My take on US Youth Soccer coaches specifically in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In europe, clubs are measured by how many youth players are signed to professional academies (clubs with pro teams at the top of the pyramid).

The second question is, did the player eventually get promoted to the reserves / U23 team or the first team? what was the value of their contract?

Measure ANY club around here like that and they will give you a blank look... well we have kids who play in college!!!

The average MLS salary is around $52K. The average NWSL is around $40K. The average salary of an entry level position with a college degree is around $54K. Hence, most parents are using soccer to get their DC into good/reputable colleges. Hence, clubs use college soccer, particularly D1 soccer, as a measure of their success. Unlike Football, basketball and baseball where the average salary is in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

That average is with the USSF-subsidized salary for all members of the USWNT correct? To my understanding they're subsidized $33,000 and the Canadian federation players are subsidized $27,500.

I also see the NWSL player minimum is $22,000 while the maximum is $52,5000 and the team cap is $682,500.

Contracted players have a base pay of $100,000 per year. There are also at least 22 players who are allocated to National Women's Soccer League teams. Tier 1 players -- of which there must be at least 11 -- make an additional $67,500 per year, while the Tier 2 players make $62,500 per year.

How much is subsidized by USSF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In europe, clubs are measured by how many youth players are signed to professional academies (clubs with pro teams at the top of the pyramid).

The second question is, did the player eventually get promoted to the reserves / U23 team or the first team? what was the value of their contract?

Measure ANY club around here like that and they will give you a blank look... well we have kids who play in college!!!

The average MLS salary is around $52K. The average NWSL is around $40K. The average salary of an entry level position with a college degree is around $54K. Hence, most parents are using soccer to get their DC into good/reputable colleges. Hence, clubs use college soccer, particularly D1 soccer, as a measure of their success. Unlike Football, basketball and baseball where the average salary is in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

That average is with the USSF-subsidized salary for all members of the USWNT correct? To my understanding they're subsidized $33,000 and the Canadian federation players are subsidized $27,500.

I also see the NWSL player minimum is $22,000 while the maximum is $52,5000 and the team cap is $682,500.

Contracted players have a base pay of $100,000 per year. There are also at least 22 players who are allocated to National Women's Soccer League teams. Tier 1 players -- of which there must be at least 11 -- make an additional $67,500 per year, while the Tier 2 players make $62,500 per year.

contracted players on the national team get the extra 100k. the middle tier NWSL players get very little. The league minimum is 22k and a bench player on a non-playoff team will make 22k.

https://equalizersoccer.com/2021/05/11/nwsl-minimum-maximum-salary-team-caps-rise-expenses-details/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In europe, clubs are measured by how many youth players are signed to professional academies (clubs with pro teams at the top of the pyramid).

The second question is, did the player eventually get promoted to the reserves / U23 team or the first team? what was the value of their contract?

Measure ANY club around here like that and they will give you a blank look... well we have kids who play in college!!!

The average MLS salary is around $52K. The average NWSL is around $40K. The average salary of an entry level position with a college degree is around $54K. Hence, most parents are using soccer to get their DC into good/reputable colleges. Hence, clubs use college soccer, particularly D1 soccer, as a measure of their success. Unlike Football, basketball and baseball where the average salary is in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

That average is with the USSF-subsidized salary for all members of the USWNT correct? To my understanding they're subsidized $33,000 and the Canadian federation players are subsidized $27,500.

I also see the NWSL player minimum is $22,000 while the maximum is $52,5000 and the team cap is $682,500.

Contracted players have a base pay of $100,000 per year. There are also at least 22 players who are allocated to National Women's Soccer League teams. Tier 1 players -- of which there must be at least 11 -- make an additional $67,500 per year, while the Tier 2 players make $62,500 per year.

and take a look at how long they play. My brother played pro 2-years post-college.

I was a straight A honor student on top team in the country where most of my teammates got scholarships to D1 schools. Nobody went into the pros, nor had that desire.

A bunch are lawyers, engineers, etc. Starting salaries much, much better and so are the retirement plans

Did your wife marry and procreate for love?

I have a husband, not a wife.

[Anonymous]

This is going to change...Pulisic is getting something like 60 million pounds (75 million dollars) at Chelsea. Imagine if Arlington soccer got paid some of that? American pay to play would reform in a New York minute.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know he played for PA Classics but was just trying to make it local.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is going to change...Pulisic is getting something like 60 million pounds (75 million dollars) at Chelsea. Imagine if Arlington soccer got paid some of that? American pay to play would reform in a New York minute.

a 1 in a million chance at a fraction of 75 million vs. guaranteed 3k a year across hundreds of kids? Doubt it would change anything (except those one in a million might start playing for this highest bidder instead of paying to play)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In europe, clubs are measured by how many youth players are signed to professional academies (clubs with pro teams at the top of the pyramid).

The second question is, did the player eventually get promoted to the reserves / U23 team or the first team? what was the value of their contract?

Measure ANY club around here like that and they will give you a blank look... well we have kids who play in college!!!

The average MLS salary is around $52K. The average NWSL is around $40K. The average salary of an entry level position with a college degree is around $54K. Hence, most parents are using soccer to get their DC into good/reputable colleges. Hence, clubs use college soccer, particularly D1 soccer, as a measure of their success. Unlike Football, basketball and baseball where the average salary is in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

That average is with the USSF-subsidized salary for all members of the USWNT correct? To my understanding they're subsidized $33,000 and the Canadian federation players are subsidized $27,500.

I also see the NWSL player minimum is $22,000 while the maximum is $52,5000 and the team cap is $682,500.

Contracted players have a base pay of $100,000 per year. There are also at least 22 players who are allocated to National Women's Soccer League teams. Tier 1 players -- of which there must be at least 11 -- make an additional $67,500 per year, while the Tier 2 players make $62,500 per year.

and take a look at how long they play. My brother played pro 2-years post-college.

I was a straight A honor student on top team in the country where most of my teammates got scholarships to D1 schools. Nobody went into the pros, nor had that desire.

A bunch are lawyers, engineers, etc. Starting salaries much, much better and so are the retirement plans

Did your wife marry and procreate for love?

I have a husband, not a wife.

Psst! He’s cheating on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is going to change...Pulisic is getting something like 60 million pounds (75 million dollars) at Chelsea. Imagine if Arlington soccer got paid some of that? American pay to play would reform in a New York minute.

That’s his transfer fee. Not his salary.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:These conversations all go the same way -- I'm going to extrapolate from a handful of coaches I've seen and assume that applies to all coaches in a given area, and I'm going to compare that against 1-2 things I believe from following soccer in (England, Germany, Mexico, Italy, wherever) and declare it's wrong.

You could have Gary Lineker and Hugo Perez observe the same three coaches for a whole season, and they'll come up with drastically different assessments. And we expect to be able to make grandiose proclamations about many more coaches when we have much less experience?

Let’s just have the fees get lowered

[Anonymous]

But who asked you?

Anonymous wrote:Ask your child’s coach to give a written evaluation. Compare the amount of adjectives they use versus measurable information.

Then look at the price tag. Think long and hard about the price tag. Most coaches in youth soccer simply coach the game as they know it. They may focus on 1v1s or through balls for wingers, only play a 4-3-3 with two CDMs, never teach defensive principles, etc. I’ve seen U17 players not understand what a 3rd man run is.

If your children’s math career stopped at arithmetic and never learned algebra, geometry, etc., your child will be amazing at arithmetic and not understand math.

Think long and hard about that price tag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your child’s coach to give a written evaluation. Compare the amount of adjectives they use versus measurable information.

Then look at the price tag. Think long and hard about the price tag. Most coaches in youth soccer simply coach the game as they know it. They may focus on 1v1s or through balls for wingers, only play a 4-3-3 with two CDMs, never teach defensive principles, etc. I’ve seen U17 players not understand what a 3rd man run is.

If your children’s math career stopped at arithmetic and never learned algebra, geometry, etc., your child will be amazing at arithmetic and not understand math.

Think long and hard about that price tag.

You are correct. We move a lot and this is not just a local problem. My daughter is about to leave to go play D1 soccer. We only really did ODP in middle school, but I recall that the last year we did it, we saw the list of girls that were selected to go the regionals (she wasn’t chosen). We specifically asked for a written evaluation of how she needed to improve. It was just as you wrote. Only one of those girls on that list is going to play at a D2 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ransom thoughts. Lived in Europe. The difference is the curriculum. At u-6 to U-9 child’s coach worked all technical. In the US that would not be considered ‘fun.’ In Europe, Parents didn’t even show up to games at those ages because they said there were no tactics - that comes at U12 apparently. Americans care about winning to justify the expense. What I see here are great athletes but limited technical skill and no feel for what’s actually going on. In Europe the skilled players pass. Here it’s the goal scorers who get all the attention. Also most of child’s team never watched soccer...oh and did I mention it was 1/6 the cost? Only one exception in three years of travel soccer here: McLean soccer. We were in Maryland so it’s not child’s team but McLean soccer had that combination of children with technical skill and tactics. Classic Barcelona style of play. Guessing all State Department kids...

Planning a kidnapping?

PP…Another +1. Also lived in Europe and you are correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here, I am a coach. I’d like to explain to you again: most coaches “teaching” travel soccer in the DMV are molding their players into the way their coach played. There are some exceptions but the overall lack of knowledge and professionalism is pretty sad. The evaluations are entirely subjective, the players selections are extremely biased and over the period of 2 hours. For girls it’s worse: if your DD is not good friends (or even worse disliked) with the best player then she’s not part of the team. Don’t believe me? Next time there is a tryout, ask to see the “notes” they are took of your dear child. More than half of the time they don’t even bring out rosters.

The coaching license courses are also very far from any type of proper function. The D course is useless because the C course will teach conflicting material. The B course is basically adding to the racket; there’s no statistical instruction, no analytical instruction, and essentially it’s who agrees with the instructor. I don’t understand how this is so upsetting to some. The most “technical director” do for “continuing education” out here is show what they do in training maybe once a year.

If soccer within our culture is far behind Europe, why would anybody not think coaching is the same way? How many directors does your club have? Ask to see their development plans. How many of your clubs prioritizes development? Ask to see their formula for age group, team, child. You think they plan their sessions? Ask to see their plans. You people are paying thousands of dollars for nothing. It’s a racket.

If you want some free advice:
- if your coach has ever brushed off your child by telling them “just go home and juggle” or “just play some wall ball”, you’re sustaining the racket.
- if you have a older DD and your club is doing nothing to prevent ACL injuries, you’re sustaining the racket
- ever notice the trainings are always technical warmup, possession, play? Sustaining the racket

Another +1

A lot of you are disagreeing with some great info and insight. Quit being defensive and learn.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:These conversations all go the same way -- I'm going to extrapolate from a handful of coaches I've seen and assume that applies to all coaches in a given area, and I'm going to compare that against 1-2 things I believe from following soccer in (England, Germany, Mexico, Italy, wherever) and declare it's wrong.

You could have Gary Lineker and Hugo Perez observe the same three coaches for a whole season, and they'll come up with drastically different assessments. And we expect to be able to make grandiose proclamations about many more coaches when we have much less experience?

Let’s just have the fees get lowered

That would be great.

And solidarity pay/training compensation can help -- a bit. It's just not the cure-all some people think it is.

I don't think it helps at all actually. The primary consequence of most of these schemes is to provide professional clubs with monopsony power over the kids in their area - these are basically scams which benefit the clubs by allowing them to invest less in training the kids, not more.

A few steps to cut costs:

1. Less travel, more soccer.

2. More sponsors. (Easier said than done, of course.)

3. Stronger professional clubs that can turn around and offer free academies.

4. More coaching education (USSF is working on it) for volunteer parent coaches who can help out so clubs aren't assigning "pro" coaches to the D or E teams. (Want to know why so many foreign coaches come here? It's because they don't have as many paid opportunities elsewhere. If you're in England, and you're not coaching with a pro club's academy, where are you coaching? The reason soccer's cheaper overseas is that you're generally either playing for free at a pro club or paying very little for what we would call "rec" (even though the level isn't necessarily bad). They don't have Loudouns or Arlingtons or Bethesdas offering several levels of "travel" coaching with professional coaches making any sort of money.)

I would say the single best thing you could do for youth soccer in this country is remove the home territory rule so that the best kids can go to the academies which want to invest in developing them. Instead you wind up with clubs like DCU which invest nothing in training but refuse to release the rights of local kids to go elsewhere. And then, should they be good enough to get an offer from a European club, DCU will demand hundreds of thousands of $ which basically ensures that the European club will make the offer to a local kid instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:These conversations all go the same way -- I'm going to extrapolate from a handful of coaches I've seen and assume that applies to all coaches in a given area, and I'm going to compare that against 1-2 things I believe from following soccer in (England, Germany, Mexico, Italy, wherever) and declare it's wrong.

You could have Gary Lineker and Hugo Perez observe the same three coaches for a whole season, and they'll come up with drastically different assessments. And we expect to be able to make grandiose proclamations about many more coaches when we have much less experience?

Let’s just have the fees get lowered

That would be great.

And solidarity pay/training compensation can help -- a bit. It's just not the cure-all some people think it is.

I don't think it helps at all actually. The primary consequence of most of these schemes is to provide professional clubs with monopsony power over the kids in their area - these are basically scams which benefit the clubs by allowing them to invest less in training the kids, not more.

A few steps to cut costs:

1. Less travel, more soccer.

2. More sponsors. (Easier said than done, of course.)

3. Stronger professional clubs that can turn around and offer free academies.

4. More coaching education (USSF is working on it) for volunteer parent coaches who can help out so clubs aren't assigning "pro" coaches to the D or E teams. (Want to know why so many foreign coaches come here? It's because they don't have as many paid opportunities elsewhere. If you're in England, and you're not coaching with a pro club's academy, where are you coaching? The reason soccer's cheaper overseas is that you're generally either playing for free at a pro club or paying very little for what we would call "rec" (even though the level isn't necessarily bad). They don't have Loudouns or Arlingtons or Bethesdas offering several levels of "travel" coaching with professional coaches making any sort of money.)

I would say the single best thing you could do for youth soccer in this country is remove the home territory rule so that the best kids can go to the academies which want to invest in developing them. Instead you wind up with clubs like DCU which invest nothing in training but refuse to release the rights of local kids to go elsewhere. And then, should they be good enough to get an offer from a European club, DCU will demand hundreds of thousands of $ which basically ensures that the European club will make the offer to a local kid instead.

That's about to get tested.........