July 11, 2019 | Had a long conversation with a parent tonight about his player and their experience with club soccer and I had some thoughts on soccer as a whole in the Untied States.
*Regarding the tryout issue, when I was at Vardar, we wouldn't allow players to leave without their packets to commit. We needed first payment the next day. We wouldn't allow players to leave without committing.
- Coaches would cut out most of the problems that THEY cause, if they only told their families the truth.
- This particular coach, in an evaluation, told the player that they are doing everything right, nothing to improve, only to be moved down to B team three months later after tryouts.
- At this particular tryouts, there was no communication between the coaches and players families. No text or call for 3 days?*
- If you're coaching at a big time team at a big time club and are expecting some new players to come and join, be as transparent as possible with your current rostered players. It would be a great opportunity to challenge your current players to really step up their game. That could send shock waves throughout your team from player 1-18. Warn them that every new player is coming to take their spot.
- If your player has ben on the "A team" for a number of years, and is then replaced by some new players. I'd directly question the club of "aren't you in charge of their development?"
*Regarding the tryout issue, when I was at Vardar, we wouldn't allow players to leave without their packets to commit. We needed first payment the next day. We wouldn't allow players to leave without committing.