Serious Player Development Question
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Anonymous
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My DD and I have struggled with team and club selection. We live in NW and can make BSC, MYS, AS, and WS VA 45 minutes. DD is going into HS next year and currently plays for a competitive club in the area (non-ECNL/DA). I have been at this for a few years and have yet to fund a club that actually develops players. Most of the stand-out performance I have seen are players that develop on their own. The top coaches that I have seen are great at tactics but I don't see much player development, i.e. technical skills. It seem that the focus at all the top clubs is winning. There are a few that have a reputation for developing players but most are focused on winning. If that is the case. are we just paying fees to win. It seems like it makes more sense to hire a personal coach than to spend $3,000-10,000 on elite travel.
I recognize that players need competition and good training to fully develop but it seems the philosophy of the local coaches is to focus more on competition and winning. My view is supported byt the fact that few of the top teams were formed at u10 and then moved up to their current status. Most players join these teams after being developed elsewhere. Any thoughts. I would also love to hear from DA parents. Have your DCs improved their technical skills. |
Anonymous
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I agree but there’s a difference between mental development vs technical development.
My U11 DD has good technical skills but still lacks good the mental skills. Mental skills such as positioning, situational awareness, tactics, etc. While I’m able to help her train and will soon look/hire a trainer to improve her technical skills, only being on a team can teach her mental skills and team work. Hence, from messages I read on this forum, technical training can only be had if you train individually. |
Anonymous
| Tactics help a player develop mentally |
Anonymous
| What do you mean by "technical skills" OP? Just foot skills, or something more? Most work to develop good foot skills and touch happens long before HS age. In terms of finding a good development program, I think it's always a good idea to go and watch some games in the various leagues around here. If you see a team that plays the way you'd like your child to, then get in touch with the coach and see what opportunities may be there. |
Anonymous
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This recent article by Albert Puig (former director of La Masia) is instructive. He describes ages 12-16 as the cognitive stage, and says the role of the coach in teaching the game is extremely important.
https://www.soccertoday.com/pros-and-cons-between-youth-soccer-in-the-usa-and-europe/ In my opinion there is always room to improve technically, and skills can also erode if not kept sharp, but that is what individual practice is for. A player who doesn't put time in on his or her own is never going to really "develop" no matter how good their coach is. |
Anonymous
I am a parent of a current player for WS VA and am familiar with the other clubs (BSC, MYS, AS). WS is definitely interested in developing players more so than winning games. In general the competition at the ECNL/DA level is higher than other clubs/leagues. Faster speed of play for example. There are a few stand out non ECNL/DA teams (eg MD Rush) but they are generally playing against weaker competition. I certainly agree a lot can be done to supplement development with private training. A few questions to consider: Does DD want to play high school soccer? If so DA probably not best choice. Does DD want to play soccer in college? Would probably recommend DA (or ECNL) if you/DD are considering. Is DD happy with current team? Does DD have what it takes to make a DA or ECNL team? If you think so and you are interested, consider contacting coaches/technical directors. How many players does team she is considering have on roster currently? This effects the likelihood that DD will play if she is selected. |
Anonymous
Make sure you put your DD with strong, talented players. That can vary from club to club based on age group. If she trains with better, it will help her become better. If she is with a low talent pool, even if it's a good coach, that will drag her level down. Ask the clubs for her to attend the practices of the teams for age group and see the quality of the practice, the size of the field space and also how many are on the roster so you can see if she's going to get appropriate game time, or find herself not rostered for games. Part of development is being able to play. Also, watch a club game if you can, as that will show you the level of play, the style of play and also how substitutions work. It will also give you a sense of coaching. |
Anonymous
My daughter played in the DC area since rec play in kindergarten. She is now out of college and gainfully employed. She was highly recruited and played for D1 university which was from time to time ranked in the top 5 in the NCAA when she was in college. She played for some of the best tactical coaches in the area, and many are still coaching in the area. Those guys are beyond working specifically technical skills, except to the extent they want to see a lot of touches in training and at as fast a pace as possible--repetition. When she played, a player played WAGS, US Club and then--when it was founded--ECNL. Mostly she played with the same set of girls--some rotation in and out. She did some stuff outside of her club with trainers from time to time. Others in her age group did a lot more than she did. There were a few trainers around--who were great foot skill guys (they were all guys at the time), but they had lousy teams or teams on the boys side--and she worked with them during down time from her club activities. It is easier to do that they younger the player is. Getting into high school it gets really tough to carve out the extra time, and it is late in the scheme of things to develop the skill set. But, can be done. Figure out who the technical gurus are now, and talk with a few about what they can offer. |
Anonymous
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Each year you get a few new kids joining the top team. These kids are usually really good(naturals). This is not because the big club did not develop thier own kids. It’s just these kids were given the same training as other kids but for some reason developed to a high level. They had a natural affinity for the sport.
So very few of the original u9/u10 players make the top team at u16. Therefore many say the club does not develop kids. When in reality very few u9/u10 will develop into a DA u16/u17 player. After u12 it’s about speed of play and passing. At u9/u10 clubs are not looking for speed of play. |
Anonymous
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^^ If you are unable to develop the significant majority of your younger players and then say the few that make it had a greater NATURAL affinity for the game regardless of the same development, your club is NOT good at development. Your club is good at standing by and watching.
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Anonymous
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NP here. I think it takes both the right player and the right club. You can have the best chef in the world but they can only do so much with poor ingredients. Likewise a terrible chef can burn the best Kobe steak and turn it into shoe leather.
Even the best clubs are going to have a lot of players that ultimately don’t have the genetics, intelligence or drive to be top DA or ECNL players. The club can teach anyone the skills but many just do not have the physical ability and intelligence to do it at a high pace without making many mistakes. But even that is not enough. What separates the best from the rest often comes down to the intangibles - the attitude and willingness to work hard every day and fight through pain and boredom of doing the same thing thousands of times. These kids do whatever it takes to both improve themselves and have the drive to win games. When that kid gets into a club that has the structure and supportive coaching environment, the sky is the limit. |
Anonymous
+1000%. Very well said. |
Anonymous
No the club will develop a lot of good players but not many of the top team quality. At u9/u10 most clubs select for athleticism, speed and size. After u12 the coaches will select from this pool players who have speed of play, technical ability and soccer IQ. So the fast player who has a touch like Doberman Pincher playing with a beach ball will be replaced by a fast player with a better technical skill. Being on a top team at a top club at u9/u10 does not guarantee a spot on a DA roster at u16. Most will not be on the top team after u13. |
Anonymous
+100 |
Anonymous
A good club will recognize the inherent weakness of the athletic player and will encourage outside training or develop a plan to improve the players weaknesses. While time in practice can't always be dedicated to improving every players weaknesses good coaches will find ways to address these issues and work with the parents and players on a plan to improve. If the player does not follow through on their end so be it, but the club should provide the overall guidance and proper feedback throughout the season both short term and long term. THAT is what a club dedicated to development does. Just saying, "all well, not every athlete pans out" is a cop out and lazy. |