(Editor’s Note: This is the 3rd of a 5-part article chronicling the player development journey of one young man, through the eyes of his mother)

Read Part 1 and Part 2

So, leading coaches and trainers of American youth soccer, exactly what is wrong with Real Madrid? (Barcelona fans need not reply)

A recent article on TopDrawerSoccer.com described some of the reactions of American youth soccer trainers and coaches to the proposed U.S. player development curriculum, which is based upon the Real Madrid’s youth system. If you missed the article, in a nutshell, many of our coaches said “They don’t need it” or “Our way is better.” I found that ‘knee-jerk’ reaction curious, so I have a few questions and I’m hoping one of the naysayers will step up and answer them.

1. What exactly about it won’t work?
2. Have you been to Real Madrid to witness the system?
3. Have you already attempted to implement the system in ‘test sites’ and if so, please explain the failure points and your recommended alternate solutions?

I mean, our coaches are the experts right? U.S. Soccer apparently completed extensive research to bring this proposed player development system to our country, did our coaches, before responding negatively, do their research? If these venerable coaches and trainers are seriously discounting the expertise of Real Madrid to develop youth players, they surely can present for our view an alternative, or are they saying that we don’t need one given the outrageously successful U.S. soccer program? Please tell me and all the other American youth soccerr parents what you are looking for in a ‘system’ because our current youth development system – the one that is apparently superior to the youth system of one of the greatest clubs in the world - couldn’t even teach my son how to absorb a soccer ball.

Muttertagsblumen (Mother’s Day flowers) from Germany with love

A few weeks ago, we celebrated Mother’s Day. Many of you celebrated it with your sons and daughters at soccer games and tournaments. I remember many a Mother’s Day brunch celebrated with a gaggle of pre-teen, Belgian waffle eating boys in the lobby of a Hampton Inn at some tournament. Our travel coach used to buy roses and have our boys run across the field and give them to us adoring mom’s at the end of a hard fought game. I miss those days and the memories of them have extra special meaning to me this year, because although I received beautiful flowers from my Zack, I spent this Mother’s Day alone.

Zack is now in Germany going to high school and playing 3rd division youth soccer. Last year, I also spent Mother’s Day alone, because then he was playing 2nd division youth soccer in Brazil. Next year, I’ll more than likely spend Mother’s Day alone again as he just accepted an offer to stay in Germany and continue to go to high school and play soccer. He realized he had gotten as much as he could out of the American youth soccer development system and in order for him to reach his potential and his goal of making professional soccer his career, he needed to leave the U.S. and develop his skills under a foreign system. I didn’t figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up until I turned 30. He knew what he wanted to be at age 12 and every decision he’s made has been in line with his goal of becoming a professional soccer player. As his mom, I miss him terribly, but I’m incredibly proud of him for how fearless and passionate he is in following his dream.

The United States has the opportunity to adopt the youth development curriculum of a verifiable European soccer dynasty, a system in which I’m sure my son would have thrived as a youth soccer player. But, he’s not here, he’s 5,000 miles away. I can’t hug him or make his breakfast, or yell at him about walking on my carpets with his cleats or cheer for him at his games because we haven’t seen him play soccer in over a year. He’s happy in Germany, so I’m happy for him, but it doesn’t change the anger I feel toward the faceless ‘system’ that wasn’t good enough to keep him here, in his home with his mom and dad, where he could develop his skills in his country and hopefully some day, for his country.

Continue to Part 4: We hear from Zack about why he left the U.S.