Soccer Coach in Northern VA - Ask me anything

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I've enjoyed reading the forums on here related to travel soccer in the DC area and commenting on a few posts... there seem to be a lot of people on this forum asking good questions and a lot asking silly questions as well, so go ahead, I'll answer as best I can.

No need to elaborate on my background at the moment if you think I'm BS-ing about something or making it up, feel free to call me out on it.

[Anonymous]

Should probably start by asking for some general credentials to get a sense of your perspective without identifying you. Such as:

1. What USSF license do you have? What other licenses (UEFA, NSCAA, etc.)?

2. Do you coach in the DA or another elite league (CCL, EDP, VPL, etc.)?

3. How long have you been coaching?

[Anonymous]

Why are you posting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I've enjoyed reading the forums on here related to travel soccer in the DC area and commenting on a few posts... there seem to be a lot of people on this forum asking good questions and a lot asking silly questions as well, so go ahead, I'll answer as best I can.

No need to elaborate on my background at the moment if you think I'm BS-ing about something or making it up, feel free to call me out on it.

I have no idea what your connections are or what age and league you play in but I'm curious what you have heard of CCL next gen. Is CCL NG going to be able to bring consolidation to U12 and younger for next year? I think CCL next gen would be great if they are able to bring in NON CCL clubs, otherwise it will be the same thing under a slightly different schedule. Maybe it is something that will build over time but I have a son in that age group and am wondering what that league might look like next year as far as travel and new clubs.

[Anonymous]

Haha i had hopes no one would fall for this

[Anonymous]

have you slept with any of the parents? ever pleasure yourself thinking of them?

[Anonymous]

When you bench a kid for the whole game and then lose the game do you realize what a waste it was to burn that kids enthusiasm all for naught.

-signed mom of D1 soccer kid who always played the whole game and never understood this mentality

[Anonymous]

Would you encourage your kids to play for the DA? If not DA, what is the other path?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you bench a kid for the whole game and then lose the game do you realize what a waste it was to burn that kids enthusiasm all for naught.

-signed mom of D1 soccer kid who always played the whole game and never understood this mentality

not op but it depends on the age group.

teh age groups that i coach, I would never do this

But if i was an u16 or older coach for a competitive team, I would for two reasons.

1. the subbing rules don't train kids here like the rest of the world to prepare them to manage their energy for 90 minutes with only 3 subs.

2. As a very communicative coach, I always try to let kids and parents know where they stand with their development. At the older ages, if a kid is dissapointed they aren't playing and that bleeds into training (even when I explain why), then it isn't a kid that can realistically be developed for the next level. He/She must love training even if they aren't playing.

[Anonymous]

The coaches ego seems to be the biggest problem in youth sports.

[Anonymous]

How far can you punt a *real* football?

[Anonymous]

Are you a good-looking male coach? Have any of the moms ever hit on you?

(The coaches in my daughter's league are hot AF but one is super young. So I ogle the one who is closer to my age, but I would never act on it, though we're both single.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you bench a kid for the whole game and then lose the game do you realize what a waste it was to burn that kids enthusiasm all for naught.

-signed mom of D1 soccer kid who always played the whole game and never understood this mentality

not op but it depends on the age group.

teh age groups that i coach, I would never do this

But if i was an u16 or older coach for a competitive team, I would for two reasons.

1. the subbing rules don't train kids here like the rest of the world to prepare them to manage their energy for 90 minutes with only 3 subs.

2. As a very communicative coach, I always try to let kids and parents know where they stand with their development. At the older ages, if a kid is dissapointed they aren't playing and that bleeds into training (even when I explain why), then it isn't a kid that can realistically be developed for the next level. He/She must love training even if they aren't playing.

Unless you are training for World Cup you are developing kids. When there are 3 games in a weekend for a tournament, you are doing nobody favors by playing certain kids for 3 - 90 minutes sessions and some kids for 0 minutes.

You are taking your U16 way too seriously and the D1 coaches don't think you have given him a capable player, anyway they just know they have an athletic kid who can be developed.

[Anonymous]

What online soccer forums (besides DCUM) or sites do you visit? Which do you find the most helpful and/or interesting?

[Anonymous]

As a coach, I actually fake my accent and enjoy the moms more than coaching to be honest.