Qualifications

[Unregistered]

There are too many coaches without proper qualifications being hired by clubs....I know of some clubs that hire kids that have just completed college and and get to coach 2 or 3 teams..Really????

[ForzaAzzurri]

Two words: caveat emptor.

In simple English, that is the beauty of the club soccer world...no one is forced to be a (paying) customer.

:)

[Unregistered]

Two words: caveat emptor.

In simple English, that is the beauty of the club soccer world...no one is forced to be a (paying) customer.

:)

Very good advice especially because coaches can change from tryouts to the first game. My advice would be unless you are on the top team for a good club keep your expectation very low.

[Unregistered]

It applies to all sports throughout time, but soccer is very parochial with the notion that to be a great coach you have to be a great player and great players translate into great coaching. Coaching is about teaching, imparting knowledge, and being a great teacher is by no means strictly tied to playing ability.

And with soccer, this misguided belief is magnified with the point made about young college players - during and after their careers being introduced to the club coaching scene. It amounts to on the job training for many.

I can say unequivocally that I just left a club where the revolving door gave us a new coach with more playing experience than coaching experience and without a doubt my kid's town coach was vastly superior (and more qualified).

[Unregistered]

Two words: caveat emptor.

In simple English, that is the beauty of the club soccer world...no one is forced to be a (paying) customer.

:)

Shouldn't the leagues be stepping in? I thought to belong to the certain leagues (read NEP) the club needed to ensure their coaches were licensed at a certain level, they have a dedicated DOC, etc.

[Unregistered]

Shouldn't the leagues be stepping in? I thought to belong to the certain leagues (read NEP) the club needed to ensure their coaches were licensed at a certain level, they have a dedicated DOC, etc.

Many leagues have rules and most clubs live up to those rules. If you have a specific case in mind you should discuss it with the league or the team.

I'm not sure what your agenda is here?

[Unregistered]

Many leagues have rules and most clubs live up to those rules. If you have a specific case in mind you should discuss it with the league or the team.

I'm not sure what your agenda is here?

Discuss it with the league? Who? The parent of a player? Ha. Good luck with that. Little to gain and plenty to lose.

There are other rules and restrictions "imposed" by these leagues (age/playing up, coach conduct). Their incentive for enforcement here or elsewhere within those rules? Nil.

[Unregistered]

Discuss it with the league? Who? The parent of a player? Ha. Good luck with that. Little to gain and plenty to lose.

There are other rules and restrictions "imposed" by these leagues (age/playing up, coach conduct). Their incentive for enforcement here or elsewhere within those rules? Nil.

Every league has people who are looking to enforce the rules. It's not that hard to send anonymous emails - so and so club/team is using unlicensed coaches.

The incentive for the leagues is that they are open to liability when they become aware of a rules violation and don't act on it. Beyond learning to teach the game, coaching education is used to ensure that coaches are aware of how to behave responsibly and how to respond to injuries.

In this day and age board members are not going to stick their neck out for somebody else in this way - too risky.

[Unregistered]

Every league has people who are looking to enforce the rules. It's not that hard to send anonymous emails - so and so club/team is using unlicensed coaches.

The incentive for the leagues is that they are open to liability when they become aware of a rules violation and don't act on it. Beyond learning to teach the game, coaching education is used to ensure that coaches are aware of how to behave responsibly and how to respond to injuries.

In this day and age board members are not going to stick their neck out for somebody else in this way - too risky.

Oh please. If what you say is true, with respect to the culture around these leagues, how their respective boards see the liability, risk, etc., and the commensurate desire to act when/where needed, then it wouldn't take the kind of anonymous reporting we're talking about for enforcement to even take place. Heck, they might actually be doing something to prevent problems/violations in the first place.

I work in compliance - my approach is that compliance doesn't happen in shades of degrees or shades of grey, it's black or white - and in order to achieve compliance your approach is proactive and preventative and not reactive. I've dealt with some of these issues, it's my impression that the governing bodies in youth soccer look the other way by design.

Coach conduct is a great example. The crap that is allowed to go on is a disgrace. NO ONE has any interest in policing that more than refs and red cards.

I had a coach threaten to punch out my daughter's coach, jawing face to face, within arm's reach of my kid as she stood at halfway waiting to sub in. I informed the league (and MYSA), neither even acknowledged the incident or receipt of my complaint.

But sure, maybe they just went ahead and dealt with it...

[Unregistered]

Is being a (new) coach any different than any other occupation these days? Everyone needs experience and on the job training. As long as they go through the process; get licensed and work in a system that provides ongoing training and support, I don't see the problem. Everyone has to start somewhere.

If you are not happy with the coach, find another club. No one is forcing you to stay.

[Unregistered]

Oh please. If what you say is true, with respect to the culture around these leagues, how their respective boards see the liability, risk, etc., and the commensurate desire to act when/where needed, then it wouldn't take the kind of anonymous reporting we're talking about for enforcement to even take place. Heck, they might actually be doing something to prevent problems/violations in the first place.

I work in compliance - my approach is that compliance doesn't happen in shades of degrees or shades of grey, it's black or white - and in order to achieve compliance your approach is proactive and preventative and not reactive. I've dealt with some of these issues, it's my impression that the governing bodies in youth soccer look the other way by design.

Coach conduct is a great example. The crap that is allowed to go on is a disgrace. NO ONE has any interest in policing that more than refs and red cards.

I had a coach threaten to punch out my daughter's coach, jawing face to face, within arm's reach of my kid as she stood at halfway waiting to sub in. I informed the league (and MYSA), neither even acknowledged the incident or receipt of my complaint.

But sure, maybe they just went ahead and dealt with it...

How does your situation have anything to do with coach licensing?

[Unregistered]

Is being a (new) coach any different than any other occupation these days? Everyone needs experience and on the job training. As long as they go through the process; get licensed and work in a system that provides ongoing training and support, I don't see the problem. Everyone has to start somewhere.

If you are not happy with the coach, find another club. No one is forcing you to stay.

As long as they go through the process, etc. amounts to a big if. Some clubs want or need the bodies and are less genuinely interested in the development of their staff.

It's just another case of the consumer needs to do their homework because each club is different, this area being among those differences.

[Unregistered]

How does your situation have anything to do with coach licensing?

It doesn't other someone mentioned there are certain requirements for licensing by the different leagues and a point about enforcement.

Does anyone really believe MAPLE or any other league gives a crap about any number of clubs having a coach here or there that hasn't gone through a given certification process (USSF or NSCAA) ever or within the past few decades?

I don't see it being among their priorities.

[Unregistered]

There are too many coaches without proper qualifications being hired by clubs....I know of some clubs that hire kids that have just completed college and and get to coach 2 or 3 teams..Really????

This is part of the recent trend to value playing experience over coaching ability. The two have a very tenuous relationship. I have watched many of these young coaches run practices and I silently groan to myself as I watch. 1) long winded instructions between training elements, 2) overly complicated training elements for young players, 3) lots of standing around and players fidgiting and looking disinterested, 4) players standing 5-6 deep in lines, 5) training elements that do not replicate match conditions or that do not use time efficiently by accomplishing multiple objectives. 6) not enough touches of the ball

Kind of like watching newbie rec. town soccer coaches run the "line up and shoot at the goalie from 5 feet away drill".

[Unregistered]

Shouldn't the leagues be stepping in? I thought to belong to the certain leagues (read NEP) the club needed to ensure their coaches were licensed at a certain level, they have a dedicated DOC, etc.

Lots of bogus creds out there - especially from foreign players. Anybody can produce a certificate that shows you have a B,C, or D license or Advanced diploma from the Flanders Football Association. Who is going to check that?