I would like to try to start the conversation by saying that after my career, I'll be interested in helping build a successful youth soccer club. However, after almost two decades away from club soccer, I think I need a little feedback. I want to know what kind of things parents like or don't like about their own club soccer experiences. Costs, jerseys, coaches, anything really. I know there are lots of stories, so feel free to leave them below or just email me at mvlagk@gmail.com. I will use this blog to try and understand the youth game.
In essence, if i were to build a soccer club from the beginning, what types of things should I try to do? Like I said, all feedback is welcome. Thank you for your time, and looking forward to reading your responses and starting the conversation.
Best,
Joe Cannon
The worst part of club soccer is the increasing pressure placed on the youths by the clubs as they age.
ReplyDeleteMy personal experience as a player was quitting soccer after the NASL Whitecaps folded. Clubs teams followed suit and our Gold team was merged with an older Silver team. Our Gold coach had quit and suddenly we were subbed on in the last few minutes despite our abilities and hard work in practice. It seemed a vengeful tactic by the Silver coach as we had routinely routed them. Looking back, it was one of my worst decisions. I was 16.
My son is now 16 and won the MVP as a goalkeeper this past season for his club. He is making the same decision to quit soccer. He says it's because of the pressure. His club had a smaller talent pool to draw from and routinely faced ~20 shots on goal and a few times his team didn't even manage a shot. They'd lose 4-0 and he'd take it very personal. Always muddied, he still managed several clean sheets. He had the typical keeper injuries - broken forearm, sprained thumbs, cleat marks etc. We respect his decision but he is a developmental level player with huge potential.
Any tips on keeping him playing the game? I've tried bribery...
Hey Joe - Through my coaching experience at the youth level I think the best approach is following many of the concepts of the Positive Coaching Alliance (http://positivecoach.org/). The coaches, parents and players should be expected to preserve a positive developmental youth environment.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the foundation is centered on youth development whereas most professionals focus on winning only. I hope you agree that professional coaching should be different than coaching youth. This is culture and approach that needs to be instilled at the top and followed/understood by the coaches, players and families.
When kids start playing soccer, they typically do so with these priorities:
1. fun (friends)
2. learn skills and winning
3. winning
As they get older these priorities shift (learning moves up, etc.) and the coaching should shift as well.
KC
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteAs a player, youth coach and former youth referee I think that if you ask the parents they say costs, fun and staff technical knowledge then winning. If you ask the kids it is fun, friends, and then winning. Realistically if they are having fun and getting blown out every game it will the fun will disappear quickly. To me to satisfy both the parents and the kids it becomes an even amount of all cost, fun, friends and the club technical staff.
First I have coached at the U12 to U18 level and now and preparing to coach coach U11 again to start the process over again.
My opinions on:
1) Cost - having good technical directors and staff cost money. Our club rates are
U5 - $175.00
U6 & U7- $210.00
U8-U10 - $210.00
U11 & U12 -$210.00
U13 & U14 - $245.00
U15 & U16 - $275.00
U17 & U18 -$290.00
MSL (U13-U18)- $400.00
BCSPL-Mini Season (U13 only) - $650.00
BCSPL U14- and up they do not publish that info but I know it is considerably more
That does not included money that is charged for "team fees" that individual teams charged to cover referee expenses (reimbursed twice during the season to the team), oranges, year end party costs.
This year I had 2 kids in soccer and the team I coaches had 6 boys that were partially subsidized so they could play. Not cheap if your a parent on a fixed income so having a way to help subsidize kids and letting the parents know there are options for them is important. Otherwise kids will miss the chance of being able to play. Thee is more to this but for the sake of your blog I will move on.
Getting good club sponsorship helps as well.
2)Fun/Friends: Fun and friends are far more important at the mini age. But if a team does not have a certain amount of success they will not have fun either. Getting kick every game is no fun at any age. So making sure teams are a balance of fun and competitiveness is important. They do not have to win every game or even 1 game but if they know they were close and draw afew games that is enough. As they get older they tend to shift more towards winning but again are they having fun? Parents would tell me that some boys who I coached had turned down offers of playing in a higher level simply because they had fun and looked forward to practices and games. U18 was the toughest because at that age most are starting working, have girls friends but they always managed to make at least 1 practice a week and I was fine with that. We lost games and won games We went to our cup final twice in 2 years and lost both times 1-0. Walking off the field they were happy, laughing and smiling. Yeah they lost but winning is not everything unless your into the youth Metro leagues or a youth Premier League and that is a completely different animal. So if they are smiling at the end of a loss then you must be doing something right.
3)Technical Staff: The reason for the high registration fees. Good staff is not check. Although they are not full time they are certainly compensated for their work. They will be the ones to train your various coaches. Never stop the education process as it is a never ending education. I have even had 1 of our senior technical staff run a practice from time to time to give the boys someone and something different so they are not always doing the same drills over and over. I was lucky to have Shea Selinas run of our practices 2 years ago when he was with the whitecaps...I took notes, learned 2 new drills and for 2 years the boys still talked about it. Involve your coaches as they are the ones who are first to arrive and last to leave rain or shine.Some changes are a good thing and if explained correctly will go on as planned and if there there is something that is wrong they will tell you. There will be bumps that is for sure.
I can go on and on but I have used enough space on your blog.
Cheers
Peter
Hey Joe - A good club, in the eyes of a parent, should focus on development at its core. Lots of clubs say they do but when they feel the pressure to win, they fall back on playing bad but effective soccer. Focusing on development, first and foremost, yields dividends in the end. The key is to get parents to buy into the truth that development trumps winning at the younger ages. It is harder than it sounds since most parents equate winning with success. You'll need to develop different measurables so that parents understand you're making progress even if you aren't winning every game. Take a look at PSV Union FC in No. California. Their system is based on 4 days a week training and developing skills. Must work - their track record for college placement and national team players is pretty impressive for a club with less than 10 teams.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about where you'd start the club? (reading between the lines: will you stay in Vancouver?)
ReplyDeleteI asked Joe that question at the Whitecaps open practice and he said his home town.
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