Private soccer coaching in CT -- Is MA next?

[Unregistered]

Not really. Sure you can add a little speed through strengthening and posture, but not a ton. As for intensity, you either have it or you don't. 1v1 training is not going to make the light go off.

intensity can increase thru increased experience as well as physical and psychological growth.
To say that you have it or you don't I have to disagree partially with but most will conclude this thinking as a generalization. The mind is a powerful thing.

[Unregistered]

intensity can increase thru increased experience as well as physical and psychological growth.
To say that you have it or you don't I have to disagree partially with but most will conclude this thinking as a generalization. The mind is a powerful thing.

Don't posters like this come off like a coach begging for a pay day. All they are doing is selling the exception rather than the rule to create false hope. Rather pathetic actually because if they were actually any good they would know differently and just keep their mouth shut.

A speed coach might improve a player's speed by a half a step or so but they most certainly are not going to make up 4-5 steps. The foolish people who buy this type of thinking don't realize how fast a top level player actually is. If your kid is not as fast as the top 2-3 fastest kids on their team, they are going to find that they too slow to really consider playing at the top levels. When it comes to those top levels, the world is a big place and there are always some freaks out there that have the whole package (great size, fantastic speed, unbelievable quickness, topflight skill, and killer intensity). The coaches at those levels don't really have to compromise much.

Intensity is just like speed. A good coach might be able to improve it some but they are not going to change a player who always loses a 50/50 ball into one that always wins them. At the top levels winning a 50/50 ball becomes about the physical match ups, not about the intensity to go after the ball. At those levels the players must have the mental intensity to constantly be pushing to make plays. Sitting back and watching others always dig out a ball or make the hard run is unacceptable. There are plenty of players out there with high "motors", athleticism, and skill so coaches at the top levels don't really need to accept anything less than full tilt boogie mode.

[Unregistered]

Don't posters like this come off like a coach begging for a pay day. All they are doing is selling the exception rather than the rule to create false hope. Rather pathetic actually because if they were actually any good they would know differently and just keep their mouth shut.

A speed coach might improve a player's speed by a half a step or so but they most certainly are not going to make up 4-5 steps. The foolish people who buy this type of thinking don't realize how fast a top level player actually is. If your kid is not as fast as the top 2-3 fastest kids on their team, they are going to find that they too slow to really consider playing at the top levels. When it comes to those top levels, the world is a big place and there are always some freaks out there that have the whole package (great size, fantastic speed, unbelievable quickness, topflight skill, and killer intensity). The coaches at those levels don't really have to compromise much.

Intensity is just like speed. A good coach might be able to improve it some but they are not going to change a player who always loses a 50/50 ball into one that always wins them. At the top levels winning a 50/50 ball becomes about the physical match ups, not about the intensity to go after the ball. At those levels the players must have the mental intensity to constantly be pushing to make plays. Sitting back and watching others always dig out a ball or make the hard run is unacceptable. There are plenty of players out there with high "motors", athleticism, and skill so coaches at the top levels don't really need to accept anything less than full tilt boogie mode.

why are you in it? With your pessimistic type of mentality, you will never be able to achieve any serious level. whether you're coach or parent.

[Unregistered]

why are you in it? With your pessimistic type of mentality, you will never be able to achieve any serious level. whether you're coach or parent.

Suggest that you go read the Gosgrove Canned thread. You'll learn a lot about private trainers and ego. Bottom line is if your kid has the talent you use trainers to do a job. Hired hands. A few of the special coaches out there MIGHT be able to improve a few things, most will just screw your kid up and take your money.

[Unregistered]

Suggest that you go read the Gosgrove Canned thread. You'll learn a lot about private trainers and ego. Bottom line is if your kid has the talent you use trainers to do a job. Hired hands. A few of the special coaches out there MIGHT be able to improve a few things, most will just screw your kid up and take your money.

Wow! That's a very cynical viewpoint if ever I've seen one. How exactly will a private coach screw your kid up? Some private trainers will be better than others but those who fail to make much of an impact aren't really going to get the repeat clientele and referrals they need to continue are they? It's the same as in any business, soccer-related or not.

[Unregistered]

Wow! That's a very cynical viewpoint if ever I've seen one. How exactly will a private coach screw your kid up? Some private trainers will be better than others but those who fail to make much of an impact aren't really going to get the repeat clientele and referrals they need to continue are they? It's the same as in any business, soccer-related or not.

Talk about being naïve, you have sucker written all over your forehead.

[Unregistered]

Don't posters like this come off like a coach begging for a pay day. All they are doing is selling the exception rather than the rule to create false hope. Rather pathetic actually because if they were actually any good they would know differently and just keep their mouth shut.

A speed coach might improve a player's speed by a half a step or so but they most certainly are not going to make up 4-5 steps. The foolish people who buy this type of thinking don't realize how fast a top level player actually is. If your kid is not as fast as the top 2-3 fastest kids on their team, they are going to find that they too slow to really consider playing at the top levels. When it comes to those top levels, the world is a big place and there are always some freaks out there that have the whole package (great size, fantastic speed, unbelievable quickness, topflight skill, and killer intensity). The coaches at those levels don't really have to compromise much.

Intensity is just like speed. A good coach might be able to improve it some but they are not going to change a player who always loses a 50/50 ball into one that always wins them. At the top levels winning a 50/50 ball becomes about the physical match ups, not about the intensity to go after the ball. At those levels the players must have the mental intensity to constantly be pushing to make plays. Sitting back and watching others always dig out a ball or make the hard run is unacceptable. There are plenty of players out there with high "motors", athleticism, and skill so coaches at the top levels don't really need to accept anything less than full tilt boogie mode.

I disagree with pretty much everything in the above post:
1 - An athlete's speed can vary a lot from year to year as they mature. A kid who is among the fastest one year may be only average a year or two later and vice versa.
2 - While speed training will only improve an already conditioned athlete maybe 10%, that 10% can be hugely important. Training (both strength and speed) for a developing or unconditioned athlete can have an even greater and more significant effect, but the process can take years.
3 - There are lots of types of speed, and game speed is very different from track speed. Quickness over 5-10 yards is more important than top end speed. And lots of times anticipation and conditioning trump rested, timed speed.
4 - Even a passing familiarity with professional soccer shows that coaches at the top level do not select for the "total package". Fabrigas, Iniesta and Januzaj great size and strength? Berbatov plays with intensity? John Terry fast? None of those guys would be even in the top half of US college players in those categories.

[Unregistered]

I disagree with pretty much everything in the above post:
1 - An athlete's speed can vary a lot from year to year as they mature. A kid who is among the fastest one year may be only average a year or two later and vice versa.
2 - While speed training will only improve an already conditioned athlete maybe 10%, that 10% can be hugely important. Training (both strength and speed) for a developing or unconditioned athlete can have an even greater and more significant effect, but the process can take years.
3 - There are lots of types of speed, and game speed is very different from track speed. Quickness over 5-10 yards is more important than top end speed. And lots of times anticipation and conditioning trump rested, timed speed.
4 - Even a passing familiarity with professional soccer shows that coaches at the top level do not select for the "total package". Fabrigas, Iniesta and Januzaj great size and strength? Berbatov plays with intensity? John Terry fast? None of those guys would be even in the top half of US college players in those categories.

Must have a slow, short kid who can juggle for hours on end. Thinks paying some clown to do that will put them on a pro roster. One born every minute.

[Unregistered]

Ever listened to Felgar and Mazz talk about pro athletes and use the term "they suck" when referring to a player at the bottom of a roster. Usually they are talking about some player who was an all star at the level below but once they jumped up to the pro level, they honestly can't play any longer. Truth is they do suck relative to other players at the competitive level. When you are trying to project kids up to higher levels of competition you don't start with kids that are lacking in some area, you start with the true all stars and even then a whole bunch of them don't successfully make the jump. No one in their right mind would build a house of weak foundation why would do that with a young athlete?

[Unregistered]

Must have a slow, short kid who can juggle for hours on end. Thinks paying some clown to do that will put them on a pro roster. One born every minute.

Is this the same poster with these horribly negative views? A lot of people speaking a lot of sense on here, no one saying that a private coach can take a complete novice and turn them into the next Messi overnight. However there are plenty of small-minded and ignorant posts on the other end of the scale.

[Unregistered]

Is this the same poster with these horribly negative views? A lot of people speaking a lot of sense on here, no one saying that a private coach can take a complete novice and turn them into the next Messi overnight. However there are plenty of small-minded and ignorant posts on the other end of the scale.

I know exactly what I am looking at, I used to do it for a living myself. You would be amazed at how many parents actually do think that you, me or anyone is going to transform their slow and uninspired kid into the next Messi. It is like stealing.

[Unregistered]

Ever listened to Felgar and Mazz talk about pro athletes and use the term "they suck" when referring to a player at the bottom of a roster. Usually they are talking about some player who was an all star at the level below but once they jumped up to the pro level, they honestly can't play any longer. Truth is they do suck relative to other players at the competitive level. When you are trying to project kids up to higher levels of competition you don't start with kids that are lacking in some area, you start with the true all stars and even then a whole bunch of them don't successfully make the jump. No one in their right mind would build a house of weak foundation why would do that with a young athlete?

Of course, no one puts too much weight in "projecting" which players will be able to play at a higher level. It's all a matter of probabilities. Every one has their own probability curve. But since you don't need to be the total package even to play in the EPL, coaches for pro development academies don't pick for the total package either. For example, if you are picking for future pros from U12 kids, you would totally disregard size and strength. And extraordinary technical skill, good quickness and excellent ability to read the game compensate for mediocre speed.

[Unregistered]

Of course, no one puts too much weight in "projecting" which players will be able to play at a higher level. It's all a matter of probabilities. Every one has their own probability curve. But since you don't need to be the total package even to play in the EPL, coaches for pro development academies don't pick for the total package either. For example, if you are picking for future pros from U12 kids, you would totally disregard size and strength. And extraordinary technical skill, good quickness and excellent ability to read the game compensate for mediocre speed.

Absolute bullcrap. Coaches start with the body and project where it will top out first and then start looking at the skills. Coaches always figure they can teach the skills, whereas the body is born with and really can't be improved upon much. Coaches sell "possibilities" to pry your money from your wallet.

There is no such thing as "extraordinary technical skill, good quickness and excellent ability to read the game" at U12. Most of the standout players at that age are just early bloomers who have a little more size/agility/speed for their age so they can run by other kids to put the ball in the net. Most of the problem with soccer in this country is that kid never really learns how to play intelligent soccer with other players so when their athletic advantage naturally levels out they can no longer play the game at a high level.

If you really do have a true diamond at that age everyone can see it but even then you are still years away from figuring out what that player will ultimately grow up to be. Far easier to spot the ones that will not make it as opposed to the ones who will. No amount of coaching will help them but that doesn't stop these coaches from cashing their parent's checks though does it?

[perspective]

Absolute bullcrap. Coaches start with the body and project where it will top out first and then start looking at the skills. Coaches always figure they can teach the skills, whereas the body is born with and really can't be improved upon much. Coaches sell "possibilities" to pry your money from your wallet.

There is no such thing as "extraordinary technical skill, good quickness and excellent ability to read the game" at U12. Most of the standout players at that age are just early bloomers who have a little more size/agility/speed for their age so they can run by other kids to put the ball in the net. Most of the problem with soccer in this country is that kid never really learns how to play intelligent soccer with other players so when their athletic advantage naturally levels out they can no longer play the game at a high level.

If you really do have a true diamond at that age everyone can see it but even then you are still years away from figuring out what that player will ultimately grow up to be. Far easier to spot the ones that will not make it as opposed to the ones who will. No amount of coaching will help them but that doesn't stop these coaches from cashing their parent's checks though does it?

Easy...try not to go TOO extreme.

[Unregistered]

Absolute bullcrap. Coaches start with the body and project where it will top out first and then start looking at the skills. Coaches always figure they can teach the skills, whereas the body is born with and really can't be improved upon much. Coaches sell "possibilities" to pry your money from your wallet.

There is no such thing as "extraordinary technical skill, good quickness and excellent ability to read the game" at U12. Most of the standout players at that age are just early bloomers who have a little more size/agility/speed for their age so they can run by other kids to put the ball in the net. Most of the problem with soccer in this country is that kid never really learns how to play intelligent soccer with other players so when their athletic advantage naturally levels out they can no longer play the game at a high level.

If you really do have a true diamond at that age everyone can see it but even then you are still years away from figuring out what that player will ultimately grow up to be. Far easier to spot the ones that will not make it as opposed to the ones who will. No amount of coaching will help them but that doesn't stop these coaches from cashing their parent's checks though does it?

Pro youth academies (especially in Europe) will often look at players who can turn a game in an instant (the X factor). Players with vision and the ability to think 2 or 3 steps ahead combined with great technique will stand out well above an "athlete".

I'm sure there are some parents may have unrealistic dreams of their kid becoming a future National Team superstar but these are few and far between. The large majority who invest in private training want to help their kid get to the next level and a talented private trainer will help them achieve that. The poster above who said they used to provide private training and just saw it as stealing obviously didn't do a very good job and is now projecting their bitterness on here.