I wonder what the attrition rate for big clubs is compared to AYSO/other rec programs. Just kids who drop out of the sport, not moving clubs. In the club where I am at now, they make it clear they have a large pool of youngers with the expectation that many will drop leaving the club with the smaller pool of competitive players.
Is club soccer a waste of time/money for youngers (under 10 yo)?
- Thread starter Socal-Soccer-Dad
- Start date
Well, that's the other distortion I didn't hit on (blind spot because I have a boy). It's the "my kid can go pro" or the "my kid can play on the USWNT" distortion. There's a ton of kids (and parents) who have deluded themselves (not saying it's you or your kid) that they can go pro. It's more prevalent in the girl's side of things (because on the boy's if you aren't playing in Europe or at a minimum at an MLS Academy or a really small group of other teams, it's very clear that it is not happening), because there's also a safety net (girl scholarships being more plentiful than boys, it can be rationalized, well maybe she'll get a scholarship out of it). As the kids get older and closer to senior year of high school, more realize they can't be Alex Morgan and there are other activities (including dating) which begin to grab their attention....it's the same as wanting to be a fireman (you eventually grow out of the fantasy) or astronaut growing up (unless you go to one of the academies and then specialize in aviation, it's unlikely you'll be in the space program as part of the command path).
The reason you need a DOC is because you need someone to administer the mess. They got to deal with everything from hiring coaches, to making sure those coaches have those licenses and trainings, to complaints from parents the team is losing too much, to more serious complaints like sexual harassment. They may or may not do a good job, but as the old expression goes, you get what you pay for. Europe has academies which are in the business of developing and then selling professional players which is how they fund their system. Their rec programs are managed by a combination of volunteer and paid staff, but the equivalent of the DOC is usually one of the few paid positions.
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
yes. we ban any child that has a parent constantly on an online forum talking about youth soccer.
…accepting the bribes, threatening the parents, blackballing certain players.
graciesdad
BRONZE
"Snap"
The forum is the parents way to Yelp for each other. I had a Doc tell me only through him and other Docs can one be introduced to the game after club. I said no way and I was wrong. Gatekeeper has a fee and its expensive. Stop doing this Doc or at least tell the others.
This is it 100% for the youngers in the youth level.
Let's not crown any 9 yo strikers in SoCal League as the next Harry Kane
(fair enough -- but I was thinking U11/U12 for the more advanced stuff). Really depends on the coaching. I've seen some coaches do some really amazing work tactically/cognitively with younger players. Playing directly (without knowing possession) and placing bigger, faster, stronger kids on a team is the easy way out. It takes a lot of work to do more than that and generally you have to sacrifice results to do so. A proper club/coach will focus on development, not results, for the youngers. These coaches aren't paid enough in my book.
Twitter has some really great content in this regard. Check out Michael Carroll's tweets: https://twitter.com/TexasCoachMike. He's an example of a coach that can bring out the best in younger players (mentally and physically), at least when looking at his video clips. It's really great to see.
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
take some time off the computer. You talk like you've never interacted with real people before. I mean you literally respond within an hour which shows how you are in front of a screen all day long
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
now you are trying to pretend like you aren't glued to your computer. Your online again shocker
I get a "Bing" on my special smart phone. Every time I get a PM or a post about me or directed at me my smart phone lights up. I have a side hustle you no nothing about. Most of my action is with PMs. You have no idea. I can do five things all at once too so just relax. You should be at practice over seeing your coaches and not posting here, moo. Are you sure you're Doc of a GA Club? If that is a lie? Socal GA Doc? The GA would not appreciate someone being a poser. You sound like a control freak. Telling your players, "hey girls, if any of your parents spend too much time online , especially on the online socal soccer forum and they post within one hour of a post, then I will kick you off my team. If that happens, you will never get to play soccer again unless you tell your old man to "STFU." Why would you do that and be so afraid of a parent posting on soccer forum? Honest question coach? My dd advice to the underclassman at her High School is epic, "Have fun, It's not that serious." Doc, you need to worry about your GA Club and not engage a crazy parent here. 3 more days and I am out of here and flying away for good.
When do you coach the coaches Doc?now you are trying to pretend like you aren't glued to your computer. Your online again shocker
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
you are a bum . period. so your addicted to your smartphone.
edit. and your online now as I post this comment. LOL what a addict
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
pay to play is necessary. how do you expect coaches to get paid and clubs to make money?
Thank you Doc of a GA Club.
Pay to coach, not pay to play. WTF charges people to PLAY a sport for kids?
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paytoplayisgood
SILVER
you are just like a dumb socialist. who do you think is going to fund youth soccer clubs? there is a reason why most clubs are non-profit. youth soccer isn't a profitable thing.
I know a Doc who makes well over $250,000 a year at his non-profit. This includes privates and consulting fees. Non-Profit only means their is no profit to share. No, you spend all the money each year to show a non-Profit. I'm good with Directors making good money if they do a good job. If they lie, bribe and then blackmail a dad to STFU or else, then no pay is deserved and someone else who cares for the girls can be the Director. Thanks for calling me a Bum, a Dumb and a Socialist. I have been called other things but never these three in a row and never have I been accused of being a Socialist. I must have hit a nerve with you coach. I'm just a dad who told a few dads & docs a few years ago that they will not get away with their lies, yelling and screaming at little girls and telling them all sorts of BS. I did my time and now on Sunday I get to be free. I will not miss the Docs or the TMs. June 5th is big forgiveness day. You think the last four years has been all peachy with these people? You know the customer very well and you know what they want. I forgive you and will look to spend my time helping my wife's parents and then go help the poor and those in need.
paytoplayisgood
SILVER
I love to make parents pay 4k a year so I can save up for a new car. How else am I supposed to make money. This is a job. And you wouldn't have soccer clubs available for your puny daughter in if it was free. High school soccer is an option then.
Golden Gate, is that you in disagrees again? I never said free soccer by the way, paytoplayisgood. I think paying someone like you or others like you to get my kid play time and college deals is my issue. I paid good people money to coach my dd at Arsenal, Legends, Blues, Surf and Strikers. Sometimes it was free but most of the time I paid for a coach. The GDA brought the "pay to play" and Pay more at my privates" to play more than the other players because you paid more. The more you pay, the more you get play time with some Docs. I will say overall, I got what I paid for and I am very happy. I only had issues really with two Docs, that is the truth. Some coaches yelled but that's an easy fix if someone is willing to listen to females and ask if they like being yelled at or coached and taught with respect. You should do a survey with your GA Club. A Director of a girls program calling a little girl "puny." Why, what mean words you have. My, what lies you have." Yes, others kind of lied with a little bit of this and that but not big lies like the two and those liars also came with threats after I exposed them. You actually are starting to act like one of the one's I dealt with.