Best Coaches in the area? Northern VA, DC, Maryland for girls?
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novasoccer15324
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| the majority of these coaches are great yellers |
soccer_dc
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My daughters club in this area does have Veo markup for the team every week. Highlights both positive and negative and where improvements can be made. They also will sometimes do Veo markup of an opposing team to prepare for an upcoming game. I assumed all clubs were doing this for their top ECNL/GA teams but maybe not. |
soccerx3kidsss
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This thread and subject topic went on a bit of a tangent focusing on Div 1 and scholarship being the holy grail and which club has the best record for placing players in college…yawn. That doesn’t impress me. Why you ask? Because that has nothing to do with being a good coach. If you think it does then stop reading now.
Players NEVER stop developing. So any coach who isn't thinking about making their players 1% better every time they are with them should not be on the field. A coach's job is to help develop players into the best they can be. Technical, tactical, physical, mental, soccer IQ, etc...the list goes on. I have not yet laid my eyes on a coach who impresses me in this area and it's a shame to see what being a professional soccer coach has turned into. Seems like anyone can be a professional coach and there are no standards that need to be met anymore. Who are the coaches that kids want to play for with a exceptional reputation! I need better odds than “love them or hate them”. I want better odds than 50/50 all the time. Everywhere I turn I find dud after dud "professional coach" who thinks showing up and doing the same session every week while sitting in a chair is enough. If a player has the support they need to develop + they are passionate about playing college and your top level coach works their contacts for you then that is just a bonus. I want to keep the focus on the best coaches at the ECNL and GA level in this area. and what truly makes them the best in this area. Coaches can boast about their rolodex of contacts, but that doesn't make them a good coach. We have a problem with quality coaches in this country! It's a serious problem and In the US anyone can be a professional soccer coach. No questions asked. I am seeing worse and worse coaches on the sidelines every year. Clubs are evaluating them properly. They continue to keep their job no matter what they do or don't do. Hence the question…BEST COACHES…NOT THE BEST HEAD HUNTERS and YELLERS. Let's drop some names!!! A quick Google search helped me find top qualities good coaches possess are: Organized (Can create dynamic session plans and not perform the same session plan week to week) Good Communicator Punctual Committed Passionate Trustworthy Disciplined Self aware Empathic Motivational Positive Knowledge of the game (Technical and Tactical) Excels at player management Caring and Patient Spends extra time and makes themselves available to players Knows how to create a positive team culture Knows how to talk to their players and push them to get the most out of them during practices and games Can share their experiences. Has played the game at a high level or studied the game at a high level. Has a background in teaching or is constantly willing to learn and grow Has strong relationships with past players Is a Leader Performs proper player evaluations |
novasoccer15324
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| Many of the coaches who I know and respect in the area don't coach ecnl or GA. Paul Ellis doesn't coach ecnl. Neither does Ann Germain. Neither does TJ white. Neither does Gus donolo. Neither does Sully Hamid. Fantastic coaches and veterans in the area. None of them coach in ecnl or ga. |
novasoccer15324
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Here's the post you have been waiting for.
Here/s your list: 2010: Loudon: Rae-Ann Taylor Union: Matt Lee BRAVE: Michel Vanderhart Arlington: Makenzie Wright VDA Alex Silver 2009: Loudon: Rae-Ann Taylor Union: Nadir Moumen BRAVE: Lindsey Ottavio Arlington: Molly Menchel VDA Alex Silver 2008: Loudon: Nick Surkamp Union: Brent Leiba BRAVE: Michel Vanderhart Arlington: Joseph Nemzer VDA: Mikey Welsh 2007: Loudon: Phil Leversedge Union: Clyde Watson BRAVE: Gene Mishalow Arlington: Haytham Mansur VDA: Michelle Alioto 2006: BRAVE: Tyler Mishalow Union: Brent Leiba Loudon: Phil Leversedge Arlington: Joseph Nemzer VDA: Mikey Welsh 2005/2004: Arlington: Declan Cole VDA: Scott Sinclair Loudon: Dave Bucciero Union: Nadir Moumen BRAVE: Tyler Mishalow 1. Clyde Watson -Unquestioned reputation in the area, but is retiring. Basically built Mclean's girls program with his own hands over the last 20 years. 2. Nadir Moumen / Mikey Welsh -Not the most warm and fuzzy personalities but have an established track record of many years of high performing teams, even if your DD hates playing for them. Even if your DD dislikes their personality and coaching style, she will still play for them because of the light at the end of the tunnel. Bobby Puppione and Christian Czommer from FCV also make an appearance here because of the track record with their teams. Even if your DD dislikes their personality and coaching style, she will still play for them because of the light at the end of the tunnel. 3. Michel Vanderhart / Gene Mishalow / Rae Ann Taylor -Coaching veterans in the area who have been grinding it out for 20+ years and have a ton of experience but not the benefit of coaching for a club with reputationally has pulled in the best girls talent in the area (Mclean / FCV typically) Some people have mixed feelings about these coaches (love/hate relationship) but undeniably they are veteran coaches in the area. 4. Phil Leversedge / Dave Bucciero / Brent Leiba -A group of very smart coaches who can really coach. Dave used to be the women's coach at AU, Phil and Brent are extremely brainy and capable, experienced coaches who have a lot of experience in the game and are respected. George Hales makes an appearance here, not sure if he is still coaching with Metro United or not but I'd put him here. 5. Michelle Alioto / Hayhtam Mansur / Tyler Mishalow / Matt Lee -All very capable coaches who have coached in the area for a while and probably have cabinets full of trophies for state cups, tournament trophies, and ODP accolades. 6. Joseph Nemzer / Scott Sinclar / Declan Cole Experienced in coaching at college levels but by their bios it looks like this is their first year or two coaching youth players, which is completely different. BRYC experimented with this method the last few years by bringing former college coaches in to coach some age groups and it was a disaster. These coaches are fine for a U18/U19 team that is in its last year already. A lack of experience coaching youth players may be covered over by being handed a strong age group to begin with. 7. Lindsey Ottavio / Molly Menchel / Nick Surkamp / Mackenzie Wright -Experienced in soccer as former players but haven't established themselves in the area or a coaching reputation / track record yet on the girls side. I'm sure they are all good coaches, but they are being compared to the list above so they fall at #7. 8. Alex Silver -Do your own research |
Pepe
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JFC. This is the most bullcrap I've seen on DCUM in a long time. Please never copy paste something you Googled. FFS... it IS about getting into college for a lot of folks here. If you DD or DS loves the game, super. A great coach at most ECNL/GA high levels need a coach who can win with the talent he has. Make adjustments. Be committed to the girls. "push them to get the most out of them". I vomited. I promise you, when 16 year olds are 1-9 and losing by 4 each game, they give an F about you 'pushing them'. Good lawd, you still have time to delete your post. |
realdmv
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Mostly male coaches. Not surprising. Did anyone read the WaPo article? https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/18/ecnl-girls-soccer-male-coaches/ |
novasoccer15324
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Coaching highly competitive travel teams = low pay relative to the workload, no benefits, non traditional hours, high stress, time away from family (weekends/evenings/holidays) not appealing for the majority of women who want to get into coaching.
There are a few but not that many. Male coaches seem to be more willing to make those sacrifices than female coaches. From my knowledge in the northern Virginia area, I'm going to estimate that there are no more than 40 highly experienced female (expert) coaches actively coaching in the game right now. I'm talking about someone that has 10+ years of experience. Compare that to male coaches and there are probably 200+ coaches in the area with at least 10 years of experience. |
soccerx3kidsss
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I’m sorry my Google search offended you. Are you ok? Please don’t vomit. Seems like there are some trigger words in there for you. Luckily Google came in handy again when I had to look up all the angry acronyms you used. You seem like the type of yeller…I mean "coach", I want my kids playing for. Can I get your name and number? Youth coaches aren’t hired or fired based on their record. If they were then most of these coaches wouldn’t have a job. Most of the coaches in the area barely go through a background check or get properly evaluated year to year. Most have tumultuous reputations. This is my point. Especially at the elite level what exactly are these coaches providing players to support and prepare them for long term success in the game at any level? These are young children and I am asking for insight on good coaches in the area at the elite level. |
soccermum79
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This. So true. |
lojack74
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Agreed. This is so on point it must have been written by one of my kid's team's parents! Coach doesn't coach. Practices he spends chatting with parents or other coaches (this is when coaching should happen). Game rolls around and he berates and belittles a small handful of players for the entire teams' lack of performance, to the point of humiliation. Worst coach ever, even worse person. |
soccer4life
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| We did what research we could when selecting which club/coach our daughter wanted to commit too but no matter what you find out you never really know how that coach will be with your daughter and team until after you've accepted and season begins. You'll see what you want to see you'll hear what you want to hear and then season begins. We are trying to "trust the process" as we are often told but it's hard to do that when you've been trying to give this club the benefit of the doubt lacking in direction, leadership, COMMUNICATION. The biggest disappointment has been in the lack of support, experience, leadership and communication from her coach. We don't know if in-experience blindsides leadership decisions or what? We want our daughter to develop, be pushed if that takes stern/harsh coaching tactics/tell it like it is direction and leadership. At least then she'll know what strengths she excels at and what weaknesses to work harder on rather than playing the guessing game with her coach wondering/questioning her own development, confidence, being an asset to the team. We are currently attending other club practices to see their coaches in action. The hard thing about that is you don't know if coaching slate will change. |
nkosi
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I understand 2nd teams have a spread in skill level in the U14/U15 ( and up?).
they can have a mix of players with different interest levels in soccer. Some are more serious than others, more competitive and some due to other sports may not make all practices. Some play for the social aspect. This seems like a difficult situation to coach. Is this the pattern from this point forward on these 2nd teams? Are there any coaches who handle this well and also are able to develop the stronger, competitive player on these teams who plays to learn more? |
Blutarski
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Sigh. And to really ruin your day, lest you think that it gets better in college... it doesn't. The coaches and/or programs at the college level, generally speaking, are only of slightly better quality or integrity than at the club level. Making it even tougher, your player has less ability to scout the situation in advance, and even worse options to get out after you get a taste that freshman year. It's no wonder that the fallout rate in college soccer is so high. |
soccer_dc
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And now to really ruin your year, this human dynamic exists all over society and not just in youth soccer. Work bosses, friend groups, neighborhood culture. The best we can do is learn to navigate and spot the behaviors. Personally, I rely heavily on personal recommendations and people in my network. Ask your friends, talk to people currently playing for a coach, talk to some who no longer play for them (more honest), and don’t be afraid to change if it doesn’t work out. There are no perfect coaches or clubs just the best one for your situation. |