out where Barcelona’s U11 team ranked in the world. Unfortunately, I could not find that information. Either they like to keep it a secret, or they do not care.
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