There are so many things to consider about the next step. Time, money, and the motivation factor of the player at hand are all just a few things that come to mind. To be honest, the location of each person has a lot to do with the expense factor as well as the supply of quality coaches. I can write for days on what makes a good coach, but the scope of this blog is about how to find them, and how much you should pay.
If you are fortunate enough to live in an MLS market, please know that one of the great benefits of MLS coaches and players is there accessibility. I cannot speak for all players but a majority of my friends and myself would try to pursue other revenue streams (ie coaching) to help supplement our income. (My game with the ladies was limited since I lived with my mom so money to pay for dinner was always a necessity during this time of my life).
Parents and coaches looking for quality team training or personal training should always look to their local MLS or any professional team first. The reasons are endless. Their experience, exposure to advanced coaching methods, objective approach to players and their passion are all things which make this an advantageous choice. The price per session can be anywhere between 100 -200 dollars per session depending on location and individual. A simple email or approach at practice to any given player is always the best way. More than likely it will be the younger players who are more enthusiastic about this, and for the sake of saving your own reputation, do not ask any Designated Players to coach your son's team. You see where i'm going with this.
If you do not live in an MLS market, search out the closest professional team. If this is not an option find your nearest University with a soccer team. The higher the division, the most likely the better, but this is not always the case. Most of the coaches at top colleges will charge the same as MLS players if they have been around or about 25% less if not. Also, depending on the price of living, some markets will dictate higher financial demands.
If there is not a college or pro team, try to find the best club team. You can easily find this out by asking around and getting a general consensus. Most club teams have goalkeeper coaches, and most of these coaches will want to do private lessons. Now if you are asked to pay 100 dollars an hour for a private, then you know you are dealing with either a good GK coach, or just some clown who thinks that he is that smart. I would say anywhere between 50-75 dollars a session is a decent wage and don't be afraid to offer this right off the bat.
Group sessions from my experience offer the best bang for your buck as well as the coach's. Rather than have your GK or player pay top notch money for one session, its almost just as useful to grab a couple of other players who are also interested in improving and paying less. Most of the time, I do sessions for 4 GK's at 50-60 bucks per kid, which means i'm making more money than a private lesson at 150-200 dollars a session. It's better for my pocket, and the parents.
These group lessons is how I learned when I was a kid, and for players who are highly motivated, they are the best tool. Motivated players will absorb the words spoken by the coach, not only to themselves but to the other players as well. For a visual learner like myself, it was also good to see how things are done the right, and the wrong way.
Before I sign off, I'd like to give you the qualities of coaches to stay away from. First, any coach who does not want his/her "player-student" working with other coaches because it might affect their technique is full of BS. I don't care if any of the kids I work with go see other coaches. Why?? Because I know i'm the best coach there is, bar none. If a young GK goes somewhere else, it is because they have found someone they enjoy working with more and that is fine also. The game of soccer wins either way because they have continued playing. Second, avoid coaches who seem overly biased about their own players they teach. Nothing is more annoying than hearing a guy talk about all the great players he coaches and bad mouths other players. Soccer is a game, an art , and a passion. There are so many avenues to success, and never think that a certain coach is the only answer. Thus, avoid negative coaches in general. 99% of kids won't be pros. However, with the right coach, 99% of these kids can enjoy the benefits of improved self-esteem, lessons in improvement through hard work, goal-setting and many more attributes a great coach brings. Finally, any coach who seems to be driven more by money than a passion for the kids needs to be ignored. I understand that coaching is a big business, but there is no place for these clowns. You can usually spot these guys a mile away and use your best judgement like you would when making other financial decisions for your children.
So I'm sorry that this went long, but it's a topic which could easily be a whole book. Please don't hesitate to email me at GKUNION101@gmail.com if you have any questions about the coaches and situations you encounter. It might take a little while to get back to you, but i promise to do so.
Well hope this finds everyone well. Thanks for reading and until next time.....
may the posts be with you!!!
Joe Cannon
My son, Dylan, attended the Cannon-Mulrooney camps for the last three years that they held them in San Jose. I believe that Dylan was nine when he met Joe Cannon and decided that he wanted to be a keeper. Joe changed his life and he was the keeper on his league winning middle school and high school teams and is now the starting keeper on his college team as a sophmore. I can't say enough about how important a good coach can be early in life. Thanks Joe.
ReplyDelete