How to request better training practices

[ScrParentSocal]

Hey all,

My son who is a 2011 plays for a well known Socal club. I would prefer not to name it due to anonymity but it does have teams in the ECNL leagues.
My son's team did well last season, winning league and is moving up a flight (and possibly even to the ECNL league depending how things go).
We really like the team, the families, the grit these boys put in their games (they mostly win or draw games). The coaches are really nice, communicative, they put in an extra training for conditioning which we enjoy for the kids.

His team is naturally talented and we know that more than half the families do additional private trainings on the side with other trainers.
Our team's practices consist of simple passing, 1v1s, and shooting at the goal. Oh and sitting and chatting with the coaches for 20+ minutes.

My son has mentioned he wishes the trainings were better. We agree and so do a few other parents we know of that have mentioned it themselves.
Our son never breaks a sweat, nor do his teammates because of how easy they are. I feel like I waste my time driving him to his practices.

How do we go about talking to the coaches or director without offending them that in order to compete at a higher level, our practices need to be better, more intense.

 

[TeamDadJokes]

Hey all,

My son who is a 2011 plays for a well known Socal club. I would prefer not to name it due to anonymity but it does have teams in the ECNL leagues.
My son's team did well last season, winning league and is moving up a flight (and possibly even to the ECNL league depending how things go).
We really like the team, the families, the grit these boys put in their games (they mostly win or draw games). The coaches are really nice, communicative, they put in an extra training for conditioning which we enjoy for the kids.

His team is naturally talented and we know that more than half the families do additional private trainings on the side with other trainers.
Our team's practices consist of simple passing, 1v1s, and shooting at the goal. Oh and sitting and chatting with the coaches for 20+ minutes.

My son has mentioned he wishes the trainings were better. We agree and so do a few other parents we know of that have mentioned it themselves.
Our son never breaks a sweat, nor do his teammates because of how easy they are. I feel like I waste my time driving him to his practices.

How do we go about talking to the coaches or director without offending them that in order to compete at a higher level, our practices need to be better, more intense.

This is where you need to focus on things you can control.

You’re not going to be able to get the coach switched out. In my opinion doing so will put a huge target on your kid and you and DOCs and coaches talk. As by your account, your team has a winning records with mostly wins and draws and winning league last year, so from a club management perspective what your coach is doing is working.

That being said, your options are to look for another team that has the coaching that you feel is best suited for your kid which may include making a higher level or ranked team and potentially taking a hit on playtime while trying to work into the starting rotation.

Or if you don’t want to leave the team, then consider making up what is lacking in team trainings.

It sounds like there is a lack of conditioning or intensity by your description. That being said, you’re going to have varying opinions on what team practices should look like.

Some believe practices should by high intensity training. Others may say team practices are meant to get the team to work with each other and establish team responsibilities and how to address certain scenarios in game.

That camp may also tell you that high intensity training is better at the individual level. There is also injury risk mitigation as HIT team training can result in unnecessary injuries (ie ACL tears, concussions, ankle injuries and etc).

So the question I throw back to you is, what are the things you value most from your team and are there things you’re not happy about that you can address on an individual level without changing coaches or teams?

 

[Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr]

Hey all,

My son who is a 2011 plays for a well known Socal club. I would prefer not to name it due to anonymity but it does have teams in the ECNL leagues.
My son's team did well last season, winning league and is moving up a flight (and possibly even to the ECNL league depending how things go).
We really like the team, the families, the grit these boys put in their games (they mostly win or draw games). The coaches are really nice, communicative, they put in an extra training for conditioning which we enjoy for the kids.

His team is naturally talented and we know that more than half the families do additional private trainings on the side with other trainers.
Our team's practices consist of simple passing, 1v1s, and shooting at the goal. Oh and sitting and chatting with the coaches for 20+ minutes.

My son has mentioned he wishes the trainings were better. We agree and so do a few other parents we know of that have mentioned it themselves.
Our son never breaks a sweat, nor do his teammates because of how easy they are. I feel like I waste my time driving him to his practices.

How do we go about talking to the coaches or director without offending them that in order to compete at a higher level, our practices need to be better, more intense.

Suggestion? Frame it to the coach in the positive to highlight what is the true intent while also offering a solution. Have your son ask your coach (preferably, so he advocates for himself and cultivates some agency) or you ask the coach:

"My son really wants to get more training in. Can he practice with the 2010 team once or twice a week to improve his fitness and overall ability."

My son did this numerous times when he was younger, even with hard a** coaches and no one had an issue with it.