U.S. Soccer Development Academy players aren’t allowed to play high school soccer, but Jon Kerr reports on three Chicago area players, including two alreadycommitted to colleges, who are leaving their Academy teams to play senior year high school ball. The article brings up the arguments from both sides of the high school vs. club battle over youngtalent. Says one of the players, “I need a break. I needed more freedom to express myself without all the pressure, and high school has helped me with that.”
I agree that the structured approach has it’s limits and squelches creativity to a degree which has been showcased by the failures of our youth teams. X’s and O’s are all well and good (for set plays) and reviews of films. That is when suggestions for alternative movement and a more efficient passes are discussed and pointed out. Until we play instinctive, creative soccer with selfish and unselfish balance we will remain in the doldrums.