Post by jandrew87 on Feb 1, 2013 11:54:50 GMT 8
soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/soccerusa/id/1055?cc=5901
"The first thing we realized was the 4,000 prospects we consider our elite were playing way too many games," Lepore said. A survey revealed the average under-15 player took to the field over 100 times a year, suiting up for high school, club, district, regional and national teams.
Mondelo had witnessed the impact of these old habits firsthand. "Our kids were playing two or three games a week, then packing six matches at a weekend tournament," he said. "They became phenomenal athletes who could single-handedly win games, but by the time they were suddenly matched against international opposition at 18 years old, they were exposed for what they were -- which was average."
Major League Soccer
Alfonso Mondelo, a technical director at MLS, says a key shift in player development has been an emphasis in creating pro players instead of collegiate ones.
Agoos outlined the new approach. "We wanted to move to a schedule of four to five days training, one game a week and one day of complete rest. We were looking to hit a ratio of at least four days training for every game, whereas before it was the other way around."
Lepore eagerly reeled off the numbers. "The average American club used to offer just 12 hours of training a month. With our new emphasis on training, we are aiming for eight hours a week which, over the newly extended 10-month season, computes to 350 hours a year."
This number still lags behind Ajax's 576 hours, Barcelona's 768 hours and Sao Paulo's colossal 1,040 hours, but the coach points out with glee how close it is to Italy's total, where the elite practice 432 hours. "Until we eliminate the gap, our players will be technically deficient as they lack the repetition," Lepore said."
This article spots some of the reasons why America, a population of 300 million are unable to produce world class talents. This section in particular struck me because there is a similarity here in the Philippines. We tend to enjoy tournaments and packing a bunch of games on a weekend but I feel in terms of hours practiced in a week, we definitely lag behind. It's easier to play 3 to 4 games a week than to have the discipline to practice even the most minute details 8-12 hours a week.
"The first thing we realized was the 4,000 prospects we consider our elite were playing way too many games," Lepore said. A survey revealed the average under-15 player took to the field over 100 times a year, suiting up for high school, club, district, regional and national teams.
Mondelo had witnessed the impact of these old habits firsthand. "Our kids were playing two or three games a week, then packing six matches at a weekend tournament," he said. "They became phenomenal athletes who could single-handedly win games, but by the time they were suddenly matched against international opposition at 18 years old, they were exposed for what they were -- which was average."
Major League Soccer
Alfonso Mondelo, a technical director at MLS, says a key shift in player development has been an emphasis in creating pro players instead of collegiate ones.
Agoos outlined the new approach. "We wanted to move to a schedule of four to five days training, one game a week and one day of complete rest. We were looking to hit a ratio of at least four days training for every game, whereas before it was the other way around."
Lepore eagerly reeled off the numbers. "The average American club used to offer just 12 hours of training a month. With our new emphasis on training, we are aiming for eight hours a week which, over the newly extended 10-month season, computes to 350 hours a year."
This number still lags behind Ajax's 576 hours, Barcelona's 768 hours and Sao Paulo's colossal 1,040 hours, but the coach points out with glee how close it is to Italy's total, where the elite practice 432 hours. "Until we eliminate the gap, our players will be technically deficient as they lack the repetition," Lepore said."
This article spots some of the reasons why America, a population of 300 million are unable to produce world class talents. This section in particular struck me because there is a similarity here in the Philippines. We tend to enjoy tournaments and packing a bunch of games on a weekend but I feel in terms of hours practiced in a week, we definitely lag behind. It's easier to play 3 to 4 games a week than to have the discipline to practice even the most minute details 8-12 hours a week.