Myths and Facts

Myth
The travel teams in the Lehigh Valley are very competitive at all age groups and can compete with most any travel teams in the region and country.
Fact
Many travel teams are competitive within the Lehigh Valley and surrounding leagues but very few, if any teams, can compete successfully with the best teams in the region and country. In fact, there are currently no travel teams at any age level that are regarded as nationally distinctive based on a report by Soccer America, January 2007

Myth
Most clubs in the Lehigh Valley are directed and coached by soccer professionals.
Fact
Virtually all clubs in the area are governed by, directed by and coached by well intended parents. In most cases when “professional” trainers or coaches are hired, they are working with the older age groups (U14-U17). In fact, the ratio of professional coaches to players in the valley is about 1:1,000.;

Myth
Hiring club coaches to train the older age groups and using parents to coach the younger age groups is the best model.
Fact
We need professional coaches at all levels of development and most importantly at the younger age groups. Establishing the proper fundamentals between the ages of 5 and 12 is critical and when we have inexperienced parents coach fundamentals, players establish bad technical habits. In fact, the English Football Association did a study and indicated that if a player is not technically sound before the age of 14, they will most likely never develop technically.
 

Myth
Kids shouldn’t specialize in any sport until they are in college and therefore should be encouraged to play several sports.
Fact
Kids should be involved in more than one activity or sport. The challenge with the sport of soccer is that it requires the development of foot/eye coordination, which in our sports culture isn’t the norm. Most American born kids get thousands of repetitions with hand/eye skills before they are five years of age! Conversely, they get a fraction of the repetitions involving foot/eye skills. Consequently, most American kids will require more technical development that may involve a little more “specialization”.

Myth
Hundreds of kids from the valley go on to play college soccer each year with athletic scholarships.
Fact
There are over 10,000 registered soccer players in the Lehigh Valley and less than 1/2 % go on to play soccer in college and a fraction of those players receive any kind of athletic scholarships.

Myth
High School soccer in the Lehigh Valley is the best way for a player to develop and be recruited because there are so many good teams.
Fact
High School soccer in the Valley is good. But high school soccer everywhere is not developmental, it’s about winning. Only two high school teams from District 11 have won a state championship in over three decades. In fact, virtually every college program spends the vast amount of time and resources traveling to college showcases to see elite club teams. Almost 100% of college players are recruited off of club teams.

Myth
When players get to high school age they can choose from a few competitive clubs in the Lehigh Valley that will expose them to college coaches and enable them to play in the best club tournaments.
Fact
Most of the best players at the high school level leave the valley to play for more competitive clubs driving as far as two hours away to get the best coaching.

Myth
Most travel teams in the Valley are being coached with objectivity and the best interest of all the players involved.
Fact
Most of the travel teams are being coached by well intended parents who ultimately and understandably, have the best interest of their child at heart, so objectivity doesn’t exist.

Myth
There are several clubs in the Lehigh Valley that have a professional organization and professional coaches.
Fact
There are currently no clubs in the Lehigh Valley or surrounding areas that have professional coaches as board members, directors and coaches.  In fact, there is no club that will have as many coaches with college experience (12), than FC Lehigh.

Myth
Families shouldn’t have to “pay to play” when there are so many affordable programs to choose from.
Fact
Families currently pay for gymnastics, dance, music lessons, karate, speed training, swim teams etc. because in most cases, they are paying for professional training.  Paying to be trained by professional soccer coaches and to be a part of a professional organization is a new concept for soccer clubs in the valley and parents need to be educated.  In fact, the club soccer in the Lehigh Valley is significantly behind the rest of the country in terms of cost structure and professional coaching.