Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a major issue with rec soccer. Clubs will take in all the kids and take your money even if they don't have the coaches in place. I had to step up and coach my kid's rec team years ago twice even though I have a very busy work schedule. It's BS. They should have X amount of teams and that's it. X amount of teams already has assigned coaches (parent volunteers). Rec soccer is a pure money grab.

I agree with you. They make it sound great to get you to sign up, then you do the sign up bit get guilted into coaching when that’s not what you signed up for. I get it, they need volunteers but be honest up front. I’m happy to bring snacks/drinks and I bring my kid on time to practices and games. I work rotating 12s and don’t have the ability to coach. If I did thought I still don’t want to, I just don’t. I volunteer in any ways in my life, sports isn’t it.

Its not a bait and switch. You signed up for rec soccer--which you know is coached by volunteers--so don't get bent out of shape when they need volunteers.
If you can't volunteer, fine, but don't even begin to think that being on time and bringing snacks is doing your fair share.

Anonymous wrote:This is a major issue with rec soccer. Clubs will take in all the kids and take your money even if they don't have the coaches in place. I had to step up and coach my kid's rec team years ago twice even though I have a very busy work schedule. It's BS. They should have X amount of teams and that's it. X amount of teams already has assigned coaches (parent volunteers). Rec soccer is a pure money grab.

Dang, now rec. soccer is a money grab? LOL

Yes, clubs try to let as many kids participate in rec. soccer as possible. Shocking I know.

This has nothing to do with money and you're welcome to take a look at your clubs finances since they are likely a non-profit and have public record.

You'd be surprised how fragile most of these organizations are with small groups of people keeping programs running. The volunteer pool just keeps getting smaller and smaller...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes and us parents got really aggressively hostile emails about it.

If you are coordinator please note that a little civility increases cooperation.

A civil rec group coordinator? Doesn’t exist!

Most coordinators sign up to be a coordinator and a coach so they can skew the league to their teams advantage. Roster, scheduling, field selections and all star selection. Other coaches get iced out and leave. This problem doesn’t happen with youngsters at U5/U6 because coaches aren’t fed up yet but soon enough a mini tyrant coordinators ruin the leagues for everyone but themselves.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but this isn't any of the coordinators I know. People are always welcome to volunteer to do it better.

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why rec doesn't offer an incentive like free kids-of-coaches registration or reserved practice fields to increase volunteer coach numbers.

Many clubs do this

Anonymous wrote:I have never understood why rec doesn't offer an incentive like free kids-of-coaches registration or reserved practice fields to increase volunteer coach numbers.

Not sure about other programs, but we did that, also gave the coaches gift cards for soccer gear or gear that we had left over from other things.

It's still like pulling teeth to get enough volunteers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, what an earth does this have to do with you signing up early? If no parents volunteer, you have no coaches you can’t play.

Shouldn't it be in the order that people sign up? Like if there aren't enough coaches, they should drop the last people that signed up not the first just because their coach isn't returning.

Kid teams are organized usually by neighborhood/school and requests.

Sure, if they have enough coaches thats fine. But if there aren't enough, then the last people to sign up should be out of luck unless they are willing to coach

But they won't because they want to keep old teams together and kids from the same school together. Really bummed about this.

THEN COACH.

Yes, they will not play if there is no coach. FWIW, my 15 year old reached out to a club and asked if he could volunteer to coach his little brother's team if someone over 18 agreed to supervise him (e.g., parents on the team agreed to take turns). He was told no. So the team may have no coach, as I do shift work and cannot coach every time.

Anonymous wrote:This is a major issue with rec soccer. Clubs will take in all the kids and take your money even if they don't have the coaches in place. I had to step up and coach my kid's rec team years ago twice even though I have a very busy work schedule. It's BS. They should have X amount of teams and that's it. X amount of teams already has assigned coaches (parent volunteers). Rec soccer is a pure money grab.

I agree with you. They make it sound great to get you to sign up, then you do the sign up bit get guilted into coaching when that’s not what you signed up for. I get it, they need volunteers but be honest up front. I’m happy to bring snacks/drinks and I bring my kid on time to practices and games. I work rotating 12s and don’t have the ability to coach. If I did thought I still don’t want to, I just don’t. I volunteer in any ways in my life, sports isn’t it.

Kids should be placed in the order they register with the exception of kids of people who will coach, who obviously are on their parent’s team.
Once those are filled then whoever registered late should be refunded.
That said if three kids can’t be placed then waive the roster limit. Its rec. Clubs make their own rec rules.
However a club would be silly only to send the ‘we need coaches’ message to only those kids who can’t currently be placed. A larger pool of parent is more likely to find you the coaches you need, even an older sibling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, what an earth does this have to do with you signing up early? If no parents volunteer, you have no coaches you can’t play.

Shouldn't it be in the order that people sign up? Like if there aren't enough coaches, they should drop the last people that signed up not the first just because their coach isn't returning.

Kid teams are organized usually by neighborhood/school and requests.

Sure, if they have enough coaches thats fine. But if there aren't enough, then the last people to sign up should be out of luck unless they are willing to coach

But they won't because they want to keep old teams together and kids from the same school together. Really bummed about this.

Anonymous wrote:Yes and us parents got really aggressively hostile emails about it.

If you are coordinator please note that a little civility increases cooperation.

A civil rec group coordinator? Doesn’t exist!

Most coordinators sign up to be a coordinator and a coach so they can skew the league to their teams advantage. Roster, scheduling, field selections and all star selection. Other coaches get iced out and leave. This problem doesn’t happen with youngsters at U5/U6 because coaches aren’t fed up yet but soon enough a mini tyrant coordinators ruin the leagues for everyone but themselves.

If you signed up early they will probably let you in, especially if you are coaching another team.

I have never understood why rec doesn't offer an incentive like free kids-of-coaches registration or reserved practice fields to increase volunteer coach numbers.

Yes and us parents got really aggressively hostile emails about it.

If you are coordinator please note that a little civility increases cooperation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We sat at a basketball game for 15 minutes yesterday because the only parent willing to work the clock for the other team was running late. No other parent would volunteer to do it. The coach was individually asking people and it was just no, no, no.

Its a clock for 4th grade house basketball! Not rocket science.

This is pretty bad and I would work the clock in this scenario. BUT I would be terrified the whole time because parents get so bent out of shape about errors of any kind. If parents want people to volunteer they can stop being mean to those who do.

And this is one part (of many) why fewer people volunteer. It's also why there is a referee shortage