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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Some thoughts.

1) Most of the clubs have a hard time retaining coaches from year to year. There are a few marquee coaches at some clubs,, but the majority are unknowns. I would be hard pressed to state definitively that any specific club has good coaching across all their teams. Kids/parents should know who will coach them before they pick a club.

2) At the younger ages, there is no need for a style of play. In reality, it shouldn’t even be part of the discussion. The physical space and drill design should be planned to encourage good decisions. I see far too many clubs run 30 minute passing and pattern drills every practice to make the kids look like the club  has a style. This time would be better spent working on technical skills. Patterns and styles should come later. If I give a 10 yo a hammer and a nail, it may take him a full minute to nail it into a board. A 15 yo will take a couple of seconds. Introducing concepts too early is painful for everyone, but takes away from the kids developing.

3) Alexandria is one of the clubs where they do a lot of pattern play with their younger kids. Is it attractive soccer, sometimes. Unfortunately, the kids are told at a young age that there is a right way and a wrong way to play. When they get older, they are trained to make what they were taught was the right decision. That passing system is not always the best decision, but the kids have not been trained to make decisions, only execute their rote patterns. After the kids go through puberty, 13/14 for girls 15/16 for boys, that singular style of play isn’t working for the teams. (The teams underperform). Sometimes the best decision is to kick it to the fast kid and score instead of trying to build out of the back under high pressure. I’d be suspicious of any club who claims they are teaching a style because they are likely not teaching the whole game.[/quote]

Coach here -

1) Agree wholeheartedly. Coaching retention is very difficult for clubs, especially the smaller ones. It can make things very difficult for parents to determine which club is best for them.

2) I agree that pattern play isn't the best use of time for the younger ages. I slightly disagree when it comes to the wording of style of play. Drills should encourage good decisions indeed, but we also need to help players see what good decisions are and why. That being said technical ability is paramount at the younger ages.

3) Alexandria certainly has a style of play as part of their curriculum. I'd say it's evolved a bit over the years, but you still know it when you see it. While I wouldn't say it's bad, it does seem to limit some options and therefore some decision making for the players.[/quote]

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