Message
Playing time:
Generally, the club will set the guidelines for playing time, which are outlined in the Club Bylaws, especially for the younger ages. An example would be 50% for U9-U11, 25% for U12-U14, and no minimum for U15 and over. If the coach deviates from that in league games or anything outside of a tournament, it's a problem.
Bottom line is there must be a clearly communicated policy on playing time that everyone understands.
As the ages get older, the rosters get larger, and the games get more competitive, the coach will have more leeway to make more of a personal judgment about how many minutes each player receives.
I'm sure it happens a lot, but I've never been directly asked by a parent why their player isn't playing more. A coach should lay out the policy on playing time and make sure its clear to parents before the season starts. As long as the coach follows the plan, there should't be any issues.
More important than this is the coach's relationship with each set of parents. If the coach has a positive relationship with each set of parents and takes some time to speak/meet with each of them individually, parents will trust the coach's decisions more. If the coach does not take time to communicate with parents and just dictates things, they will feel like its a you vs. them thing rather than everyone being here for the same reason, which is to to create a good experience for the players.
If a parent were to ask me about their player's playing time, it means I have done something wrong already, either not communicated effectively or not followed a policy that was already laid out.
The best way to respond would be to just listen to what the parent has to say and then think on it before responding. It's a sensitive issue because playing time can be linked to just "how good" the coach thinks the player is, vs. "how good" the parents thing the player is, and all that. That's why player evaluations are also important.
If the parents have a copy of the player's evaluation, and they are ranked #18 out of 18 players in terms of their score, it should be understood why the player isn't playing more (and here are areas where the player can improve so they CAN get more playing time).
Generally, the club will set the guidelines for playing time, which are outlined in the Club Bylaws, especially for the younger ages. An example would be 50% for U9-U11, 25% for U12-U14, and no minimum for U15 and over. If the coach deviates from that in league games or anything outside of a tournament, it's a problem.
Bottom line is there must be a clearly communicated policy on playing time that everyone understands.
As the ages get older, the rosters get larger, and the games get more competitive, the coach will have more leeway to make more of a personal judgment about how many minutes each player receives.
I'm sure it happens a lot, but I've never been directly asked by a parent why their player isn't playing more. A coach should lay out the policy on playing time and make sure its clear to parents before the season starts. As long as the coach follows the plan, there should't be any issues.
More important than this is the coach's relationship with each set of parents. If the coach has a positive relationship with each set of parents and takes some time to speak/meet with each of them individually, parents will trust the coach's decisions more. If the coach does not take time to communicate with parents and just dictates things, they will feel like its a you vs. them thing rather than everyone being here for the same reason, which is to to create a good experience for the players.
If a parent were to ask me about their player's playing time, it means I have done something wrong already, either not communicated effectively or not followed a policy that was already laid out.
The best way to respond would be to just listen to what the parent has to say and then think on it before responding. It's a sensitive issue because playing time can be linked to just "how good" the coach thinks the player is, vs. "how good" the parents thing the player is, and all that. That's why player evaluations are also important.
If the parents have a copy of the player's evaluation, and they are ranked #18 out of 18 players in terms of their score, it should be understood why the player isn't playing more (and here are areas where the player can improve so they CAN get more playing time).
Yes, a few, all on the boys side
Yes, you can identify "elite" talent at an early age. Whether they realize that potential or not has a lot to do with if that player is in a program that looks after them, their family situation, if they have a coach that realizes they need special considerations, the laundry list list of Freddy Adu factors, and many other things.
One year I had a rising U9 boys program (about 110 players tried out, 3 teams were formed), and there were 2 players that were really at that level, (and 2 more that were borderline elite but not quite).
Those 2 players were very special even at 8 years old.
They were both from Hispanic backgrounds. One of them had never played any form of organized soccer before, and the other was playing up an age group in rec and was still outscoring everyone.
At the younger age groups, coaches are supposed to focus on teaching technique so the players can master the ball by U11/U12 and then you can start focusing on small group tactics. These 2 players already had that level of ball mastery at 8 and were years ahead...
Of course they were not "complete players" by any means but you could throw them out there and they could really play without any guidance. They were not physically faster than anyone else, but their speed of play and technique with the ball was very, very far ahead. It's almost like they didn't need any coaching on how to play... but with coaching, they got even better.
One of those two players (they must be U18/U19 or something like that by now) made the ODP Region 1 roster, and the other (the better of the two, actually) disappeared off the map for a while because the mother (single parent family) couldn't logistically bring him out to practice.. I just googled his name and he showed up last year on Potomac Soccer Wire on the "players who impressed" section.
I also assistant-coached a high school team with a 9th grader whose family had just moved from the Netherlands and was playing for the "C" level youth team at his age group for a club with a professional men's team in the Netherland's premier league. You just took one look and could tell that he didn't develop his game in the US... he could execute a lot of difficult skills under full pressure (first-time volleys, holding the ball while drawing in multiple defenders and very tricky/deceptive ball control, accurate one-touch shots and long-distance passes with odd surfaces of the foot (other than the laces/inside that we typically teach) that would bend in just the right way. He ended up playing at a D1 School in Virginia (not UVA), probably on some form of scholarship as I think he could have played at a higher D1 level.
One more that I had at U13 whose family was from Morocco where the player was already an "elite" player but in addition had gone through an early growth spurt so he had another advantage. That kid was a monster... just 2 full levels above everyone else on the team, and I had to adjust practice sessions to accommodate the fact that he would essentially "break" the drills. For example, in a 4 on 4 possession game, I would have to stack it as 5 v 3 and he would have to be one of the 3 just to make the drill work, or give him a touch limit of 1 or 2 touches. Otherwise, he would just break the exercise by dribbling circles around everyone. The other players on the team were good, but not great. He was 2 full levels of play above them. The family didn't know much about how soccer was organized here or what clubs are good, they just wanted him to play on a team. They moved to FL and not sure what happened to them.
Yes, you can identify "elite" talent at an early age. Whether they realize that potential or not has a lot to do with if that player is in a program that looks after them, their family situation, if they have a coach that realizes they need special considerations, the laundry list list of Freddy Adu factors, and many other things.
One year I had a rising U9 boys program (about 110 players tried out, 3 teams were formed), and there were 2 players that were really at that level, (and 2 more that were borderline elite but not quite).
Those 2 players were very special even at 8 years old.
They were both from Hispanic backgrounds. One of them had never played any form of organized soccer before, and the other was playing up an age group in rec and was still outscoring everyone.
At the younger age groups, coaches are supposed to focus on teaching technique so the players can master the ball by U11/U12 and then you can start focusing on small group tactics. These 2 players already had that level of ball mastery at 8 and were years ahead...
Of course they were not "complete players" by any means but you could throw them out there and they could really play without any guidance. They were not physically faster than anyone else, but their speed of play and technique with the ball was very, very far ahead. It's almost like they didn't need any coaching on how to play... but with coaching, they got even better.
One of those two players (they must be U18/U19 or something like that by now) made the ODP Region 1 roster, and the other (the better of the two, actually) disappeared off the map for a while because the mother (single parent family) couldn't logistically bring him out to practice.. I just googled his name and he showed up last year on Potomac Soccer Wire on the "players who impressed" section.
I also assistant-coached a high school team with a 9th grader whose family had just moved from the Netherlands and was playing for the "C" level youth team at his age group for a club with a professional men's team in the Netherland's premier league. You just took one look and could tell that he didn't develop his game in the US... he could execute a lot of difficult skills under full pressure (first-time volleys, holding the ball while drawing in multiple defenders and very tricky/deceptive ball control, accurate one-touch shots and long-distance passes with odd surfaces of the foot (other than the laces/inside that we typically teach) that would bend in just the right way. He ended up playing at a D1 School in Virginia (not UVA), probably on some form of scholarship as I think he could have played at a higher D1 level.
One more that I had at U13 whose family was from Morocco where the player was already an "elite" player but in addition had gone through an early growth spurt so he had another advantage. That kid was a monster... just 2 full levels above everyone else on the team, and I had to adjust practice sessions to accommodate the fact that he would essentially "break" the drills. For example, in a 4 on 4 possession game, I would have to stack it as 5 v 3 and he would have to be one of the 3 just to make the drill work, or give him a touch limit of 1 or 2 touches. Otherwise, he would just break the exercise by dribbling circles around everyone. The other players on the team were good, but not great. He was 2 full levels of play above them. The family didn't know much about how soccer was organized here or what clubs are good, they just wanted him to play on a team. They moved to FL and not sure what happened to them.
Soccer forums - somehow I stumbled upon this forum this fall and I found it interesting because its the only one I know of with people actively posting about the DC scene.
I read Potomac Soccer Wire and occasionally Soccer american articles, the comments are really interesting in SA and people usually identify themselves by name when commenting, sometimes there is very intelligent commentary.
I read Potomac Soccer Wire and occasionally Soccer american articles, the comments are really interesting in SA and people usually identify themselves by name when commenting, sometimes there is very intelligent commentary.
Coaching since 2002
USSF B, NSCAA Premier
I have coached for 3 clubs in northern virginia, (one large, one medium-sized, and one smaller one)
Have not coached in a DA or a CCL team (or what was formerly WAGS), I have coached only NCSL.
Relationships with parents - a coach should not be going there, period. I have never witnessed it happening, and only heard one story of it actually happening, and it resulted in a complete disaster. That's kind of like watching American Dad and thinking that's a normal life for someone working for the government.
Benching a kid - There is only one situation I can think of where it's appropriate NOT to play a kid the whole game in youth soccer:
Your team is playing in a "scrimmage day" or preseason tournament where you have multiple (but shorter) games and a large roster. In certain cases, it would be OK to let a player know ahead of time that he/she won't be playing in that game, but you HAVE to make up for it by giving them double time in another game that same day. Any other circumstance besides a preseason tourney, scrimmage day, or something like that, I would say treating your players that way reflects poorly on the coach.
Development Academy - I don't have as much experience with DAs, but It would recommend it for two types of players to start out with:
1) The truly, truly elite player whose development will slow simply by NOT being in a DA environment
2) The player that wants to be the best he can possibly be no matter what... a player who is #20 on a roster of 20 players will improve more by training day in and day out with 19 players that are better than him rather than being the #1 player on the next level down and even getting significant playing time. If a player is mentally tough and can deal with that, it is the right environment. If not, its the wrong environment
CCL Next Gen
CL Next Gen is a progressive, forward-thinking, high quality, localized league system
specifically designed for the next generation of youth soccer players.
(every league claims this)
CCL Next Gen inspires and unites top clubs
to pursue youth soccer player development as it was meant to be: for the player.
(every league claims this)
Beginning Fall 2017, Next Gen will offer CCL clubs and non-CCL clubs participation in a high quality, developmentally appropriate, localized league(s) format.
(it should read "WILL DO OUR BEST TO...")
Next Gen is about giving the game back to younger players and focuses solely on the long term development of the athlete and club. Next Gen is not focused on wins/losses, standings, or a promotion/relegation model. It is club-centric, not team or coach-centric. And, importantly, Next Gen eliminates unnecessary long distance travel for young players, keeping players on the field more, and in the car less.
(NCSL doesn't promote/relegate at U9-U12 either, tries to minimize travel distances, so is there any difference?)
Next Gen gives the game back to the player through its “Power to the Player” methodology. This proven methodology affords youth players:
(what is this "power to the player" methodology??)
Specifically targets the 12U, 11U, 10U, 9U age groups
(so, it conveniently targets the age groups that NCSL doesn't promote/relegate)
Less travel, more minutes on the field
(how are there more minutes on the field... are the games longer?)
Emphasis on greater training and more meaningful matches
(Isn't training determined by the coach during the week? Meaningful matches just means TRYING to minimize mis-matched teams. You simply can't prevent it 100% of the time)
Competitive play that allows for creativity, skill building, and the thrill of risk-taking
(how do the habits that a coach encourages players to have in practices over a period of years have anything to do with league administration?)
Improved training and game environment to enhance player and coach development
(training environment is all based on the coach)
Greater individual player oversight and collaboration (with top coaches)
Does this mean that the well-known coaches at CCL clubs that have provided endorsements are going to meet around a table and discuss what they think is best?
That's fine, but really does it make any difference just by their names being on something and they brought CCL Next Gen up at a meeting?
can you give an example of what type of oversight and collaboration? does that mean the coaches chat before the game and agree to put even matchups on the field, or what?)
A long term approach to athlete development and overall success
(please find a league that doesn't claim this to be true)
Maximum roster flexibility
(if you don't need player cards and all the administrative hoopla just to play a game, I can see that as making someone's life slightly easier... but you do need them for risk management reasons)
20 years of proven CCL small-sided success, and consistency with the US Soccer Player Development Initiatives
(having a track record is good actually)
Next Gen also provides club-wide advantages. CCL’s club-centric model offers top clubs the opportunity to travel or host matches together, at one site. The goal is to help clubs grow and build from within. Club Technical Directors, Directors of Coaching and/or Age Group Directors can immerse themselves into the game day experience of their younger players and coaches on the same day, and at one site. Coaches with more than one team will have schedules deconflicted, offering more time to spend with their club’s next generation of players. No more travelling to multiple sites for matches. And finally, parents, families and fans will be able to carpool, share resources, and be at one site to help cheer on their club!
(define "top club". If my club applied to CCL Next Gen and we didn't fit the definition of a "top club", would we be refused if we showed up with the membership fee?)
(I can see how its more efficient to have every team in the same club on the same day. I don't think anyone can argue against that).
So here's my analysis:
CCL is a business. It is in the business of structuring a highly competitive soccer league. Its competitive advantage is that it attracts some of the best performing teams, players, and clubs in the region.
It appears that CCL wants to expand. However, it cannot just open the doors to every club in the area, otherwise it will dilute the perceived quality of the CCL. The best way to expand is to open it up at the younger age groups, and then once clubs are comfortable with the setup after a few years, pick the ones that have provided the best quality and level of competition and invite them to the CCL for the older age groups.
What they are trying to do is explain how CCL next gen is different/better from NCSL. The only difference I can see is that NCSL has a lot of administrative rules that if not followed to a T, penalize a team or club. CCL next gen is trying to say if you sign your club up with us, we won't overburden you with administrative work and will try to make your lives easier.
******note that it does NOT say that if your club signs up, you get to play games against current CCL member clubs and their teams***
This is marketed towards club technical directors, and these are decisions that those folks have to make. TD's are generally overloaded, stretched too thin, have fires to put out within their clubs, so anything that makes their lives easier is welcome. It also looks good on paper... hey, our teams are playing CCL now (even though "CCL" competition is all former NCSL teams, and the same ones you played last year since there is no pro/rel at the younger ages).
So basically CCL is going to try to slowly have the "top" clubs in NCSL move towards them at the younger ages, and then when they get to U13 I doubt they will tell all of them to go back to NCSL, which doesn't have the "Power to the Player" methodology of course. The ones that have sent competitive teams could be invited to stay for U13 and beyond with CCL.
USSF B, NSCAA Premier
I have coached for 3 clubs in northern virginia, (one large, one medium-sized, and one smaller one)
Have not coached in a DA or a CCL team (or what was formerly WAGS), I have coached only NCSL.
Relationships with parents - a coach should not be going there, period. I have never witnessed it happening, and only heard one story of it actually happening, and it resulted in a complete disaster. That's kind of like watching American Dad and thinking that's a normal life for someone working for the government.
Benching a kid - There is only one situation I can think of where it's appropriate NOT to play a kid the whole game in youth soccer:
Your team is playing in a "scrimmage day" or preseason tournament where you have multiple (but shorter) games and a large roster. In certain cases, it would be OK to let a player know ahead of time that he/she won't be playing in that game, but you HAVE to make up for it by giving them double time in another game that same day. Any other circumstance besides a preseason tourney, scrimmage day, or something like that, I would say treating your players that way reflects poorly on the coach.
Development Academy - I don't have as much experience with DAs, but It would recommend it for two types of players to start out with:
1) The truly, truly elite player whose development will slow simply by NOT being in a DA environment
2) The player that wants to be the best he can possibly be no matter what... a player who is #20 on a roster of 20 players will improve more by training day in and day out with 19 players that are better than him rather than being the #1 player on the next level down and even getting significant playing time. If a player is mentally tough and can deal with that, it is the right environment. If not, its the wrong environment
CCL Next Gen
CL Next Gen is a progressive, forward-thinking, high quality, localized league system
specifically designed for the next generation of youth soccer players.
(every league claims this)
CCL Next Gen inspires and unites top clubs
to pursue youth soccer player development as it was meant to be: for the player.
(every league claims this)
Beginning Fall 2017, Next Gen will offer CCL clubs and non-CCL clubs participation in a high quality, developmentally appropriate, localized league(s) format.
(it should read "WILL DO OUR BEST TO...")
Next Gen is about giving the game back to younger players and focuses solely on the long term development of the athlete and club. Next Gen is not focused on wins/losses, standings, or a promotion/relegation model. It is club-centric, not team or coach-centric. And, importantly, Next Gen eliminates unnecessary long distance travel for young players, keeping players on the field more, and in the car less.
(NCSL doesn't promote/relegate at U9-U12 either, tries to minimize travel distances, so is there any difference?)
Next Gen gives the game back to the player through its “Power to the Player” methodology. This proven methodology affords youth players:
(what is this "power to the player" methodology??)
Specifically targets the 12U, 11U, 10U, 9U age groups
(so, it conveniently targets the age groups that NCSL doesn't promote/relegate)
Less travel, more minutes on the field
(how are there more minutes on the field... are the games longer?)
Emphasis on greater training and more meaningful matches
(Isn't training determined by the coach during the week? Meaningful matches just means TRYING to minimize mis-matched teams. You simply can't prevent it 100% of the time)
Competitive play that allows for creativity, skill building, and the thrill of risk-taking
(how do the habits that a coach encourages players to have in practices over a period of years have anything to do with league administration?)
Improved training and game environment to enhance player and coach development
(training environment is all based on the coach)
Greater individual player oversight and collaboration (with top coaches)
Does this mean that the well-known coaches at CCL clubs that have provided endorsements are going to meet around a table and discuss what they think is best?
That's fine, but really does it make any difference just by their names being on something and they brought CCL Next Gen up at a meeting?
can you give an example of what type of oversight and collaboration? does that mean the coaches chat before the game and agree to put even matchups on the field, or what?)
A long term approach to athlete development and overall success
(please find a league that doesn't claim this to be true)
Maximum roster flexibility
(if you don't need player cards and all the administrative hoopla just to play a game, I can see that as making someone's life slightly easier... but you do need them for risk management reasons)
20 years of proven CCL small-sided success, and consistency with the US Soccer Player Development Initiatives
(having a track record is good actually)
Next Gen also provides club-wide advantages. CCL’s club-centric model offers top clubs the opportunity to travel or host matches together, at one site. The goal is to help clubs grow and build from within. Club Technical Directors, Directors of Coaching and/or Age Group Directors can immerse themselves into the game day experience of their younger players and coaches on the same day, and at one site. Coaches with more than one team will have schedules deconflicted, offering more time to spend with their club’s next generation of players. No more travelling to multiple sites for matches. And finally, parents, families and fans will be able to carpool, share resources, and be at one site to help cheer on their club!
(define "top club". If my club applied to CCL Next Gen and we didn't fit the definition of a "top club", would we be refused if we showed up with the membership fee?)
(I can see how its more efficient to have every team in the same club on the same day. I don't think anyone can argue against that).
So here's my analysis:
CCL is a business. It is in the business of structuring a highly competitive soccer league. Its competitive advantage is that it attracts some of the best performing teams, players, and clubs in the region.
It appears that CCL wants to expand. However, it cannot just open the doors to every club in the area, otherwise it will dilute the perceived quality of the CCL. The best way to expand is to open it up at the younger age groups, and then once clubs are comfortable with the setup after a few years, pick the ones that have provided the best quality and level of competition and invite them to the CCL for the older age groups.
What they are trying to do is explain how CCL next gen is different/better from NCSL. The only difference I can see is that NCSL has a lot of administrative rules that if not followed to a T, penalize a team or club. CCL next gen is trying to say if you sign your club up with us, we won't overburden you with administrative work and will try to make your lives easier.
******note that it does NOT say that if your club signs up, you get to play games against current CCL member clubs and their teams***
This is marketed towards club technical directors, and these are decisions that those folks have to make. TD's are generally overloaded, stretched too thin, have fires to put out within their clubs, so anything that makes their lives easier is welcome. It also looks good on paper... hey, our teams are playing CCL now (even though "CCL" competition is all former NCSL teams, and the same ones you played last year since there is no pro/rel at the younger ages).
So basically CCL is going to try to slowly have the "top" clubs in NCSL move towards them at the younger ages, and then when they get to U13 I doubt they will tell all of them to go back to NCSL, which doesn't have the "Power to the Player" methodology of course. The ones that have sent competitive teams could be invited to stay for U13 and beyond with CCL.