Over at the NC Soccer Forums, there’s a fun discussion going on:
From playnow:
With the recent boom of programs across the country (state youth academy, USSF academy, Red Bull, national premier league, super y league, region III premier league, etc.), I’d be interested to see what people had to say about youth soccer if they had to break it down to one short statement of what is most important to them. Mine would be:
Even with all of the programs and incentives and bells and whistles that clubs are competing to be a part of, it all still comes down to a player finding a team with a coach who will teach them well, and within a club that has a staff committed to giving that player the individual attention they need to reach their personal goals.
So what would you guys have to say if you had to give your opinion in one short statement?
Read the thread to see the many single sentence summations of youth soccer. My favorite so far? From MGLParent:
Pulled apart between those that say win at any cost and those that do not even want to have tryouts.
I think I’d replace ‘have tryouts’ with ‘keep score’.
How would you sum up youth soccer in a single sentence?
July 30th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I know I am digressing and don’t mean to be malicious. I read through the NC Soccer Forum thread. First time I visited since last Thanksgiving. I now know why I left it. A few parents who simply post their opinions, harass each other and whine. I am a researcher and if I had NC Soccer Forum data available – I would bet that 99% of the posts are from 2% of the people who write on it.
That thread started as a good idea – but digressed into complaining parents. It makes me sick. Sorry to bitch…
How would I sum up youth soccer in a single sentence? The way I feel at this second – an overabundance of interfering parents who have no life…
July 30th, 2007 at 9:38 am
It definitely has it’s complainers and like any forum, folks with strong opinions. I try to wade through the chaff as there is often good stuff posted. I’ve actually found most of the useless stuff comes from a small percentage of high volume posters – but there are also some very committed coaches and parents who post some good stuff. I come and go depending on the time I have to wade through it all…
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am
The pessimistic side of me agrees with Bill 100 percent on all his points — the NC Forum and the overabundance of interfering parents. However, the optimist in me can’t help but see the all the good in youth soccer. I coach quite a bit — 3-4 nights a week and at least once on weekends — and I see how much the game means to the kids I coach and to their parents. But parents need to give their kids some room in all aspects of their lives. Like anything, their are some how are over the top, some who are involved to the right extent, and some who could care less.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Sure – but as in all things in life – there are extremes on each end with the bulk happily in the middle. the NC Forum can be a crazy place, but often because of a small few. I’ve read some fantastic stuff there and it’s worth a read when I’ve got the time.
Same with the parents. Some make you want to pull your hair out – but many others are fantastic parents who still want what is best for their kids, but know to let the coaches coach and to ask questions when they don’t understand something instead of arguing with the referee. I’m not sure we’ll ever rid ourselves of the troublesome ones. But we as youth leagues should make it a point to educate the parents along with the kids so the vast majority enjoy the sport instead of worrying if that offside call was BS 🙂