AFU girls ECNL coach

lol all of this complaining about SG communication style. all TH academy parents are like, ‘we suffered through years of TC you snowflake...’ not even in same universe.

|as the world turns at afu|
|me need more popcorn|

This thread has a life of its own but it is important. We've all experienced or seen examples of a coach that doesn't appear to have every kids best interest in mind. I've certainly questioned coaches commitment, motives and credibility like everyone else. As parents, we have every right to search out the club/coach that fits and I've exercised that right too. But your individual experience shouldn't green-light you burning down the house with everyone else still inside!

Just think of the audacity it must take for one or even a group of parents, to make an uninformed yet calculated decision to pass judgement on a coach or make a request based upon what they ultimately think is best for EVERYONE!? Sure advocate for your kid, fine. But it becomes unnerving and honestly embarrassing as a parent let alone imagine coaches, to deal with such entitled nonsense! I've gotten to this position based upon experience. So the question you (we) should really be asking ourselves, is the problem a lack of communication between you and the coach? Or is the real issue a lack of communication between you and your kid? There is a difference.

An excellent point about making decisions for others. I suspect that the lack of communication was really on the coach, but otherwise I agree with the statement. I think if a group of parents goes to the club about a coach it needs to be a supermajority that does it, not just 8 out of 15. The likelihood of a unanimous group is very small but a supermajority seems right to me. We left a club last year rather than organize a group against the coach. We did not like the coach (due to lack of communication mainly but also felt practices were not productive for the age group). We knew of at least 4 others who felt the same way, but did not want to campaign to get to the rest or dig into their personal issues with the coach. Another age group did get the coach removed from their team with a concerted effort. We don't regret our decision to move as there were other factors that made it better for us. I would not have felt comfortable getting the coach removed through my efforts, but I respect others rights to do it as long as it was done by most of the team.

most definitely does not make it right. i'm just saying in the pantheon of poorly behaved ill communicators, there is TC and then there is everyone else. SG looks like the patron saint of kindness with barack obama oratory skills in comparison.

The 07’s weren’t always losing. They were 1 goal away from the finals at Jeff Cup in the top bracket, competing against teams from all over the country. They have beaten local teams and other teams in their ECNL division. Both teams are in the middle of their bracket. Huge improvement from 2019.

SG sent out a calendar at the beginning of each month with the training schedule. He texted and emailed parents and players and communicated via team snap. Held zoom meetings on days practice was canceled. Carried his whiteboard everywhere he went. Kept notebooks on all the games played. Added a 4th day to training on his own time for both teams when the curriculum only called for 3x. Had each player fill out a self evaluation form online after every practice and game. Extremely organized and responsive.

A lot different than saying he doesn’t communicate. In fact, he over communicated more than many other coaches. Maybe, some parents/players didn’t like what he had to say or how he said it? Everyone has a different personality, he’s not a puppet!

Some of the 08 parents were frustrated in the fall with losing a lot. Half of the players were new to the team. They beat the #1 ECNL team last week, so not frustrated as much.

Everything comes down to playing time. The ones that feel their player never gets enough are the same ones that feel other players get too much. They are the same ones that are probably on the bubble in even making the team next year.

Why exactly should he continue. I think soccer girl posted about the mutiny months ago. He probably had enough,

exactly, i think parents gotta understand that many good coaches have their main career. Coaching doesnt pay a lot and does not have medical insurance or retirement plans, so i think SG had enough and i wont blame him for leaving.

There is another key point that people want to ignore as they blame everyone but the Coach or club management for the position this has put 2 teams with approximately 24 young ladies....while tryouts were impacted due to Covid, many coaches and clubs still had “tryouts” with players looking to move to AFU from other clubs. Coaches, such as SG and the AFU Management team, decided who would or wouldn’t be on a team for this season. SG picked the players he wanted on his team and so he had full discretion on who would or wouldn’t be playing on his team...so if they don’t belong on that team why did SG allow for those players to be on his team? Why doesn’t this fall on SG and/or club management(which SG is a part of) as the first point of breakdown with this unfortunate situation? If a player doesn’t belong on a team, due to skill set or lack there of, then they should be moved appropriately to the team that is better suited for that player. AFU failed to make the necessary changes to correct the issue early on, and that falls on SG and Club management.

IMO...there is plenty of blame to go around but in this situation the bulk of the blame should be placed on Club Management and SG. If either of those 2 groups don’t have the fortitude or the experience to get in front of a situation like this and make immediate corrective actions, which if done correctly will most likely upset and please everyone involved at the same time(coaches and management included) then how can you expect things to change?

Also, while parents aren’t the ones managing the club directly or assigning coaches to teams, the parents are the ones paying for their players to play and more importantly develop as soccer players or volunteering as Team managers or fundraisers for the team or club. So, it is not unreasonable for them to expect accountability and results especially when those players and parents are being held accountable for their actions. Also, another key point to keep in mind...without the players, there is no club! The mentality of...”you don’t like it, deal with it or get out!” Is the quickest way for a club to lose membership. A club should not be afraid of customer service! In fact they should look at it as a way to improve the club and build a more solid and rounded program to be able to recruit more players and coaches.

Hang on a minute...ran out of popcorn...be right back.

Perhaps SG is still with the club? From the IG feed he recently ran an academy workout. So perhaps he and MM came to an agreement regarding the 07G and 08G teams that no longer wanted him as coach?

From my understanding he's still at the club and will be coaching this summer and next year.  Exactly what team(s) is still not 100% determined.

|afu board & doc & leadership really really really foolish|
|i be embarrass to be afu playa|

Doh!