Let's start with the concept that Claudio Reyna has the best of intentions. He actively and constructively wants what's best for soccer and its players/coaches/trainers/supporters in this country. He's very well traveled. I readily concede, his opinion has a certain weight and should be heard.
Late in 2010, I sat on the sideline of an "international" match between (as I recall) Turkey and Korea at the Academy Showcase in Phoenix. Literally two down from me: Claudio Reyna. He was extremely focused on the game and its players. I was happy to see him involved and there.
That said, it's important for him to understand that the point of the exercise is NOT to implement a Spanish, or English, or Brazilian or Mexican "system" for identifying and developing young athletes. Rather, it's to identify the readily addressable and significant strengths and weaknesses of OUR system. There is no SINGLE answer. There are major roadblocks. Let's remove roadblocks.
In fairness, no 750-word article can capture the entirety of a person's vision. I would suggest, however, that micro-management of coaching style should be about 38 items down any to-do list for U.S. soccer.
Access should be No. 1. As long as we follow an exclusive pay-to-play model, that access will not be available. We also will not maximize our national potential ON THE FIELD until a generation of kids who see soccer as a "career," rather than a means to an end (college education), takes hold. Finally, and this DOES relate to coaching/training, we must promote an evaluation and development process that places more emphasis on WHAT a kid can do, rather than WHO he is. Kids aren't fools. They know WHO can play. When they see a process that doesn't consistently reward talent and commitment, they seek other venues that do.
