Anonymous
01/03/2026 20:39
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Until at least age 11, let them stay with their friends in Rec, unless they are bored with the game, scoring 5+ goals every game, getting frustrated with the level of play. If they are always kicking around a ball at home, in all their free time, etc.
Then go to Travel. And make sure that every season they like their coach and teammates, and are having fun and learning. Otherwise they burn out and quit, because it's no fun
So few American kids play in college these days, something like 80% of players in D1 schools are from Europe and South America
Then go to Travel. And make sure that every season they like their coach and teammates, and are having fun and learning. Otherwise they burn out and quit, because it's no fun
So few American kids play in college these days, something like 80% of players in D1 schools are from Europe and South America
Anonymous
01/03/2026 18:46
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
We’ve had really mixed experiences with volunteer coaches. My kid quit one sport from “burnout” at 6th grade after a season with parents coaches who ground her up. She’ll be playing soccer in college next year after many, many, MANY years of paid coaches. There are plenty of paid coaches that stink, but the really good volunteer coaches are even more rare, especially once you throw in the team dynamic mess of having a parent coach
Anonymous
01/03/2026 18:15
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Honestly curious-what club that plays in jeff cup has volunteer coaches?
Anonymous
01/03/2026 17:43
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Whoever said all travel coaches are paid is incorrect. Some smaller clubs have volunteer coaches. My kid has a volunteer coach and they play at Jeff Cup.
With that said, I would invest in private training rather than paid club coaches if there's a decent volunteer coach team in the area.
With that said, I would invest in private training rather than paid club coaches if there's a decent volunteer coach team in the area.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 16:36
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Anonymous wrote:There's no point in making any decision for little boys activities thinking they will play in college or go pro, b/c the odds of that happening are basically zero percent.
Well if they make it to ECNL or mls next they have a 9.7 percent chance of playing D1 through D3. Professionally it is 1 percent.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 16:23
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
There's no point in making any decision for little boys activities thinking they will play in college or go pro, b/c the odds of that happening are basically zero percent.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 16:22
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Anonymous wrote:You’re asking about two vastly different programs. Rec soccer is volunteer coaches with varying degrees of experience. Sometimes it’s just a parent who played a little bit in high school or just watched some videos to coach their kids team, sometimes you end up with a parent that played through college. Time commitment is minimal. Usually two practices a week and one game on the weekend for approximately eight weeks in the spring and fall. Cost is minimal.
Travel is a year-round commitment with paid coaches. It impacts the entire family schedule year round. Cost is 10-20 times as much as rec.
We did both. And travel burned my children out of soccer. They quit playing after two seasons of travel. Two years later they played rec just to be with friends.
Thank you
I’m going to share this
Anonymous
01/02/2026 16:21
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Anonymous wrote:It a travel program, but all the coaches are volunteers? I assume because they are parents?
Yes mostly
Anonymous
01/02/2026 16:00
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Literally you are asking whether people prefer rec (cheaper, volunteer coaches) or travel (paid coaches).
Yes I know I’m asking that.
I should mention that the volunteer coaches do a pretty good job.
The program is also travel? I should have mentioned that.
Volunteer coaches doing a "pretty good job" are not going to get your kid into college.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:58
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
You’re asking about two vastly different programs. Rec soccer is volunteer coaches with varying degrees of experience. Sometimes it’s just a parent who played a little bit in high school or just watched some videos to coach their kids team, sometimes you end up with a parent that played through college. Time commitment is minimal. Usually two practices a week and one game on the weekend for approximately eight weeks in the spring and fall. Cost is minimal.
Travel is a year-round commitment with paid coaches. It impacts the entire family schedule year round. Cost is 10-20 times as much as rec.
We did both. And travel burned my children out of soccer. They quit playing after two seasons of travel. Two years later they played rec just to be with friends.
Travel is a year-round commitment with paid coaches. It impacts the entire family schedule year round. Cost is 10-20 times as much as rec.
We did both. And travel burned my children out of soccer. They quit playing after two seasons of travel. Two years later they played rec just to be with friends.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:56
Subject: Re:Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
If they are 8 or 9 I would let them play where their friends are and not worry about things years away.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:54
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
It a travel program, but all the coaches are volunteers? I assume because they are parents?
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:53
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Anonymous wrote:Literally you are asking whether people prefer rec (cheaper, volunteer coaches) or travel (paid coaches).
Yes I know I’m asking that.
I should mention that the volunteer coaches do a pretty good job.
The program is also travel? I should have mentioned that.
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:31
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
Literally you are asking whether people prefer rec (cheaper, volunteer coaches) or travel (paid coaches).
Anonymous
01/02/2026 15:30
Subject: Volunteer Coaches vs Paid Coaches
I’m just trying to get an idea here.
Let’s say you have a U8/U9 kid and you would hope for them to eventually develop into a collegiate or pro player (small percentage of that happening I know)
Are you wanting for them to join a cheaper program where the coaches are volunteers even though they have some coaching experience or maybe even a lot.
Or are you
Choosing a more expensive program where the coaches are paid and have more experience?
What are your thoughts and has anyone done both or one or the other?
Let’s say you have a U8/U9 kid and you would hope for them to eventually develop into a collegiate or pro player (small percentage of that happening I know)
Are you wanting for them to join a cheaper program where the coaches are volunteers even though they have some coaching experience or maybe even a lot.
Or are you
Choosing a more expensive program where the coaches are paid and have more experience?
What are your thoughts and has anyone done both or one or the other?