Development, US System
Should Major Changes be Coming to NCAA Soccer?
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The knock-out stage of the 2018 World Cup started today, and boy was it a cracker of a match, with France downing Argentina by the score of 4-3. While the eyes of the world are upon Russia, fans of the United States Men’s National Team, U.S. soccer in general, or NCAA collegiate soccer are at a crossroads.
After the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, many U.S. pundits, former players, and candidates for the then-vacant position of President of U.S. Soccer (now filled by Carlos Cordeiro), chimed in on what was “wrong” with the state of soccer in the United States.
One of the perceiving shortcomings was the U.S. structure of bringing players through the college system. The criticism, so the argument goes, was that players were losing some of the critical, 18-21 development years, languishing in the college ranks.
On the other hand, countries more established in the soccer hierarchy, were developing these players in clubs during the years such players would otherwise be at university.
Kylian Mbappe, who just scored two goals in France’s 4-3 victory a few hours ago, is 19 and ½ years of age. He’ll be 20 in December. If he were born in the U.S., would he be playing for an internationally renowned club (he currently plays for Paris San Germain)? Or would he be getting ready to play in his junior year at oh, I don’t know, . . . Stanford or Virginia?
Read Entire Article: Bruinnation.com
