How to complain about travel coach without getting our kids in trouble?

[Anonymous]

On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

[Anonymous]

How approachable is your coach? Sounds like you don't feel comfortable talking to him.

Part of the age group coordinator/gender coordinator/DOC or TD's job is to deal with this kind of stuff, but if you're coach is mature enough it should be your first recourse. That being said if he simply just isn't up to snuff, I'd definitely voice my concerns with one of the above.

Hard cold truth is that unless there is someone to replace them (and it's warranted) you're probably stuck with them at least for the rest of the season, barring a major team revolt.

[Anonymous]

For U10, I don't know what you really can expect. Do any of the parents have older kids who played so they can compare experiences? As far as travel coaches, I'd take laid back over psycho every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

HAHAHA this make me laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

Haha, yes this. Why do all the parents think they know better than the coach?

[Anonymous]

Is your kid on the 3rd team or lower?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

Not OP, but do the licensing courses cover basic “start by having kids show up?”

Just wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

I may not have property soccer coaching experience, but I played sports through college and almost made the Olympic team in the late 90s. I've also coaches several sport's at the high school level. In terms of soccer I coached three years of rec (which I hated), but every parent loved it because I trained their kids very well. We moved our son into travel when he was getting too good for rec. However, it's not just us parents concerned over the coaching. Other coaches we know are aware of the lack of proper coaching for this age. You don't have 5-6 parents raising issues if there isn't one. Last thing we need is more things to deal with. We're not looking to have the coach removed. We're looking for some way to address the issues. One major issues is not holding certain kids accountable. Example: One kid will constantly yell and scream at other kids who aren't as good. This has become a major issues with team camaraderie, etc. As a prior athlete and coach this is where the coach should step in and teach property sportsmanship and being a good teammate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our kid's travel team many of the parents are not happy with the coach. He is new to coaching travel (started last fall) and is not experienced with coaching young kids (U10). He often gets frustrated and doesn't train them in drills, technique, etc. Something that should be a focus at this age. He also is very relaxed on kids attending practice or games, thus making it harder on the kids who actually attend regularly. There's other issues.

About 5-6 of us parents have talked about these issues, but we're not sure how to address it without our kids getting in trouble with their coach. Do we speak directly to the club or the age director? Any feedback is appreciated. This is our second year in travel.

How does your coaching experience, knowledge and licenses compare to his?

Not OP, but do the licensing courses cover basic “start by having kids show up?”

Just wondering.

Thank you. It's not rocket science to realize there is an issue when kids just don't show up for practice or games in a travel team and it's "okay".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Haha, yes this. Why do all the parents think they know better than the coach?

Usually, it happens when you the coach are lazy, don't have a plan or do the same drills every practice without teaching the game. Baby sitting scrimmage time but never teaching skills. Socializing during games is another good one.

[Anonymous]

At this point in the season, I would check the coaching slate for next year. If current coach is coming back, find another club. If there is a new coach for your kid's team, talk with him about his philosophy/approach to training and development. Share your expectations and see if they align with how he plans to manage the team.

Your current coach will not change his entire behavior pattern before the end of the season. Don't waste your time. Tryouts are happening now/soon depending on the club you're interested in.

[Anonymous]

How do you hold a 9 year old ‘accountable’ for not showing up, op? This is a parent/coach issue.

If you have that much experience on teams you should be very well equipped to talk to them about where you have concerns. The coach won’t bench a 9 year old and if they do, talk to the director. Still no change, leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you hold a 9 year old ‘accountable’ for not showing up, op? This is a parent/coach issue.

If you have that much experience on teams you should be very well equipped to talk to them about where you have concerns. The coach won’t bench a 9 year old and if they do, talk to the director. Still no change, leave.

Part of being on a travel team for any sport is the commitment to the team. This means showing up to practices and games. I know many coaches in the travel sports world and attendance is mandatory. If the kids are not showing up it's on the coach to speak with the parents because it's not fair to the kids and parents who do show up. When it comes to soccer it's not fun playing without subs or only 1-2. That is 100% a coaching issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you hold a 9 year old ‘accountable’ for not showing up, op? This is a parent/coach issue.

If you have that much experience on teams you should be very well equipped to talk to them about where you have concerns. The coach won’t bench a 9 year old and if they do, talk to the director. Still no change, leave.

Part of being on a travel team for any sport is the commitment to the team. This means showing up to practices and games. I know many coaches in the travel sports world and attendance is mandatory. If the kids are not showing up it's on the coach to speak with the parents because it's not fair to the kids and parents who do show up. When it comes to soccer it's not fun playing without subs or only 1-2. That is 100% a coaching issue.

Completely agree. My kid never missed a practice, game or travel tournament when she broke her arm in the second game and was out for the season. But op states above that the kids should be held accountable. At 9 that’s a ridiculous expectation. The focus should not be on the other kids, which is what op is indicating above.