Pay to play in younger ages

[Anonymous]

I know DMV clubs have been called out on here for coaches basically forcing you to do privates with them in an unspoken rule if your kid wants to be a starter/play more. However, I'm seeing it very obviously in some of the younger ages that are pre-ecnl... Are there northern va clubs that DON'T do this? It's extremely frustrating when your player already does supplementals elsewhere that you both prefer and get more out of than club ones, but then is getting less play time than kids you know have been doing privates at the club with specific coaches and assistant coaches per parent conversations. Before anybody comments that my kid just might not be as talented as the other players are, that is not the case. I'm talking first and second teams, not lower teams.

[Anonymous]

Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard these rumors before but never encountered pressure for DS to pay for extra training at any of his MD clubs. He’s now u16. He is a GK so some years there was pressure to attend club GK sessions but they were free. We did twice hire coaches to do privates but we initiated it and neither time were they coaches from DS’s own team. On his current team, I have actually seen the coach pull DS aside and work with him 1:1 without asking for anything in return. We aren’t in VA so I can’t make recommendations but just wanted to say not all clubs do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard these rumors before but never encountered pressure for DS to pay for extra training at any of his MD clubs. He’s now u16. He is a GK so some years there was pressure to attend club GK sessions but they were free. We did twice hire coaches to do privates but we initiated it and neither time were they coaches from DS’s own team. On his current team, I have actually seen the coach pull DS aside and work with him 1:1 without asking for anything in return. We aren’t in VA so I can’t make recommendations but just wanted to say not all clubs do this.

And to clarify, DS has always had supplemental private coaching. It’s just that we were free to do it wherever we wished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know DMV clubs have been called out on here for coaches basically forcing you to do privates with them in an unspoken rule if your kid wants to be a starter/play more. However, I'm seeing it very obviously in some of the younger ages that are pre-ecnl... Are there northern va clubs that DON'T do this? It's extremely frustrating when your player already does supplementals elsewhere that you both prefer and get more out of than club ones, but then is getting less play time than kids you know have been doing privates at the club with specific coaches and assistant coaches per parent conversations. Before anybody comments that my kid just might not be as talented as the other players are, that is not the case. I'm talking first and second teams, not lower teams.

You are probably better off looking for a small club that doesn't want to be ECNL. The more competitive team, the more likely that they do outside training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know DMV clubs have been called out on here for coaches basically forcing you to do privates with them in an unspoken rule if your kid wants to be a starter/play more. However, I'm seeing it very obviously in some of the younger ages that are pre-ecnl... Are there northern va clubs that DON'T do this? It's extremely frustrating when your player already does supplementals elsewhere that you both prefer and get more out of than club ones, but then is getting less play time than kids you know have been doing privates at the club with specific coaches and assistant coaches per parent conversations. Before anybody comments that my kid just might not be as talented as the other players are, that is not the case. I'm talking first and second teams, not lower teams.

Paying your coach via privates for playtime or positions never works in the long run. This is why reputable clubs don't allow coaches to run privates with players on their own team.

Other parents get pissed about it and your kid gets tagged as the one who pays for minutes vs earning them.

Over time talent will leave the team if it feels like minutes aren't defined by ability.

[Anonymous]

I think there should be a rule that the coach should not be offering lessons to players who are on the current team.

[Anonymous]

Agreed- that should be in their contracts: no private training for your own players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed- that should be in their contracts: no private training for your own players.

Amen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know DMV clubs have been called out on here for coaches basically forcing you to do privates with them in an unspoken rule if your kid wants to be a starter/play more. However, I'm seeing it very obviously in some of the younger ages that are pre-ecnl... Are there northern va clubs that DON'T do this? It's extremely frustrating when your player already does supplementals elsewhere that you both prefer and get more out of than club ones, but then is getting less play time than kids you know have been doing privates at the club with specific coaches and assistant coaches per parent conversations. Before anybody comments that my kid just might not be as talented as the other players are, that is not the case. I'm talking first and second teams, not lower teams.

You are probably better off looking for a small club that doesn't want to be ECNL. The more competitive team, the more likely that they do outside training.

This. I'd add that every one on DD's team who wanted to play ECNL successfully found a pre-ECNL club at U12 or an ECNL club at U13. Small clubs can be great for kids to develop at before they leave for higher leagues

[Anonymous]

I have not personally seen this happening at Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there should be a rule that the coach should not be offering lessons to players who are on the current team.

Agreed. Some big clubs do it, others ban it and turn a blind eye, and you're left with just a couple that probably actually stand by not letting this happen.

I will say, I don't hear this a lot in younger ages ... OP I'd start looking elsewhere because that club's top teams aren't going to be great when pissed off parents leave the program because of it.

[Anonymous]

It happens regularly with certain BSC coaches but I think more group than private.

One particular ECNL coach makes a killing and even puts it in TeamSnap though it’s optional. This situation is less about paying for minutes than parents feeling subtle pressure to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not personally seen this happening at Alexandria.

Our Alexandria coach did offer private coaching to the team. However, we did not feel pressured to participate, and don't feel that opting out brought any negative consequences like reduced playing time.

[Anonymous]

We have not experienced blatant pay for play like this with two MD clubs. I have a daughter and a son who play in college. Other parents start getting nervous once they learn larlo or larla is doing private training. Once one person on the team start, more are sure to follow. All the talented kids I know have gone to private training (and conditioning type classes) including my own. It is nice to have another coach's perspective (and training philosophy) as they progress. Conditioning is necessary to prevent injuries. EVERY GK I know has had private training.