Anonymous wrote:My son plays for a club that overcharges, signs up for games that are 7hrs away, the roster is overflowing and kids get benched every week, haven’t heard from the coach about having an idp meeting but I did get one in writing. Welcome to youth travel soccer 2025-2026!

What club

Anonymous wrote:My son plays for a club that overcharges, signs up for games that are 7hrs away, the roster is overflowing and kids get benched every week, haven’t heard from the coach about having an idp meeting but I did get one in writing. Welcome to youth travel soccer 2025-2026!

Why are you at this club?

My son plays for a club that overcharges, signs up for games that are 7hrs away, the roster is overflowing and kids get benched every week, haven’t heard from the coach about having an idp meeting but I did get one in writing. Welcome to youth travel soccer 2025-2026!

If your club has a development plan for your player, please post the club - I would like for our kid to have this opportunity

Anonymous wrote:Ask the coach what the Player Development Plan is for your kid. They should have one

Hahaha Good one!
-We’ve been w SYC for 2 years. They posted they are the #1 boys club, maybe because of wins; but it certainly not because of having any sort of Player Development Plan. That includes the girls side too.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it true that most/all clubs are developing players from the standpoint of playing on their team(s), not as individuals? If you want individual skill development, you need to get individual training. This is coming from a GA parent who has been in this system for many years.

This is true. Also going to soccer camps, 3v3 tourneys, futsal and ODP can help, too. There's a time and place for all these things if your kid is hungry for them. Getting these different experiences and playing with new players and coaches helps with the journey.

Isn't it true that most/all clubs are developing players from the standpoint of playing on their team(s), not as individuals? If you want individual skill development, you need to get individual training. This is coming from a GA parent who has been in this system for many years.

You should not be developing a player for a position because later they will be moved to a different position. It happens all the time.

Playing under pressure and in tight spaces is what differentiates players. This is developed by training always under pressure and in compact space.

The player should be comfortable playing all field positions.

Professional clubs and academies are not even good at developing in every position. I look for the coaches who have the strengths in my kids position. I suggest you do the same and not worry about wins and losses.

Well in a dream world we should have more than one coach for our top teams. We should have more than one coach once you get to 11v11 and are the top team.

Ask the coach what the Player Development Plan is for your kid. They should have one

Not in US - the goal is short term profit (ie attract new players to ‘first team’)

Recycle just enough next season to bring in new ‘cast’

Lots of mediocre coaching (DIII - and not Messiah DIII, either)

Moneyball is not in US soccer in DMV even though tracking technology is used by the elite. Lots of confirmation bias persists (tall players for all positions, certain hemisphere in attack, certain hemispheres in defense.

Pulisic had to depart to get to top in Europe.

The answer is yes, a coach can develop all players and will actually develop a good team - because ALL PLAYERS WILL GROW and this will translate into good team cohesion and chemistry. The mistake that a lot of players (and parents) make is they think just because someone is "coach" it makes him/her a "good coach."

I suspect most coaches are not good at developing - its a lot of work for a full season with roughly 20-some-odd players (who have differing skills and player-personalities) on the roster. So it's easy to "run drills" and yell at players, and make subs. I've yet to see a coach who truly knows how to develop players.

From the outside looking in, I see too many players souring, losing confidence, and regressing because they are waiting for "coach" to "develop" them. At the teen level, many players are still too reliant on "coach" in order to grow and be validated.

So, to answer your question, it is possible, but very rarely happens.

Our high level [mlsn/ga/ecnl] coach only runs drills that appear to develop the attacking portion of our squad. Is this normal because it is the biggest or most visible payoff? Or applaud your coach who develops the defense and midfield? I would love to hear some good news stories.