How do you feel about guest player?

go99 wrote:Ok first on the love of the game aspect.  It is the first and most important thing a kid must learn.  Forget ball mastery and all the skill B.S.  He must first learn to love the game.

go99 wrote:
My BB started with a rec team and a lady who was a teacher and great with kids.  She knew nothing about the game of soccer.  He ran up and down the field and may have actually touched the ball once.  He was very shy and afraid to get into pile with all of the other kids and fight for the ball.

go99 wrote:
She let him be who he was and do as much as he wanted.  It was the most frustrating experience of my life.  At the end of the season he told his grandma he wanted to be a professional soccer player.

go99 wrote:
I thought "what you aren't even playing soccer you are just running around wasting time and money"  Fast forward to today and he has played up in D1 and moved on to the development academy.

go99 wrote:
His love of the game drives him to go out on his own and practice.  It has carried him thru the times when things didn't go his way.  It kept him going when he first started playing up in D1 and struggled for playing time.  Eventually the game requires lots of work and sacrifice.

go99 wrote:
Those that go on will find themselves giving up many thing a normal kid takes for granted.  As far as your son goes, the question is what does he want?

go99 wrote:
Forget about guest players and focus on him.  How good does he want to be?  Does he want to play and have fun or does he want to fight and struggle for playtime?  Make a decision based on what HE wants from soccer.

Real Barcelona wrote:I will use everything I learned from the British coaches:evil: 

PremierLeagueFan wrote:

go99 wrote:Ok first on the love of the game aspect.  It is the first and most important thing a kid must learn.  Forget ball mastery and all the skill B.S.  He must first learn to love the game.

One doesn't learn to "Love" the game...While romantic it is just rhetoric. Enthusiasm, interest, respect and dedication to the beautiful game is a reasonable expectation.
Learn to love the game means love it enough to work hard for it.  It is not resonable to this every kid will love soccer to the extent it will take to be truly good at it.

go99 wrote:
My BB started with a rec team and a lady who was a teacher and great with kids.  She knew nothing about the game of soccer.  He ran up and down the field and may have actually touched the ball once.  He was very shy and afraid to get into pile with all of the other kids and fight for the ball.

Sounds like most BB's, but not when they are 9 or 10 years old.
That is correct not at 9 and by then he should already have his love for the game.  That is what the rec was for.  Now he needs to work hard, fight and compete

go99 wrote:
She let him be who he was and do as much as he wanted.  It was the most frustrating experience of my life.  At the end of the season he told his grandma he wanted to be a professional soccer player.

Every BB wants to be a pro player and eventually a policeman, fireman, etc. (I can certainly relate)
Reminds me of the quote about C Ronaldo.  A players said Ronaldo came to Manchester and said he wanted to be the best players in the world.  Lot's of players say it but Ronaldo actually went about the hard work it took to get there.  He was the first one into practice and the last one out.  See there is a difference between a kid who says I want to be a soccer player (the next messi/superstar)  And a kid who thinks I will give up everything I have to wake up in the morning and play soccer for a living
 

go99 wrote:
I thought "what you aren't even playing soccer you are just running around wasting time and money"  Fast forward to today and he has played up in D1 and moved on to the development academy.

That was a quick jump, did something happen on the way there?
yep his first year D1 team lost every game except 1, fell to D3 and disbanded.  Great coach and BB would have stayed but they sent him to the top team.  Once he got there they refused to let him on. He played up an age group instead in D2.  Did well and played most of the time.  Next season he said he wanted to see if he could take time in D1.  He chose to give up playtime because he wanted to push himself and see how good he could be rather that play.  Not always good or happy times and a first for him to not start.  But in the end he did well and improved greatly as a player. This season he was moved to the academy.

go99 wrote:
His love of the game drives him to go out on his own and practice.  It has carried him thru the times when things didn't go his way.  It kept him going when he first started playing up in D1 and struggled for playing time.  Eventually the game requires lots of work and sacrifice.

Almost every BB on a competitive team has the same story and a lot of unsuccessful teams have these players also.
No they don't.  Most kids will stay in an enviornment where they get plenty of playtime and have fun.  I hear lots of talk of college soccer.  But do the kids realize how much of the college experience they would give up?

go99 wrote:
Those that go on will find themselves giving up many thing a normal kid takes for granted.  As far as your son goes, the question is what does he want?

Don't agree, my BB is a world champion Minecraft expert and Clash of Clans leader. You will have to make a decision as BB gets more competitive as to whether you will play or continue to play more than one sport.
And as your BB gets older and the teams get better he will have to make a choice.  Minecraft etc time will have to dwindle.  You will chose one sport or you will not be in academy.  BB is all about call of duty but between homework, practice, and travel for games his time to cut the xbox on is very limited.  While his friends hang out at the highschool football game friday night he either has to miss because of travel or leave early because of the game the next day.  It's not fair for a kid to make those sacrifices because it's what "you" want.  

go99 wrote:
Forget about guest players and focus on him.  How good does he want to be?  Does he want to play and have fun or does he want to fight and struggle for playtime?  Make a decision based on what HE wants from soccer.

Don't agree, BB's like to please so put BB on the team he is best suited for and continue to encourage and point out the aspects of his game where he contributes and see how you can find ways to help BB contribute on the pitch.

heyyouguys wrote:

DragonStryker wrote:

GET OFF YOUR A$$ AND VOLUNTEER TO COACH YOUR OWN SON'S TEAM!!  And if you don't know enough to do it (though it sounds like you do), you really shouldn't be complaining about another adult (likely the father of one of the boys on the team) who cared enough to at least try.  And unless you are talking about u4 or u5, whoever was coaching the team even cared enough to take a licensing class (at least my Rec Association requires it for u6 and above, assume most are similar).

I see this all the time.  Parents complaining about the quality of coaches in Rec.  There's a simple solution.  Volunteer.  Don't know enough, learn.  Hell, I saw Mom's at the last licensing class I took who were there because her son's team needed a coach and no one else would step up.  She'd never played soccer in her life but she cared enough to at least try and help.  That's someone I respect.  That's not someone who deserves your scorn.

You sir?  I don't respect you even a little bit.  Rather than step up and contribute, you come here and complain anonymously about someone who at least cared enough to try.

My son?  He'll play Rec until u10 and I plan to coach him the entire way.  Why?  Because it gives him a fun outlet on the pitch where he's clearly the best player on the field (which is great for his confidence, something that should never be underestimated in sport).  And because I can spend our practices reinforcing everything his Academy Coach is teaching him.  And on top of all of that, I get to spend some quality time with my son.  Where's the downside to that?  What's to complain about?

Yup... crying and moaning about a parent coach who probably got stuck with the job because the soccer association sent an email saying your kid cant play because there's no coach drives me nuts... especially by parents who do actually know (or think they do) how to play soccer. Not everyone is good at coaching... its like teaching, but I've NEVER met a volunteer rec coaches, even crappy ones, who weren't trying to do a good job. It's cliché, but "be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem" fits this perfectly. You watched a coach do what you thought was a poor job, and didn't help... way to go chief.

hunden97 wrote:Plenty of great advice above. As was mentioned, put your kid in more small sided games either street soccer or futsal. Benefits of futsal are too good to pass up. Many, many touches on the ball in single sessions/games. Ball control learned from very fast moving passes on hard court (no grass to slow the ball down) Extremely quick decision making from playing on small courts. The game is FUN! Plenty of touches, fast pace, many goals, etc. Along with the advice above concerning placing your son in the best outdoor situation split his time with futsal/small side. You and your boy won't regret it!

So you know I had the same thoughts at times concerning my boy, that we didn't put him in academy soon enough. However if you focus on small side specifically for a year or two, and he keeps his passion for the game, he will be in HIGH demand when you introduce him back to the full side pitch.

Anyways, good luck to you and make sure you enjoy every bit of your time with him because time flies by too quickly!

AllPaoTeam wrote:

hunden97 wrote:Plenty of great advice above. As was mentioned, put your kid in more small sided games either street soccer or futsal. Benefits of futsal are too good to pass up. Many, many touches on the ball in single sessions/games. Ball control learned from very fast moving passes on hard court (no grass to slow the ball down) Extremely quick decision making from playing on small courts. The game is FUN! Plenty of touches, fast pace, many goals, etc. Along with the advice above concerning placing your son in the best outdoor situation split his time with futsal/small side. You and your boy won't regret it!

So you know I had the same thoughts at times concerning my boy, that we didn't put him in academy soon enough. However if you focus on small side specifically for a year or two, and he keeps his passion for the game, he will be in HIGH demand when you introduce him back to the full side pitch.

Anyways, good luck to you and make sure you enjoy every bit of your time with him because time flies by too quickly!

Thanks for the advice, I am looking into Futsal, my older son played it this summer and it helped him. The only problem is Im afraid my BB is getting burnt out from too much soccer right now. At the begining of the season, I saw the twinkle in his eye, now I really dont see that anymore. He was putting on moves, being creative with the ball in practice and games when the season started. The last 6 games the last 2 weeks (4 Rec games due to rainouts and 2 Academy games). He really doesnt do much moves anymore and pretty much dribbles straight forward, doesnt use his body to shield the ball like before, etc. He starts to talk about leg/foot pain.

I think this winter, we will cut down on soccer, just keep him playing with his academy team and I will practice with him. Hopefully with less time with soccer this winter will bring back that twinkle. If everything goes well, I will put him in Futsal in the summer if he wants to try it.

Last.Mohican wrote:Not trying to point fingers at you but you sure your BB wants to play Academy + Rec, which I presume included games/practices for both?  I only ask because at 10 yrs old that is a lot of soccer.  Practice 3-4x a week + 2 games on the weekend.  Yes, some kids can't get enough of it.. but there are also parents that can't get enough of it & the two don't necessarily go hand in hand.  That's a reality check for some folks..

Again, I don't mean to accuse by any stretch.. merely pointing out that is a lot of soccer.  I'd suggest focusing on one team and use the extra time to just let him be a 10 yr old.  

Granted it was some time ago, but I recall several buddies dropping the sport they loved growing up by the time they were in 7th grade, literally due to burnout & unrealistic parent expectations.  As parents we presume we know exactly what our kids want.. although forget that as they get older they are more than capable of telling us.

Last.Mohican wrote:Not trying to point fingers at you but you sure your BB wants to play Academy + Rec, which I presume included games/practices for both?  I only ask because at 10 yrs old that is a lot of soccer.  Practice 3-4x a week + 2 games on the weekend.  Yes, some kids can't get enough of it.. but there are also parents that can't get enough of it & the two don't necessarily go hand in hand.  That's a reality check for some folks..

Again, I don't mean to accuse by any stretch.. merely pointing out that is a lot of soccer.  I'd suggest focusing on one team and use the extra time to just let him be a 10 yr old.  

Granted it was some time ago, but I recall several buddies dropping the sport they loved growing up by the time they were in 7th grade, literally due to burnout & unrealistic parent expectations.  As parents we presume we know exactly what our kids want.. although forget that as they get older they are more than capable of telling us.

go99 wrote:

PremierLeagueFan wrote:

go99 wrote:Ok first on the love of the game aspect.  It is the first and most important thing a kid must learn.  Forget ball mastery and all the skill B.S.  He must first learn to love the game.

One doesn't learn to "Love" the game...While romantic it is just rhetoric. Enthusiasm, interest, respect and dedication to the beautiful game is a reasonable expectation.
Learn to love the game means love it enough to work hard for it.  It is not reasonable to this every kid will love soccer to the extent it will take to be truly good at it.

Ok, I can agree with that explanation.

go99 wrote:
My BB started with a rec team and a lady who was a teacher and great with kids.  She knew nothing about the game of soccer.  He ran up and down the field and may have actually touched the ball once.  He was very shy and afraid to get into pile with all of the other kids and fight for the ball.

Sounds like most BB's, but not when they are 9 or 10 years old.
That is correct not at 9 and by then he should already have his love for the game.  That is what the rec was for.  Now he needs to work hard, fight and compete

If by Love you mean "working hard for it" I agree

go99 wrote:
She let him be who he was and do as much as he wanted.  It was the most frustrating experience of my life.  At the end of the season he told his grandma he wanted to be a professional soccer player.

Every BB wants to be a pro player and eventually a policeman, fireman, etc. (I can certainly relate)
Reminds me of the quote about C Ronaldo.  A players said Ronaldo came to Manchester and said he wanted to be the best players in the world.  Lot's of players say it but Ronaldo actually went about the hard work it took to get there.  He was the first one into practice and the last one out.  See there is a difference between a kid who says I want to be a soccer player (the next messi/superstar)  And a kid who thinks I will give up everything I have to wake up in the morning and play soccer for a living

You just described every top player in the BPL.
I still disagree and think that you don't have to give up your childhood to get there

go99 wrote:
I thought "what you aren't even playing soccer you are just running around wasting time and money"  Fast forward to today and he has played up in D1 and moved on to the development academy.

That was a quick jump, did something happen on the way there?
yep his first year D1 team lost every game except 1, fell to D3 and disbanded.  Great coach and BB would have stayed but they sent him to the top team.  Once he got there they refused to let him on. He played up an age group instead in D2.  Did well and played most of the time.  Next season he said he wanted to see if he could take time in D1.  He chose to give up playtime because he wanted to push himself and see how good he could be rather that play.  Not always good or happy times and a first for him to not start.  But in the end he did well and improved greatly as a player. This season he was moved to the academy.

Speaks volumes...That is a huge jump and he must have worked his .. Off. (congrats).

go99 wrote:
His love of the game drives him to go out on his own and practice.  It has carried him thru the times when things didn't go his way.  It kept him going when he first started playing up in D1 and struggled for playing time.  Eventually the game requires lots of work and sacrifice.

Almost every BB on a competitive team has the same story and a lot of unsuccessful teams have these players also.
No they don't.  Most kids will stay in an enviornment where they get plenty of playtime and have fun.  I hear lots of talk of college soccer.  But do the kids realize how much of the college experience they would give up?

If you are in the USSDA system then the level of player commitment has changed and you are now on a different track with BB’s who have successfully gone through the process

go99 wrote:
Those that go on will find themselves giving up many thing a normal kid takes for granted.  As far as your son goes, the question is what does he want?

Don't agree, my BB is a world champion Minecraft expert and Clash of Clans leader. You will have to make a decision as BB gets more competitive as to whether you will play or continue to play more than one sport.
And as your BB gets older and the teams get better he will have to make a choice.  Minecraft etc time will have to dwindle.  You will chose one sport or you will not be in academy.  BB is all about call of duty but between homework, practice, and travel for games his time to cut the xbox on is very limited.  While his friends hang out at the highschool football game friday night he either has to miss because of travel or leave early because of the game the next day.  It's not fair for a kid to make those sacrifices because it's what "you" want.

If you are on an Elite team then the decision to play was made in Youth Academy and BB’s who are accepted into and play their teen years in USSDA team are usually interested in playing pro or using College as a Soccer Springboard and are less concerned with its social aspect which by the way is overrated and insignificant to an academic

go99 wrote:
Forget about guest players and focus on him.  How good does he want to be?  Does he want to play and have fun or does he want to fight and struggle for playtime?  Make a decision based on what HE wants from soccer.

Don't agree, BB's like to please so put BB on the team he is best suited for and continue to encourage and point out the aspects of his game where he contributes and see how you can find ways to help BB contribute on the pitch.

great advice if you want him to participate and have fun.  But if you put him on a team that he has to fight for every minute and it's not what he wanted, you basically forced him to give more to the game than he wants.  Bobby Rhine gave me the best advice when BB wanted to play up (I was really against him playing up because he is young for his age group and small). "It's his soccer.  If it's not going to hurt him let him do what he wants.  It will keep him motivated"  Bobby Rhine was right and I was wrong.  I  see too many kids forced into situations they didn't want.  Moved from teams with their friends when they only wanted to play with their friends and have fun.  Because the parents have some grand plan or unfulfilled dreams that their kid never had.  BB's are pleasers right up until they are old enough to stop pleasing (the magical burnout).  Help your kid get what HE wants from soccer.  Always keep in mind it's not YOUR soccer

go99 wrote:As the parent of a football/soccer player I am responsible for pointing my BB in the right direction and helping him make decisions that don't please me, but help him. I would prefer him on a less successful team that is developing his future over a top team that can't use him. My BB doesn't need to please me with hardware and team rankings, I would prefer development at this age

ayza wrote:I think we are drifting to something else from the topic, but I can go along with that. So, as far as I can see and hear, soccer is not something we Americans really like to commit to in the long run. Even at the soccer practices, the dads were discussing about American football instead. I don't blame them, because think of how many thousand of fans, and the amount of money that pour into it. ESPN, and many major networks are all showing the college football games, while college soccer games barely have any time on the TV network. There isn't any team or super star for kids to look up to. It is like a lonely world we live in when we talk of soccer as an adult. Until, we can change all that. Soccer won't be as big as in Europe, or Latin America, and we won't have Messi, or Ronaldo to brag about.

Laimport wrote:

ayza wrote:I think we are drifting to something else from the topic, but I can go along with that. So, as far as I can see and hear, soccer is not something we Americans really like to commit to in the long run. Even at the soccer practices, the dads were discussing about American football instead. I don't blame them, because think of how many thousand of fans, and the amount of money that pour into it. ESPN, and many major networks are all showing the college football games, while college soccer games barely have any time on the TV network. There isn't any team or super star for kids to look up to. It is like a lonely world we live in when we talk of soccer as an adult. Until, we can change all that. Soccer won't be as big as in Europe, or Latin America, and we won't have Messi, or Ronaldo to brag about.

I see what you are saying. But, remember, this is a global game. Kids are going to emulate the best players..regardless of what country they come from.

Association football (soccer) isn't THE most popular sport in Wales either. Rugby is. Didn't stop Gareth Bale though did it?

Or Kagawa from Japan? Or players from other, lesser known footballing hotbeds.

No the problem isn't producing a world class American player. It has to happen at the grassroots.

The kids have to play on their own...a lot more. Sure there are other issues...but nothing replaces the actual playing ability of the individual player.

At this age they should be playing because they love it. Not what they may get from the game in 10-20 years.

And who cares if we ever 'produce' a Messi or Ronaldo?

That's another big part of the problem. It takes different types of players for teams to win.

There's beauty in the killer pass. The well timed tackle. The goal line clearance.

Personally, I'd prefer more Thiago Silvas, Daniele DeRossi's and Xabi Alonso's than anything else.  

Laimport wrote:

ayza wrote:I think we are drifting to something else from the topic, but I can go along with that. So, as far as I can see and hear, soccer is not something we Americans really like to commit to in the long run. Even at the soccer practices, the dads were discussing about American football instead. I don't blame them, because think of how many thousand of fans, and the amount of money that pour into it. ESPN, and many major networks are all showing the college football games, while college soccer games barely have any time on the TV network. There isn't any team or super star for kids to look up to. It is like a lonely world we live in when we talk of soccer as an adult. Until, we can change all that. Soccer won't be as big as in Europe, or Latin America, and we won't have Messi, or Ronaldo to brag about.

I see what you are saying. But, remember, this is a global game. Kids are going to emulate the best players..regardless of what country they come from.

Association football (soccer) isn't THE most popular sport in Wales either. Rugby is. Didn't stop Gareth Bale though did it?

Or Kagawa from Japan? Or players from other, lesser known footballing hotbeds.

No the problem isn't producing a world class American player. It has to happen at the grassroots.

The kids have to play on their own...a lot more. Sure there are other issues...but nothing replaces the actual playing ability of the individual player.

At this age they should be playing because they love it. Not what they may get from the game in 10-20 years.

And who cares if we ever 'produce' a Messi or Ronaldo?

That's another big part of the problem. It takes different types of players for teams to win.

There's beauty in the killer pass. The well timed tackle. The goal line clearance.

Personally, I'd prefer more Thiago Silvas, Daniele DeRossi's and Xabi Alonso's than anything else.  

Soccerinsanity wrote: