"Experiment, Take Risks, and Be Creative"

What this means and why...

Children that are allowed to experiment, take risks, and be creative with a soccer ball develop the most gifted soccer skills. Unlike other countries, the United States treats youth soccer players as if they are "robots" in the words of Eric Wynalda. Many children in the United States lack the idea of creativity in the game of soccer. They are taught to defend, pass, and shoot. There is a middle game between those three important topics... space and freedom. To pass and shoot a player needs space on the field, weather the space be 6 inches or 30 yards. Creating this space is easiest when a player is extremely comfortable with the ball at his or her feet. Quick touches, tight spins, sharp turns and instantly generated ideas can get players out of tough situations. This also seems to be what is enjoyed the most by the youth soccer players as well as any other player or spectator of the game.

Eric Wynalda is a US Soccer icon. He played for the national team, has the second most goals ever scored by an American male (behind Landon Donovan). Wynalda has been the commentator for most of the national matches until recently he spoke out about a few controversial soccer items. One of those items was about how the current soccer programs in our country are failing our kids.

Eric Wynaldas "robot" statement:

Eric Wynalda has a dream of changing the way soccer is coached and played in the United States. Eric believes, that players need to develop personalities and their own style. Players should not be over-coached, play like robots or move from team to team in search of the “perfect fit”. The perfect fit is found collectively in a group of players who are loyal to each others development and the team’s progress.

Experimenting at its finest...
...here's another fun video for the kids to watch it is of Christiano Rinaldo. FIFA, the governing body of soccer, named Christiano Rinaldo the FIFA player in the year 2008.

Enjoy