Anonymous wrote:Great coaches who know how to get the best out of their players and turn them into a synchronous unit.

Anonymous wrote:Great question. Our family is at risk of being perceived as insane club hoppers, but the truth is most clubs don't deliver on what our family is looking for. Most clubs deliver on some, but not all of objectives.
Pretty much every club we have been with is seriously deficient in communication, both between the club and parents and between coaches and players, so that'a biggie.

I think the answers you will get also depend on what each player/family is looking for. The parents who think their kids are future national team players might have different priorities, but here are mine for our kids who love soccer, want to play with other competitive players, are motivated and committed to improving, but who are not necessarily focused on playing beyond high school:

1) Good coaches who communicate with players and establish realistic goals, letting players know regularly where they stand and what they need to improve upon.
2) A deep enough talent pool so that each team is made up of players with similar levels and abilities (which in turn fosters respect and unity between teammates).
3) Effective and engaging training and appropriate game competition, without over-scheduling. The kids should be having fun!
4) Good communication between administrators and parents in terms of scheduling, expectations, coaching changes, etc.
5) Availability of facilities so that there is adequate space for practices and for games to be played each week (can you tell I'm bitter that one of my kids' teams barely practiced all fall due to rain?)
6) An established culture that encourages the development of players as human beings and values and motivates character development off and on the pitch.
7) Realistic roster numbers on each team allowing, at least below u-15, all players on the roster get a decent amount of playing time.
8) Some level of commitment to the development of existing players as opposed to constant efforts to draw players from other clubs, leaving existing players to sit on the bench for entire games.
9) A club culture that trains and values all players and all teams (boys and girls alike) rather than the "super teams" in one or two particular age groups.
10) Reasonable and supportive parents.

I guess I could condense all of this to say that the great club is one where kids have fun, improve as players and human beings, and where players and families are treated with respect by coaches and administrators.

It shouldn't be too hard to find a club like that, right?

Anonymous wrote:There are too many clubs in DMV for any club to have truly great teams at all age levels. Just being the best locally does not make you the best nationally.

Anonymous wrote:Great question. Our family is at risk of being perceived as insane club hoppers, but the truth is most clubs don't deliver on what our family is looking for. Most clubs deliver on some, but not all of objectives.
Pretty much every club we have been with is seriously deficient in communication, both between the club and parents and between coaches and players, so that'a biggie.

I think the answers you will get also depend on what each player/family is looking for. The parents who think their kids are future national team players might have different priorities, but here are mine for our kids who love soccer, want to play with other competitive players, are motivated and committed to improving, but who are not necessarily focused on playing beyond high school:

1) Good coaches who communicate with players and establish realistic goals, letting players know regularly where they stand and what they need to improve upon.
2) A deep enough talent pool so that each team is made up of players with similar levels and abilities (which in turn fosters respect and unity between teammates).
3) Effective and engaging training and appropriate game competition, without over-scheduling. The kids should be having fun!
4) Good communication between administrators and parents in terms of scheduling, expectations, coaching changes, etc.
5) Availability of facilities so that there is adequate space for practices and for games to be played each week (can you tell I'm bitter that one of my kids' teams barely practiced all fall due to rain?)
6) An established culture that encourages the development of players as human beings and values and motivates character development off and on the pitch.
7) Realistic roster numbers on each team allowing, at least below u-15, all players on the roster get a decent amount of playing time.
8) Some level of commitment to the development of existing players as opposed to constant efforts to draw players from other clubs, leaving existing players to sit on the bench for entire games.
9) A club culture that trains and values all players and all teams (boys and girls alike) rather than the "super teams" in one or two particular age groups.
10) Reasonable and supportive parents.

I guess I could condense all of this to say that the great club is one where kids have fun, improve as players and human beings, and where players and families are treated with respect by coaches and administrators.

It shouldn't be too hard to find a club like that, right?

Anonymous wrote:Good looking moms on the sidelines.