DS has played from u9-u17 at many different clubs and levels and we’ve never had a bad manager. As a matter of fact, most of our managers have been non-meddlesome and kind. A lot of work goes into being a team manager so I’m grateful to whoever takes the job.

Our TM has been the TM for several seasons now. She doesn't want to give up the spot and the coach praised her as the best TM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whenever these threads surface, I always assume OP is the person the TM has to nag to confirm attendance or pay fees.

OMG so spot on

It tired of mediocre child stealing time from far better players.

I heard once you go to MLS Next, the team doesn't need a TM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we need a TM? We already pay $$$$. Can the clubs not provide 1 TM per age group?

DD’s ECNL club does not have parent managers. Coaches run everything. It’s great.

The best way.

Yeah this how it works for my daughter's NA ECNL team.

Our TM kid has a terrible first touch and she is a center back. She receives passes and under pressure, loses the ball due to the bad first touches issue, we take the goal. No problem, the next game she is there full minutes.

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as volunteer work. TM task is do all the work and in return your kid will play full minutes and won’t get cut. Coaches try to accommodate by balancing but in the end. The TM gets paid back that way.

If you have a kid who is in the bottom of the roster then volunteer for TM.

I am not a TM, but this is not what I have seen across many different clubs / teams over the past 8-10 years.

There is no such thing as volunteer work. TM task is do all the work and in return your kid will play full minutes and won’t get cut. Coaches try to accommodate by balancing but in the end. The TM gets paid back that way.

If you have a kid who is in the bottom of the roster then volunteer for TM.

Anonymous wrote:I split the TM job with another parent for one season of travel and it was a fair amount of work and stress. Between the safe spot training, the calendar, communicating with the opposing team every week, making sure we have enough players, getting guest players, registering for tournaments it’s a fair amount. Then there’s the tent; sign up genius for snacks, coaches gift, and of season party. That’s without dealing with emails from parents, lost gear etc. My point is this - if you have someone willing to do all these things be thankful.

Wow. That's a lot of extra stuff that our TM's aren't responsible for. Coach is responsible for having enough players and securing guest players. Club registers for all the tournaments. Club provides the tent. Club boosters provide snacks - not for the team, but for opposing coaches and refs that are at the fields all day. They will help with a coaches gift.

TM for us helps to maintain the calendar, manages all the player cards, helps manage the out of town hotels, send out schedule updates and that's mostly it. This is for my DDs ENCL team.

I was the team manager for my son's U17 NPL team and it was pretty straightforward. We didn't have any out town overnight trips so it was all local stuff. Mostly I handled to schedule, the player cards and some communications that the coach asked me to send.

Anonymous wrote:Our TM sits on the bench with the coach and this is a U19 Boys team. Now look here, do you really need to sit on the bench? You aint the coach, and by the way, his DS shouldnt even be on the team but since he volunteered to be the TM, well not only does his DS get to play but sometimes even start. Do any of the TMs on this post sits on the bench with the team or stands behind the coach during games?

I did at U9&U10, but that was because the head coach asked me to and I had a defined roll as an Assistant Coach But at U11 I declined as the optics were not starting to look good! And trust me, I wouldn't have done that at U9&U10 if the Coach hadn't asked (it was just a unique situation where I had more years as a Coach than the new travel Coach.) But still, it is not generally a good practice and by U11, 100% kids should 'ideally' grow more from a coach who isn't a parent.

However, at U19... it's a bit late for parent to jump in with both sleeves rolled up to be an assistant Coach or hovering TM. TM's usually have "Team Manager Cards" which certifies them to be on the Coaching sideline during the game. But yeah, generally doing just that during the game, doesn't look good unless they are defined as an Assistant Coach also.

Our TM sits on the bench with the coach and this is a U19 Boys team. Now look here, do you really need to sit on the bench? You aint the coach, and by the way, his DS shouldnt even be on the team but since he volunteered to be the TM, well not only does his DS get to play but sometimes even start. Do any of the TMs on this post sits on the bench with the team or stands behind the coach during games?

Anonymous wrote:I am a TM and I love this thread...just goes to show what I have had to deal with...and my kid doesn't even start!

Also, I just wanted to chime in a and say the club has my back on team fee collection...if parents do not pay them, then their kid essentially can't come to practice or play games after 30 days.

Also, be sure to update Playmetrics with your attendance today!

Ha, great post. Touché

I am a TM and I love this thread...just goes to show what I have had to deal with...and my kid doesn't even start!

Also, I just wanted to chime in a and say the club has my back on team fee collection...if parents do not pay them, then their kid essentially can't come to practice or play games after 30 days.

Also, be sure to update Playmetrics with your attendance today!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we need a TM? We already pay $$$$. Can the clubs not provide 1 TM per age group?

DD’s ECNL club does not have parent managers. Coaches run everything. It’s great.

The best way.

That is a good perk. But the cost difference is huge: typical travel team 13 kids @ $2400 = $31,200 -vs- ECNL 20 kids @ $4000 = $80,000

So yeah, parents are actually paying for the staffing there. But some parents still have coordinate veo filming, socials, gifts, hotel selections, and dozens of other details.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we need a TM? We already pay $$$$. Can the clubs not provide 1 TM per age group?

DD’s ECNL club does not have parent managers. Coaches run everything. It’s great.

The best way.