I am a NOVA Soccer Coach. AMA

[NOVASoccerCoach]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As parents, how do you when to tell your kid that it is time to specialize in one sport in order to maximize one potential?

You don't. You tell him what the coaches said. Then you tell him it's up to him to decide if he wants to prove them wrong or if he wants to follow their advice. If he is passionate enough about his football he can find a way to make the tennis help him rather than hinder him.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

Why does it always have to lead to Collage or Pros? Sports are meant to be fun and a development tool for our youth, why not ask the player why he/she wants to do DA/ECNL? Sometimes, kids just want to play at the highest level to test themselves and if it leads to higher levels, great.....if not, that's ok to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

Looking at last years commitments from the DC area DA/ECNL teams, it looks like 70% or more are off to play college soccer. Is it worth the expense, depends on what you value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

Looking at last years commitments from the DC area DA/ECNL teams, it looks like 70% or more are off to play college soccer. Is it worth the expense, depends on what you value.

percentage is closer to 88%

[NOVASoccerCoach]

Anonymous wrote:is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

If your kid wants a new challenge, is considering playing in college and/or is interested in a career possibly in soccer in the future, playing in the DA/ECNL is a great resume addition to have if they want to coach.

[Anonymous]

NOVASoccerCoach wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is it really worth it to play DA/ECNL, with all the traveling and expense?
how many of these kids really make college soccer as the end game?

If your kid wants a new challenge, is considering playing in college and/or is interested in a career possibly in soccer in the future, playing in the DA/ECNL is a great resume addition to have if they want to coach.

+1 Not to mention that DA soccer for boys at least is cheaper than most regular travel soccer programs.

[Anonymous]

What do you think of executive director salaries?

[Anonymous]

Coach - What do you do?

We have a player on the team that is probably 1-2 levels below the rest of the team, the coach seems very frustrated and because he's on the squad he feels the need to play the the individual. Our club has 3 teams for this age group and they preach the benefits of the club's ability to move players up and down appropriately but it seems like they are afraid of the politics that may come with moving players down. i've seen it down during tryouts, but never during season, we seem to only move players up because that's a good news story.

[Anonymous]

NOVASoccerCoach wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a versatile player, who excels at multiple positions, I wonder what positions coaches of high level teams (DA and ECNL) consider to be the hardest to fill?

Striker and a good Center Midfielder (Especially Holding Mids) are by far the most difficult positions to play and the most difficult positions to find. They are extremely niche positions and require a lot of positional intelligence.

My U15 DS plays 6 or 8. Any advice on thing he could do to enhance his "positional intelligence"? It seems to me that coaches in the US have not much to convey in this regard.

[NOVASoccerCoach]

Anonymous wrote:

NOVASoccerCoach wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of a versatile player, who excels at multiple positions, I wonder what positions coaches of high level teams (DA and ECNL) consider to be the hardest to fill?

Striker and a good Center Midfielder (Especially Holding Mids) are by far the most difficult positions to play and the most difficult positions to find. They are extremely niche positions and require a lot of positional intelligence.

My U15 DS plays 6 or 8. Any advice on thing he could do to enhance his "positional intelligence"? It seems to me that coaches in the US have not much to convey in this regard.

Watch and study as much film as possible. On the field you always have to be thinking how I can be available. The biggest thing is just watching 6's operate. Watch the best ones play. Busquets is an obvious one. Go on Youtube and there is plenty of film analysis on how they move.

[NOVASoccerCoach]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think of executive director salaries?

I can't blame the salary, you have to blame the system. Youth Soccer is Pay to play in this country. The board is not professionally run and full of people who have no idea of the soccer landscape.

[NOVASoccerCoach]

Anonymous wrote:Coach - What do you do?

We have a player on the team that is probably 1-2 levels below the rest of the team, the coach seems very frustrated and because he's on the squad he feels the need to play the the individual. Our club has 3 teams for this age group and they preach the benefits of the club's ability to move players up and down appropriately but it seems like they are afraid of the politics that may come with moving players down. i've seen it down during tryouts, but never during season, we seem to only move players up because that's a good news story.

Sounds like a team problem which is out of your control. You're going to have to deal with it or just move clubs. One player is definitely not ruining your team, I can guarantee you that. He may not belong there but if it's just one player then the coach can easily find ways to "hide" him or play him in positions to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Do you ever sit back and laugh at the parents who try to influence a coach's decision on who goes on what team, and who starts? Any stories to share?

[Anonymous]

NOVASoccerCoach wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coach - What do you do?

We have a player on the team that is probably 1-2 levels below the rest of the team, the coach seems very frustrated and because he's on the squad he feels the need to play the the individual. Our club has 3 teams for this age group and they preach the benefits of the club's ability to move players up and down appropriately but it seems like they are afraid of the politics that may come with moving players down. i've seen it down during tryouts, but never during season, we seem to only move players up because that's a good news story.

Sounds like a team problem which is out of your control. You're going to have to deal with it or just move clubs. One player is definitely not ruining your team, I can guarantee you that. He may not belong there but if it's just one player then the coach can easily find ways to "hide" him or play him in positions to succeed.

Coach - What are some indicators that a kid is being “hidden” by their coach? I think this may be happening to my kid. He’s certainly no second coming of Messi but at U14 I’m wondering if the coach is sending a message.