Avoid Legends San Diego and director Rhett Souders like the plague

F

fingolfin

BRONZE
The director will memorize your kid's name to get you to join, then fail to fulfill any of the promises given when signing the contract. I overheard a parent call him a "snake oil salesman"—an apt description.

Case in point. When joining the fall/spring NL league, they will explain in great detail about the extra trainings, the scrimmages, the tournaments, and both halves of the season you are paying for. You will get none of that.

When it comes time for the second half of the NL season, they will inform you that you can only continue if you register for the following year. This, despite paying full price to the club for both halves of the league season. You are forced to either capitulate or leave and lose half a season of soccer.

If you ask questions, they will dodge, avoid, or remove you.

If you wish to live dangerously and sign with the club despite the warnings, read your contract very carefully and ask for written confirmation of what you expect to be provided.

Unethical people like that have no business being in youth sports.
 
fingolfin said:
The director will memorize your kid's name to get you to join, then fail to fulfill any of the promises given when signing the contract. I overheard a parent call him a "snake oil salesman"—an apt description.

Case in point. When joining the fall/spring NL league, they will explain in great detail about the extra trainings, the scrimmages, the tournaments, and both halves of the season you are paying for. You will get none of that.

When it comes time for the second half of the NL season, they will inform you that you can only continue if you register for the following year. This, despite paying full price to the club for both halves of the league season. You are forced to either capitulate or leave and lose half a season of soccer.

If you ask questions, they will dodge, avoid, or remove you.

If you wish to live dangerously and sign with the club despite the warnings, read your contract very carefully and ask for written confirmation of what you expect to be provided.

Unethical people like that have no business being in youth sports.
Click to expand...
Sounds like many club docs/coaches that I know.

Forcing you to sign up for next season by holding the second half of the current season hostage is a new one.
 
Kind of a confusing thing going on with the Legends FC San Diego "club/organization" this year. Legends SD were an affiliate of Legends FC (obviously) for a few years playing out of East County and Mira Mesa area with teams in SoCal League and E64. Legends FC SD (former Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks) with teams in ECNL/ECRL and SoCal League was a separate affiliate of Legends, out of DM/CV. The two, Legends SD and Legends FC SD were operating as separate organizations. Then last fall, at the beginning of the current season, Legends SD and Legends FC SD merged. However, the Rec side of the house (SoCal league) at Legends FC SD (DMCV Sharks) stayed separate, and is still called Sharks. So basically the Legends SD (E64 and Socal) joined with Legends FC SD (former Sharks ECNL/RL) and the Legends E64 teams became the Legends FC SD ECRL SoCal League teams; with a lot of mixing and changes, and movements.
Why do I bring this up? Rhett Sounders, Noah Kooiman, John Sobotkowski, and others were brought over from Legends SD to Legends FC SD, placed into director positions, given RL teams, and probably some other concessions in the merger. My player was on one of the Girls ECRL teams coached by Noah Kooiman and John Sobotkowski this season. Kooiman was also made the Girls ECRL Director. A few weeks ago Coach Kooi (Kooiman) was removed from his director position, so he left the club, and his teams mid season. Coach Sobo (Sobotkowski) left shortly after, just days before a Showcase in Davis. Leaving multiple teams and players with no coaches on their way to a major college recruiting event. Regardless of what was going on behind the scenes with the club and coaches, to do that to players you supposedly were developing is one of the LOWEST CHARACTER moves I have seen in all of youth sports. Zero Integrity, no maturity move. If you are going to leave, do it after the event. I don't know anything about Rhett Sounders, but his previous association with the others, and the commonality in apparent character seems suspicious.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am actually glad they left. The timing and way it was done, is poor taste. In the 14 years of youth soccer in San Diego, this year was the absolute worst experience. The worst coaching, worst teammates, worst soccer, worst communication; everything about it has been trash. The players that were brought over were way out of their depth, they do not know how to play competitive soccer. The coaches that were brought over had two strategies, kick and run, or park the bus. Who the hell plays a 5-3-2 formation in developmental soccer? Kick and Run teams, thats who.
Nothing good has happened since the Sharks decided to join with the Legends. If the former Sharks has any chance of salvaging itself, it needs to cut ties with all the low character coaches they brought in, immediately. Probably should cut ties with Legends as well. Coach Kooiman talked a big game, but his actions and behavior did not match a dang thing he said. I would not, under any circumstance put my player in club where there was a possibility he or Sobo could be my child's coach. Snakiest of the snake-oil salesman. I hear Kooi and Sobo are moving over to join the Rebels RL program. Not sure what the hell the Rebels are thinking, they seem to have a good program going. We won't be around next year to keep tabs on how things are going, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Rebels cut ties with them before the next season ends.
 
Code said:
Kind of a confusing thing going on with the Legends FC San Diego "club/organization" this year. Legends SD were an affiliate of Legends FC (obviously) for a few years playing out of East County and Mira Mesa area with teams in SoCal League and E64. Legends FC SD (former Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks) with teams in ECNL/ECRL and SoCal League was a separate affiliate of Legends, out of DM/CV. The two, Legends SD and Legends FC SD were operating as separate organizations. Then last fall, at the beginning of the current season, Legends SD and Legends FC SD merged. However, the Rec side of the house (SoCal league) at Legends FC SD (DMCV Sharks) stayed separate, and is still called Sharks. So basically the Legends SD (E64 and Socal) joined with Legends FC SD (former Sharks ECNL/RL) and the Legends E64 teams became the Legends FC SD ECRL SoCal League teams; with a lot of mixing and changes, and movements.
Why do I bring this up? Rhett Sounders, Noah Kooiman, John Sobotkowski, and others were brought over from Legends SD to Legends FC SD, placed into director positions, given RL teams, and probably some other concessions in the merger. My player was on one of the Girls ECRL teams coached by Noah Kooiman and John Sobotkowski this season. Kooiman was also made the Girls ECRL Director. A few weeks ago Coach Kooi (Kooiman) was removed from his director position, so he left the club, and his teams mid season. Coach Sobo (Sobotkowski) left shortly after, just days before a Showcase in Davis. Leaving multiple teams and players with no coaches on their way to a major college recruiting event. Regardless of what was going on behind the scenes with the club and coaches, to do that to players you supposedly were developing is one of the LOWEST CHARACTER moves I have seen in all of youth sports. Zero Integrity, no maturity move. If you are going to leave, do it after the event. I don't know anything about Rhett Sounders, but his previous association with the others, and the commonality in apparent character seems suspicious.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am actually glad they left. The timing and way it was done, is poor taste. In the 14 years of youth soccer in San Diego, this year was the absolute worst experience. The worst coaching, worst teammates, worst soccer, worst communication; everything about it has been trash. The players that were brought over were way out of their depth, they do not know how to play competitive soccer. The coaches that were brought over had two strategies, kick and run, or park the bus. Who the hell plays a 5-3-2 formation in developmental soccer? Kick and Run teams, thats who.
Nothing good has happened since the Sharks decided to join with the Legends. If the former Sharks has any chance of salvaging itself, it needs to cut ties with all the low character coaches they brought in, immediately. Probably should cut ties with Legends as well. Coach Kooiman talked a big game, but his actions and behavior did not match a dang thing he said. I would not, under any circumstance put my player in club where there was a possibility he or Sobo could be my child's coach. Snakiest of the snake-oil salesman. I hear Kooi and Sobo are moving over to join the Rebels RL program. Not sure what the hell the Rebels are thinking, they seem to have a good program going. We won't be around next year to keep tabs on how things are going, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Rebels cut ties with them before the next season ends.
Click to expand...

Sharks should have joined Surf a long time ago when the opportunity was presented. It reminds me of Yahoo's denial of a Microsoft acquisition.
 
Code said:
Kind of a confusing thing going on with the Legends FC San Diego "club/organization" this year. Legends SD were an affiliate of Legends FC (obviously) for a few years playing out of East County and Mira Mesa area with teams in SoCal League and E64. Legends FC SD (former Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks) with teams in ECNL/ECRL and SoCal League was a separate affiliate of Legends, out of DM/CV. The two, Legends SD and Legends FC SD were operating as separate organizations. Then last fall, at the beginning of the current season, Legends SD and Legends FC SD merged. However, the Rec side of the house (SoCal league) at Legends FC SD (DMCV Sharks) stayed separate, and is still called Sharks. So basically the Legends SD (E64 and Socal) joined with Legends FC SD (former Sharks ECNL/RL) and the Legends E64 teams became the Legends FC SD ECRL SoCal League teams; with a lot of mixing and changes, and movements.
Why do I bring this up? Rhett Sounders, Noah Kooiman, John Sobotkowski, and others were brought over from Legends SD to Legends FC SD, placed into director positions, given RL teams, and probably some other concessions in the merger. My player was on one of the Girls ECRL teams coached by Noah Kooiman and John Sobotkowski this season. Kooiman was also made the Girls ECRL Director. A few weeks ago Coach Kooi (Kooiman) was removed from his director position, so he left the club, and his teams mid season. Coach Sobo (Sobotkowski) left shortly after, just days before a Showcase in Davis. Leaving multiple teams and players with no coaches on their way to a major college recruiting event. Regardless of what was going on behind the scenes with the club and coaches, to do that to players you supposedly were developing is one of the LOWEST CHARACTER moves I have seen in all of youth sports. Zero Integrity, no maturity move. If you are going to leave, do it after the event. I don't know anything about Rhett Sounders, but his previous association with the others, and the commonality in apparent character seems suspicious.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am actually glad they left. The timing and way it was done, is poor taste. In the 14 years of youth soccer in San Diego, this year was the absolute worst experience. The worst coaching, worst teammates, worst soccer, worst communication; everything about it has been trash. The players that were brought over were way out of their depth, they do not know how to play competitive soccer. The coaches that were brought over had two strategies, kick and run, or park the bus. Who the hell plays a 5-3-2 formation in developmental soccer? Kick and Run teams, thats who.
Nothing good has happened since the Sharks decided to join with the Legends. If the former Sharks has any chance of salvaging itself, it needs to cut ties with all the low character coaches they brought in, immediately. Probably should cut ties with Legends as well. Coach Kooiman talked a big game, but his actions and behavior did not match a dang thing he said. I would not, under any circumstance put my player in club where there was a possibility he or Sobo could be my child's coach. Snakiest of the snake-oil salesman. I hear Kooi and Sobo are moving over to join the Rebels RL program. Not sure what the hell the Rebels are thinking, they seem to have a good program going. We won't be around next year to keep tabs on how things are going, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Rebels cut ties with them before the next season ends.
Click to expand...
"Then last fall, at the beginning of the current season, Legends SD and Legends FC SD merged. However, the Rec side of the house (SoCal league) at Legends FC SD (DMCV Sharks) stayed separate, and is still called Sharks. So basically the Legends SD (E64 and Socal) joined with Legends FC SD (former Sharks ECNL/RL) and the Legends E64 teams became the Legends FC SD ECRL SoCal League teams; with a lot of mixing and changes, and movements."

A little clarification, That is not exactly accurate.

Legends San Diego, the club headed by Rhett Sounders is still to this day a completely separate entity from Legends Del Mar, the club formerly known as DMCV Sharks. They have not merged.

"Why do I bring this up? Rhett Sounders, Noah Kooiman, John Sobotkowski, and others were brought over from Legends SD to Legends FC SD, placed into director positions, given RL teams, and probably some other concessions in the merger."

This is not accurate, Rhett Sounders still runs his Legends San Diego club as a separate entity. He never has joined Legends Del Mar.

Noah Kooiman and John Sobotkowski left Legends San Diego and joined Legends Del Mar.

A few other teams left what was previously the Sporting California in north county brand and created Legends San Diego North.
Some of those teams filled RL Socal and ECNL spots for Legends Del Mar.

Just for a bit of clarity, not trying to diminish the core point of your post.
 
While I cannot disagree with all the poor tactics by coaches and clubs to get players to join and then re-sign, at the end of the day the fault lies with the parents for failing to read the contract they are signing in full and/or then failing to enforce it. The parents are setting poor examples for their children and opting to take the easy way out, whether that be blame someone else or capitulate. People should take ownership of this and stop complaining instead. For example even if you dont want to take the club to court you can dispute the charges on your card for breach of contract by the club and get your refund if they failed to fulfil their side of the contract.
 
MochaRulz said:
While I cannot disagree with all the poor tactics by coaches and clubs to get players to join and then re-sign, at the end of the day the fault lies with the parents for failing to read the contract they are signing in full and/or then failing to enforce it. The parents are setting poor examples for their children and opting to take the easy way out, whether that be blame someone else or capitulate. People should take ownership of this and stop complaining instead. For example even if you dont want to take the club to court you can dispute the charges on your card for breach of contract by the club and get your refund if they failed to fulfil their side of the contract.
Click to expand...
Seriously, have you actually read the contract that you are claiming the parents should read? They are very basic (not to mention adhesive- no one is negotiating the terms). If a coach is misrepresenting the facts in order for you to sign...I highly doubt there is any specific language in the contract related to it. The contracts I have seen do not state the length of the season, league or level of play, the number of players, etc. So what is being described is, in all likelihood, not covered by the written contract in any way.
 
D8958 said:
"Then last fall, at the beginning of the current season, Legends SD and Legends FC SD merged. However, the Rec side of the house (SoCal league) at Legends FC SD (DMCV Sharks) stayed separate, and is still called Sharks. So basically the Legends SD (E64 and Socal) joined with Legends FC SD (former Sharks ECNL/RL) and the Legends E64 teams became the Legends FC SD ECRL SoCal League teams; with a lot of mixing and changes, and movements."

A little clarification, That is not exactly accurate.

Legends San Diego, the club headed by Rhett Sounders is still to this day a completely separate entity from Legends Del Mar, the club formerly known as DMCV Sharks. They have not merged.

"Why do I bring this up? Rhett Sounders, Noah Kooiman, John Sobotkowski, and others were brought over from Legends SD to Legends FC SD, placed into director positions, given RL teams, and probably some other concessions in the merger."

This is not accurate, Rhett Sounders still runs his Legends San Diego club as a separate entity. He never has joined Legends Del Mar.

Noah Kooiman and John Sobotkowski left Legends San Diego and joined Legends Del Mar.

A few other teams left what was previously the Sporting California in north county brand and created Legends San Diego North.
Some of those teams filled RL Socal and ECNL spots for Legends Del Mar.

Just for a bit of clarity, not trying to diminish the core point of your post.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarification of the murky scenario.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top