None of the major clubs are doing this well

[Unregistered]

https://www.soccerwire.com/resources...s-upside-down/

[Unregistered]

Agree mostly. My experience from the age of 8-12 at two clubs was that one club had an excellent coach for the A team and horrific coaches for the rest of the kiddos.The attrition rate for kids that didn't make the A team was about 35% who quit or parents decided they may as well play rec soccer.

The other club focused on fundamentals but the few 8-10 year old coaches were mediocre and seemed to not really care.

Goes back to the same ole challenge... How can clubs attract and retain quality coaches. In an economy where apartments cost $1500 for a 1 BR, and median income is $73K, I really think a coach has to want coach.

[Unregistered]

Always look at a clubs 2nd and 3rd team to figure out if they are interested in developing players or just harvesting money from the lower teams to support the higher ones.

At our club even the C team coach is better than what you'd get at most select clubs.

The culture does tell coaches that if you are the A team coach you are the best. Making a ferrari look good isn't hard, building up kids drive and competitiveness and finding those that got missed is a fine art, and there are more than a few coaches that focus on B/C teams for this very reason.

[Unregistered]

Always look at a clubs 2nd and 3rd team to figure out if they are interested in developing players or just harvesting money from the lower teams to support the higher ones.

At our club even the C team coach is better than what you'd get at most select clubs.

The culture does tell coaches that if you are the A team coach you are the best. Making a ferrari look good isn't hard, building up kids drive and competitiveness and finding those that got missed is a fine art, and there are more than a few coaches that focus on B/C teams for this very reason.

Can you recommend which team focus on the B/C teams?

[Unregistered]

Can you recommend which team focus on the B/C teams?

Just click through the RCL standings, recognize that the A team in RCL at ECNL clubs is actually the 2nd or B team. How are the 2nd and 3rd teams fairing in their bracket. Winning is not the most accurate measure of coaching skill so then go watch a game or a practice. Watch how they move the ball, see if the coaching style would be a good match for your kid. How do they compare to how they did the year before (can be checked easily in club summary page). Are kids moving up through the system, are teams moving up divisions? That shows growth.

[Unregistered]

I find it shocking how little research parents do before selecting a club. It's an over $1k purchase. Put some time in go watch a practice and listen to how the coach talks to the kids. Coach may get more daily face time with your kid than you do, make sure they are delivering the right messages to your kids.

[Unregistered]

Just click through the RCL standings, recognize that the A team in RCL at ECNL clubs is actually the 2nd or B team. How are the 2nd and 3rd teams fairing in their bracket. Winning is not the most accurate measure of coaching skill so then go watch a game or a practice. Watch how they move the ball, see if the coaching style would be a good match for your kid. How do they compare to how they did the year before (can be checked easily in club summary page). Are kids moving up through the system, are teams moving up divisions? That shows growth.

BS, this has more to do with tryout numbers than anything else.

[Unregistered]

Just click through the RCL standings, recognize that the A team in RCL at ECNL clubs is actually the 2nd or B team. How are the 2nd and 3rd teams fairing in their bracket. Winning is not the most accurate measure of coaching skill so then go watch a game or a practice. Watch how they move the ball, see if the coaching style would be a good match for your kid. How do they compare to how they did the year before (can be checked easily in club summary page). Are kids moving up through the system, are teams moving up divisions? That shows growth.

Clubs dont develop players.

Team coach has about 10% influence in a players development.

Its what a kid does outside of club.

[Unregistered]

Clubs dont develop players.

Team coach has about 10% influence in a players development.

Its what a kid does outside of club.

You can make the ECNL team if you pay for his camp and classes

Club=jersey is blue and white

[Unregistered]

Clubs dont develop players.

Team coach has about 10% influence in a players development.

Its what a kid does outside of club.

This comment is bogus. If clubs don't develop players, why do they all advertise that they do? We're all paying $2+K/yr for lies? I mean, we kind of are, but your comment implies parents should be good with that arrangement.

I appreciate the article the OP shared -- almost posted it myself. The Seattle club soccer culture in particular is so f*ed up. You have a relatively small, geographically contained community, which limits consumer options, everybody knows everybody, everybody trashes everybody, and it's mostly the wealthiest familes involved who want to see their Johnny or Janey win the race of life. It's not about fun for the kids AT ALL.

[Unregistered]

https://www.soccerwire.com/resources...s-upside-down/

Yawn, Nothing new here. It has been said a million times before and we all agree. Nothing seems to ever change because adults run soccer, and it seems the adults who hold the reigns to supposedly make youth better at soccer, just flat out can't seem to get on the same page in Washington/US what's best for our kids to a) learn soccer at a level that makes the US as a whole compete with the world b) enjoy soccer and c) yes....provide a sustainable economic system for youth soccer. I fear C is the option that is more heavily focused on above all else in the US.

Fast forward 2 years and another "expert coach" will have an awakening and type up an article, and a parent will post it here. Rinse and repeat nothing changes.

[Unregistered]

Always look at a clubs 2nd and 3rd team to figure out if they are interested in developing players or just harvesting money from the lower teams to support the higher ones.

At our club even the C team coach is better than what you'd get at most select clubs.

The culture does tell coaches that if you are the A team coach you are the best. Making a ferrari look good isn't hard, building up kids drive and competitiveness and finding those that got missed is a fine art, and there are more than a few coaches that focus on B/C teams for this very reason.

I am also curious which club are you referring to.

[Unregistered]

I am also curious which club are you referring to.

My guess would be PacNW. Can you clarify what club?

[Unregistered]

Clubs dont develop players.

Team coach has about 10% influence in a players development.

Its what a kid does outside of club.

You are mostly correct. Coaches at clubs can and do influence and develop players. I have experienced it, but have also had many dud coaches. I wouldn't guess at a statistics across all clubs for bad development vs good development coaches. The skeptic in me says more coaches don't develop kids than coaches that do. Coaches are paid by the clubs so you could argue the clubs do develop players by organizing teams and hiring the right coaches. In my opinion, and sadly, outside of hiring, organizing teams/tournaments and constantly trying to sell us parents on silly European partnerships or MLS partnerships to pretend like there is some magical unicorn pathway to the pros if you only play for that club, clubs are mostly here just to organize participation in leagues.

And totally agree. if your kid is only going to club practice and doing nothing else on the side, then focus on playing just for fun because their soccer pathway ends after 12th grade and parent soccer money runs dry.

[Unregistered]

This comment is bogus. If clubs don't develop players, why do they all advertise that they do? We're all paying $2+K/yr for lies? I mean, we kind of are, but your comment implies parents should be good with that arrangement.

I appreciate the article the OP shared -- almost posted it myself. The Seattle club soccer culture in particular is so f*ed up. You have a relatively small, geographically contained community, which limits consumer options, everybody knows everybody, everybody trashes everybody, and it's mostly the wealthiest familes involved who want to see their Johnny or Janey win the race of life. It's not about fun for the kids AT ALL.

Think of the club as a platform. Do we think the Sounders develop players and thats why they are the most prolific team in the last decade? Brian Schmetzer should be coaching at Barcelona?

Yes, coaches have influence. But a great coach cant make a team with players that lack talent and athleticism great.

Maybe 10% is a bit stingy, but the best coaches take the talent they are given and put the team in a position in which it can succeed. I’d say a coaches most important characteristic is talent identification, not talent development.

Pulisic didnt come from some great club that year after year develops talent. And before you say his dad was a coach, name one other player Mark Pulisic developed.

Maybe Dortmund or Ajax...

We dont have anything even remotely close in the US. Not Dallas FC, not LA Galaxy... and definitely not a local club that has no motivation to develop talent.