[Mick]

[quote author=Viking_Guy link=topic=18334.msg217812#msg217812 date=1512948561]
It's been debated ad nauseum, but the US soccer developmental system is based on soccer, as other sports, not being a future job for the kids.  The academies of most European clubs would kill their age-group counterparts in the U.S., because at age 12 or 13, those kids play soccer and train 4-6 hours a day, and go to school for 4-6.  That leads to a level of expertise that the American system just can't match.

What mainstream sports in the US have this level of development investment at that same age? The only one I can think of is gymnastics. Maybe tennis? And those are still relatively niche sports. If you look at baseball, basketball, and football, I'm not aware of development programs for kids that do year round training like that. Maybe I'm on the outs. What about hockey?

It seems that the investment in soccer player development is way ahead of what we do in the US for our pro sports.
[/quote]

The investment in volleyball is substantial, both for boys and girls.  As of 7/31/17, the U. S. Men's team was ranked #2 in FIVB, #2 in the world.  Starting at about age 13, the best male players can get on national (three levels) and regional (three more levels) teams.  They train and work on skills during the late spring (after HS ball) and summer, take August off (but typically play beach volleyball) and start again in September for the fall/winter season.  My son played eleven months a year starting at about age 14.  Most of the better players hone their skills in beach doubles tournaments year round.  Beach play builds muscles, speed, strength, agility, coordination, cross-training of volleyball skills (there's only two people on court, so you do everything) and teamwork.  There's a reason why the SoCal and Hawaiian kids dominate, particularly at a young age.

The coaches graduate and stay in the sport, raising a new generation.  There are large regional tournaments and several national tournaments for the boys, and it's about 6x that for girls.  The club directors and coaches take it very seriously, much more seriously than high school.  My son, for example, played as much time in his main position in one weekend tournament as he did in his JV volleyball team the entire season.

Soccer is even more competitive.  The better players -- meaning anyone who ends up playing D1 soccer -- don't play for their high schools -- ever.  They just play for their competitive club teams.

[Mick]

[quote author=Viking_Guy link=topic=18334.msg217812#msg217812 date=1512948561]
It's been debated ad nauseum, but the US soccer developmental system is based on soccer, as other sports, not being a future job for the kids.  The academies of most European clubs would kill their age-group counterparts in the U.S., because at age 12 or 13, those kids play soccer and train 4-6 hours a day, and go to school for 4-6.  That leads to a level of expertise that the American system just can't match.

What mainstream sports in the US have this level of development investment at that same age? The only one I can think of is gymnastics. Maybe tennis? And those are still relatively niche sports. If you look at baseball, basketball, and football, I'm not aware of development programs for kids that do year round training like that. Maybe I'm on the outs. What about hockey?

It seems that the investment in soccer player development is way ahead of what we do in the US for our pro sports.
[/quote]

The investment in volleyball is substantial, both for boys and girls.  As of 7/31/17, the U. S. Men's team was ranked #2 in FIVB, #2 in the world.  Starting at about age 13, the best male players can get on national (three levels) and regional (three more levels) teams.  They train and work on skills during the late spring (after HS ball) and summer, take August off (but typically play beach volleyball) and start again in September for the fall/winter season.  My son played eleven months a year starting at about age 14.  Most of the better players hone their skills in beach doubles tournaments year round.  Beach play builds muscles, speed, strength, agility, coordination, cross-training of volleyball skills (there's only two people on court, so you do everything) and teamwork.  There's a reason why the SoCal and Hawaiian kids dominate, particularly at a young age.

The coaches graduate and stay in the sport, raising a new generation.  There are large regional tournaments and several national tournaments for the boys, and it's about 6x that for girls.  The club directors and coaches take it very seriously, much more seriously than high school.  My son, for example, played as much time in his main position in one weekend tournament as he did in his JV volleyball team the entire season.

Soccer is even more competitive.  The better players -- meaning anyone who ends up playing D1 soccer -- don't play for their high schools -- ever.  They just play for their competitive club teams.