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Beyond necessary. DMV area was so concentrated with clubs. Clubs from Dallas, LA, and NY to name a few have fewer clubs that our area did. Working well for VDA, others followed. Clubs get more players, higher quality, better training in long run. There is no con to any of this for the players and clubs.
novalegendary16 wrote:Burtlecut wrote:soccer_dc wrote:Pepe wrote:If you don't wanna win or go to college, fine. But lots do. They are coaching kids and as long as they aren't derogatory, they are fine to yell all day. These are simple coaches who have bad days, good days, relationship troubles, and have favorites. You also don't know how your kid isn't listening or paying attention to drills... maybe they aren't all you think they are.
All the coaches do their best and while you want more, you have what you have. Don't like ECNL competitiveness? Go play rec.
You really want them to "care"? Care how? Stop watching movies and expecting some Coach Carter bs. Never seen such beta crybaby attitude. You clearly never played sports growing up.
That’s a pretty outdated attitude. Just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean it’s right. We can do better for our kids. It is possible to be ultra competitive and demand excellence without crossing into verbal abuse. Plenty of examples of good coaches like this in sports.
It’s not easy to change attitudes but it does happen over time. It used to be acceptable for teachers to hit kids in schools. Most of society in this country decided they didn’t want that anymore. There will always be some who don’t like change, especially those who were at the top and feel threatened.
It's folks like you that can't stand the old way and cope with it by saying, "it doesn't have to be that way". I disagree and damn glad kids get some hard nose direction from adults. Go watch news and see what happens to kids without direction. Don't blame the coaches because you're a soft parent.
this is an interesting thread. sad to see folks like you unable to grasp how much useful, scientific information there is out there to prove your outdated views don't hold up anymore. There are better ways and we have learned this and we need to teach coaches and we all must learn better methods. just my opinion.
Well, we all eagerly await your "scientific" studies on this. I'm sure they are of the highest regard and without question, we must never, ever deny the scientists. Please, I'm VERY interested in alllllllll the studies you have for us. Nothing says case closed to argument than, "well, studies say..." FFS. Just say your scared of yelling and you want your snowflake sheltered. Heaven help the darling if they don't get what they want in a nice tone.
If you don't wanna win or go to college, fine. But lots do. They are coaching kids and as long as they aren't derogatory, they are fine to yell all day. These are simple coaches who have bad days, good days, relationship troubles, and have favorites. You also don't know how your kid isn't listening or paying attention to drills... maybe they aren't all you think they are.
All the coaches do their best and while you want more, you have what you have. Don't like ECNL competitiveness? Go play rec.
You really want them to "care"? Care how? Stop watching movies and expecting some Coach Carter bs. Never seen such beta crybaby attitude. You clearly never played sports growing up.
All the coaches do their best and while you want more, you have what you have. Don't like ECNL competitiveness? Go play rec.
You really want them to "care"? Care how? Stop watching movies and expecting some Coach Carter bs. Never seen such beta crybaby attitude. You clearly never played sports growing up.
soccerx3kidsss wrote:This thread and subject topic went on a bit of a tangent focusing on Div 1 and scholarship being the holy grail and which club has the best record for placing players in college…yawn. That doesn’t impress me. Why you ask? Because that has nothing to do with being a good coach. If you think it does then stop reading now.
Players NEVER stop developing. So any coach who isn't thinking about making their players 1% better every time they are with them should not be on the field. A coach's job is to help develop players into the best they can be. Technical, tactical, physical, mental, soccer IQ, etc...the list goes on. I have not yet laid my eyes on a coach who impresses me in this area and it's a shame to see what being a professional soccer coach has turned into. Seems like anyone can be a professional coach and there are no standards that need to be met anymore. Who are the coaches that kids want to play for with a exceptional reputation! I need better odds than “love them or hate them”. I want better odds than 50/50 all the time. Everywhere I turn I find dud after dud "professional coach" who thinks showing up and doing the same session every week while sitting in a chair is enough. If a player has the support they need to develop + they are passionate about playing college and your top level coach works their contacts for you then that is just a bonus.
I want to keep the focus on the best coaches at the ECNL and GA level in this area. and what truly makes them the best in this area.
Coaches can boast about their rolodex of contacts, but that doesn't make them a good coach. We have a problem with quality coaches in this country! It's a serious problem and In the US anyone can be a professional soccer coach. No questions asked. I am seeing worse and worse coaches on the sidelines every year. Clubs are evaluating them properly. They continue to keep their job no matter what they do or don't do.
Hence the question…BEST COACHES…NOT THE BEST HEAD HUNTERS and YELLERS. Let's drop some names!!!
A quick Google search helped me find top qualities good coaches possess are:
Organized (Can create dynamic session plans and not perform the same session plan week to week)
Good Communicator
Punctual
Committed
Passionate
Trustworthy
Disciplined
Self aware
Empathic
Motivational
Positive
Knowledge of the game (Technical and Tactical)
Excels at player management
Caring and Patient
Spends extra time and makes themselves available to players
Knows how to create a positive team culture
Knows how to talk to their players and push them to get the most out of them during practices and games
Can share their experiences.
Has played the game at a high level or studied the game at a high level.
Has a background in teaching or is constantly willing to learn and grow
Has strong relationships with past players
Is a Leader
Performs proper player evaluations
JFC. This is the most bullcrap I've seen on DCUM in a long time. Please never copy paste something you Googled. FFS... it IS about getting into college for a lot of folks here. If you DD or DS loves the game, super. A great coach at most ECNL/GA high levels need a coach who can win with the talent he has. Make adjustments. Be committed to the girls. "push them to get the most out of them". I vomited. I promise you, when 16 year olds are 1-9 and losing by 4 each game, they give an F about you 'pushing them'. Good lawd, you still have time to delete your post.
LedTasso wrote:Coach recommendations. Usually only get one opportunity.
Thanks. I figured as much, but didn't know if colleges request certain players to get into the biggest game.
Anyone know how they pick girls for the national selection game? I see some girls we've played against on the Phoenix NSG teams that raise and eyebrow.
Obviously everyone still must "develop". Even pros still practice and get better... but it's not the supreme goal of a ECNL U16+ coach. These girls are being scouted and competing at the USYNT level! When they see issues, they address them, but we need a coach to coach to win (mostly). Girls are learning nuances for extreme talent, not developing skills they don't already know very well.
I think the difference is developing seems to mean early years vice later. No one stops learning and growing, but certainly done developing.
I think the difference is developing seems to mean early years vice later. No one stops learning and growing, but certainly done developing.
VDA 2024s (06 team) have had three D1 commitments already: NC State, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech.
There are 60-80 (maybe more) scouts at games. Yes, 2006s play very elite teams, so they are there to watch both. Unsure if coaches do a ton, but have schools attend practices regularly and get girls to e-mail colleges often. Winning is the best recipe for 'what can a club do'.
There are 60-80 (maybe more) scouts at games. Yes, 2006s play very elite teams, so they are there to watch both. Unsure if coaches do a ton, but have schools attend practices regularly and get girls to e-mail colleges often. Winning is the best recipe for 'what can a club do'.
novasoccer15324 wrote:
I won't name names but if you take some of the more successful coaches on this list by measurement of trophies they have won, and you put them with developing players, most of them would struggle. On this list you're going to run into coaches who do not know how to develop players, only know how to crack the whip on them and motivate them to play harder and be more competitive players, but not actually develop them more. That is why they don't work with younger age groups and they don't work with developmental players, only players who have already made it to a very high level. This masks their lack of coaching ability.
How does this relate to college coaches then? Aren't high-level/high-performing teams essentially college-lite teams? I'd argue they are and for our team who have top tier players and those who make ENCL national selection games, they are college players just waiting until they graduate. Never mind the fact some are already verbally committed to D1s. Very little to develop when they are top U17 talent other than now it's about how you USE the players in situations and counter opposing teams formations and style of play. Now they are coaching, not developing... two totally different mindsets.
VDA has great cast and since the last few years turnover, every girls age group is top 3 in their MA league. If you can make the drive west of the DMV, then I'd look there.
Blutarski wrote:Having been through it, I don't think there is anything we did in club soccer that matched winning a state HS championship. And obviously it wasn't the quality of the soccer, it was the quality of the experience of doing it with her friends, for her school. For kids playing ECNL, state championships aren't even in play, but I would put the HS championship above a champions league win in ECNL as well.
Asked my DD this question and ECNL championship was beyond a doubt #1. HS is just something to do between end of ECNL season and ECNL playoffs. Yep, they play with friends, but again, it's about 1 level above playing in the park with friends, but you get refs. Playing in front of 80+ college coaches/scouts at every ECNL showcase/playoff game is much more exciting. Winning vs another highly 'ranked' club, also way more rewarding. Most of our excellent club girls don't play high school because unfortunately their HS is so bad, they'll end up being the runaway star and likely hurt themselves. HS is very "FUN", but competative, not even close. If DII-DI college is your bet, ECNL will provide you with a much better path than just HS.
To the question though: HS over state cup (which is not ECNL). It could be said if you have all your friends on the club team, then state cup would do the trick, but HS is just fun fun fun.
soccer197 wrote:Looks like the youth soccer games site has added rankings now. https://youthsoccergames.com
Site is woefully poor. Some teams have like 20 games, other 6. There's no rhyme or reason to why games are registered, but mostly because the site can't scrape ECNL well. Oh well
Blutarski wrote:Anecdotally, U17 recruiting seems to be on track with most ECNL teams having at least a handful of commits already. Hopefully your daughter's recruiting drive includes more than college questionnaires. Unless you're a top 100 player, the passive approach likely won't get it done. She really needs to have an active email campaign at a minimum advertising her presence at showcase X. Coaches are unlikely to scout a player without knowing the player has interest in advance. ID camps may or may not make sense as well.
Oh, the questionnaires was just what we were doing today. I guess it was on the mind. We e-mail a LOT and use SportsRecruits as it's very easy. Just put in college/uni and the coaches pop right up. Been to ID camps, but regional, nothing too far. We just hear how some uni's were very active before and then when the time came, ghosted some girls. We have till next June before she can enter into real dialog, but I like to see the process from all over. Seems straight forward really, you get out what you put in and yes, passively wishing for a coach to spontaneously find you so awesome they come to you is probably rare. She's pretty amped for showcases and I must say, thinking back a few years ago, a lot on this site poo-pooed showcases, but dang... SO many colleges watch us. It feels like there's at least one in there
For the U17 girls crowd, how's recruitment been? My DD is entering into the 'big year' this year and have had some girls on her team commit to D1s already. We are filling out questionnaires on college websites, because, why not? Takes a few mins and somehow I feel that lets at least someone know you're interesting rather than hoping one of the 80 odd scouts at games likes you enough to reach out. Every little helps. We have lots of games at showcases this year prior to playoffs in SD, but can't help it's all so final. Years of prepping for this year where it's at least possible to get picked up (next summer of course).
Any 2024/2025 grad year folks stuck in a rut waiting or are we mostly visiting colleges who are interested? Lots of talent in this region, can only imaging it's a D1 haven.
Any 2024/2025 grad year folks stuck in a rut waiting or are we mostly visiting colleges who are interested? Lots of talent in this region, can only imaging it's a D1 haven.
Lasso_FC_Girls wrote:Go ahead and search for Soccer Ranking on your mobile device. Scroll till you see an avatar with a standard soccer ball. The app is literally just called Soccer Rankings and the developer is Mark Lewis. Hope this helps!
Yeah, thanks!