What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular. No more paying for youth team coaches. Team coaches shall be provided free to players/parents.

Pay for league dues, uniforms, tourney fees, field permits and fees, and admin. That’s it. Individuals can hire “trainers” all they’d like.

As far as pro farm teams, the org. pays the coaches and likely the players too.

Sooooo if you are paying for the above fees only, how will the clubs generate money to get those coaches for your teams? You expect coaches to just give up their time for free?

I dont care what the current coaches do. Most aren’t worth their salt anyhow. Clubs can pay their coaches if they can generate some form of revenue outside of parent fees. Or, people can volunteer.

You’ve had some bad experiences. Are you the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

Who is the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular. No more paying for youth team coaches. Team coaches shall be provided free to players/parents.

Pay for league dues, uniforms, tourney fees, field permits and fees, and admin. That’s it. Individuals can hire “trainers” all they’d like.

As far as pro farm teams, the org. pays the coaches and likely the players too.

Sooooo if you are paying for the above fees only, how will the clubs generate money to get those coaches for your teams? You expect coaches to just give up their time for free?

I dont care what the current coaches do. Most aren’t worth their salt anyhow. Clubs can pay their coaches if they can generate some form of revenue outside of parent fees. Or, people can volunteer.

You’ve had some bad experiences. Are you the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

These coaches can get paid for their time and effort in exposure. Apparently any Johnny Bartender can become a youth soccer club director even if he’s never played soccer before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular. No more paying for youth team coaches. Team coaches shall be provided free to players/parents.

Pay for league dues, uniforms, tourney fees, field permits and fees, and admin. That’s it. Individuals can hire “trainers” all they’d like.

As far as pro farm teams, the org. pays the coaches and likely the players too.

Sooooo if you are paying for the above fees only, how will the clubs generate money to get those coaches for your teams? You expect coaches to just give up their time for free?

I dont care what the current coaches do. Most aren’t worth their salt anyhow. Clubs can pay their coaches if they can generate some form of revenue outside of parent fees. Or, people can volunteer.

You’ve had some bad experiences. Are you the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

Nope. Kid is 16 now. GA. ECNL. Big names mentioned on these forums (not Bethesda). Seen it all. Not impressed. Best coached team I’ve seen is from Raleigh. None around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular. No more paying for youth team coaches. Team coaches shall be provided free to players/parents.

Pay for league dues, uniforms, tourney fees, field permits and fees, and admin. That’s it. Individuals can hire “trainers” all they’d like.

As far as pro farm teams, the org. pays the coaches and likely the players too.

Sooooo if you are paying for the above fees only, how will the clubs generate money to get those coaches for your teams? You expect coaches to just give up their time for free?

I dont care what the current coaches do. Most aren’t worth their salt anyhow. Clubs can pay their coaches if they can generate some form of revenue outside of parent fees. Or, people can volunteer.

You’ve had some bad experiences. Are you the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

These coaches can get paid for their time and effort in exposure. Apparently any Johnny Bartender can become a youth soccer club director even if he’s never played soccer before.

Exactly what is happening , The only problem is the pay is way too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:1. People who say "you never played" are using that as an excuse to avoid keeping up to date with what's happening in the sport. Also, nearly everyone has "played." I once got accosted by a coach telling me I'd never "played," and then I found no evidence that he had ever played at a higher level (U14 travel, intramural, adult rec) than I had.

2. U9 through U11 -- have three tiers of play. Top level has no more than one team per locality -- a giant club can have a "Loudoun North" or "Arlington South." The top-level teams are fluid and change throughout the year, with players from the second tier getting a chance. The second tier is also "travel," sort of -- the players are still in rec league, but they get a second training session each week with club staff. The club puts together teams to play 2-3 friendlies and a tournament each season. No tryouts.

3. U12 on up -- pro academies start (combining MLS Next, ECNL and GA), but other than that, no distinction between "travel" and "rec." Form promotion/relegation pyramids. Your team can hire a pro coach, or not. Your team can have Darwinian tryouts to move up, or not. The typical EDP team won't really be affected, but the line between NCSL and SFL goes away, and league management becomes more professionalized. If you want to do "club vs. club," like CCL and some NPLs, do that in tournaments, not in leagues.

4. As an alternative to that pyramid, offer 7v7 leagues for older age groups. (Basically, a new take on rec soccer.)

5. Until U14, refs have the authority to give yellow and red cards to parents, and they do so quite liberally.

6. Periodically, offer parents a chance to meet with refs after games so they can learn why calls were made.

7. All coaches go into a publicly accessible database listing their licenses and prior clubs -- and any sanctions against them, from red cards to SafeSport violations.

8. Clubs should offer free-play nights open to anyone registering in advance (can cap numbers depending on space), with staff on hand only to help with equipment and first aid (and maybe helping to form teams, mixing players of different levels while making sure no player is overwhelmed).

9. Parents in the DCUM forum should create profiles. You can still remain anonymous.

Kids don't need that much supervision for free play unless very young. Parents should have the balls to drop their kid off at a field and let the kids fend for themselves a bit. We need more futsal goals added to basketball courts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

What do you guys consider to "have played the game"? There are many excellent soccer players who have never played at the highest level or even college. Many things can account for that such as career choice, opportunities, exposure, injuries, access to travel, burnout. Although these individuals didn't play college/pro they may have still continued involved with the game, played on some other level, continued to study the game, learned from other experienced coaches, taken the appropriate licenses, and have become really good youth soccer coaches. I have met coaches that played in college and pro and are idiots when it comes to the game or much worse, aren't able to TEACH it to the youth. I don't know what BP's playing experience was but to say someone can't coach bc they didn't play in college is absurd. I don't have a child at FCV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular. No more paying for youth team coaches. Team coaches shall be provided free to players/parents.

Pay for league dues, uniforms, tourney fees, field permits and fees, and admin. That’s it. Individuals can hire “trainers” all they’d like.

As far as pro farm teams, the org. pays the coaches and likely the players too.

Sooooo if you are paying for the above fees only, how will the clubs generate money to get those coaches for your teams? You expect coaches to just give up their time for free?

I dont care what the current coaches do. Most aren’t worth their salt anyhow. Clubs can pay their coaches if they can generate some form of revenue outside of parent fees. Or, people can volunteer.

You’ve had some bad experiences. Are you the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

Who is the big mad Bethesda 09 dad?

Hardly. Big Mad Bethesda 09 Dad would pay DG and KL with his own money, if he could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

What do you guys consider to "have played the game"? There are many excellent soccer players who have never played at the highest level or even college. Many things can account for that such as career choice, opportunities, exposure, injuries, access to travel, burnout. Although these individuals didn't play college/pro they may have still continued involved with the game, played on some other level, continued to study the game, learned from other experienced coaches, taken the appropriate licenses, and have become really good youth soccer coaches. I have met coaches that played in college and pro and are idiots when it comes to the game or much worse, aren't able to TEACH it to the youth. I don't know what BP's playing experience was but to say someone can't coach bc they didn't play in college is absurd. I don't have a child at FCV.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

What do you guys consider to "have played the game"? There are many excellent soccer players who have never played at the highest level or even college. Many things can account for that such as career choice, opportunities, exposure, injuries, access to travel, burnout. Although these individuals didn't play college/pro they may have still continued involved with the game, played on some other level, continued to study the game, learned from other experienced coaches, taken the appropriate licenses, and have become really good youth soccer coaches. I have met coaches that played in college and pro and are idiots when it comes to the game or much worse, aren't able to TEACH it to the youth. I don't know what BP's playing experience was but to say someone can't coach bc they didn't play in college is absurd. I don't have a child at FCV.

Never played as in never been on a team - not in high school not in college no rec team - he never played.

[Anonymous]

No parent coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College needs to drop women’s soccer. This would fix a lot of things.

And men's soccer. Men already have football, basketball and baseball. Soccer for men is just how international kids pay for US College.

Agreed. If the sport does not generate positive or break even net income for the school then cancel the sport.

Then there would only be football and mens basketball left. All other sports for the most part are not net income generators for colleges.

Yes, this is what we're advocating for. People want to continue to play in college they can join a club and pay to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

What do you guys consider to "have played the game"? There are many excellent soccer players who have never played at the highest level or even college. Many things can account for that such as career choice, opportunities, exposure, injuries, access to travel, burnout. Although these individuals didn't play college/pro they may have still continued involved with the game, played on some other level, continued to study the game, learned from other experienced coaches, taken the appropriate licenses, and have become really good youth soccer coaches. I have met coaches that played in college and pro and are idiots when it comes to the game or much worse, aren't able to TEACH it to the youth. I don't know what BP's playing experience was but to say someone can't coach bc they didn't play in college is absurd. I don't have a child at FCV.

Never played as in never been on a team - not in high school not in college no rec team - he never played.

He ran cross country and track in HS. He literally has his wife’s bio in his bio! Hello!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have no problem with this. Coaches can coach without direct experience and directors can direct and manage financials and parents without having played. It's like the high school math teacher who was horrible at math in high school. That math teacher was the best math teacher my nephew, who is a high level math kid, swears he ever had. He's at an Ivy now studying math.

Not a relevant analogy. It's a sport. You can't learn how to play a sport well or how to coach a sport by reading a book. I can read about Cricket and watch a few videos - doesnt mean I can play.

What do you guys consider to "have played the game"? There are many excellent soccer players who have never played at the highest level or even college. Many things can account for that such as career choice, opportunities, exposure, injuries, access to travel, burnout. Although these individuals didn't play college/pro they may have still continued involved with the game, played on some other level, continued to study the game, learned from other experienced coaches, taken the appropriate licenses, and have become really good youth soccer coaches. I have met coaches that played in college and pro and are idiots when it comes to the game or much worse, aren't able to TEACH it to the youth. I don't know what BP's playing experience was but to say someone can't coach bc they didn't play in college is absurd. I don't have a child at FCV.

Never played as in never been on a team - not in high school not in college no rec team - he never played.

He ran cross country and track in HS. He literally has his wife’s bio in his bio! Hello!!!

Ok then it makes it difficult but doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of doing a good job. Must be doing something well to be TD at Cincinnati and land the fcv job. I don’t know bp so don’t know if he is a good coach or not. My response was to the commentary where it seemed that you could only be a good coach if you played pro or college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is rich. BP never played soccer?! I bet MP watches all of the game film for BP and tells him what to do. So funny. I think I want to coach high school football. I’ve never played but it’s cool. I’ll take a class…online.

This plan will only work if your wife played football in college.