The Truth

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. So much so I have to take breaks sometimes and disengage because the environment is so full of pressure and toxic. I’m talking U9-U10. My kid is oblivious to it right now but the parents sure know how to make things miserable with the constant judging.

[Anonymous]

You just have to take the parents and their kids on an individual basis. I know some great players whose parents are the overbearing type and others who are super laid back. Same goes for not so great of players. The parents who I always saw most in the coaches ear after practice and games are now gone by U15. There was a reason they did what they did and it was purely from insecurity. Mostly it was the kids that never expanded their game from the one thing they were good at during U9-U12. If you are worried about other parents then that shows your insecurity too. It's about your kid.

[Anonymous]

DS is a defender and with one exception all keepers and keeper families have become friends and have been genuine. We have been with several clubs in three different states over the years and this has held true throughout.

[Anonymous]

Like anything in life you get out what you put in.

I have met some terrific people through soccer.

[Anonymous]

Nothing worse than your kid being a defender during the U9-U-12 ages. Make the one mistake and all parents make snide comments about it. Meanwhile little Johnny up top keeps turning the ball over and not a word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing worse than your kid being a defender during the U9-U-12 ages. Make the one mistake and all parents make snide comments about it. Meanwhile little Johnny up top keeps turning the ball over and not a word.

Agreed. You know you are at a good club when (1) the coaches often put their best players in the back at 7 v 7 (the field is sufficiently small that good teams play out of the back and use defenders essentially as midfielders to begin and sometimes end attacks), and (2) the parents recognize what good defense and shape look like at that age. Kids who have been coached well know that defense is played all over the field, not just in the back, just like offense is essentially played all over the field, not just up front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like anything in life you get out what you put in.

I have met some terrific people through soccer.

Just not on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Avoid toxic parents. We had a coach that refused to put a toxic family on the team. Find a coach like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boys or Girls - doesn’t matter. There are no friends in soccer. The players have friends but the parents on your sideline are not friends. They seem nice? They seem helpful? Given a choice, the other parents you share so many moments with will talk about your kid, and given a choice they will throw you under the bus, your kid under the bus just to get ahead.

If you dare do something nice trying to be different than the others - those people will abuse your kindness and crap on you. Be warned and find friends away from your club. Stay close enough to help your son (or daughter) keep their friendships.

Soccer is brutal. Wish I lived in Maryland or had a daughter even though I see much daughter drama there

If you put your kids into a youth activity with the hopes of making friends with parents then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

I have made several friends through soccer over the years but I generally accept it for what it is and take people at face value. I try and be supportive of all the kids to their parents, which is genuine and it is usually reciprocated.

All of that aside, it is my kids activity to enjoy and not mine. Having a good sideline makes the whole experience far more enjoyable but I am not there to make friends but it has been a positive byproduct.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess, your son was recruited on to a dad coached and Dad managed team. team. Dad also actively recruits other players onto the team because he wants his son to be surrounded by really good players even if he isn't as good of course. That's what you get when you go for those kinds of teams, why don't you join a real soccer club that doesn't have parent coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, your son was recruited on to a dad coached and Dad managed team. team. Dad also actively recruits other players onto the team because he wants his son to be surrounded by really good players even if he isn't as good of course. That's what you get when you go for those kinds of teams, why don't you join a real soccer club that doesn't have parent coaches.

Signed - a club with “real” coaches that are actually dumb-$hit 20 something’s who can’t get real jobs.

[Anonymous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMzd40i8TfA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, your son was recruited on to a dad coached and Dad managed team. team. Dad also actively recruits other players onto the team because he wants his son to be surrounded by really good players even if he isn't as good of course. That's what you get when you go for those kinds of teams, why don't you join a real soccer club that doesn't have parent coaches.

Signed - a club with “real” coaches that are actually dumb-$hit 20 something’s who can’t get real jobs.

Sadly this is true. Some coaches really truly want to teach kids. Many however can not get good jobs and resort to what they can get paid for. Lets face it, we are sitting here debating the qualifications of coaches who are making 40k a year at best. The good coaches,in my experience, are the ones that actually have day jobs but coach because they love doing it and it provides extra income. Full time coaches at McLean or FCV or BSC or Arlington or Rush or Loudon etc.. need to make a living and will do what they need to do to make sure they have a job come tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess, your son was recruited on to a dad coached and Dad managed team. team. Dad also actively recruits other players onto the team because he wants his son to be surrounded by really good players even if he isn't as good of course. That's what you get when you go for those kinds of teams, why don't you join a real soccer club that doesn't have parent coaches.

Signed - a club with “real” coaches that are actually dumb-$hit 20 something’s who can’t get real jobs.

Sadly this is true. Some coaches really truly want to teach kids. Many however can not get good jobs and resort to what they can get paid for. Lets face it, we are sitting here debating the qualifications of coaches who are making 40k a year at best. The good coaches,in my experience, are the ones that actually have day jobs but coach because they love doing it and it provides extra income. Full time coaches at McLean or FCV or BSC or Arlington or Rush or Loudon etc.. need to make a living and will do what they need to do to make sure they have a job come tomorrow.

I'm not convinced my kid's small club is not a way to promote his real estate side kick, deduct expenses, and use youth fees to play u23 soccer.

[Anonymous]

More true at bigger clubs but yes. what do you think any of these 'coaches' make?