Coach vs Club in player development

[Anonymous]

So, I have seen this mentioned on here to choose a good coach and don’t worry about the club. I am curious what most people think about that statement. How do you tell if there is a “good” coach in a “bad” club? Does the club have any kind of development plan matter? Can they show the parents what it is? If not, should the coach at least have a development plan or should they just use their “gut” to lead the way? Does licensing matter with coaching? I’ve seen comments stating they do and others that it doesn’t matter at all. Should you go by experience? How many years have they been coaching and at what levels?

I think this is why parents go with club recognition as way to choose the club. It is hard to know what to look for, and by the time you figure it out, it may be too late. So, at least with a big club or a club with a reputation, you have an idea that they are at least using some kind of designed development plan to keep the reputation. If you are just picking a coach, however you found them, you have no way of knowing if they have a plan or if they are making it up as they go.

[Anonymous]

All of these clubs are making it up as they go along, and their development plan is “win”, grow the customer base and make more $.

[Anonymous]

yes, there are good individual coaches in smaller or medium sized clubs that aren't considered top level clubs in the area.

Have a conversation with the coach, get an idea of their philosophy and how they develop players. Attend a practice and talk to other parents. You will get an idea if the coach is winging it or if they are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I have seen this mentioned on here to choose a good coach and don’t worry about the club. I am curious what most people think about that statement. How do you tell if there is a “good” coach in a “bad” club? Does the club have any kind of development plan matter? Can they show the parents what it is? If not, should the coach at least have a development plan or should they just use their “gut” to lead the way? Does licensing matter with coaching? I’ve seen comments stating they do and others that it doesn’t matter at all. Should you go by experience? How many years have they been coaching and at what levels?

I think this is why parents go with club recognition as way to choose the club. It is hard to know what to look for, and by the time you figure it out, it may be too late. So, at least with a big club or a club with a reputation, you have an idea that they are at least using some kind of designed development plan to keep the reputation. If you are just picking a coach, however you found them, you have no way of knowing if they have a plan or if they are making it up as they go.

Just because there is a development plan/approach doesn’t mean that approach is appropriate, proven or even recognized. Many clubs around here try to sell a style or approach as the reason to join the club. Most “our club plays style X” is just some BS that club staff thinks is good or that may be all they know. US Soccer, through its licensing courses, teaches a very thorough Development approach and style. Any coach who has progressed through these classes should be knowledgeable of this approach. With a little googling, parents can also find out a lot about this approach and compare it to what they see at practices. A good coach in a bad club ( one that forces a specific style) is not a great choice. A bad coach in a good club is a worse choice. A good coach in a large club or in a club not pushing a style is a workable choice. If you see 9 and 10 year olds doing half a practice of pattern play - run....

[Anonymous]

so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

If all they are teaching is one style and not the whole game - yes.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing you have a young child. Good luck navigating all of this mess. It can be exhausting and a lot of times very disappointing. My advice for a the young is to try to stay as close to home as possible. No need to travel when all the young kids need are technical skills and small sided play. Find a knowledgeable parent that you trust and find a good coach. What is a "good coach" for young kids...to me, it's someone that inspires a kid to work on their own. One that instills a dream. One that provides an environment where mistakes are not only OK but expected. One that trains the growth mindset. The club or the league doesn't have anything to do with this stuff at the younger ages. As you kid gets older, take him to lots of tryouts, so he (and you) can see other players and coaches. Take him to the DCU ID sessions, ECNL team tryouts, any tryouts. Every year do this. When your kid gets to U12, I'd say is when tactics become more important. You need to find a team that plays good soccer on a team where your kid adds value. where he isn't the best kid, not the worst, he gets a lot of playing time, and he plays a position he wants to play. Again, club and league doesn't matter. When your kid kids to U15 I'd say is when you need to start looking for a team that plays in showcases if playing at the next level is important. This is when club and league often matters.


Again, good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing you have a young child. Good luck navigating all of this mess. It can be exhausting and a lot of times very disappointing. My advice for a the young is to try to stay as close to home as possible. No need to travel when all the young kids need are technical skills and small sided play. Find a knowledgeable parent that you trust and find a good coach. What is a "good coach" for young kids...to me, it's someone that inspires a kid to work on their own. One that instills a dream. One that provides an environment where mistakes are not only OK but expected. One that trains the growth mindset. The club or the league doesn't have anything to do with this stuff at the younger ages. As you kid gets older, take him to lots of tryouts, so he (and you) can see other players and coaches. Take him to the DCU ID sessions, ECNL team tryouts, any tryouts. Every year do this. When your kid gets to U12, I'd say is when tactics become more important. You need to find a team that plays good soccer on a team where your kid adds value. where he isn't the best kid, not the worst, he gets a lot of playing time, and he plays a position he wants to play. Again, club and league doesn't matter. When your kid kids to U15 I'd say is when you need to start looking for a team that plays in showcases if playing at the next level is important. This is when club and league often matters.


Again, good luck

Oh...more of the coach...I haven't found that licenses mean anything at all. They don't help them connect with kids and that's what is important. There are great coaches with no licenses and great coaches with licenses. remember coaches are teachers. Does coming from Harvard make a great teacher? No. It's the person ultimately. So there is plenty of time to find a coach if your kid is young. Watch the coaches on the other team? How do they treat their players? How do the players respond? Talk to other parents? Know what your kid responds well too. Ask other coaches if you can bring your kid to a session now and then. Stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

If you have a good coach in a poorly ran club, the coach will eventually leave the club (and so should your DC).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a good coach in a poorly ran club, the coach will eventually leave the club (and so should your DC).

Yes, I posted the two replies above and I agree with this post. Don't worry about being loyal to a club. They DO NOT care about your child. They do NOT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

If all they are teaching is one style and not the whole game - yes.

Because you feel kids can learn the whole game in 3 Ninety minute sessions per week with 18+ other kids their age all of various skill, interest and capability. So a club is bad because they break the game down into manageable bite size curriculum and you see this as bad.

My guess is you are the same parent that complains about US Soccer and has all the solutions but each day you get up and go to your office job pushing paper and taking long lunch breaks

We definitely dont agree my friend. These are not future pro's we are talking about. They are 10, 11, 12 ... years olds with only limited capacity to learn a complex game. Give them two maybe three sessions a week and they are only scratching the surface. But we can blame it on the club and say a good coach would get more out of them. Where are all these great coaches ?

[Anonymous]

my kids both have the same good coach at a small club. The coach has a very high level license, has a great demeanor, and you can see the kids developing and beating what should be better competition. We also have players leave and go to top teams at better regarded clubs. I know other parents with other coaches at the same club who don't have great outcomes, so it really is coach dependent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

If all they are teaching is one style and not the whole game - yes.

Because you feel kids can learn the whole game in 3 Ninety minute sessions per week with 18+ other kids their age all of various skill, interest and capability. So a club is bad because they break the game down into manageable bite size curriculum and you see this as bad.

My guess is you are the same parent that complains about US Soccer and has all the solutions but each day you get up and go to your office job pushing paper and taking long lunch breaks

We definitely dont agree my friend. These are not future pro's we are talking about. They are 10, 11, 12 ... years olds with only limited capacity to learn a complex game. Give them two maybe three sessions a week and they are only scratching the surface. But we can blame it on the club and say a good coach would get more out of them. Where are all these great coaches ?

People that can't explain complex things simply will definitely struggle. Now, if you want your kid to play a certain style AND you have ambitions to player beyond high school, just make sure you find an environment that caters to the style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

it depends on the style. Coaching young kids to kick and run- which will win a lot of games at that age if you have a couple of fast strikers with reasonable ball skills isn't good for anyone. On the other hand, coaching possession take a while to click and may not get the results parents want right away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so let me understand, you opinion is a bad club typically has a curriculum or a style of play that they work toward teaching? is that what you are saying?

it depends on the style. Coaching young kids to kick and run- which will win a lot of games at that age if you have a couple of fast strikers with reasonable ball skills isn't good for anyone. On the other hand, coaching possession take a while to click and may not get the results parents want right away.

and if a player is a playmaker, he'll want to get the ball at his feet and run at the back line. by forcing a style of play, much like relying a style of play, you are stymieing the growth of the player. good coaches can connect with the player and maximize the game