There are boys in training to be soccer players. I watch them sometimes. Many of them are quite specific. Others seem unsure or distracted. They do drills, maneuver through cones, make passes to each other and take shots on the goal. The coaches will stop them if they do, and repeat the same instructions plenty. Some kids listen they really do and try to modify their behavior. Some are just going through the motions and have changed little. It is difficult to know which strategy will bring about improvement, over time.

Most boys appear roughly equivalent in ability, at least superficially. One or two might impress with their movement, their ball control. There is a temptation to believe that one of them could be a great player, perhaps even the next Ronaldo or Messi. But I don’t really know what to be on the lookout for. Not everybody who is very good at 9 or 10 goes all the way. It has a lot to do with growth, discipline and luck.

There are certainly some future great players who just don’t shine now. They may come later, or they may simply need more time to appear. What I do see, however, is that not all of the stronger players run over them. Sometimes the difference is small. The biggest thing for me is that they continue to arrive and compete.