Anonymous wrote:Threads like this always make me laugh. The most successful club in the US is currently Solar. Have you heard their coaches before? They yell more than any I know including SC at Bethesda. What do you think MJ would say about the subject? Or Tom Brady? Or Tiger Woods? Or Roger Federer? To be the best, you have to know how to take criticism, good and bad. Otherwise, play Rec.

Thanks Shaun!

Anonymous wrote:Threads like this always make me laugh. The most successful club in the US is currently Solar. Have you heard their coaches before? They yell more than any I know including SC at Bethesda. What do you think MJ would say about the subject? Or Tom Brady? Or Tiger Woods? Or Roger Federer? To be the best, you have to know how to take criticism, good and bad. Otherwise, play Rec.

I forgot to say it, but there is a difference between yelling directions and criticism vs. hurling demeaning insults. There is a line, but if any parent is offended by criticism, then GTFO. It’s part of sports, just like a job or bringing home bad grades.

Threads like this always make me laugh. The most successful club in the US is currently Solar. Have you heard their coaches before? They yell more than any I know including SC at Bethesda. What do you think MJ would say about the subject? Or Tom Brady? Or Tiger Woods? Or Roger Federer? To be the best, you have to know how to take criticism, good and bad. Otherwise, play Rec.

Some people have said and it is true that different kids need different environments to thrive in. Personally, I don't believe in any type of joystick coaching. Corrections should be made, but there is a time and a place for that. Games are a great way for players to showcase their own creativity within a clubs system, yelling at them just makes them second guess themselves to the point that they lose confidence in their ability to play. In a game like soccer, especially at the higher levels with substitution rules, it's difficult to change the game on the fly like in American football where there's downtime in the game for both sides. You have to prepare the players and team the best you can during training and hope that come match day they're able to show what they've learned leading up to that day.

I started refereeing about 5 years ago. I've been the AR on the coaches side for at least 100 games over that time...so I'm up close with alot of the coaches and I can obviously hear what they say to kids and see how they behave, etc etc. The one coach that sticks out in my mind as one of the worst coaches ever and shouldn't be allowed near kids is a guy that coached maybe U13 or U14 boys last Fall at Valor. Sometimes it takes every thing I have in me not to get in these coaches faces and say something to these a-holes. On the flip side, one of the absolute beast coaches I've ever seen is a girls coach from BRYC. He is an older guy and usually sits off to the side on his folding chair so he may be an assistant coach, or age group coordinator, or something because there is always another Head Coach there as well. I've seen him around at many games. He is so good with the kids. Great tone. Great coaching points. Really cares. Knows the game and how to teach it. etc. etc. I love to see coaches talk with the kids as they come off and give them encouragement and let them know what the can do differently. MOST coaches just yell random shit after the play is over with any explanation. Just yell. I remember last Fall, this coach just yelled and yelled. Not everything was negative but wouldn't shut up. Joysticking. Yell at the ref. At players. Good and bad. A parent from the other team screamed across the field and told him to just shut the hell up already. I loved it.

It's worst if it's HS because you can't do anything about it really. Especially if the coach is a long time coach an won some championships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter’s development (not travel) team had a dad coach who was a yeller. Not in the context of raising his voice to be heard over the gaggle of voices or across the field. More like a “Why would you do that? What the hell were you thinking?” kind of screamer. Needless to say, no longer with that team but it almost soured her on soccer altogether.

I've always questioned the effectiveness of rhetorical question coaching.

Actually, asking them let's them think of their decision making process or lack thereof, instead of telling them what they should have done (in the coach's opinion)

But it shouldn't be rhetorical

Screaming coaches is the result of lack of soccer training skills. They do not know how to develop players properly or train them. Screaming does not equate to success for players nor does it bring out the best in them. Parents are silly for letting coaches scream at their kids.

Great coaches talk to the players before and after the game. Also, you teach kids during the training session how to play and put those skills/tactics during the game. But I have said this many times here - coaches in many travel clubs here in MD/VA are lazy and do not teach and only collect. They just run scrimmages during training and stand watching time go by so the practice is over soon. You basically pay to have an adult babysit youth pickup games and that is what they call training. If a coach is not using many cones (at least for 30 minutes) that is not training. Sad.

During the game is the time to analyze and let the kids play. You asses the mistakes after the game and let them point out their mistakes on the field. During the game is no time to joystick players. Lots of "coaches" with no licenses or crazy as some parents on the sidelines for some teams.

Sad so many parents here (who do not know much about soccer) think that screaming (like the NFL or Lacrosse) is a good thing. Far from it. But that is what we have here. Influence from American football has ruined soccer development in our country.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter’s development (not travel) team had a dad coach who was a yeller. Not in the context of raising his voice to be heard over the gaggle of voices or across the field. More like a “Why would you do that? What the hell were you thinking?” kind of screamer. Needless to say, no longer with that team but it almost soured her on soccer altogether.

I've always questioned the effectiveness of rhetorical question coaching.

My daughter’s development (not travel) team had a dad coach who was a yeller. Not in the context of raising his voice to be heard over the gaggle of voices or across the field. More like a “Why would you do that? What the hell were you thinking?” kind of screamer. Needless to say, no longer with that team but it almost soured her on soccer altogether.

Anonymous wrote:There is a fine line between screaming at kids in anger and yelling at kids so they listen and learn. I've coached high school and youth. It's not easy for youth kids to listen and learn. Often, the best coaches have to yell to get kid's attention so they actually learn and develop as players.

Again, it's a fine line. Nothing wrong with yelling as long as the wording is about training and not putting the kid down.

Agree. It's what is being said. Yelling vs instructions. Our player had a coach with a very loud voice. When you listened to what he was saying it was very helpful and our player agreed that they found it useful and instructional and when you are on the pitch it's hard to hear instructions. If you are yelling at or berating a player that is not acceptable (unless the kid deserved it ).

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed a big uptick recently of coaches screaming and berating their young players. At what point are parents going to draw the line and refuse to put up with it? Or why do they continue to tolerate it? Very sad to watch.

In the early 2000’s Girl's soccer travel coaches were horrific. The screaming was off the charts.

My DD made a few of those teams we chose to put her with a lower ranked team. Coach was. Lovely human. Perfect no but encouraging and smart yes.

One time our lower team played in a tournament and beat the so called A team. That coach was a dad from my neighborhood he screamed at his daughter from Olney to Potomac in his car every other car could hear them. His kid flunked out of a third rate college. Mine played division one and is a CTO at 32.

Soccer parents are ridiculous from getting arrested on the field to screaming it’s just mind boggling for what a crappy scholarship fit a sport that makes no money.

My child was self motivated she reached out for her scholarship. She is a happier person with more to do . However if soccer ever interfered with school work done cut off immediately.

No one is yelling at my kid but me


Parents that allow this behavior are as guilty

Signed mother of a few division one players lax as well.

Girls soccer scholarships are crap soccer makes no money . Better merit ones out there

Anonymous wrote:There is a fine line between screaming at kids in anger and yelling at kids so they listen and learn. I've coached high school and youth. It's not easy for youth kids to listen and learn. Often, the best coaches have to yell to get kid's attention so they actually learn and develop as players.

Again, it's a fine line. Nothing wrong with yelling as long as the wording is about training and not putting the kid down.

Agreed. It’s very different when yelling so players can hear directions vs screaming mad.

A coach said he has to yell much more than he'd like, so his players can hear him above 30 screaming parents on the sidelines shouting out nonsensical instructions

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a fine line between screaming at kids in anger and yelling at kids so they listen and learn. I've coached high school and youth. It's not easy for youth kids to listen and learn. Often, the best coaches have to yell to get kid's attention so they actually learn and develop as players.

Again, it's a fine line. Nothing wrong with yelling as long as the wording is about training and not putting the kid down.

I see this is in travel all the time. What happens is the kids do just enough to not get yelled at but nothing more.

Nothing worse than kids focused on the coach and trying not to get berated during the game instead of freely focusing on playing.
You basically now have only 60% of what that kid can potentially offer.