Saturday, May 19, 2007

Kids today

The last games of the U14 boys national team camp.

Coach Manny offered some interesting thoughts on what young soccer players need most to develop.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

His last two thoughts regarding development are dead on, IMO. Kids don't get enough unstructured play in our country. It is all play that is managed by adults.

His other point is big too. Mommy and daddy are too involved in little Johnny. Our kids are growing up very immature because mommy is always there managing their life leaving little room for growth. It also leads them to rebel later in an attempt to find their own identity. Usually soccer is sacrificed because they associate it with their parents who pushed them so hard or dominated their soccer life.

A.C. said...

It's funny to think that the adults who want so badly to help their kids can end up crippling them by never developing their independence. Some parents couldn't do a hands-off approach if their lives depended on it.
My parents never watched my soccer games, and did that stunt my USWNT career at all?

Oh wait. . .