?s about if you would leave a club and general development

[Anonymous]

If your player does not mesh with the Coach? Would you go? Would you wait and see if the Coach changes the following year?

If your player is slated only for a position they are unhappy with is it time to move on? 2nd year and still unhappy playing in the back, but told by Coach that he can't trust anyone else back there. Team has few kids that can play defense so your kid gets put there even though the kid is a much better player elsewhere on the field. Kid is a starter and plays majority of the game. Everywhere else they have ever played (special teams, indoor/futsal, former club, camps, international play) they were always automatically seen as a forward or attacking mid, great finisher--many assists and goals. Welcomed learning defense, but not at the cost of never playing anywhere else going into the end of 2nd year with team. Team has few kids that can play defense so your kid gets put there even though he is a much better player elsewhere. Team has forwards that have only scored 4 goals since September (11-12 games) and 2 of those goals were not scored by the forwards (defender goals) so it's not like they have forwards that are doing the job. But, team/coach/parents blame defense for everything and their lack of success. This is incredibly frustrating for the defense and seriously eroding self-confidence in the player and the other backs as well.

2 years is enough time to call it a day, correct? If Coach makes zero attempt to ever change 'attack' when the team has lost every game (12 games) and scored 4 goals total. It's not a case of the backs losing possession or keeping from advancing or being out of position---but the forwards can never do anything each time possession is moved into the upper 1/3. Some can't be bothered to chase back and are never blamed for that or taking way too many touches and continually losing possession. They miss over-lapping runs made by the backs when there is clear opportunity.

It's like the twilight zone. They keep getting 'bigger' backs, but do nothing to address the forward line. And, if they think 'size' is going to solve the problem in the Back--why don't they address it with the teeny tiny forwards that can't do anything against any team and are constantly shut down? We have a striker who has never scored a goal. Scoring is a striker's primary job. The after game talks by the Coach are always an attack on the defense while you watched the forwards miss every chance, dribble the ball into the ground multiple times, miss easy opportunities and rarely come back on defense/try to win ball back when losing it-- exposing the defenders.

Is there some grand development stage that I am missing with this approach? Is this a normal thing? I have honestly not seen any Coach not make a change in a forward starting line-up with this type of record---much less even take the forwards out of a game. At what point are you developing forwards vs keeping in forwards that can't get the job done? Is it really a defensive problem if they have no problem advancing the ball up field/keep possession, know positioning (and use it to cover one another, go wide to outside line when keeper has the ball---but get hammered every game because the team can't keep ball beyond mid-line?

[Anonymous]

If you aren't happy, and you are paying all that money, go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

What age group are we talking here? I pretty much agree -- walk if you aren't happen. Only possible exception if if your DD/DS is young and a new coach is on the horizon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What age group are we talking here? I pretty much agree -- walk if you aren't happen. Only possible exception if if your DD/DS is young and a new coach is on the horizon.

13-year olds

[Anonymous]

Tryout season is upon us, my friend. It seems like you’ve put in enough time. Similar to my kid’s U14 team with the addition of a dad of a forward that likes to openly trash the other players to the coaching staff. Don’t see how they are preventing his kid from putting the ball in the back of the net—lol, but I guess he needs an excuse for that.

[Anonymous]

Yes time to leave. Start contacting other clubs and attend practices. Use the sessions to see if the club/coach is a fit for your kid.
Just remember most kids will not play very long. The vast majority of really good players are done by the end of high school. Do not waste another year with this coach/club. It should be fun.

[Anonymous]

It's your money and time. If you aren't getting what you want from the club and coach then leave. We have left a club before and after we did, we kept getting told by parents that stayed that they should have left. Don't wait if you are not happy.

[Anonymous]

Has a coach ever defined the individual’s stages and expectations for the developmental marathon relative to match structure/experience?

Is it on the player to make the transition at practice?

[Anonymous]

Seems like you need to have a heart-to-heart with the coach about DC's development goals. If he agrees to play DC upfront more then wait and see. If the playing time does not work then move on.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? Our boys (2006) team has an opening and would welcome your DC to come to a winter session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live? Our boys (2006) team has an opening and would welcome your DC to come to a winter session.

Thanks! But player is actually a young/late bday 2005.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your player does not mesh with the Coach? Would you go? Would you wait and see if the Coach changes the following year?

If your player is slated only for a position they are unhappy with is it time to move on? 2nd year and still unhappy playing in the back, but told by Coach that he can't trust anyone else back there. Team has few kids that can play defense so your kid gets put there even though the kid is a much better player elsewhere on the field. Kid is a starter and plays majority of the game. Everywhere else they have ever played (special teams, indoor/futsal, former club, camps, international play) they were always automatically seen as a forward or attacking mid, great finisher--many assists and goals. Welcomed learning defense, but not at the cost of never playing anywhere else going into the end of 2nd year with team. Team has few kids that can play defense so your kid gets put there even though he is a much better player elsewhere. Team has forwards that have only scored 4 goals since September (11-12 games) and 2 of those goals were not scored by the forwards (defender goals) so it's not like they have forwards that are doing the job. But, team/coach/parents blame defense for everything and their lack of success. This is incredibly frustrating for the defense and seriously eroding self-confidence in the player and the other backs as well.

2 years is enough time to call it a day, correct? If Coach makes zero attempt to ever change 'attack' when the team has lost every game (12 games) and scored 4 goals total. It's not a case of the backs losing possession or keeping from advancing or being out of position---but the forwards can never do anything each time possession is moved into the upper 1/3. Some can't be bothered to chase back and are never blamed for that or taking way too many touches and continually losing possession. They miss over-lapping runs made by the backs when there is clear opportunity.

It's like the twilight zone. They keep getting 'bigger' backs, but do nothing to address the forward line. And, if they think 'size' is going to solve the problem in the Back--why don't they address it with the teeny tiny forwards that can't do anything against any team and are constantly shut down? We have a striker who has never scored a goal. Scoring is a striker's primary job. The after game talks by the Coach are always an attack on the defense while you watched the forwards miss every chance, dribble the ball into the ground multiple times, miss easy opportunities and rarely come back on defense/try to win ball back when losing it-- exposing the defenders.

Is there some grand development stage that I am missing with this approach? Is this a normal thing? I have honestly not seen any Coach not make a change in a forward starting line-up with this type of record---much less even take the forwards out of a game. At what point are you developing forwards vs keeping in forwards that can't get the job done? Is it really a defensive problem if they have no problem advancing the ball up field/keep possession, know positioning (and use it to cover one another, go wide to outside line when keeper has the ball---but get hammered every game because the team can't keep ball beyond mid-line?

Without watching can't tell if defenders are doing anything wrong, but a group of forwards that is scoring basically zero goals per game an entire season is definitely an offensive/attacking problem. When learning possession-style, which it sounds like, you expect defensive mistakes in younger years. But, if your team can't finish at all by age 13, you need some new forwards or a different approach. If it is a 'possession-style club', I'd question why nothing is being done at that age by forwards taking too many touches/dribbling into the ground repeatedly and especially not chasing back and trying to win possession IMMEDIATELY after losing the ball. Sounds like a lazy group.

[Anonymous]

This actually sounds like a common problem with possession teams, esp at this age. Defenders and midfielders get really good at playing out of the back, hardly ever give the ball away, but as soon as it gets to the forwards at the midfield line they cough it up (usually bc listening to their parents "turn and go" every time, which worked really well at 7v7). So you end up playing the whole game in your own half, and the forwards parents are all "where was the midfield" and "my kid can't get any service. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This actually sounds like a common problem with possession teams, esp at this age. Defenders and midfielders get really good at playing out of the back, hardly ever give the ball away, but as soon as it gets to the forwards at the midfield line they cough it up (usually bc listening to their parents "turn and go" every time, which worked really well at 7v7). So you end up playing the whole game in your own half, and the forwards parents are all "where was the midfield" and "my kid can't get any service. "

This is so true. I find a lot of parents of forwards also have this 'prima donna' thing going that they instigate in their kids. They all act like Ronaldo, but don't play like Ronaldo. No--"I" in "Team" and all that. The thing is the ball can be repeatedly lost by forwards/mids and the defenders/keepers can be saving their asses all games recovering it---but one ball gets past the entire game and they leap a load of sh*t on the kids in the back who wouldn't be so tired if their Little Prince would actually chase his a** back to win the balls he dribbled into the ground.

[Anonymous]

the scoring from 7v7 to 9v9 goes way down. The area in front of the goal gets a lot more congested with players from both teams.

Scoring in 9v9 to 11v11 might go up again, because the goal gets bigger, but there is even more congestion in front of the goal with a swarm of players going for 1 ball. It all depends on how well the offense plays, if they are spreading out and know how to shoot correctly