Brian Rudge, a noted local soccer coach who passed away a few years ago, liked to ask how many people play soccer in the United States, then offer the answer.
"Two," he'd say. "Your kid and everyone else."
It speaks to the primary issue with fixing a dysfunctional youth soccer model in a country of 325 million people that suddenly can't qualify for a men's World Cup and can't get out of the first round at the Under-20 Women's World Cup despite having as many female players, according to one global count, as the rest of the planet combined.
Different kids _ or, let's be honest, their parents _ want different things from soccer. Some just want to stay fit and experience the camaraderie of team sports. Some want a college scholarship. Some want to play professionally and internationally.
One size doesn't fit all.
The lines blur quickly when soccer the game becomes soccer the business.
But instead of just griping about the problem, as I did last week, let's offer some solutions. They're not the only answers, and some are blissfully idealistic in a pay-to-play world where too many of the people getting paid are making too many of the decisions.
We can dream, though.
