Now the example situation is the best possible paired with the worst environment. Lets say you’re dirt poor but you have some of the best skills. The academy teams in your area are not offering scholarships and/ or they don’t cover all expenses. You won’t get anywhere for free but certainly you can’t pay the current U.S. academy price. Also, there is no MLS Academy in your area.

Course of Action-High School Players:

1. Find the local club team…maybe its not the Premier team you’ve always dreamed of but this has to work.  Often cases this team may not even be Class 1(the competitive level class).  You can still find good class 3 teams…make sure they are in the top level of class 3, and compete in many local tournaments.  Also, as a side note, if you are very talented a class 3 coach may pick up your entire fee dues if he feels you will be a standout star player.  Another thing, review all the clubs in your area, and find the one that will give you the best financial aid package that is the best fit.
2. Join the Sunday league–a.k.a the city league.  This league is cheap and plays just about every Sunday year around.  This is good to develop skills and also good for playing time–which is very important.
3. Look for an adult amateur team that is local.  As a freshman looking for experience and a challenge, older players are very knowledgeable and will go into a challenge extra hard…they lack wind so they will try and push you around.  This will also be pretty cheap as well.
4. Try to attend the open try-outs for the local semi-pro team.  They pay all costs for their players and if you make the team, practicing with that kind of talent is valuable to your growth and development.  This will most likely be free besides travel expense.  Keep an eye out for local PDL, NPSL, or a pro teams academy team.

Getting Gear:

• Invest in good boots/cleats: The obvious options are out there except my mind thinks Adidas Copa Mundial…they are about $100 but they will last a very long time.
• Look for deals: All the online soccer stores have sales for last years equipment(shin guards, socks, bags, balls, etc. etc.
• If you have as many teams as I listed above, then practice attire should be taken care of i.e. jerseys, shorts, socks…

Overall, be on a lot of teams, cause exposure will be a problem.  Join teams that take care of their players or good players financially.  And try and be wanted by teams.

But lets take a wonder at why American soccer is so, lets say, middle pecking – like luke warm.

American View:

• Soccer is below Baseball, Football, Basketball
• Soccer is considered Latino in Pop culture American Views
• Soccer is new to America, we like things we made.

That is what Americans will tell you. But what is the real reason?:

• American Soccer does not have Academy Teams
• American Education systems limit soccer time
• When the average MLS player makes 10,000 Grand a year, that can’t be that inspiring.

A true Academy team allows players to develop underneath professional coaches and their guidance. While there are a handful of good amateur coaches, pro coaches are surely better. Also, these players will play other academy teams where they will be constantly competing with one another, playing with and against the cream of the crop, and develop with a strong soccer environment.

My Tips for American Soccer:

1. Obviously we need to start Academies – even if they are only Summer Academies.
2. The Olympic Development Program is great, but we could step this up.
3. Academys would be able to find and sign the world’s talent.
4. Talent will not be lost – it will be found early on and honed to its max level.
5. If anything, build more soccer schools in the U.S.

I have high hopes for the U.S. but we just need to start somewhere. Now is the time. This is the type of stuff I hope “Project 2010″ is discussing. If not, that committee is useless, do they really expect to win the World Cup??

~Jason