Learning Is Not a Linear Process

Let's chat about learning. What is the best way for your child to learn something? And how closely does learning align with the level of soccer your child plays?

Learning is ultimately measured by performance in our society. Whether it be grades in school, wins in sports, or concerts in music, the snapshot that is performance is rarely a good way to understand development. Learning isn't a linear process, meaning that the measure of performance does not improve every time.

Learning that sticks is messy and will have clear ups and downs, especially when performances are measured against other individuals who are at a different spot in their learning journey. When it comes to high level youth soccer in the United States, wins are the priority while learning and development are a byproduct. Thankfully, the game itself is an excellent teacher even when the environment is not.

Where the Incentives Sit

To gain some perspective on big youth soccer clubs, understand that their first perogative is revenue. The biggest clubs don't need to retain players because the revenue will stay the same from new players. Most cubs don't focus on cognitive or technical development for the sake of development. Those are simply means to an end. The priority at the forefront of the game is winning, because most parents will pay more money for their child to win games. Other parents will pay more money for status. Maybe their daughter sits the bench most games on an ECNL team and her parents are happy with it. Either way, clubs rake in the revenue.

This is the reason there are so many "National" leagues (not state-based). ECNL, EAL, DPL, GA, ECNL-R, ODP, E64 and USYS National League are in place to make money first, and to serve players second. There are few teams that belong in leagues such as these, and yet they have found a way to make average players everywhere feel elite. The profit they make reflects it as well.

Questions to Ask Before Status

So what does this have to do with learning? As a parent, ask yourself, will the program I want my son or daughter to get into facilitate learning and development?

• Will he be able to win and lose with grace?
• Will she be able to identify the concepts and ideas conveyed at practices?
• Do the leaders at the club demonstrate teaching capabilities?

All of these questions should be put before the "status" of the team. On any given day, there are specific teams from this alphabet soup of leagues that can beat any other - Teams in the National League that can beat DPL teams, E64 teams that can beat ECNL teams, and so on.

So if you want to reach out to directors, coaches, and trainers about where your child should play, do so consistently (not just at tryouts) and with a disposition of curiosity. To advocate for them without these does not prioritize development - it prioritizes politics.

Fun and learning should be why we play soccer. It is the only way forward.

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