How Do You Know if Your Coach is a Good Coach?

[Guest]

(That was my reply that you're replying to)
My d is in almost the same boat as yours, just a year younger.
My d had a choice between coach she loves and super strong team (with unfamilliar to her but renowned coach). She picked coach. I know the coach will work to strengthen the team. it's just a matter of time. (She does love her team) . So you need to look for (in order):
1. D needs to love the coach. You need to trust the coach. Let go and let them do their thing
2. Strong team

I think as they get older, #2 is more important than #1..Maybe 9th or 10th grade. I knew at her current age, she wouldn't be as happy on the other team (no fault of the other team / club). And happy players (students) develop (learn) more.

It's really hard to guage a coach from people's experiences as they are always subjective. But they are nonetheless of value. Observe the coach at trainings as well. Your observations with parent feedback can paint a picture of the new coach. And talk to him.

Thanks. I guess I'll have to wait and see how the year goes with this coach before considering whether or not it makes sense to switch clubs prior to next season.

There is also another club option that would make quality of life a lot easier for us. The coach is renowned at the high school level as he has had a perennial powerhouse high school girl's soccer program. He knows my daughter pretty well as she has attended his camps and plays for a feeder school into the high school. I know from both his reputation and the experience my daughter has had with him that he would be a great coach and she would probably love him (though he is tough). The club also has some very good teams. The problem with his club team (i think) is that they do not play in a strong league. Not ECNL or GA. Unsurprisingly, they dominate this league. They do play tournaments and scrimmages against high-level competition. We ultimately decided not to join this club based on the fact that they do not play top competition and my fear was the speed of play would be much slower, to her eventual detriment if we later re-joined ECNL. In addition, the exposure (to the extent it exists for U13) would be next to none, but this also a concern as she gets older.

Where does the quality of the league rank in relation to the quality of the coach and team? How do each (coach/club/league) rank in relation to each other, and does it change based on age?

[Guest]

Well lookie here - Pep doing a whiteboard tactical discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=RCmOISg2LZg

[Guest]

Here's what you want to look for in a coach and why.

1. Coach forces players to play position / When kids are young forcing players to play position might cost you games. However once you hit 11v11 not being able to play position will cost you games.

2. Coach runs multiple lines at the same time / This one seems obvious but some coaches don't get it. If you have one line of players running a drill this means several players are standing around waiting for their turn. Why not run 4 lines and give all players 4x the number of touches?

3. Coach maintains a high tempo of play the entire practice / Players improve by the number of touches they have on the ball. The more drills you can do and the speed they're implemented directly relates to the number of touches each player gets.

Be careful with coaches that do a lot of "chalkboard" discussions with players. This is how things worked in the 1990s + it doesn't work anymore. Coaches should be explaining tactical items while the players are moving and reinforcing it over and over.

Thanks.

From what I have seen so far, I think the new coach will check off 2 (which I have not seen a coach do since my daughter pretty little) and 3.

As to point 1, I think you mean not letting players wander into other positions, and instead making sure players maintain a position on the field, right? Or am I misreading it?

[Guest]

Thanks.

From what I have seen so far, I think the new coach will check off 2 (which I have not seen a coach do since my daughter pretty little) and 3.

As to point 1, I think you mean not letting players wander into other positions, and instead making sure players maintain a position on the field, right? Or am I misreading it?

Not the OP, but players shouldn't be locked into a single position throughout a season. They should be taught all elements of every position, essentially learn to play where you are. It helps to enhance the fluidity of play, and also what one perceives as their best position will evolve over time. My D was an attacking MF or CF until about 14, then outside back, then eventually center back.

[Guest]

Not the OP, but players shouldn't be locked into a single position throughout a season. They should be taught all elements of every position, essentially learn to play where you are. It helps to enhance the fluidity of play, and also what one perceives as their best position will evolve over time. My D was an attacking MF or CF until about 14, then outside back, then eventually center back.

I agree with you, but I am not sure that is what they are saying. I think they mean making sure players "keep their shape" (something all of our coaches have yelled repeatedly over the years) and not wander out of position, regardless of the position they are playing.

[Guest]

I agree with you, but I am not sure that is what they are saying. I think they mean making sure players "keep their shape" (something all of our coaches have yelled repeatedly over the years) and not wander out of position, regardless of the position they are playing.

I could be wrong; I interpreted it as a coach pigeon-holing players to get a result (i.e. the standard "put the fast kid up top", which certainly isn't always the wrong move but not always the right move, either).

[Guest]

A good coach is one that gives players many development opportunities:
Guest playing
Tournaments (right challenge level is important, wins are less important than challenge)
Adequate winter and summer training

The team is just as important though. If your kid is one of the few talents on the team, she's not going to improve that much even with the best coach.
You need a good coach and a team that matches your d's level in order for her to really develop.

Lol at “guest playing” being your #1 ranked development priority

[Guest]

Lol at “guest playing” being your #1 ranked development priority

There was no order to that list

[Guest]

Thanks. I guess I'll have to wait and see how the year goes with this coach before considering whether or not it makes sense to switch clubs prior to next season.

There is also another club option that would make quality of life a lot easier for us. The coach is renowned at the high school level as he has had a perennial powerhouse high school girl's soccer program. He knows my daughter pretty well as she has attended his camps and plays for a feeder school into the high school. I know from both his reputation and the experience my daughter has had with him that he would be a great coach and she would probably love him (though he is tough). The club also has some very good teams. The problem with his club team (i think) is that they do not play in a strong league. Not ECNL or GA. Unsurprisingly, they dominate this league. They do play tournaments and scrimmages against high-level competition. We ultimately decided not to join this club based on the fact that they do not play top competition and my fear was the speed of play would be much slower, to her eventual detriment if we later re-joined ECNL. In addition, the exposure (to the extent it exists for U13) would be next to none, but this also a concern as she gets older.

Where does the quality of the league rank in relation to the quality of the coach and team? How do each (coach/club/league) rank in relation to each other, and does it change based on age?

*gauge (not guage from my previous reply)


I would assume all ECNL coaches are good since the league is so competitive. But the ones that stand out are those that can take their team to playoffs. Besides coaching ability, they have a keen eye for talent. But along with that comes ruthlessness to cut. If your d is fine with being kept on her toes, then that's the right coach for her.

The high school coach you mentioned, which league is the school in?

[Guest]

*gauge (not guage from my previous reply)


I would assume all ECNL coaches are good since the league is so competitive. But the ones that stand out are those that can take their team to playoffs. Besides coaching ability, they have a keen eye for talent. But along with that comes ruthlessness to cut. If your d is fine with being kept on her toes, then that's the right coach for her.

The high school coach you mentioned, which league is the school in?

I don't want to be too specific on here, so let's just say it would be a step below DPL.

[Guest]

Lol at “guest playing” being your #1 ranked development priority

Meant to say guest playing *up

Really doesn't matter past u15 though. Needed more so for late bloomers.

[Guest]

And to be clear, the school is separate from the club. The school also just happens to have its own affiliated club. Assuming we don't move and she continues to want to play, she will end up playing for the school.

[Guest]

I don't want to be too specific on here, so let's just say it would be a step below DPL.

So it's in. a nepsac league < DPL?

[Guest]

So it's in. a nepsac league < DPL?

I'm not in Mass, so I'm not sure. It's a league where some GA teams have their third teams, and then some other decent local non-ECNL, non-GA teams. Where I am, it would go GA>DPL>This league.

[Guest]

*gauge (not guage from my previous reply)


I would assume all ECNL coaches are good since the league is so competitive. But the ones that stand out are those that can take their team to playoffs. Besides coaching ability, they have a keen eye for talent. But along with that comes ruthlessness to cut. If your d is fine with being kept on her toes, then that's the right coach for her.

The high school coach you mentioned, which league is the school in?

not all ECNL coaches are good. Just look hard at EB. Terrible coach, even worse director.