A Sign of Hope for the Future

More to come on this topic (much more actually), but it appears as if the United States Soccer Federation is taking substantive steps to address the technical deficiencies of our nation's youth players.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=527400&cc=5901

Of note is a quote from USSF Academy technical director John Hackworth:

John Hackworth, technical director of the national academies, is trying to bridge what he sees as a vast gap between the kind of training American players receive and the no-nonsense grooming players get in the rest of the soccer world.

American players, Hackworth says, tend to develop bad habits playing for club teams that often emphasize winning over developing skills and games -- even against weak opponents -- over practice.

"It's not a matter of whether little Johnny can handle a soccer ball, it's a matter of whether little Johnny can get a result," says Hackworth, also an assistant coach for the men's national team. "That is a problem, and it's always been a problem for national team coaches like myself."

Music to my ears.