G2010 - How’s the 2022 season going?

[Technician72]

Raise your hand if a Blues coach has followed you and your DD to your car at a tournament

I would actually like to hear some of the stories out there about this, be it Blues or other club.

My oldest guest played / moved teams more so through networking through fellow parents, but my youngest was heavily recruited and had the experience above.

I was fortunate enough to know about RR from Blues before it happened so it didn't catch us off guard. At the time he was on the sidelines with TB, and Rob was the one who met us on our way to the car. I don't have either a positive or negative position on him to this day and our encounter was straight forward. He was very complimentary to my daughter directly and to my wife and I. He hit all the talking points and mentioned some parents we knew as references.

Not sure how we would have taken the encounter had we not known before hand who he was or what the chat would be about. I've heard parents say they were either flattered or taken aback in similar situations not knowing the lay of the land.

 

[Technician72]

The bottom line is you don't need to encroach and poach other girls from other areas if you are a good coach. I have nothing against players looking for spots, but to see coaches sending managers and parents to recruit players to win games is not what I'm looking for in a coach. That coach should learn how to develop his team not poach players. Some have to learn the hard way as they even help the coach eventually drop their player off of the team as his strongest feature of coaching is recruiting. I'm looking for a coach not a recruiter.

Definitely a lot of recruiting, especially in the youngers or when coaches perceive the players coming of age and wanting to recruit them as they "peak".

My experience with some of the "talented" coaches at the marquee club is that they tend to recruit more heavily at the ages where their "reputation" hasn't cast a wide net yet, primarily new parents / teams that may be unfamiliar with club soccer and have some naivete.

There used to be a lot clearer line in recruiting but that line has long been blurred or removed altogether. It's pretty disgusting to see some of the tactics used today.

 

[Technician72]

The stories I can tell. Enjoy the day folks.

I know you get a lot of flack from some of the forum, but you should definitely share some war stories we haven't heard yet. Always good to share with the posters still going through the process.

 

[crush]

I know you get a lot of flack from some of the forum, but you should definitely share some war stories we haven't heard yet. Always good to share with the posters still going through the process.

The hate I'm getting is not nice in todays world of youth soccer. This group of parents play serious ball Tech. Between Doc, Coach, GM Dad and the TMs, its getting nasty. I do get some nice PMs from a few who really appreciate my insights & experience the last 11 years and beg me for more. Because you asked me to share more, I will for you and the others who are new in this process. It was cut throat when our dds were little U10s, but this is another level of cut. Can you imagine doing your amazing Tech Specs today? Impossible to keep up with the Joneses.

I would actually like to hear some of the stories out there about this, be it Blues or other club.

My oldest guest played / moved teams more so through networking through fellow parents, but my youngest was heavily recruited and had the experience above.

I was fortunate enough to know about RR from Blues before it happened so it didn't catch us off guard. At the time he was on the sidelines with TB, and Rob was the one who met us on our way to the car. I don't have either a positive or negative position on him to this day and our encounter was straight forward. He was very complimentary to my daughter directly and to my wife and I. He hit all the talking points and mentioned some parents we knew as references.

Not sure how we would have taken the encounter had we not known before hand who he was or what the chat would be about. I've heard parents say they were either flattered or taken aback in similar situations not knowing the lay of the land.

TB never and I mean never mentioned other players. I never really spoke to RR until her first practice, after she made the commitment to play for the great TB. I tried numerous times, trust me to see who else was going to his new U11 team but he never went against his policy. It was tough because I hated the Blues when we were at Legends. My dd was trying to make decision to stay and play with JH & Legends or make that drive through the Ortega's and play for Blues & TB. She chose Tad. I bet Tad never chased someone in the parking lot. His resume speaks for itself. ODP founder and the first U15 YNT team coach. He was also head coach of UCSB in the 80s. Tad allowed each coach to coach & recruit however they wanted. Full autonomy.

 

[crush]

The bottom line is you don't need to encroach and poach other girls from other areas if you are a good coach. I have nothing against players looking for spots, but to see coaches sending managers and parents to recruit players to win games is not what I'm looking for in a coach. That coach should learn how to develop his team not poach players. Some have to learn the hard way as they even help the coach eventually drop their player off of the team as his strongest feature of coaching is recruiting. I'm looking for a coach not a recruiter.

I agree and disagree if that makes sense. If I could do it all over again way up, I would have tried to help build a winner out in Temecula and I mean that. Woulda, coulda, & shoulda is all about Monday QBing and life doesn't allow that. Sometimes you have to learn in life. I coached my dd U6 co-ed team and we lost every game. Long story but I was tricked into coaching and got the last kids who signed up. My dd loves to win and plays to win and was not happy with losing every game. I had one coach who was a complete asshat who won league that year and tried to recruit my dd for his U7 team. I told him "no, were going big time club soccer bro" and he wished me luck. You see, I had top coaches from Arsenal South, Legends South, Temecula Hawks, Temecula United and a team called Murrieta something chasing me at the rec games every week in the parking lots, I kid you not. The also had biz cards to give me. We chose Arsenal South because their in the EPL. This is where I got threaten the first time from another crazy father, who was 6 4' and taking drugs. Here's a picture of my little nugget who just loved to play and played to win. There lies my problem. My kid wants to win bro. If you all want more stories, someone hit the like button and I will share more war stories. For the old timers that tell me to buzz off because my dd aged out, you can skip all this and kiss my ass.....lol.

 

[Carlsbad7]

I agree and disagree if that makes sense. If I could do it all over again way up, I would have tried to help build a winner out in Temecula and I mean that. Woulda, coulda, & shoulda is all about Monday QBing and life doesn't allow that. Sometimes you have to learn in life. I coached my dd U6 co-ed team and we lost every game. Long story but I was tricked into coaching and got the last kids who signed up. My dd loves to win and plays to win and was not happy with losing every game. I had one coach who was a complete asshat who won league that year and tried to recruit my dd for his U7 team. I told him "no, were going big time club soccer bro" and he wished me luck. You see, I had top coaches from Arsenal South, Legends South, Temecula Hawks, Temecula United and a team called Murrieta something chasing me at the rec games every week in the parking lots, I kid you not. The also had biz cards to give me. We chose Arsenal South because their in the EPL. This is where I got threaten the first time from another crazy father, who was 6 4' and taking drugs. Here's a picture of my little nugget who just loved to play and played to win. There lies my problem. My kid wants to win bro. If you all want more stories, someone hit the like button and I will share more war stories. For the old timers that tell me to buzz off because my dd aged out, you can skip all this and kiss my ass.....lol.

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I have no issue because at a high level things never change + the more info out there the better decisions parents will make.

One thing everyone should key into is most of the parents who've been though it all before will say if they could do it all again they wouldve stayed local vs chase trophies.

 

[crush]

This war story is for you Carlsbad. After the threats from crazy soccer dad on drugs at State Cup, I chased coach JL in the parking lot. I saw how she treated her players and her team destroyed our team. She was very nice and had nice things to say about my sweet baby girl. She got my number and told me that coach Heather would call me. She called me and we joined her U9 team. JL coached up North and we would sometimes scrimmage the North team (top team, so they thought) and we would beat them. Trying to get into U10 Surf Cup was the prize every club wanted. When we played Surf, Blues or Slammers as Legends South, we would get killed. Well, they decided to put a little "Combo" team together for the big tournaments and try to get Surf to notice our team when selection Sunday came around. JL would pick a few from the South and jealously and envy rooted it's ugly head. I was a cocky dad but cool Carlsbad. We entered Slammers and won it all I think. Its at this time I was turn on to the forum by another father. Asshats on here were going nuts that the Legends combo team was cheating and stacking their team for a medal. My dd loved it because she loves to win. Also, a few dads made fun of my dd because she cried when she got hacked in the box. Crazy war stories because I was not liked in Temecula for going North and some parents on the North team wouldn't talk to me because my dd and other dd took play time from other kids. If I could do it over again, I would have passed and just recruited down South. Temecula/Murrieta is ripe with talent and we could have been competitive. We took a beating at State Cup (see pic) and we were recruited to play full time with North Legends for U10 and we decided to go for it and drive 30 minutes to win baby. Matt Evans taught my dd skills and JL taught my dd to have fun and win. I lost all my friends in Temecula for leaving. Someone else hit the like button and will share more. Soccer loves you and then hates you. Tough sport bro.

 

[crush]

I have no issue because at a high level things never change + the more info out there the better decisions parents will make.

One thing everyone should key into is most of the parents who've been though it all before will say if they could do it all again they wouldve stayed local vs chase trophies.

Stay local and play local. I would have had to recruit hard though because we had like 6 clubs in Temecula Valley. Good coaches. Hawks had the best chance but they didn't do jack at recruiting.

P.S. I heard one of the coaches was sleeping with a mom on each of his teams and caused big issues with other parents because those kids got to play more minutes.

 

[Carlsbad7]

Temecula and Murrietta have always had a lot of talent. Unfortunately the top players always seem to have a habit of driving an hour each way at times just to play for Surf, Blues, City, etc.

Coaches need to step up and provide more for the talent that's available. Theres no reason they cant finish at the top of the different leagues available.

 

[crush]

Temecula and Murrietta have always had a lot of talent. Unfortunately the top players always seem to have a habit of driving an hour each way at times just to play for Surf, Blues, City, etc.

Coaches need to step up and provide more for the talent that's available. Theres no reason they cant finish at the top of the different leagues available.

I agree & don't agree Carlsbad. The reason we drove was because my dd had a dream. It was not pro or college I promise. She wanted to make the Olympic team, I swear. We won Gold and she wanted to stand for our flag and represent our country in soccer. What's not to like about that? I'm just the type of father that helps kids with their dreams. We never cared about about Pro or college. It's funny because many on here misread my satire when I wrote in the past. Pro Woman's soccer never came out of her mouth back then. Plus, the Pro game for women sucked back then and I could tell school wasn't one of her fun things to do. I will admit I like what I'm seeing today for Pro and maybe their is a path for Pro Girls soccer. If someone hits the like button, I will share the war story of why we had the habit of driving on a very dangerous highway to help her reach the dream. I started taking the 76 after a drunk driver killed someone on Ortega Hwy. My dd and I bonded in those car rides for two years.

 

[crush]

This war story is for you NT Solo My dd Legends U10 team was one of the top teams in the country. We had two goals that year. Get invited to Surf Cup and win State Cup. When my dd puts her head down and works her arsss off watch out. Anyway, the Surf Selection committee said no to our team. It was total politics and now I know why. We were a lock and we got blocked entry to the greatest tournament in the country where all the scouts roamed for YNT. My dd wanted to play so bad in that tournament like all the other greats in the game. We were promised that we would get in at U11 if we made Semi's at State Cup. I guess it was some sort of automatic qualifier. We lost in the Quarter Finals in OT to Carlsbad Lightning. My dd cried after that heart breaking lost because she knew we would get blocked again to Surf Cup because of politics. Today, every team is invited.
It was also this time that my dd was offered a spot on the GOAT FC Team because I started to talk smack back at the asshat dads that were making fun of my kid on the forum. No invite if you don't post on here was the rule. It was fun and actually one of the assholes that ripped on my dd became a great pal of mine after we met on the GOAT FC Team. On top her making this squad, this older man with gray hair was showing up to watch her and others. I had no idea who he was but the coach and the Doc sure did. They knew what he was up to because this happen all the time. This was turf war and I guess my dd was the property of Legends or something like that. I was warned not to talk to this Guru and I stayed clear of TB (I found out later who he was and looked him up). I was flattered and yes, I had some ego back then and some pride that a coach like TB would be interested in my kid. Well, I got a phone call about some Sunday Scrimmages down at the Ranch and that a spot was open for her on his new U11 team and this would be his last team before he retires. No tryout needed but I did have to pay and drive 1 hr 15 minutes if we had no traffic. I talked with my dd and told her about TB and his accomplishments and he just might be the coach to help you with ODP and maybe some day being on the National Team. The war for players was insane because Legends and Beach got all their top top players poached because? You guessed it, ECNL. They had nothing to offer after U10, just a National League that everyone said was piss poor competition and that everything went through ECNL. Legends just lost Ashley Sanchez to Blues and now their going to lose my dd because she picked TB. My GOAT FC pals were not happy because most of them hated TB & RR for going to their games to steal their best players. I again lost all my friendships at Legends but got a new family with the Blues family. The war continues if someone else hits the "like" button. I feel all your pain you guys. This is a cut throat business for market share.

 

[way up]

I agree and disagree if that makes sense. If I could do it all over again way up, I would have tried to help build a winner out in Temecula and I mean that. Woulda, coulda, & shoulda is all about Monday QBing and life doesn't allow that. Sometimes you have to learn in life. I coached my dd U6 co-ed team and we lost every game. Long story but I was tricked into coaching and got the last kids who signed up. My dd loves to win and plays to win and was not happy with losing every game. I had one coach who was a complete asshat who won league that year and tried to recruit my dd for his U7 team. I told him "no, were going big time club soccer bro" and he wished me luck. You see, I had top coaches from Arsenal South, Legends South, Temecula Hawks, Temecula United and a team called Murrieta something chasing me at the rec games every week in the parking lots, I kid you not. The also had biz cards to give me. We chose Arsenal South because their in the EPL. This is where I got threaten the first time from another crazy father, who was 6 4' and taking drugs. Here's a picture of my little nugget who just loved to play and played to win. There lies my problem. My kid wants to win bro. If you all want more stories, someone hit the like button and I will share more war stories. For the old timers that tell me to buzz off because my dd aged out, you can skip all this and kiss my ass.....lol.

View attachment 16633

I think everyone wants to win and I hate losing more than I like winning. I would just say that I've seen parents drive hours to be on teams my daughter has played for and some didn't even make our ecnl team. The coaches were too busy recruiting girls from other clubs. I think some of these coaches are more driven to disrupt other teams than they are for adding the girl to their team. The fact I can't get past is there is no big reward for great female soccer players.

Why are coaches slithering around to recruit 12 year old girls when pro girl soccer players barely make $60k per year? Baristas at Starbucks make nearly as much. Sometimes I feel like slapping myself for getting so caught up in this experience. I love the experience and friends we have made, but I see what some parents go through for it and it just amazes me how much of their life they give up.

I feel like we are all in this long, dramatic, stressful game and the winners win a Starbucks Barista Salary. Not knocking baristas or professional womens soccer, but I am an investor and the reward for the time and risk is not very lucrative. Soccer is a passion of mine and my daughter which is why we love this journey, but the lengths some people go for the potential rewards is ridiculous. Luckily though, we have a lot of quality teams in So Cal. I'm really just saying that if there were more good coaches and good club procedures to develop players and teams, parents would not have to drive all over to play for a team they belong on. We all want to be on a winning team, but it's foolish to do so if the cost is less play time and lower quality development, because your coach is more busy recruiting than building his or her players skills.

 

[Soccer929]

I agree & don't agree Carlsbad. The reason we drove was because my dd had a dream. It was not pro or college I promise. She wanted to make the Olympic team, I swear. We won Gold and she wanted to stand for our flag and represent our country in soccer. What's not to like about that? I'm just the type of father that helps kids with their dreams. We never cared about about Pro or college. It's funny because many on here misread my satire when I wrote in the past. Pro Woman's soccer never came out of her mouth back then. Plus, the Pro game for women sucked back then and I could tell school wasn't one of her fun things to do. I will admit I like what I'm seeing today for Pro and maybe their is a path for Pro Girls soccer. If someone hits the like button, I will share the war story of why we had the habit of driving on a very dangerous highway to help her reach the dream. I started taking the 76 after a drunk driver killed someone on Ortega Hwy. My dd and I bonded in those car rides for two years.

I do appreciate hearing the stories. Helps me think about options and hearing what people have gone through is helpful. Tell away as far as I’m concerned. GA DD here, local in murrieta. Don’t currently have any plans to pull the trigger to do “the“drive.

 

[way up]

I think everyone wants to win and I hate losing more than I like winning. I would just say that I've seen parents drive hours to be on teams my daughter has played for and some didn't even make our ecnl team. The coaches were too busy recruiting girls from other clubs. I think some of these coaches are more driven to disrupt other teams than they are for adding the girl to their team. The fact I can't get past is there is no big reward for great female soccer players.

Why are coaches slithering around to recruit 12 year old girls when pro girl soccer players barely make $60k per year? Baristas at Starbucks make nearly as much. Sometimes I feel like slapping myself for getting so caught up in this experience. I love the experience and friends we have made, but I see what some parents go through for it and it just amazes me how much of their life they give up.

I feel like we are all in this long, dramatic, stressful game and the winners win a Starbucks Barista Salary. Not knocking baristas or professional womens soccer, but I am an investor and the reward for the time and risk is not very lucrative. Soccer is a passion of mine and my daughter which is why we love this journey, but the lengths some people go for the potential rewards is ridiculous. Luckily though, we have a lot of quality teams in So Cal. I'm really just saying that if there were more good coaches and good club procedures to develop players and teams, parents would not have to drive all over to play for a team they belong on. We all want to be on a winning team, but it's foolish to do so if the cost is less play time and lower quality development, because your coach is more busy recruiting than building his or her players skills.

Also Crush, I'm not knocking anyone traveling to be on a higher quality team, because their daughter is a great player. I'm only saying I wish there were more options/better coaches/leagues/etc. for high quality players everywhere instead of giving all the power to these clubs and coaches. My daughter and I have been fortunate. We've had good coaches and I do like our club, but as she gets older, I do worry about the political circus we will have to navigate.

 

[crush]

I think everyone wants to win and I hate losing more than I like winning. I would just say that I've seen parents drive hours to be on teams my daughter has played for and some didn't even make our ecnl team. The coaches were too busy recruiting girls from other clubs. I think some of these coaches are more driven to disrupt other teams than they are for adding the girl to their team. The fact I can't get past is there is no big reward for great female soccer players.

Why are coaches slithering around to recruit 12 year old girls when pro girl soccer players barely make $60k per year? Baristas at Starbucks make nearly as much. Sometimes I feel like slapping myself for getting so caught up in this experience. I love the experience and friends we have made, but I see what some parents go through for it and it just amazes me how much of their life they give up.

I feel like we are all in this long, dramatic, stressful game and the winners win a Starbucks Barista Salary. Not knocking baristas or professional womens soccer, but I am an investor and the reward for the time and risk is not very lucrative. Soccer is a passion of mine and my daughter which is why we love this journey, but the lengths some people go for the potential rewards is ridiculous. Luckily though, we have a lot of quality teams in So Cal. I'm really just saying that if there were more good coaches and good club procedures to develop players and teams, parents would not have to drive all over to play for a team they belong on. We all want to be on a winning team, but it's foolish to do so if the cost is less play time and lower quality development, because your coach is more busy recruiting than building his or her players skills.

You crack me up and I feel you bro. One thing about me and my dd, we don't care about money. Plus, losing is just learning. My dd is different and just like her old man. Were rare apples that fell off a different kind of apple tree. Were good people though. Very honest and truthful and cannot be bought. Like I said, if I could do it all over again I would have stayed in Temecula and built a winner. I know one coach that I would have talked with and some cool dads and we would have built a winner. All you need is for people to stay & play locally. Plus, I could have sole my house for $300,000 more and not move back to the OC. I blew that one big time. My buddy was just complaining about his son working at Starbucks and the kid has a degree. Crazy times we live way up. Thanks for not kicking my ass on the forum. I made mistakes bro and I'm willing to eat crow and share my mistakes. These coaches are crazy recruiters. Not all. I bet you I will start getting attacked by some of them. They lurk on here and then use fake accounts to talk shit with me. Call me Brother Bill. I'm always here to help and lend a helping hand.

 

[crush]

I do appreciate hearing the stories. Helps me think about options and hearing what people have gone through is helpful. Tell away as far as I’m concerned. GA DD here, local in murrieta. Don’t currently have any plans to pull the trigger to do “the“drive.

Stay local is my advice unless your daughter is the next Allyssa Thompson or Olivia. They both are around my dd age and they did it different and their dads helped them big time and they played with boys helped their game. I watched them up close and my dd battled them at practices and games. AT is a can't miss. I also watched Trinity Rodman. You see the truth with your eyes and you can kind of get the idea of making the National Team is slim to none. If my dd ever did get a chance, it will be more of a utility or practice player to challenge those top top top players. You never know, my dd maybe play for Guatemala NT. Good luck Soccer 929. The valley is ready for a winner and I mean that. You only need 16 players that stay together and not take the carrot to OC or SD. Legends is not too far and JH was always straight up with me and was honest. I felt his pain for losing his top players year after year after developing them.

 

[way up]

You crack me up and I feel you bro. One thing about me and my dd, we don't care about money. Plus, losing is just learning. My dd is different and just like her old man. Were rare apples that fell off a different kind of apple tree. Were good people though. Very honest and truthful and cannot be bought. Like I said, if I could do it all over again I would have stayed in Temecula and built a winner. I know one coach that I would have talked with and some cool dads and we would have built a winner. All you need is for people to stay & play locally. Plus, I could have sole my house for $300,000 more and not move back to the OC. I blew that one big time. My buddy was just complaining about his son working at Starbucks and the kid has a degree. Crazy times we live way up. Thanks for not kicking my ass on the forum. I made mistakes bro and I'm willing to eat crow and share my mistakes. These coaches are crazy recruiters. Not all. I bet you I will start getting attacked by some of them. They lurk on here and then use fake accounts to talk shit with me. Call me Brother Bill. I'm always here to help and lend a helping hand.

There are a lot of good coaches and they are typically the ones you don't hear a lot about. We just had a rude awakening this year and politics played a part along with this recruit to disrupt trend. Life is funny though and many times, what comes around goes around. I actually want to avoid teams that have scholarship players, because they will just leave for the better offer the following year until other girls catch up and mature or they end up getting an invoice. So much will happen between 12 and 15 and many girls won't even be playing anymore and, again, it's a lot easier to just drink and sell coffee imo. LOL!

 

[crush]

I will share more "War Stories with Crush" tomorrow. Good night friends

 

[crush]

There are a lot of good coaches and they are typically the ones you don't hear a lot about. We just had a rude awakening this year and politics played a part along with this recruit to disrupt trend. Life is funny though and many times, what comes around goes around. I actually want to avoid teams that have scholarship players, because they will just leave for the better offer the following year until other girls catch up and mature or they end up getting an invoice. So much will happen between 12 and 15 and many girls won't even be playing anymore and, again, it's a lot easier to just drink and sell coffee imo. LOL!

I have some amazing war stories about what your saying and I agree with most of what your saying. Good night bro

 

[ValSoccer40]

I will share more "War Stories with Crush" tomorrow. Good night friends

Please don’t.

 

[crush]

Please don’t.

Welcome to the forum Val. I see your just two weeks old. Are you a Doc or coach? You and Rainbow can just skip my posts. My DM is lighting up with love mail and I just love helping others. Tell you what. I will continue war stories with crush if someone "loves" this post. If I get no love, then I will stop. DM works great so I can help folks that way as well. You and Rainbow make it a gr8t day