Any youth sport coaches here?

[Shagaroo]

I have to brag. I kinda got suckered into coaching a youth soccer team this fall. I was not really looking forward to it, but it has become one the most reqarding experiences in my life.

At our game today, the guys came out a little flat. But that second half hit and they got fired up and really played their heart out. Came from behind and kept the team we played from scoring the entire second half and put up 4 goals bringing us to a 7 to 5 win. These guys really "got it" today and just exploded on the field. One forward played so hard he ended up tossing his cookies behind the goal, and came back later to play again. My son has always been a little "shy" but he got tired of being pushed around and smoked a more experienced player and took the ball away, shot it through the guys legs, went around him, blocked him out and took the ball to midfield and passed up to a forward who drove on the keeper and blasted it in.

I had to brag.

[basil]

Awesome! What did you put in the 1/2 time gatorade??

Coached a little for a Jr. High team one short season, played some indoor, have sat on a board for a soccer association three years and for a soccer club five years, and, have watched my 16-y-o play since she was 7. You're right, there is nothing more exciting than watching a team reach down deep, come from behind, and thump their opponents.

I'm fortunate; My player is state and regionally ranked and has played and guested on some of the best teams in the state and region (against some national top 10 teams too). Soccer is a great game - I hope she continues. It'll make her college career interesting.

[Shagaroo]

Awesome! What did you put in the 1/2 time gatorade??

shhhh

I'm fortunate; My player is state and regionally ranked and has played and guested on some of the best teams in the state and region (against some national top 10 teams too). Soccer is a great game - I hope she continues. It'll make her college career interesting.

That has to be fun. I hope my son sticks with it, even if just rec league. I played from 4 up to 12 and gave it up for football. Wish I had stuck with soccer.

[CoventryCat86]

My step kids weren't into sports so I never really had the interest. I used to like track and cross country in high school because it doesn't require a whole lotta coordination

Quite a few of my friends are into coaching soccer and they enjoy it immensely, I always loved the game myself even though I was a pretty lousy player.

Hats off to you guys who do it an enjoy it and watching your kids excel Now THAT'S certainlly rewarding!

[cls515]

yes I coach soccer, too. It is fun watching those guys run around. I try to teach more than coach. I let the guys/girls have fun, but try to develop a soccer mind....positions, tactics, proper technique....my teams usually do pretty good. Finished first place once.

[basil]

Daughter's team headed to Bryan/College Station to play in a showcase tourney ist w/e in December. The Aggies are hosting the NCAA Division I Women's Nat'l Championship Final IV and a local youth soccer club is hosting the showcase in conjunction. There'll be a boatload of DI coaches watching the kids play and we'll get to watch the best 4 college teams in women's soccer play. Can't wait!

[Shagaroo]

Daughter's team headed to Bryan/College Station to play in a showcase tourney ist w/e in December. The Aggies are hosting the NCAA Division I Women's Nat'l Championship Final IV and a local youth soccer club is hosting the showcase in conjunction. There'll be a boatload of DI coaches watching the kids play and we'll get to watch the best 4 college teams in women's soccer play. Can't wait!

That sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck to your daughter in the tournament!

[Jonsey5484]

I coach youth basketball. Our local grade school has a rec league for 1st through 8th graders. You are plit into teams according to grade level. 1st-2nd 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, and 7th-8th. There is usually a big turn out. Usually 4 to 5 teams per grade level. I normally coach a couple of teams and when I am not coaching I ref the games. That usually takes care of every Saturday from January until the beginning of March. First games are at 8 am and last game ends at 3 pm every weekend. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it. The kids are great. The biggest problems I have are with the parents....some parents just push their kids too much and don't allow them to have fun. That usually results in me having a talk with them, I just tell them they have to cool it or they will be asked to leave the game. I had one parent actually go onto the floor in the middle of the game and pick his kid up and leave because he did not like a call that was made. While he was leaving I said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Way to set an example for your kid." They never returned.

[basil]

I coach youth basketball. Our local grade school has a rec league for 1st through 8th graders. You are plit into teams according to grade level. 1st-2nd 3rd-4th, 5th-6th, and 7th-8th. There is usually a big turn out. Usually 4 to 5 teams per grade level. I normally coach a couple of teams and when I am not coaching I ref the games. That usually takes care of every Saturday from January until the beginning of March. First games are at 8 am and last game ends at 3 pm every weekend. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it. The kids are great. The biggest problems I have are with the parents....some parents just push their kids too much and don't allow them to have fun. That usually results in me having a talk with them, I just tell them they have to cool it or they will be asked to leave the game. I had one parent actually go onto the floor in the middle of the game and pick his kid up and leave because he did not like a call that was made. While he was leaving I said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Way to set an example for your kid." They never returned.

I completely hear ya. I've helped in several different capacities in youth soccer and if there is problem, 95% of the time there is a parent at the root of it. Sometimes being overprotective - fighting their kids' battles when the kids should be taught to step up and figure it out themselves, or worse, living vicariously through the kid. Keepin' it fun should always always take priority.

[Jonsey5484]

I completely hear ya. I've helped in several different capacities in youth soccer and if there is problem, 95% of the time there is a parent at the root of it. Sometimes being overprotective - fighting their kids' battles when the kids should be taught to step up and figure it out themselves, or worse, living vicariously through the kid. Keepin' it fun should always always take priority.

There is the number one reason parents are so vocal!!! I also believe that the kids are out there to have fun, and that is what I try and let them do.

[reaganyouth84]

My dad coached a youth league basketball team for years that my younger brother was on. My dad has a really bad temper, and it was hilarious to watch him. The team was good, and the parents knew my dad just wanted the kids to learn, but he wanted them to win as well. The kids are older now, 17-20 age range. I was talking to one of them that played for my dad, and he said my dad was "the Bobby Knight of youth league basketball". I got the biggest kick out of that. He was like yeah, I remember being in 5th grade and asking a friend if he was gonna play for Mike Laverdiere, and the kid said, "no way man, I don't think my parents will let me." hahaha

-Mike

[Jonsey5484]

We had a coach that had such a bad temper always screaming at the kids and the refs that he was asked never to coach again. Pretty bad when you are only coaching 3rd and 4th graders!! He still comes to all of the games as a spectator though and still screams.

[reaganyouth84]

My dad wasn't mean spirited, and he would never do anything to hurt the kids. He just wanted the best for them ya know, tough love I suppose. They respected him, and he respected them. Just good times growing up, and watching that kind of thing.

-Mike

[Jonsey5484]

That is the difference between your dad and this coach then. He had no respect for anyone, and no one had respect for him.