[81alum]

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.

My daughter was up to 26 hours a week in gymnastics at level 9 at age 13, having started out at about 6 hours a week at level 4 at age 4.  It goes up a bit more from there for the level 10s and elites (Olympians.)  She was competing nationally but quit due to injury and coaching changes before starting high school. 

Yes, gymnastics probably comes closest to European youth soccer in that it takes very young kids, drills them for very long hours, and produces competitors at a very high level internationally. 

All that said, I don't think we would do it again.  It is simply too imbalanced a lifestyle for a kid.  My daughter got many things out of the experience, but made many sacrifices.  Too many, in retrospect.  And of course there was not going to be a lucrative soccer contract at the end of it!

She took up running in high school and was able to be an athlete while having a much more balanced life.  A very good decision, as it turned out.

[81alum]

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.

My daughter was up to 26 hours a week in gymnastics at level 9 at age 13, having started out at about 6 hours a week at level 4 at age 4.  It goes up a bit more from there for the level 10s and elites (Olympians.)  She was competing nationally but quit due to injury and coaching changes before starting high school. 

Yes, gymnastics probably comes closest to European youth soccer in that it takes very young kids, drills them for very long hours, and produces competitors at a very high level internationally. 

All that said, I don't think we would do it again.  It is simply too imbalanced a lifestyle for a kid.  My daughter got many things out of the experience, but made many sacrifices.  Too many, in retrospect.  And of course there was not going to be a lucrative soccer contract at the end of it!

She took up running in high school and was able to be an athlete while having a much more balanced life.  A very good decision, as it turned out.