Was Nik Besagno a warning sign? The top pick in the 2005 MLS Draft -- ahead of Brad Guzan, Michael Parkhurst, Will John, Chris Rolfe, Bobby Boswell, Chris Wondolowski and Jeff Larentowicz -- had a very short MLS career. Perhaps not coincidentally, that’s when people started to wonder if the U17 residency in Bradenton was … Continue reading RSD15: The clogged youth-to-pro pipeline, with Brian Dunseth and Chris Keem
Tag: parenting
At the Project Play summit yesterday, we all fretted the state of sports in the USA, as Project Play folks are inclined to do. The basic problem: “Youth sports” in the USA is less and less about getting out and playing — with all the benefits of being active, being part of a team, etc. — and more and … Continue reading What if … colleges de-emphasized sports?
With all due respect to DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (now known as Will Smith), sometimes parents DO understand. Skye Eddy Bruce, an experienced player and coach, is now working to help parents understand youth soccer and then advocate for their kids. Throughout this interview, she and I talk about empowering parents. (And … Continue reading Podcast, Ep. 7 — Smarter soccer parents with Skye Eddy Bruce
“If you let your kid play sports, she’ll grow up to be a productive member of society! If you don’t, what’s wrong with you?” That’s the subtext of a lot of sports marketing ads for everything from the NCAA to shoe companies. And we sports journalists buy in whole hog. But wait a minute. Aren’t … Continue reading Podcast: Ep. 6 — The Big Questions with Bobby Warshaw
The debut / trial run of the Ranting Soccer Dad podcast, explaining what this is all about. (In short: Youth soccer, branching out to related stuff such as soccer, other youth sports, parenting, coaching, stress management, etc.)
Ranting Soccer Dad 