Article from Soccer Wire
And the poacher?
Easy to spot. Think Bernie Madoff, not John Wooden. The poacher’s goal, Graham notes, is a short-term plan to get rich.
Practices are rote. The same practice session for the U-10 team at 5 p.m. is used again for the U-17 team at 6:30 p.m. Or worse, the first practice is cut short to leave for another team across town.
Development? That takes time. The poacher is far better at identifying talent – usually on other teams – than developing his own players. Team chemistry and player relationships are sacrificed in what is mistakenly taken as a competitive environment.
Watch a poacher’s practice and you’ll see that players aren’t encouraged to battle to make each other sharper. They are told to beat the player to earn that player’s spot on the field. There’s a starting 11, and then there’s subs. And if you’re a sub, the poacher is actively searching for your replacement.
And the poacher?
Easy to spot. Think Bernie Madoff, not John Wooden. The poacher’s goal, Graham notes, is a short-term plan to get rich.
Practices are rote. The same practice session for the U-10 team at 5 p.m. is used again for the U-17 team at 6:30 p.m. Or worse, the first practice is cut short to leave for another team across town.
Development? That takes time. The poacher is far better at identifying talent – usually on other teams – than developing his own players. Team chemistry and player relationships are sacrificed in what is mistakenly taken as a competitive environment.
Watch a poacher’s practice and you’ll see that players aren’t encouraged to battle to make each other sharper. They are told to beat the player to earn that player’s spot on the field. There’s a starting 11, and then there’s subs. And if you’re a sub, the poacher is actively searching for your replacement.
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