What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents that have never touched a ball or played a game in their life, believing they have a clue about this game.

However, parents who played some college back in the day and think they know everything are worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents that have never touched a ball or played a game in their life, believing they have a clue about this game.

That's not opinion, that's fact. Well, they can have some clue if they played other sports and have watched a lot of good pro soccer, but not as much as if you played.

[Anonymous]

Watch a lot of ECNL girls soccer. The soccer is just not good and it is hard to watch. The speed of play is so slow it encourages physical play over everything else. The coaches push a very dump down soccer ans tell the parents it’s elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch a lot of ECNL girls soccer. The soccer is just not good and it is hard to watch. The speed of play is so slow it encourages physical play over everything else. The coaches push a very dump down soccer ans tell the parents it’s elite.

In what capacity do you watch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For ages 8, 9 and 10, I think the fields are too large and too few kids get touches on the ball.

Small-sided games (5v5) on smaller fields would, IMO, lead to better skill development and would facilitate more touches on the ball. And those touches would be more evenly distributed across all players.

Under the existing format, a few tall, long-legged players tend to dominate, but this domination is mainly because of their size (they can't outrun the smaller kids) as opposed to their soccer skills. This is an inefficient and wasteful approach to teaching the game.

As a corollary, by U12 the field feels way too small and cramped, my unpopular opinion would be to dump 9v9 entirely and stick to 7v7 up to the 11v11 cutover

[Anonymous]

Unpopular opinion. Shin guards are required in games so they should be required in practice. You play like you practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ages 8, 9 and 10, I think the fields are too large and too few kids get touches on the ball.

Small-sided games (5v5) on smaller fields would, IMO, lead to better skill development and would facilitate more touches on the ball. And those touches would be more evenly distributed across all players.

Under the existing format, a few tall, long-legged players tend to dominate, but this domination is mainly because of their size (they can't outrun the smaller kids) as opposed to their soccer skills. This is an inefficient and wasteful approach to teaching the game.

As a corollary, by U12 the field feels way too small and cramped, my unpopular opinion would be to dump 9v9 entirely and stick to 7v7 up to the 11v11 cutover

I like this idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way to much stupid expensive travel. Although that is a popular, not an unpopular opinion.

But my kid is really good and will likely play soccer D1 on scholarship; they need and deserve it!!
Costs again?

[Anonymous]

Unpopular opinion: Samba Boyz are class!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Shin guards are required in games so they should be required in practice. You play like you practice.

Yes! My damn teen boys don’t wear them at practice, nor do any of their teammates. High level too. Drives me insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Shin guards are required in games so they should be required in practice. You play like you practice.

Yes! My damn teen boys don’t wear them at practice, nor do any of their teammates. High level too. Drives me insane.

Shin guards are as helpful as the parent that never played the game... zero

[Anonymous]

Only one boy per age group in the entire state of VA will make it as a pro. The numbers bear it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Shin guards are required in games so they should be required in practice. You play like you practice.

Yes! My damn teen boys don’t wear them at practice, nor do any of their teammates. High level too. Drives me insane.

Shin guards are as helpful as the parent that never played the game... zero

I played the game and had a cracked shin, but it’s a good thing your kid will never play pro so they don’t have to worry about wearing them. Lol

At the professional level, shin guards are regulated by FIFA. According to the FA and FIFA laws, professional soccer players have to wear shin guards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents that have never touched a ball or played a game in their life, believing they have a clue about this game.

Why is it ok for a DIRECTOR of a club but not a parent?? He met Manya and went to soccer classes.. just like parents. He has NEVER played.

Hi. I am Bobby Puppione and I am the Girls Academy Director at TSJ FC Virginia. I was formerly the Technical Director and Director of Coaching at CUP/Cincinnati United and Cincinnati Development Academy. I have an USSF A License and US Soccer Academy Director License, and I am a US Soccer Grassroots Coach Educator. I received my undergrad and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. I grew up outside of Oakland, California in the town of Castro Valley. I am married to Manya Puppione (Makoski). She is the head women’s coach at Marymount University, former pro, All-American, and US Youth National Team player. We have two labradanes, Charley and Timber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion. Many of the know it alls on this forum don’t actually know anything. It’s like a Holiday Express convention.

Anyhow here’s my actually unpopular opinion: athleticism does matter in soccer because … wait for it … it’s a sport. Juggle and perfect your first touch and soccer IQ all you’d like but that will not get you above a certain level. The Euros know this. The South Americans know this. All the big time American sports coaches and players know this. Somehow many on this forum don’t know this (or maybe deep down they do but won’t admit it).

Speed does matter, but turn the ball over every time you touch it and see how much playing time you get.

This is true for any player. Much more likely for a slow player to turn the ball over than a fast player. Much more likely. Especially if the player is on the ground "scappy" most of the time.