Sta

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This is 100% correct from my personal experience..D has played at diff "levels" including ECNL and most teams play this way and its only getting worse in this area.

Teams and players are getting bigger and more overtly physical as the officials call less and less...its now seems to be accepted that passes are now a 50/50 ball !

Many "high level" games I watch are played most of time on only 1 side of the field...either all 20 players are on the right or left half....

What they teach most at ECNL is how to play with your back to the goal, to fend/hold off a defender, and to pinch in...

SC...my D played your team and you do play a nice style ...ball movement, passing to the proper foot on the ground, switching the field etc....no 30 player roster...

As a former D1 player...it is a shame what the girls game is becoming in NJ

That is because more and more parents are focusing on winning at a younger age because in their mind that means their daughter is a better soccer player. Generally untrue. Coaches that play the game to win at all costs are doing nothing for the sport. They are also creating a false narrative that winning=soccer IQ. . There are coaches that develop and focus more on spacing, ball movement, player spacing and movement, angels etc. If you find one of them stick with them! They will get the best out of your daughter. And when you talk to a coach and they talk more about their wins than about their track record and longevity, that is a red flag.

[Unregistered]

It will take 2 NCAA championships with this style for the bulbs to go off. Hope you coach a college team one day and get there.

FSU plays this way and they came up short.

[Unregistered]

This is 100% correct from my personal experience..D has played at diff "levels" including ECNL and most teams play this way and its only getting worse in this area.

Teams and players are getting bigger and more overtly physical as the officials call less and less...its now seems to be accepted that passes are now a 50/50 ball !

Many "high level" games I watch are played most of time on only 1 side of the field...either all 20 players are on the right or left half....

What they teach most at ECNL is how to play with your back to the goal, to fend/hold off a defender, and to pinch in...

SC...my D played your team and you do play a nice style ...ball movement, passing to the proper foot on the ground, switching the field etc....no 30 player roster...

As a former D1 player...it is a shame what the girls game is becoming in NJ

100% and i think it is a few things: coaches need to prove they are good by getting teams into big events, top flights at tournaments, etc. Every one is risk averse so they're ok with smashing the ball forward as long as it is away from their own goal.

They also have players they are afraid to actually coach, so midfidlers who should be making fast decisions, using the fewest touches possible and completing passes are dribbling around and then either losing in a tackle or making passes under pressure so its at best a 50/50 ball, often less. Defenders just kick it as far as possible. Coaches yelling at outside backs to stand in a flat line with the CBs rather than move forward to add to the attack because they know they're going to lose the ball anyway. Every game becomes a sprinting counter attack race running back and forth. Then teams sub off 5 kids at a time and just rotate fresh bodies.

Girls tend to not even watch much of the sport on TV and the few who do end up getting penalized for trying to mirror what they see from professionals. The second time they pass back to their goalie or cycle away from pressure, their coach goes ballistic to only go forward or to play it over the top to the striker. It can really be horrible.

[Unregistered]

The second time they pass back to their goalie or cycle away from pressure, their coach goes ballistic to only go forward or to play it over the top to the striker. It can really be horrible.

This is true and my daughter (outside back) is having a hard time processing why the coach yells for her to kick it to the striker all the time. She knows it isn't right but wants to keep the coach happy and it stresses her out to the point she's still talking about it hours after the games.

[Unregistered]

This is true and my daughter (outside back) is having a hard time processing why the coach yells for her to kick it to the striker all the time. She knows it isn't right but wants to keep the coach happy and it stresses her out to the point she's still talking about it hours after the games.

Yikes. We experienced a similar situation. My D hated playing like that, she knew it was “wrong”. Yes they won a lot but also they played crappy soccer and we knew eventually it would stunt her development and love for the game.

[Unregistered]

I struggle with this as well. There's times when my kid's team strings together 10+ passes with such fluid movement I get as psyched about it as a goal.

I enjoy the game. I accept the results.

[Unregistered]

God forbid your kid actually shows the coach that they're really skilled at pinging long passes. Coach starts pushing for them to do it all the time and they stop doing anything else.

[Unregistered]

Any news on coaching replacements for all the departures?

[Unregistered]

Any news on coaching replacements for all the departures?

Thats the problem with these bozos. They are taking our money for next year but don't have a good plan to discuss with us. Frankly I don't think they know what they are doing

[Unregistered]

Thats the problem with these bozos. They are taking our money for next year but don't have a good plan to discuss with us. Frankly I don't think they know what they are doing

There will be a few hires for sure. My bet is existing coaches like Ylon will take on more responsibility.

[Unregistered]

Thats the problem with these bozos. They are taking our money for next year but don't have a good plan to discuss with us. Frankly I don't think they know what they are doing

They know what they're doing. They're having everyone sign up for next year and talking to those that are unsure to mitigate the chances of mass exodus. Once people are signed on, they'll finally be honest.

[Unregistered]

They know what they're doing. They're having everyone sign up for next year and talking to those that are unsure to mitigate the chances of mass exodus. Once people are signed on, they'll finally be honest.

A club with some great potential and poor execution.

[Unregistered]

They know what they're doing. They're having everyone sign up for next year and talking to those that are unsure to mitigate the chances of mass exodus. Once people are signed on, they'll finally be honest.

Rest assured that Newman will be hiring the cheapest coaches he can find.

[Unregistered]

A club with some great potential and poor execution.

How's the boy side doing in terms of staff?

[Unregistered]

I f you speak to "Informed" professionals they will tell you that a large majority of youth soccer coaches are a complete waste of time and a sham. Their concern is not proper technical training at the u-preteens . These coaches are more concerned about winning a game. Its so easy to teach" press and cover to capitalize " on the other teams mistakes, who are trying to learn body positioning, first touch ,shifting, opening up to see the whole field and angles and movement from out of the back. As well as comfort on the ball

Most Youth coaches do not have the time or the knowledge to teach such a game. so they shortcut by putting the kids who are now a little bit faster and stronger and have developed prematurely up top to score goals and they play a very direct game. while playing a press and cover defense. These coaches utilize their wingers mostly and avoid the midfield at all cost. This type of game is often rewarded with wins. And happy parents. You will find most coaches play some sort of hybrid of this model in America.



At the u-10 to u14 level

When you watch a team play for the first time, and you do not know much about the game, watch to see if one team keeps the ball more than the other, count the number of passing connections, watch the teams movement without the ball. Is the coaching demanding angles and spacing. Does the goalie punt the ball or is she forced to play out of the back. Forget about the score of the game! Pretend there are NO nets. Just watch the beauty of the game.

You can get an idea of which coach/trainer cares about training and which coach/trainer simply is in it for themselves and the win.

Ask about a coaches track record, who has he coached, what teams?

Go watch the coaches u15 team and above to see how that team plays the game.


You will start to get an ideal of what you need to look for in a coach.


Best,

S.C

Great stuff.