Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 13:33     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Yes, I avoid "team stacking" when I register kids to teams. The parents are the worst however in that they try to stack the teams by saying they can only practice on a certain day, etc.

Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 12:45     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


In two years we’ve lost 5 coaches in our division at CYA because they had enough of the coordinators nonsense. Will be interesting to see who returns this season.

The good coaches quit CYA because their children are recruited into travel soccer in 2nd and 3rd grades.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 12:43     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.


Why is that anyone else’s fault? People’s expectations of rec sports programs are completely unrealistic in this area. It’s often going to be just as messy as you describe and that’s OK (except for the other coach yelling of course). It supposed to fun and casual and community-led. It’s why travel soccer costs 20x or more what rec soccer does.


But it isn't fun and casual when you have completely stacked teams season after season. And it isn't fun if you are on a team where not enough kids show up for games because people consider it optional because it's rec. And it is a waste to spend your time coaching or managing a team and then not have players show up for games. This is exactly why families choose travel soccer over rec, even low-level travel teams. They don't want to put up with this nonsense.


100% correct!

Unfortunately this happens all the time. Usually it’s a rec coordinator stacking his team and leaving the scraps to the other coaches. Eventually people either leave by quitting soccer or joining travel. That’s why rec players crumble when they get to high school because they never faced real competition except maybe an all star tournament twice a year. If you and your kid love soccer you are better off going travel to avoid these rec coordinators ego.


There is a simple solution that would fix many of these issues in rec soccer. Have a draft! They do it in most other rec sports like basketball baseball etc. It prevents anyone from stacking their team and it will encourage coaches to join knowing they can get good players and have a legit shot at a good season. Instead with soccer the whole division is at the mercy of these coordinators.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 12:18     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
As much as rec was important to my kid's introduction to soccer and knowing if she would like to play at a higher level, rec in general is a pure money grab.

This is why they create as many teams as possible without any knowledge of how many volunteer coaches are available. They send multiple threatening emails to the parents stating the season won't start, etc because if it doesn't they have to refund your money back.

If they actually cared about youth soccer they would do the following:

1. Create teams with coaches first. Then fill them as kids register.

2. If a team does not have a set coaching staff then the team is not created or the parents get a refund.

3. Set up a time where kids can just get together and play scrimmages for free. Once a week is more than fine. This allows kids an introduction into soccer without the season commitment or cost.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 10:44     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.


Why is that anyone else’s fault? People’s expectations of rec sports programs are completely unrealistic in this area. It’s often going to be just as messy as you describe and that’s OK (except for the other coach yelling of course). It supposed to fun and casual and community-led. It’s why travel soccer costs 20x or more what rec soccer does.


But it isn't fun and casual when you have completely stacked teams season after season. And it isn't fun if you are on a team where not enough kids show up for games because people consider it optional because it's rec. And it is a waste to spend your time coaching or managing a team and then not have players show up for games. This is exactly why families choose travel soccer over rec, even low-level travel teams. They don't want to put up with this nonsense.


100% correct!

Unfortunately this happens all the time. Usually it’s a rec coordinator stacking his team and leaving the scraps to the other coaches. Eventually people either leave by quitting soccer or joining travel. That’s why rec players crumble when they get to high school because they never faced real competition except maybe an all star tournament twice a year. If you and your kid love soccer you are better off going travel to avoid these rec coordinators ego.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 10:35     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.


Why is that anyone else’s fault? People’s expectations of rec sports programs are completely unrealistic in this area. It’s often going to be just as messy as you describe and that’s OK (except for the other coach yelling of course). It supposed to fun and casual and community-led. It’s why travel soccer costs 20x or more what rec soccer does.


But it isn't fun and casual when you have completely stacked teams season after season. And it isn't fun if you are on a team where not enough kids show up for games because people consider it optional because it's rec. And it is a waste to spend your time coaching or managing a team and then not have players show up for games. This is exactly why families choose travel soccer over rec, even low-level travel teams. They don't want to put up with this nonsense.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 10:24     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


In two years we’ve lost 5 coaches in our division at CYA because they had enough of the coordinators nonsense. Will be interesting to see who returns this season.


Has anyone ever had a good experience with cya? Seems like a lot wannabe superstar coaches with inflated self worth tied to their rec success.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 09:20     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Rec and Grass Roots soccer only flourish in environments and regions with a true soccer culture.

Basketball amateur leagues wouldn't work well in New York and LA without a basketball culture.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 09:15     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Our rec soccer league charges $200! I don't understand where all the money goes. They don't even get to practice on soccer fields, just grass with no goals. Coaches are told to buy their own pop up goals.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 09:14     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.


That's so lame. They should at least have even numbers of players per team. Why would kids want to be a team with 15 kids where they barely get to play?
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 09:14     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote:Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.


Why is that anyone else’s fault? People’s expectations of rec sports programs are completely unrealistic in this area. It’s often going to be just as messy as you describe and that’s OK (except for the other coach yelling of course). It supposed to fun and casual and community-led. It’s why travel soccer costs 20x or more what rec soccer does.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2024 08:43     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
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.


In two years we’ve lost 5 coaches in our division at CYA because they had enough of the coordinators nonsense. Will be interesting to see who returns this season.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2024 23:46     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Ha, yeah. The email I got (despite signing up during the early bird registration) was: "Hi parents! This email list is your team. We don't have a coach for you, so one of you will have to do it. Please let me know who. Your first game is this Saturday at 10am." That email came on the Thursday before the first game.

It was a ridiculous season. One other parent and I co-coached. Neither of us knew the first thing about soccer, let alone about coaching. I was traveling for work every other week. 3/4 of the kids had never played before, we were clearly the team of leftover kids that didn't have an "in" team. We had enough kids for the field plus 2 extra, IF everyone showed up - we frequently had to play games a player or two short (and the opposing teams always had a full field plus a full team worth of subs). One of the opposing coaches yelled at me on the field for not agreeing to skip water breaks, because his kids wanted to play through (he had enough for 3 full teams and subbed out the whole field every 3-5 minutes, I was one short of a full field so had zero subs on a late May afternoon).

My kid quit soccer at the end of that year. Can't say I was sorry.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2024 23:35     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
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.

I saw a basketball league where it wasn't hostile, but a little rough. The e-mail mentions all the requirements, you have to show up for this training, etc.
They could save that until after the coaches sign up.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2024 23:33     Subject: If there's no coach, will rec soccer just say "sorry, you can't play"?
Anonymous wrote: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.


Just sign up to coach. Will the league really notice if you are not there? My kid coached at that age, and it leagely wouldn't have mattered if I wasn't there. He could probably get some friends to join him.