Do parents pay coaches…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll spill the tea—Alexandria is all about collecting 'donations.' It pretty much guarantees you a playing spot and a top spot on the coach’s pet list.

Oh yeah the pressure they send to families for donation is unreal.

We've been with Alexandria for years. I have never felt "pressure" to donate to the club. Their payment platform does make it easy, and they've always got an option at registration, for sure. They also send out lots of club wide emails about events and donations. But never have I had the impression playing time or a spot on a team was dependent on it. Maybe I'm missing something. Keep in mind, also, that this is a multi-million dollar non-profit that runs rec leagues, futsal leagues, offers scholarships, maintains fields, etc. It's not just your kid's team. You should expect them to try to raise money.

Raise money so their directors can get a raise and nice bonuses.

[Anonymous]

My experience at ASA is nothing like your suggestion. They do ask for donations at registration, but no coach or staff have ever pressured us - I am not sure they have ever mentioned it. I have kids from rec to top academy teams in the club.

One of my kids was unknown, made lower team during an id session after playing rec in a different club.

They have moved up teams and played most of each game the past two years. I credit two things. One, they are pretty good. Two, and way more important, they listen at practice and try hard. At u9-u12 a lot of the distinction is just which kids are there to practice vs hang with friends and goof off.

I am not saying the experience of others didn’t happen or that there isn’t any of the pay for play stuff happening, but it isn’t as pervasive as some posters would make it seem. And being in ASA and having friends at other clubs, I hardly think ASA is some locus of more bad behavior than other places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience at ASA is nothing like your suggestion. They do ask for donations at registration, but no coach or staff have ever pressured us - I am not sure they have ever mentioned it. I have kids from rec to top academy teams in the club.

One of my kids was unknown, made lower team during an id session after playing rec in a different club.

They have moved up teams and played most of each game the past two years. I credit two things. One, they are pretty good. Two, and way more important, they listen at practice and try hard. At u9-u12 a lot of the distinction is just which kids are there to practice vs hang with friends and goof off.

I am not saying the experience of others didn’t happen or that there isn’t any of the pay for play stuff happening, but it isn’t as pervasive as some posters would make it seem. And being in ASA and having friends at other clubs, I hardly think ASA is some locus of more bad behavior than other places.

ASA working hard to defend their name this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll spill the tea—Alexandria is all about collecting 'donations.' It pretty much guarantees you a playing spot and a top spot on the coach’s pet list.

Oh yeah the pressure they send to families for donation is unreal.

We've been with Alexandria for years. I have never felt "pressure" to donate to the club. Their payment platform does make it easy, and they've always got an option at registration, for sure. They also send out lots of club wide emails about events and donations. But never have I had the impression playing time or a spot on a team was dependent on it. Maybe I'm missing something. Keep in mind, also, that this is a multi-million dollar non-profit that runs rec leagues, futsal leagues, offers scholarships, maintains fields, etc. It's not just your kid's team. You should expect them to try to raise money.

I get a kick out of how some people think having non-profit status equates to being saintly and always in the best interest of others.

I am not saying ASA is not saintly or not above board, however not all non-profits are this way. Throwing out that an organization is non-profit, doesn't automatically make me give them the benefit of the doubt. Same as saying, someone is a minister or regular church goer does not make me think, they could never do no wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My experience at ASA is nothing like your suggestion. They do ask for donations at registration, but no coach or staff have ever pressured us - I am not sure they have ever mentioned it. I have kids from rec to top academy teams in the club.

One of my kids was unknown, made lower team during an id session after playing rec in a different club.

They have moved up teams and played most of each game the past two years. I credit two things. One, they are pretty good. Two, and way more important, they listen at practice and try hard. At u9-u12 a lot of the distinction is just which kids are there to practice vs hang with friends and goof off.

I am not saying the experience of others didn’t happen or that there isn’t any of the pay for play stuff happening, but it isn’t as pervasive as some posters would make it seem. And being in ASA and having friends at other clubs, I hardly think ASA is some locus of more bad behavior than other places.

ASA working hard to defend their name this morning.

I just posted my experience (from actually reality) in reply to a lot of keyboard warriors throwing accusations around with nothing but ‘trust me, bro.’

I don’t think I am working that hard.

If you are convinced kids are getting better opportunities than your kid because their parents paid a coach, that sucks. It sucks if it is true. It also sucks, albeit for different reasons, if it isn’t.

[Anonymous]

I heard this happens in the top clubs in the area, they call it sponsoring $$ the coach, and it’s disgusting. The more I learn about academy soccer in the US, the more I get disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard this happens in the top clubs in the area, they call it sponsoring $$ the coach, and it’s disgusting. The more I learn about academy soccer in the US, the more I get disappointed.

There is so much bias and favoritism on the girls side. I watched parents work every angle at the club with coaches and board members. It's more than just money. Their daughters got picked for every opportunity with US soccer, adidas, extra training...had no business being there. Meanwhile, the majority were not even starter level on the club team. All the parents cared about was getting them recruited at a "great" college. Top D1 or bust and nothing was going to stop them. Gross to watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard this happens in the top clubs in the area, they call it sponsoring $$ the coach, and it’s disgusting. The more I learn about academy soccer in the US, the more I get disappointed.

Am I to assume you've not worked at a company with more than 1000 employees? What our young kids are experiencing at soccer clubs reflects their adult working career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard this happens in the top clubs in the area, they call it sponsoring $$ the coach, and it’s disgusting. The more I learn about academy soccer in the US, the more I get disappointed.

Am I to assume you've not worked at a company with more than 1000 employees? What our young kids are experiencing at soccer clubs reflects their adult working career.

Says the parent forking over $$$ for play time.

[Anonymous]

Confirmed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any club that has a chairty auction & Or allows coaches to private train kids on the roster is in the hard core pay to play biz.

FACT.

You can believe that if it makes you feel better, but truly this isn't happening far and wide.

Yes, it is.

[Anonymous]

It's not a fact that parents pay off coaches. It is a fact that parents with under-performing kids who ride the bench or get cut like to spread lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:400-1000 per month for mins in games is common at top clubs on west coast.

It’s F in gross.

I was pretty shocked when chatting with a west coast parent and they asked what I pay in 'coach fees' per month... I was stumped (as parent and longtime coach), and told him I had never heard of the concept. He said it is how all of the coaches/clubs in his areas operate, you pay the club a standard fee (for the year) and then pay monthly fees to a coach... Pretty wild if you ask me.

Typing this from Socal...

At the younger ages the way it goes is most top coaches from top clubs run private training sessions which happen outside of regular practices. The cost is $100 to $200 per hour and can be 1-3 players. This is how players from other clubs get on the teams. To directly pay what you do is schedule a private training session + pay for it, then they day before say you can't attend but tell the coach to keep the money. Before and after the private sessions parents buddy up with the coach.

I've also seen parents give coaches rounds of golf at private clubs + they go with them and chat the entire time. This puts the coach in a position where they feel obligated to play money bags kid.

Another common way parents control the team is 4-5 of them group up on decisions then call for a vote. These groups also try to go to other clubs as a package deal. If they can get enough top players in the group any coach will take them.

I'm sure there's more ways to pay coaches but I don't care anymore. Once you get to u14 top players will make themselves known independent of all the parent and coach nonsense.

Don’t forget the mediocre kid on an academy level team has a parent as the team manager.

Yes, but that is 100% opposite of paying the coaches. I am a TM, I work my but off for the parents, kids and club for free, that is not the same as paying money to the coach. Hell, on top of that, I have to cover for the parents who don't pay for their tournament fees on time or some times at all. And as far as my kid goes, being TM had zero influence of the coach on my kid...infact, I kinds think the coach doesn't like my kid. Parents, for some reason, seem to get jealous of the TM because they think we have some kind of insider take on coaching decisions... news flash, we are kept in the dark just like everyone else. If I want my kid to move up, looks like I'll have to standing in line with everyone else and pay for private training too!

Please. I know TM’s that spill the tea.

Our TM is nosey and wants to know everyone's business. She LOVES being the TM and loves having first hand access to the coach. Her son also plays every game and plays the whole game.

Sounds like some dads at Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:…for top team selection and/or preferential treatment? It seems to be the only thing that makes sense with some of the u9-u12 teams my DC has played for over the years. Its obvious to all the other parents that a kid should not be on a team or get reasonable minutes, so one conclusion could be that parents are paying on the side? Is this a thing?

99.9% of the time the answer to your question is NO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:…for top team selection and/or preferential treatment? It seems to be the only thing that makes sense with some of the u9-u12 teams my DC has played for over the years. Its obvious to all the other parents that a kid should not be on a team or get reasonable minutes, so one conclusion could be that parents are paying on the side? Is this a thing?

Whats the going rate?