Anonymous
04/13/2026 23:08
Subject: Team Choice for Player Development
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The coach is more important than the team
This line gets repeated constantly in youth soccer…by clubs, parents, and influencers alike. It sounds smart. It feels developmental. But it misses reality by a wide margin.
As you move up the levels, you start to see it clearly.
That “amazing” U8 coach? There’s a reason they’re coaching U8.
That U11 coach working toward a UEFA B or USSF A…young, energetic, loved by the kids? Sure. But often still lacking the experience and perspective (on and off the field) to truly be elite.
The best coaches in the country don’t sit at the lower levels. They’re concentrated in the top tiers, U15 and up, and especially in the professional ranks. High-level coaches don’t stay with weak environments for long, if ever.
And here’s the part people ignore:
Teams are the constant.
Coaches are the variable.
Players develop together over years. Coaches cycle through in one to two year windows.
You can play a match without a coach.
You cannot play one without a team.
This is that backwards unintelligent American soccer lack of culture thinking
Only here people think U8 coaches should be the worst least experienced coaches and the best coaches coach U19 and up
Go to Spain, Brazil, Holland, France and see the qualifications of U10 coaches at high level clubs
If your kid doesn't have knowledgeable, experienced good coach at early development stages teaching them the right fundamentals, how are they going to be high level at U16?
Under U15 age group it is mainly teaching, not coaching.
Yep. U8 Coach Klopp…😂 what a weird response based nowhere in reality.
Not to mention, not really responsive either, just typical “Europe is better IMO, so I’m going to make up something insane and post it.”
So in Europe and South America they don't have quality experienced coaches coaching younger age groups?
Are you saying they follow the American model of using inexperienced basically babysitters to coach U6 to U10?
That isn't what PP said. You're creating a strawman.
I don't think in any model in any country you're going to find the best coaches in your peewee levels. And to argue otherwise is not in good faith. Are there good u8 coaches? Yes. On balance will you find more good coaches in u8 or u14?
Your comments makes no sense
PP referenced good qualified certified experienced youth coaches at foundation and early development levels.
Many with required youth coaching specialized licenses in other true soccer cultures
You're jumping around about the best coaches
Also, the U8 coaches in Amsterdam are teaching a different phase of development than U14 coaches
Comparing them is stupid.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 22:57
Subject: Re:Team Choice for Player Development
Anonymous wrote:Guys…whoever is arguing that great coaches exist at U8 should stop speaking and probably doesn’t know what a great coach is. If we are talking about full-time coaches, every single one of them is striving for academy and then the men’s/women’s first team, or college. Are you honestly arguing that top level coaches are settling for U8 at some club? Stop. If we are talking about part-time coaches…who cares…wake up.
Coaching does not matter…development does not happen at clubs. It happens outside of clubs.
This!
They cannot separate their personal like for a coach, and often the early impact that coach made on their kid for love of the game with the coach's overall ability.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 22:54
Subject: Team Choice for Player Development
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The coach is more important than the team
This line gets repeated constantly in youth soccer…by clubs, parents, and influencers alike. It sounds smart. It feels developmental. But it misses reality by a wide margin.
As you move up the levels, you start to see it clearly.
That “amazing” U8 coach? There’s a reason they’re coaching U8.
That U11 coach working toward a UEFA B or USSF A…young, energetic, loved by the kids? Sure. But often still lacking the experience and perspective (on and off the field) to truly be elite.
The best coaches in the country don’t sit at the lower levels. They’re concentrated in the top tiers, U15 and up, and especially in the professional ranks. High-level coaches don’t stay with weak environments for long, if ever.
And here’s the part people ignore:
Teams are the constant.
Coaches are the variable.
Players develop together over years. Coaches cycle through in one to two year windows.
You can play a match without a coach.
You cannot play one without a team.
This is that backwards unintelligent American soccer lack of culture thinking
Only here people think U8 coaches should be the worst least experienced coaches and the best coaches coach U19 and up
Go to Spain, Brazil, Holland, France and see the qualifications of U10 coaches at high level clubs
If your kid doesn't have knowledgeable, experienced good coach at early development stages teaching them the right fundamentals, how are they going to be high level at U16?
Under U15 age group it is mainly teaching, not coaching.
Yep. U8 Coach Klopp…😂 what a weird response based nowhere in reality.
Not to mention, not really responsive either, just typical “Europe is better IMO, so I’m going to make up something insane and post it.”
So in Europe and South America they don't have quality experienced coaches coaching younger age groups?
Are you saying they follow the American model of using inexperienced basically babysitters to coach U6 to U10?
That isn't what PP said. You're creating a strawman.
I don't think in any model in any country you're going to find the best coaches in your peewee levels. And to argue otherwise is not in good faith. Are there good u8 coaches? Yes. On balance will you find more good coaches in u8 or u14?