Cal Berkeley Coach (women) abusive

The central theme is that he is trying to get girls to quit who are under performing to their scholarship (or expectations). This isn't uncommon in College athletics, and I'm sure it is a bigger deal now that the Power 5 have 4 year scholarships.

Even though he may not be criminally abusive, he does sound like a big baby and I wouldn't play for him (not that he would ask me). I just don't think those tactics work that well to improve play. Maybe the athletically gifted, multi-sport athletes of years ago had a longer runway to reach their potential, and applying that sort of pressure seemed to work. But these days, the kid's youth career has been so dominated by a single sport and personal trainers, that I'll bet they reach their breaking point a little quicker (and the come into programs closer to their ceiling).

It is notable that we aren't hearing from ex-players who support him.
 
crush said:
So Kicker likes this? Whatever dude. Dre, soccer is not the Marines and no coach should fat shame woman or young girls. I heard coaches call out 8th graders for gaining a few Lbs. You guys suck and you can have this old soccer if it stands. It's all yours. You can have it. Tell you what Kicker, have at it brah. I'm out!!!!
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I get that D1 soccer is not the Marines. I was in the Marines and I have several friends and family that played D1 and pro sports. In my humble opinion, the Marines is way easier than D1 or pro sports.

I am on the fence about fat shaming. When I was in H.S. I was tall and skinny and wanted go pro in football like damn near all of my friends. Only problem was that I’m not some genetic freak like my patna’s. So, when I showed up for double days everyone on the team laughed at me. The coach made me do all Carolina drill with Hannibal Navies, and I got trucked every time. So if coaches could skinny shame me and bully me into quitting because I didn’t have a good football physique; I didn’t quit, I was starting ball boy! Why cant ladies, be told they to do some “push backs” and loose some damn weight?
 
notintheface said:
This is why I will always always always tell parents to talk to their kids about keeping their grades up and pick the school based on what they want to do, not the "name" school that will put them on a team. Parents absolutely do not understand the burnout aspect and they push their kids in the 13-14-15 range in order to prep them for that 16-17-18 runup to get their kids "on a D1 team!!!!!1!!!!" and then wonder why their dd starts smoking pot like it's going out of style their freshman year.
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Are you a coach Face? Where you coach at? Doc? Let's not forget, my kid got pushed for decision in 7th and 8th grade.
 
MacDre said:
I get that D1 soccer is not the Marines. I was in the Marines and I have several friends and family that played D1 and pro sports. In my humble opinion, the Marines is way easier than D1 or pro sports.

I am on the fence about fat shaming. When I was in H.S. I was tall and skinny and wanted go pro in football like damn near all of my friends. Only problem was that I’m not some genetic freak like my patna’s. So, when I showed up for double days everyone on the team laughed at me. The coach made me do all Carolina drill with Hannibal Navies, and I got trucked every time. So if coaches could skinny shame me and bully me into quitting because I didn’t have a good football physique; I didn’t quit, I was starting ball boy! Why cant ladies, be told they to do some “push backs” and loose some damn weight?
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Typical male response. You need help dude.
 
tjsoccer said:
The central theme is that he is trying to get girls to quit who are under performing to their scholarship (or expectations). This isn't uncommon in College athletics, and I'm sure it is a bigger deal now that the Power 5 have 4 year scholarships.

Even though he may not be criminally abusive, he does sound like a big baby and I wouldn't play for him (not that he would ask me). I just don't think those tactics work that well to improve play. Maybe the athletically gifted, multi-sport athletes of years ago had a longer runway to reach their potential, and applying that sort of pressure seemed to work. But these days, the kid's youth career has been so dominated by a single sport and personal trainers, that I'll bet they reach their breaking point a little quicker (and the come into programs closer to their ceiling).

It is notable that we aren't hearing from ex-players who support him.
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If you see a program with 10 freshmen and 5 seniors, you know what you are in for.

In that case, I don't see why you would go there if you want to play sports. Seems pointless.
 
dad4 said:
If you see a program with 10 freshmen and 5 seniors, you know what you are in for.

In that case, I don't see why you would go there if you want to play sports. Seems pointless.
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Stanford’s roster shows 9 frosh and 5 seniors. UNC’s, too. (If what I’m seeing is current)
 
I agree that D1 players should already be ‘professionals’ vis a vis their training regimen, mental focus, commitment to putting in the daily work, eating habits.... Not that I know from personal experience but top 50 D1 programs are no place for development.
I kinda see the less popular side of the coin about Cal coach...
 
dk_b said:
Stanford’s roster shows 9 frosh and 5 seniors. UNC’s, too. (If what I’m seeing is current)
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Similar for Santa Clara, but they are long on sophomores.
And UCLA has a huge roster, but still 2 frosh for every senior.

Definitely seems to be a large element of recruit and replace.
 
Giesbock said:
I agree that D1 players should already be ‘professionals’ vis a vis their training regimen, mental focus, commitment to putting in the daily work, eating habits.... Not that I know from personal experience but top 50 D1 programs are no place for development.
I kinda see the less popular side of the coin about Cal coach...
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And who are the find professionals to teach the young ladies to be pro, bro? The last four years in socal have been insane and cruel, moo. Are you and Dre Docs on mental health? I figured I would ask. The key for coach and player is to be respectful to each other as a foundation. No one is better or more important then the other, they just have different rolls. Did you ever see One on One with Robbie Benson? Hoops story back in the 70s. Talk about a coach trying to run a player out of his program. You guys actually act like these girls got what they deserved. I dont what to read between the lines so I'll let you correct my wrong insight.
 
Robbie came back with a little help from a sweet girl and got the last word in. Got his sh*t together ((no drugs or speed)) and just hard work. He kicked ass and helped Western State win as a Freshman. These types of coaches suck!!!!

 
Here’s why I couch a lot of what I say with disclaimers like: “I don’t know from personal experience “ or , “I respectfully disagree”:

because I’m not sure if my position is absolutely correct. I’m just giving my two cents to the conversation.
On its face, would I want my daughter to play at Cal right now? NO. But I can see a scenario where kid uses soccer chops, club coaches connections and solid grades to get in to Cal and then downshifts. Coach says wtf? Harshly. Player is stunned, hurt and looks for a way out without being truthful with herself.
Coin always has two sides. Story always has two versions.

I’m just adding my ideas to this conversation.
 
crush said:
You guys actually act like these girls got what they deserved.
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Not hating the player, I’m hating the game. The game is colder than a polar bears toenails! The game has also been shady for awhile as your video shows. I’ve heard of academies in Mexico and Europe where coaches will essentially “put hits” on players and have other players try to end their career by attacking their knees.
I don’t think they deserved it but I think maybe they had unrealistic expectations. Have you seen Hoosiers? Coach Carter (Rich-City patna)? Both of those coaches yelled and weren’t liked at times yet were ultimately considered great coaches.
 
Giesbock said:
Here’s why I couch a lot of what I say with disclaimers like: “I don’t know from personal experience “ or , “I respectfully disagree”:

because I’m not sure if my position is absolutely correct. I’m just giving my two cents to the conversation.
On its face, would I want my daughter to play at Cal right now? NO. But I can see a scenario where kid uses soccer chops, club coaches connections and solid grades to get in to Cal and then downshifts. Coach says wtf? Harshly. Player is stunned, hurt and looks for a way out without being truthful with herself.
Coin always has two sides. Story always has two versions.

I’m just adding my ideas to this conversation.
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Girls should not be one side of a coin that the coach is in charge of flipping and calling heads or tails and won't let the girl see if she is right on her call. Sound familiar? Coach saying WTF is not showing compassion to the overall health of the student athlete who is 18. So I'll leave it at that and add that their human and precious and need to be treated with dignity and not harshness.
 
I wonder whether a simple rules change would help. Don’t give the coach the scholarship slot back when someone quits or is injured. Take away some of the incentive to be an asshole coach.

The 50% drop off in D1 programs tells me this isn’t the kid‘s fault. It’s the way the coach runs their system.
 
MacDre said:
Not hating the player, I’m hating the game. The game is colder than a polar bears toenails! The game has also been shady for awhile as your video shows. I’ve heard of academies in Mexico and Europe where coaches will essentially “put hits” on players and have other players try to end their career by attacking their knees.
I don’t think they deserved it but I think maybe they had unrealistic expectations. Have you seen Hoosiers? Coach Carter (Rich-City patna)? Both of those coaches yelled and weren’t liked at times yet were ultimately considered great coaches.
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Hoosiers coach got a second chance or third maybe for smacking a few boys around. These are girls and they dont deserve this BS they were fed. 4 days a week soccer soccer soccer and more soccer 10 months out of the year and dont you dare try hiking or skateboarding like your goat is doing now. Their is also a silver lining and mine is that this is going to get all worked out soon :) More spot light is all good.
 
The biggest red flag to me is how Cal never wins a championship, conference title or performs very well. They have a great opportunity to recruit well because it is an amazing school. However, why can't the team perform better? There is a reason why they fall short year after year.
 
Always amazed by the amount of dads who apply their own brief and unspectacular athletic careers often times not even in soccer to girls and women’s club and collegiate soccer. When you are a student athlete you are just that. You are not a pro. There is no similarity between pro and college athlete. None. Furthermore this behavior in a pro setting wound to happen period! Your agent, manager, private coach, shoe dealer rep, national team coach etc would not have it, end of story. These women coming forward are not weak, or soft. They are tough strong women who Neil recruited to be in his program. This is not one person not liking running extra. This is multiple women over several years with legitimate issues of misconduct that no one should have to deal with in any form much less at a school like Cal. I said it before and I will say it again. Every player in your program is of equal value. They all mater.
 
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