Great Falls Reston Soccer

[Anonymous]

Our experience with SA was not dependent on playing time or win record.

SA constant negativity made our kid want to quit the sport and more than half the others on the team too.

From talking to people who like him I think he can be extremely nice and feed parents ego to the extreme, or he can be extremely nasty to the point of abusive name calling to kids depending on what he thinks/hears the parents on that team want.

Other problem we had was observing practices he does not actually coach any skill (this is not that different from a lot of/most coaches TBH). He wants to sell you his private lessons $$ or extra clinics he developed at GFR for $$$. He runs fast drills over and over and over the same thing which is great but basically no actual coaching or feedback other than yelling FIX IT FIX IT. Huge ego with very little soccer skills development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our experience with SA was not dependent on playing time or win record.

SA constant negativity made our kid want to quit the sport and more than half the others on the team too.

From talking to people who like him I think he can be extremely nice and feed parents ego to the extreme, or he can be extremely nasty to the point of abusive name calling to kids depending on what he thinks/hears the parents on that team want.

Other problem we had was observing practices he does not actually coach any skill (this is not that different from a lot of/most coaches TBH). He wants to sell you his private lessons $$ or extra clinics he developed at GFR for $$$. He runs fast drills over and over and over the same thing which is great but basically no actual coaching or feedback other than yelling FIX IT FIX IT. Huge ego with very little soccer skills development.

We had a very different experience. I wouldn't say SA was nice, but he was constructive in his feedback. DC wasn't the best on the team, we never were asked nor did we participate in any extra training for $$. SA is direct in his feedback, and sparing with his praise, which actually motivated DC more than a "nice" coach. I think the main point is that different coaching styles work for different kids?

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

This year is my son's first year playing travel. His coach is so incredibly negative about everything it is quite frankly mind bending. The coach on the next level up seems to be similar in approach. Is this just the culture at GFR or are very unlucky to get these coaches?

Are other clubs similar?....I just don't understand this approach. I am surprised that my son even still wants to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year is my son's first year playing travel. His coach is so incredibly negative about everything it is quite frankly mind bending. The coach on the next level up seems to be similar in approach. Is this just the culture at GFR or are very unlucky to get these coaches?

Are other clubs similar?....I just don't understand this approach. I am surprised that my son even still wants to play.

What age group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year is my son's first year playing travel. His coach is so incredibly negative about everything it is quite frankly mind bending. The coach on the next level up seems to be similar in approach. Is this just the culture at GFR or are very unlucky to get these coaches?

Are other clubs similar?....I just don't understand this approach. I am surprised that my son even still wants to play.

We are not at GFR, but our young son’s coach is the same way. He doesn’t scream at the kids, but he only focuses on the negative. The team can win by 4 or 5 goals and he will only focus on the mistakes they made. It’s like these coaches think they are making kids better by being tough on them. Young kids (and people in general?) are motivated by praise. Point out the mistakes, but also give recognition when they are doing something well. Not sure why this is so hard for them to grasp.

[Anonymous]

I have heard rumors of a lawsuit against GRF….is there any truth to this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year is my son's first year playing travel. His coach is so incredibly negative about everything it is quite frankly mind bending. The coach on the next level up seems to be similar in approach. Is this just the culture at GFR or are very unlucky to get these coaches?

Are other clubs similar?....I just don't understand this approach. I am surprised that my son even still wants to play.

We are not at GFR, but our young son’s coach is the same way. He doesn’t scream at the kids, but he only focuses on the negative. The team can win by 4 or 5 goals and he will only focus on the mistakes they made. It’s like these coaches think they are making kids better by being tough on them. Young kids (and people in general?) are motivated by praise. Point out the mistakes, but also give recognition when they are doing something well. Not sure why this is so hard for them to grasp.

I could not agree more...I just don't understand.

[Anonymous]

Played their 2010G Elite Team this weekend. Have to say I really like their coach. Seemed positive. Kids seemed to respond well to the direction. Remembered he seemed to be reminding them of what they knew how to do which I liked.

[Anonymous]

GFR style is mostly negative on boys side to the point of can be abusive. some parents want that style. like attracts like.
SA drove a lot of kids out of the club and returning numbers and money can speak for themselves. that's why he's not being rehired
Have heard rumours of lawsuit related to staffing but haven't seen anything official.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Played their 2010G Elite Team this weekend. Have to say I really like their coach. Seemed positive. Kids seemed to respond well to the direction. Remembered he seemed to be reminding them of what they knew how to do which I liked.

Maybe it is just luck of the draw....definitely not what I see for my son who is a similar age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GFR style is mostly negative on boys side to the point of can be abusive. some parents want that style. like attracts like.
SA drove a lot of kids out of the club and returning numbers and money can speak for themselves. that's why he's not being rehired
Have heard rumours of lawsuit related to staffing but haven't seen anything official.

What I worry about is that the negativity will snuff the joy out of the game for my son.....he is trying out for a different club but who knows what will happen. I would like for him to try out for others but worried that so many tryouts in one week will exhaust him and he won't do well in any of them.

I also have heard about the lawsuit from a very reliable source and wondering why it isn't public yet....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GFR style is mostly negative on boys side to the point of can be abusive. some parents want that style. like attracts like.
SA drove a lot of kids out of the club and returning numbers and money can speak for themselves. that's why he's not being rehired
Have heard rumours of lawsuit related to staffing but haven't seen anything official.

What I worry about is that the negativity will snuff the joy out of the game for my son.....he is trying out for a different club but who knows what will happen. I would like for him to try out for others but worried that so many tryouts in one week will exhaust him and he won't do well in any of them.

I also have heard about the lawsuit from a very reliable source and wondering why it isn't public yet....

Also, everyone keeps referring to SA and I am not sure who that is....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GFR style is mostly negative on boys side to the point of can be abusive. some parents want that style. like attracts like.
SA drove a lot of kids out of the club and returning numbers and money can speak for themselves. that's why he's not being rehired
Have heard rumours of lawsuit related to staffing but haven't seen anything official.

What I worry about is that the negativity will snuff the joy out of the game for my son.....he is trying out for a different club but who knows what will happen. I would like for him to try out for others but worried that so many tryouts in one week will exhaust him and he won't do well in any of them.

I also have heard about the lawsuit from a very reliable source and wondering why it isn't public yet....

what's the jist of the lawsuit? is this parents suing? coaches suing?

[Anonymous]

Lawsuit about what?