Brian Davis

Right now in the youth soccer world, clubs are pushing national exposure like crazy. Parents are focusing on what national platform the club competes in, when they should be focusing on development. Nothing like watching a U13 team spend all this money traveling to compete on a national platform when they couldn't even win their local league. Parents - my advice is put on the breaks, take a deep breath and wait until your son/daughter is older. No need think about it at 12 years old. - Research shows 70% of kids quit sports by Age 13. Often due to overtraining & pressure, which are common in national-level platforms. - Early specialization on national platforms increases risk of overuse injuries. - National platforms often prioritize competition over development. One could even argue that this is hindering the development of players. - Delaying national participation allows young players to develop in a low-pressure environment, creating a love of the game and reducing early drop-out rates. - The financial burden of national platforms is so high that many of the best players cannot afford to join! - A study of NCAA D1 athletes found that 83% of athletes played mulitple sports in high school compared to only 17% who specialized. Again, enjoy watching them and allow them to be a kid and enjoy playing the game when they're young!