What are your unpopular opinions about youth soccer?

[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.

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.

Yea. This will be tough. Maybe I’ll pivot towards field hockey

[Anonymous]

FCV Parents that have BP as a coach, how are his training sessions, how is his game decision making, do you feel that he is a good coach or do you only have your dd there because the club gets a lot of exposure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCV Parents that have BP as a coach, how are his training sessions, how is his game decision making, do you feel that he is a good coach or do you only have your dd there because the club gets a lot of exposure?

the exposure thing is a misnomer. as has been demonstrated on these boards, fcv isn't even in the top five among local clubs in terms of social media following.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCV Parents that have BP as a coach, how are his training sessions, how is his game decision making, do you feel that he is a good coach or do you only have your dd there because the club gets a lot of exposure?

the exposure thing is a misnomer. as has been demonstrated on these boards, fcv isn't even in the top five among local clubs in terms of social media following.

I think previous poster meant exposure to college coaches and not social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a sad sorry thread. I opted to view it just to see if it went the way I thought and sure enough it did. What a mess

Go away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a sad sorry thread. I opted to view it just to see if it went the way I thought and sure enough it did. What a mess

Go away?

I think it’s a good debate, a bit pointed towards one person, but overall semblance of a debate if a coach needs to have played organized soccer to be an effective coach.

IMHO - not necessary but coaches who haven’t played at a high level may be good at other thing like recruiting, exposure, organization and rely on a strong staff with that experience to develop the technical and mental / IQ side of the game. It can work but not ideal. It is telling that all of the other ecnl/ga clubs have TDs with prior playing experience. I wonder if this is also true at ecnlr/ccl/edp levels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a sad sorry thread. I opted to view it just to see if it went the way I thought and sure enough it did. What a mess

Go away?

I think it’s a good debate, a bit pointed towards one person, but overall semblance of a debate if a coach needs to have played organized soccer to be an effective coach.

IMHO - not necessary but coaches who haven’t played at a high level may be good at other thing like recruiting, exposure, organization and rely on a strong staff with that experience to develop the technical and mental / IQ side of the game. It can work but not ideal. It is telling that all of the other ecnl/ga clubs have TDs with prior playing experience. I wonder if this is also true at ecnlr/ccl/edp levels

Considering the fundamental lack of a multi generational soccer culture like we have for basketball, football and baseball, it is pretty important that the coaches have a high level of playing experience. Most Dads and Mom's played the previous mentioned sports and have a good literacy on the topic. But soccer requires both literacy of the sport as well as technical level that is better than the players to demonstrate proper technique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

He was living in the area and fcv needed a director. Not hard to figure that one out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCV Parents that have BP as a coach, how are his training sessions, how is his game decision making, do you feel that he is a good coach or do you only have your dd there because the club gets a lot of exposure?

BP coaches my daughter. I don't watch a lot of training but... during games, he shouts personal derogatory insults (not game related). Team has lost a couple very good players. Will be looking for another club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My unpopular opinions:
1. On a free kick, players who purposefully stand within 10 yards to stall the game until the ref moves them back should be cautioned. It is poor sportsmanship and players who do it know better.
2. Throw ins should be kick ins and treated like an indirect kick, but with no offside.
3. PKs should never determine a tourney winner. Play until one team wins with a golden goal.
4. Offside should not wait to be called. I've seen too many near collisions between an offside forward and a keeper coming together. Even hockey did away with a race to reach an iced puck, knowing too much potential for injury was there.
5. Long distance running/conditioning should not be part of a practice. Just play or scrimmage longer or with more intensity and the fitness will come. Or, have kids run at home on their own time. Lazy coaches use conditioning because they are lazy and don't want to teach technical fundamentals. Sprinting, quickness, and ball skills trump a timed 2-mile run. In a game, you get tired, you get subbed out. All club staff should be able to meet the fitness requirements of the ages coached through U16.
6. Yellow cards should come with 5 minutes in the penalty box. A red card should come with an ejection and a PK, no matter where the foul occurred.
7. If in a wall, a player, especially a young one, should be able to protect his/her face and head without risking a handball offense.
8. Heading results in too many injuries in youth ages. Coaches should discourage high balls into the 6 because balls on the ground to the 12 or 18 are better scoring opportunities anyways.
9. If men's D1 football can put 100% of players on scholarship, then 100% of women's soccer players should be full-ride eligible. 14 scholarships per team with a roster of 30-35 isn't enough money. Even if it isn't a "revenue" sport, it doesn't seem fair.
10. The USWNT is good, and I like watching them play.
11. The politics surrounding the USWNT is not good.
12. National team players should stand respectfully for the anthem or be removed from the team. One nation, one team, not One nation, 18 political statements.
13. Taking a knee in solidarity with BLM is woke virtue signaling and should not be a thing on a soccer field.
14. The parent that yells the most probably knows the least.
15. All players over 15 should ref at least 3-5 games per year for the younger players.
16. School-year made more sense than birth year for recruiting.
17. I like ECNL for girls.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

LOL!

[Anonymous]

haters.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My unpopular opinions:
1. On a free kick, players who purposefully stand within 10 yards to stall the game until the ref moves them back should be cautioned. It is poor sportsmanship and players who do it know better.
2. Throw ins should be kick ins and treated like an indirect kick, but with no offside.
3. PKs should never determine a tourney winner. Play until one team wins with a golden goal.
4. Offside should not wait to be called. I've seen too many near collisions between an offside forward and a keeper coming together. Even hockey did away with a race to reach an iced puck, knowing too much potential for injury was there.
5. Long distance running/conditioning should not be part of a practice. Just play or scrimmage longer or with more intensity and the fitness will come. Or, have kids run at home on their own time. Lazy coaches use conditioning because they are lazy and don't want to teach technical fundamentals. Sprinting, quickness, and ball skills trump a timed 2-mile run. In a game, you get tired, you get subbed out. All club staff should be able to meet the fitness requirements of the ages coached through U16.
6. Yellow cards should come with 5 minutes in the penalty box. A red card should come with an ejection and a PK, no matter where the foul occurred.
7. If in a wall, a player, especially a young one, should be able to protect his/her face and head without risking a handball offense.
8. Heading results in too many injuries in youth ages. Coaches should discourage high balls into the 6 because balls on the ground to the 12 or 18 are better scoring opportunities anyways.
9. If men's D1 football can put 100% of players on scholarship, then 100% of women's soccer players should be full-ride eligible. 14 scholarships per team with a roster of 30-35 isn't enough money. Even if it isn't a "revenue" sport, it doesn't seem fair.
10. The USWNT is good, and I like watching them play.
11. The politics surrounding the USWNT is not good.
12. National team players should stand respectfully for the anthem or be removed from the team. One nation, one team, not One nation, 18 political statements.
13. Taking a knee in solidarity with BLM is woke virtue signaling and should not be a thing on a soccer field.
14. The parent that yells the most probably knows the least.
15. All players over 15 should ref at least 3-5 games per year for the younger players.
16. School-year made more sense than birth year for recruiting.
17. I like ECNL for girls.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

LOL!

This was a bit much

[Anonymous]

Opinion: RantingSoccerDad ruins almost every topic he posts to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opinion: RantingSoccerDad ruins almost every topic he posts to.

I appreciate a lot of his posts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My unpopular opinions:
1. On a free kick, players who purposefully stand within 10 yards to stall the game until the ref moves them back should be cautioned. It is poor sportsmanship and players who do it know better.
2. Throw ins should be kick ins and treated like an indirect kick, but with no offside.
3. PKs should never determine a tourney winner. Play until one team wins with a golden goal.
4. Offside should not wait to be called. I've seen too many near collisions between an offside forward and a keeper coming together. Even hockey did away with a race to reach an iced puck, knowing too much potential for injury was there.
5. Long distance running/conditioning should not be part of a practice. Just play or scrimmage longer or with more intensity and the fitness will come. Or, have kids run at home on their own time. Lazy coaches use conditioning because they are lazy and don't want to teach technical fundamentals. Sprinting, quickness, and ball skills trump a timed 2-mile run. In a game, you get tired, you get subbed out. All club staff should be able to meet the fitness requirements of the ages coached through U16.
6. Yellow cards should come with 5 minutes in the penalty box. A red card should come with an ejection and a PK, no matter where the foul occurred.
7. If in a wall, a player, especially a young one, should be able to protect his/her face and head without risking a handball offense.
8. Heading results in too many injuries in youth ages. Coaches should discourage high balls into the 6 because balls on the ground to the 12 or 18 are better scoring opportunities anyways.
9. If men's D1 football can put 100% of players on scholarship, then 100% of women's soccer players should be full-ride eligible. 14 scholarships per team with a roster of 30-35 isn't enough money. Even if it isn't a "revenue" sport, it doesn't seem fair.
10. The USWNT is good, and I like watching them play.
11. The politics surrounding the USWNT is not good.
12. National team players should stand respectfully for the anthem or be removed from the team. One nation, one team, not One nation, 18 political statements.
13. Taking a knee in solidarity with BLM is woke virtue signaling and should not be a thing on a soccer field.
14. The parent that yells the most probably knows the least.
15. All players over 15 should ref at least 3-5 games per year for the younger players.
16. School-year made more sense than birth year for recruiting.
17. I like ECNL for girls.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

LOL!

On free kicks, you are incorrect. Giving the other team enough space that the offensive player can shoot a ball or make a pass without allowing the other team to settle in gives that offensive team an advantage that they aren't necessarily guaranteed.

At times you will see one player stick around the ball until the ref asks them to step back. Nothing wrong with this as the defensive player steps back and offensive player then has to wait.