Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 17:02     Subject: Re:Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Our sons played Alexandria silver and black (the lower two teams) for a few years. They had several very good coaches, and some good teammates. The problem is that there were some kids on the team whose parents paid for travel, and then didn't make or expect the kids to show up to games or practices. It wasn't an issue of talent, and I don't think it was ASA's fault, really. It may be because there are a lot of rich people in Alexandria who don't care about wasting money on something their kid isn't fully committed to.


Absolutely any club that accepts this behavior deserves blame for not managing the situation. If kids don’t come to practice or games, they sit the next game they show up. If they miss x games unexcused, they are off the team. Use guest players as subs if needed because players will be sitting.


If you do that the club loses the $$ from the kid. See above: “money-grab” teams.


I don't think it was just a $$ issue. Surprisingly, people were not lining up around the block to guest play for the bottom two Alexandria teams. Rec players needs a player card or birth certificate, and kids on higher level teams at lower age groups had their own games. The supply of guest players was lean.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 16:06     Subject: Re:Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Would someone please share some names of smaller boy clubs where you have had good experiences.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 15:23     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our sons played Alexandria silver and black (the lower two teams) for a few years. They had several very good coaches, and some good teammates. The problem is that there were some kids on the team whose parents paid for travel, and then didn't make or expect the kids to show up to games or practices. It wasn't an issue of talent, and I don't think it was ASA's fault, really. It may be because there are a lot of rich people in Alexandria who don't care about wasting money on something their kid isn't fully committed to.


Absolutely any club that accepts this behavior deserves blame for not managing the situation. If kids don’t come to practice or games, they sit the next game they show up. If they miss x games unexcused, they are off the team. Use guest players as subs if needed because players will be sitting.


If you do that the club loses the $$ from the kid. See above: “money-grab” teams.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 15:21     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:Our sons played Alexandria silver and black (the lower two teams) for a few years. They had several very good coaches, and some good teammates. The problem is that there were some kids on the team whose parents paid for travel, and then didn't make or expect the kids to show up to games or practices. It wasn't an issue of talent, and I don't think it was ASA's fault, really. It may be because there are a lot of rich people in Alexandria who don't care about wasting money on something their kid isn't fully committed to.


Absolutely any club that accepts this behavior deserves blame for not managing the situation. If kids don’t come to practice or games, they sit the next game they show up. If they miss x games unexcused, they are off the team. Use guest players as subs if needed because players will be sitting.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 15:07     Subject: Re:Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
I was about to say something similar. If these coaches had been such great players they likely wouldn't be coaching youth soccer now.


I don't think Lionel Messi could've helped my daughter's lower level team get better. The kid just weren't good players, every one of them had something wrong with them that they couldn't overcome. My daughter is too timid and not aggressive enough. No coach can really change that.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 15:04     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Our sons played Alexandria silver and black (the lower two teams) for a few years. They had several very good coaches, and some good teammates. The problem is that there were some kids on the team whose parents paid for travel, and then didn't make or expect the kids to show up to games or practices. It wasn't an issue of talent, and I don't think it was ASA's fault, really. It may be because there are a lot of rich people in Alexandria who don't care about wasting money on something their kid isn't fully committed to.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 14:57     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:You are wondering why clubs don't spend more money on money grab teams? Really?

I don't think you have a good grasp of the purpose of a money grab team. It is to . . . wait for it . . . grab money. This means, in addition to collecting as much in fees as possible, controlling expenses as much as possible.


Lol.
I enjoyed this post very much. Thank you, PP
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 13:51     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I was about to say something similar. If these coaches had been such great players they likely wouldn't be coaching youth soccer now.


So tell me, what are the career options for a washed-up soccer player in the US? Even a very good one.


I guess this assumes that the washed-up soccer player had no other experiences or interests in life.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 12:25     Subject: Re:Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:^agree. But we even decided to decline a B team offer for our younger son at a big club u9 because we saw how the lack of similar attention/opportunities coaching and the way players were treated was drastically different than the A team when we were there with an older child.

Now going into U12 his development has been so much better. This year he made first teams at bigger club, but is staying with smaller club on tight knit team that has developed beautifully. They have moved up the ranks and way ahead where he would have been if he accepted that other offer way back when. None of those kids have moved and the parents are very unhappy. In contrast, the sidelines where we are are so much happier and supportive. It shows in the players that really act like a team and none acts more important than the next. Just a great group of kids.


This is our exact experience too. Our kid isn’t going pro so we couldn’t be happier with the path we chose for him as a little guy and now that he’s choosing for himself.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 09:08     Subject: Re:Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
^agree. But we even decided to decline a B team offer for our younger son at a big club u9 because we saw how the lack of similar attention/opportunities coaching and the way players were treated was drastically different than the A team when we were there with an older child.

Now going into U12 his development has been so much better. This year he made first teams at bigger club, but is staying with smaller club on tight knit team that has developed beautifully. They have moved up the ranks and way ahead where he would have been if he accepted that other offer way back when. None of those kids have moved and the parents are very unhappy. In contrast, the sidelines where we are are so much happier and supportive. It shows in the players that really act like a team and none acts more important than the next. Just a great group of kids.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2019 05:57     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:I mean, I get that my child is not going onto a career at Liverpool or even D1 soccer, but I don't understand why Steve Knapman (Potomac) or the Sal Caccavale (Achilles) or the Colton brothers (Bethesda) or any of the VA clubs can't get it together to have a decent playing experience for their second and third teams. I mean, how hard is it to find a decent coach, seed the team correctly, and pretend to care about the kids that they took so much money from? My DC and I would be perfectly happy to have him play against good players, a little above his level and have teammates who are at or a little above his skill level so he can develop as a player. We accepted an offer at a big club, but I'm wondering if the way to go next year isn't to find a decent team that's not part of a huge club playing at the higher levels of NCSL and get off the big club rat race. OK, rant over.


When I was in your position, I asked around and was encouraged to go with a small club vs a larger clubs C team. We have been so happy with the level of play and the attention our kid gets. Of his friends who picked the bigger club, almost every single one has quit and the only one who advanced to the A team started out on the B team. His teammates at the small club have stuck around year after year. I am sure that doesn't always happen but it has been our experience.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2019 23:03     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most guys who coach soccer have zero empathy for someone on a B team because they've never been that guy. They are where they are today because they were always the best player in their club growing up. I bet most of them have trouble fathoming why anyone would even be on a B team.


Never thought about it that way but you may just be right. Sure explains a lot although it doesn’t explain why being a good athlete precludes any kind of emotional IQ.


Being a top athlete seems to require an emotional detachment and outsized ego. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just an observation.


I’d argue that it’s not a particularly good thing if you’re working with children, for so many reasons.


The benefit of the children is not a big factor in youth sports.


Ah yes so true
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2019 21:04     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most guys who coach soccer have zero empathy for someone on a B team because they've never been that guy. They are where they are today because they were always the best player in their club growing up. I bet most of them have trouble fathoming why anyone would even be on a B team.


Never thought about it that way but you may just be right. Sure explains a lot although it doesn’t explain why being a good athlete precludes any kind of emotional IQ.


Being a top athlete seems to require an emotional detachment and outsized ego. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just an observation.


I’d argue that it’s not a particularly good thing if you’re working with children, for so many reasons.


The benefit of the children is not a big factor in youth sports.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2019 21:03     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
I was about to say something similar. If these coaches had been such great players they likely wouldn't be coaching youth soccer now.


So tell me, what are the career options for a washed-up soccer player in the US? Even a very good one.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2019 18:35     Subject: Why can't clubs treat "money grab" lower teams better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most guys who coach soccer have zero empathy for someone on a B team because they've never been that guy. They are where they are today because they were always the best player in their club growing up. I bet most of them have trouble fathoming why anyone would even be on a B team.


This is just speculation. Many coaches have pretty mediocre skills so I doubt that all coaches used to play on top teams. The reason the clubs don't put much effort in lower level teams is that they get paid anyway by the parents and only the top team matters for recruiting purposes.


I was about to say something similar. If these coaches had been such great players they likely wouldn't be coaching youth soccer now.


That’s ridiculous to think that only mediocre players become youth soccer coaches.