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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 15, 2015 12:06:18 GMT -5
I would be interested to hear what parents expect of their kid's soccer coaches in really as many aspects as you can think of. Maybe from the ages 12 and up. The word "development" gets used a lot but has always seemed ambiguous to me... Vice versa, coaches have expectations of parents (at least I do). Some of the big ones: please don't coach from the sideline, keep it positive, and if for whatever reason there are grievances on your end, air them out with me as opposed to your child. Not trying to start a war, just conversation  |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Apr 15, 2015 13:23:26 GMT -5
overall, i'll say my expectation is the coach has experience coaching kids and will stray away from the soccer side of coaching, because that for me is a given expectation (experience, knowledge, soccer IQ etc tactical, development vs winning, ).
communication to me is important. team meeting soon after tryouts for coaches to meet parents and players and layout their plan/expectations etc. I find sometimes that some coaches rely on team managers way to much and sometimes some info should come directly from coaches. the coaches should be in charge not the team managers!
prefer feedback be given to kids often so they have understanding of their situation, this involves individual player coaching.
player evaluations mid and end of season. to me its not necessary for the parent to be involved in this evaluation, unless we are talking about a u10 and below player.
if my or other kids are not playing a lot of minutes, i want a coach that i can approach and discuss why or have my child approach. Typically if the coach is doing a good job, the player already knows why to be honest and so does the parent!
i talk to my children's coaches a lot, just because we have a lot in common etc, ironically don't talk about much soccer with them, just about life etc. But I do preach the 24 hour rule or wait until Monday to talk to your coach or vise versa, otherwise emotions take over and things are said that aren't meant. But I do like a coach that is approachable and is comfortable talking with parents about the development of their children.
Probably could go on and on - finally, professional to me is extremely important. I want the coaches to show up to training and games on time and set an example. Coaches might not like it, but they are role models for children. For good and bad reasons, i remember every coach I've ever had in every sport I've played!
coaches have a huge impact on children and young soccer players lives!
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Post by jack4343 on Apr 15, 2015 13:34:35 GMT -5
I am at the point where I'd be happy with a coach that doesn't cancel practice constantly and shows up to the games. Don't even get me started, lol
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Post by Strikermom on Apr 15, 2015 16:15:01 GMT -5
Oh no !!!!!
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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 16, 2015 7:32:27 GMT -5
I am at the point where I'd be happy with a coach that doesn't cancel practice constantly and shows up to the games. Don't even get me started, lol AHHHH that's terrible!! It definitely has been a rainy spring this year. |
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 16, 2015 7:49:17 GMT -5
I am at the point where I'd be happy with a coach that doesn't cancel practice constantly and shows up to the games. Don't even get me started, lol cancelling because of the weather? |
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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 16, 2015 8:01:51 GMT -5
Soccerhouse: Thanks for the response! Very much agreed on all fronts from a coaching perspective. ESPECIALLY the 24 hour rule. I think that is important to not get into something before there has been time to cool down.
I prefer talking to the athlete directly as much as possible in terms of playing time...honestly I have that conversation before it becomes an issue because as a coach (at least in the HS level)I typically know who will be logging less minutes relatively early on in the season. Most kids I have found appreciate the early feedback (usually freshmen..the age gap kills them) and work hard to earn more time...which they typically do near the end of the season.
More individual coaching is definitely something I could work on and I think many other coaches out there could too.
I wish parents came to talk to me more! I like to think I am pretty approachable and love to hear the feedback, coaches learn every year they are out there too. Fortunately, I have a good rapport with my players and I believe many are comfortable addressing any issues or concerns with me without fear of backlash.
"coaches have a huge impact on children and young soccer players lives" - SO true. Having a team with girls that have a handful of coaches around the metro area, I hear the good and the bad.
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Post by jack4343 on Apr 16, 2015 12:18:29 GMT -5
I am at the point where I'd be happy with a coach that doesn't cancel practice constantly and shows up to the games. Don't even get me started, lol cancelling because of the weather? I wish! They have other committments. Guess this team isn't very high on the priority list. |
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Post by SoccerMom on Apr 16, 2015 12:21:23 GMT -5
cancelling because of the weather? I wish! They have other committments. Guess this team isn't very high on the priority list. wow....im sorry! i understand coach has other teams but that shouldnt affect practices at all, maybe a game here and there. We have been lucky with both kids in that aspect |
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Post by jack4343 on Apr 16, 2015 12:31:06 GMT -5
I wish! They have other committments. Guess this team isn't very high on the priority list. wow....im sorry! i understand coach has other teams but that shouldnt affect practices at all, maybe a game here and there. We have been lucky with both kids in that aspect Yeah it hasn't been a year my kid hasn't enjoyed for sure. Oh well...we've been very fortunate to have some incredible coaches in academy, select and rec as well. One bad Apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch for sure. Back to the original topic, I guess I would hope that each player on the team finishes the season a better player than they were before they started as long as they put forth the effort. If they come out of it a better person having learned some life lessons they can apply not just in soccer but life in general, then that's just icing on the cake. |
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Post by coachjd on Apr 17, 2015 9:46:52 GMT -5
This is a really interesting thread. I coach at my high school, but am looking to get involved in coaching club soccer. Thanks for all the input and for starting the thread.
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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 17, 2015 10:11:01 GMT -5
jack4343: Thanks for the response, effort definitely being the key word there!
coachjd: I have considered club coaching for a while now and have stayed on the fence. I love the HS atmosphere and how much fun it can be. Not sure club would be as enjoyable to coach. Maybe I'm wrong...
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Post by coachjd on Apr 17, 2015 11:25:00 GMT -5
coachjd: I have considered club coaching for a while now and have stayed on the fence. I love the HS atmosphere and how much fun it can be. Not sure club would be as enjoyable to coach. Maybe I'm wrong... There are coaches in my area that actually do both. That is what I am hoping I could do. I love coaching, and I would say I am a fairly good coach. Most of my players say so as well (at least to my face, who knows what they say else where... ha) and they are involved in different clubs in the area, but I want to learn more and become better as there is still a ton that I could learn and many areas I could improve. However, I don't currently have a membership to Georgia Soccer, and without that getting my next few lisences is fairly/really expensive. If I had to choose between coaching a club and coaching at a high school though. I just don't know what I would choose. It would be a tough choice, and one I would have to consider carefully I think. |
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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 17, 2015 12:28:28 GMT -5
coachjd: I have considered club coaching for a while now and have stayed on the fence. I love the HS atmosphere and how much fun it can be. Not sure club would be as enjoyable to coach. Maybe I'm wrong... There are coaches in my area that actually do both. That is what I am hoping I could do. I love coaching, and I would say I am a fairly good coach. Most of my players say so as well (at least to my face, who knows what they say else where... ha) and they are involved in different clubs in the area, but I want to learn more and become better as there is still a ton that I could learn and many areas I could improve. However, I don't currently have a membership to Georgia Soccer, and without that getting my next few lisences is fairly/really expensive. If I had to choose between coaching a club and coaching at a high school though. I just don't know what I would choose. It would be a tough choice, and one I would have to consider carefully I think. I have run into the same issue with talking to GA soccer about getting licensed. A few years back, they said I would be considered a GA soccer member though I didn't have a club affiliation. At that point I decided to postpone certification. Last year I got in touch again and was told that I would now have to pay non-member fees which get pretty costly! So I'm back debating :/ |
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Post by rifle on Apr 17, 2015 21:05:46 GMT -5
I just want a coach that is committed to the kids and not looking for excuses to skip team activities on short notice. If the kids learn something and continually improve, I'm content.
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Post by spectator on Apr 17, 2015 22:27:10 GMT -5
My expectations of my child's coach is to coach her and her teammates. I am not qualified to coach - I am not qualified to assess player talent and I don't run a club. Also - I don't think the fact that I write a check qualifies me any more to tell a coach what to do.
That said - my kid has had three outstanding coaches so far in her journey; one horrible one and parent coach who was in way over his head in early Academy days. Horrible coach rarely communitated with parents - relied solely on the team manager to do so and while she was a lovely person, she didn't do enough 'damage control' when the coach would refuse to speak to parents so there was some griping among the more vocal parents. This wouldn't have been what dubbed him 'horrible' in my book though - it was the way he spoke to and treated the girls. Supposedly he was an exceptional coach of boys - girls are an entirely different animal - especially pre-teen ones so most of them hated him and cried when he'd criticize harshly. He had his favorite players and parents and made that clear to the rest of the girls - to the point of telling players to emmulate the favorite players on the team. Even kids saw through that.
Now for the good. Coach 1 - goofy, fun, had the kids' best interest at heart and knew how to get through to every kid on that team. They loved him - he made the game fun and they worked well as a unit.
Coach 2 - bar none the most skilled coach ever - he matched every skill he taught and dazzled the girls with his talent and footwork. He wanted players with heart - the desire to be better - that was his 'development' and any player who wanted extra time, he'd give it freely - literally - freely. He scheduled extra field time and the entire team came out every time - those girls wanted to do well for him - and for themselves. He inspired them to be their best.
Coach 3 - Great player, great communicator, incredibly well organized and a great leader. Very tactical coach and did basic skill and footwork drills before every practice - no kid was ever late and the coach insisted the players do the drills at home. This netted a very tight group that could warm up on their own if the coach was running late to a game (rarely happened but if it did, we were given heads up and the coach appointed warmup 'captains' to run the warm up)
The three great coaches are still in my child's life - one still coaches her. The other two have kept up with her - she still communicates with both when she needs advice or extra help. We've been incredibly fortunate to have these three outstanding individuals in her life.
So far, my "expectations" have been exceeded. But my 'expectations' aren't what matters - it's the relationship my player has with her coach. As her parent, if I ever see a line crossed or any level of what I consider 'abuse' of her as a person or a player, then I step in, other than that, it's her game - her team - her coach.
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Post by soccerpapi on Apr 18, 2015 14:35:05 GMT -5
Here is what we looked for, and actually lucked out finding in three different persons throughout our kids' soccer journey:
Academy (10-12)
Goofy Coach. Kid at heart. Connect with players (establish a "no pressure" love of the game early). Positive reinforcement and encouragement. Cared more about teaching moments, than wins or losses. Focus on developing good soccer habits (good technical skills: first touch). Focus on teaching every position to each player including GK. One who shuffled players around to different teams in order to have them get used to playing with different players, understand being the new player one week, the strongest one week, mid-level next week, or weakest the following week.
Early Select (13-15)
Coach who focuses on strengthening technical skills (less shoot and run approach). One who assigned soccer homework assignments, and test those results in practice. One who set high expectations for player and team. One who is a student of the game themselves. One who start to teach his/her players how to adapt to different formations, including those recommended by USSF, aligning to national goals. One who also starts teaching his team the psychological aspects of the game. One who emphasizes end of year evaluations, feedback, and grading.
Later Select (16-18)
Serious Coach who wants to prepare all players to play at the highest level of his/her capability (whether that might be Intramural soccer, D3, D2, D1, National Team, foreign national team, etc). Coach with contacts and references that will help his/her players get to that desired level. One who has high work ethic and high moral judgment to role model teen-age years (no cell phone Coaching on the sideline). One who is highly respected by soccer community including GA Soccer, ODP, and region staff (jealousy by other Coaches not withstanding). One who learns from his/her mistakes, adapt, and continue to learn to be better. Coach who is a good teacher, and who realizes that practice is preparation, while the game is the final exam. A Coach who gives some level of free time w/o parents having to write an additional paycheck (e.g., practice redo, make-ups, extra sessions, etc). A Coach who teaches life-lessons, prepare kids to be good Citizens and leaders; one who teaches the players to learn to approach them with issues w/o having their parent fight their battles with Coach. A Coach who is firm and demanding w/o being abusive. One who focuses on game preparation (diet, fitness, psychological) as well as the game itself.
Great Manager - A good technical Coach is not always a good manager (organization, scheduling, communications, advance notices, addressing equal playing time, etc..). In those cases, we've always found excellent team managers to balance out what Coach may be lacking in Mgmt. While we've found some younger, really good technical Coaches who were also great Managers, this seems to come with work experience and maturity, and parents must exercise patience or provide feedback to Coach or DOC to address. We, personally, did not put as much emphasis on the "good manager" part as we did the "good teacher of the game" part, but that is very important to some.
Word of caution - Our pay for play, "I write the check" culture, tend to lead to lack of patience all around (DOCs, Coaches and Parents). Too many quick fix approach/search for answers by a great majority of youth soccer parents, and Club pressure to win early on our Coaches.
Good luck, and happy searching...Sometime it also depends on your kid's personality as well.
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Post by silverback on Apr 19, 2015 11:57:04 GMT -5
The best coaches are those who consider themselves "teachers" first. Unfortunately, I have seen too many coaches that don't "teach" the game, but prefer to yell and focus on the wins/losses. I'll never forget an interview with Mike Krzyzewski who talked about the difference between "teaching" and "coaching" and how considers himself a teacher first. It was very enlightening and spot on.
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Post by volunteercoach on Apr 22, 2015 6:24:48 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the thought out responses! spectator and soccer papi, it sounds like you guys have encountered some great coaches along the way! The insight from the parents side is invaluable in my opinion. Not just because you see the results of practice (games) but also because you hear feedback from the players themselves.
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