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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 158
goal kick
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goal kick
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 158 |
1. Fields
2. Organization - getting a group of busy people on the same page at the same time is a huge challenge.
3. Money - club soccer is too expensive. Kids are left out as a result. I know, all clubs offer scholarships, but we all know of players that were scared off by the cost of playing. All of the clubs are non-profit, but one way or another money must change hands to pay for overhead, coaches, equipment, etc. Look at most clubs and there is some form of indirect government subsidy for them, usually in the form of public fields or grants.
A lot of good is done at our soccer clubs. While we sometimes talk of profits and pay, I believe that all of the clubs I've seen are sustained by a passion for the game.
I can't help but wonder if the club soccer system is sustainable in its current form. I'm not advocating mergers as a solution. While mergers may be appropriate in some circumstances, it seems that a merger spawns new clubs within a couple of years.
Club soccer is relatively young in this country, and as soccer grows I wonder if we will eventually move to a different way of developing our young players.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2
Coach
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Coach
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2 |
One hurdle we run into in the soccer scene is that sometimes the people involved really do take themselves a little bit TOO seriously--they forget that even in the midst of the pursuit of excellence, sometimes you need to be able to relax, have some fun, and yes, even laugh. I think a significant number of young players get a little "burnt out" sometimes by constant pressure that isn't always balanced by an element of just plain enjoyment. I think players are at their best when they enjoy what they do and are able to take a moment to laugh--not when it's just a job and a duty.
Not taking a poke at SCKicker with this, please understand...just that scsoccer's comment put me in mind of this, and it's something I've observed in multiple places in both club and high school soccer.
I've got good news and bad news...
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2
Coach
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Coach
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2 |
Another hurdle is trying to get young people involved in the sport while fighting the perception that soccer has to be an "elite" sport. In this country (unlike many of the parts of the world where soccer is king), people seem to cultivate the idea that soccer is all about top tier recognition or nothing. I've known a number of young athletes who have been reluctant to join the sport, or have dropped out, because they feel they are not "good enough" to play at the level where their efforts are recognized and appreciated--an image that is often perpetuated by a focus on the top levels only with a lack of recognition for what is going on at the grassroots and middle levels. A significant number of young athletes who could both benefit from and contribute to this sport are sometimes turned away by the idea that they have to go to the "right" clubs or the "right" schools starting at the "right" age, or they might as well not bother.
I've got good news and bad news...
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
1. Fields
2. Organization - getting a group of busy people on the same page at the same time is a huge challenge.
3. Money - club soccer is too expensive. Kids are left out as a result. I know, all clubs offer scholarships, but we all know of players that were scared off by the cost of playing. All of the clubs are non-profit, but one way or another money must change hands to pay for overhead, coaches, equipment, etc. Look at most clubs and there is some form of indirect government subsidy for them, usually in the form of public fields or grants.
A lot of good is done at our soccer clubs. While we sometimes talk of profits and pay, I believe that all of the clubs I've seen are sustained by a passion for the game.
I can't help but wonder if the club soccer system is sustainable in its current form. I'm not advocating mergers as a solution. While mergers may be appropriate in some circumstances, it seems that a merger spawns new clubs within a couple of years.
Club soccer is relatively young in this country, and as soccer grows I wonder if we will eventually move to a different way of developing our young players.
Wonderful LE.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
One hurdle we run into in the soccer scene is that sometimes the people involved really do take themselves a little bit TOO seriously--they forget that even in the midst of the pursuit of excellence, sometimes you need to be able to relax, have some fun, and yes, even laugh. I think a significant number of young players get a little "burnt out" sometimes by constant pressure that isn't always balanced by an element of just plain enjoyment. I think players are at their best when they enjoy what they do and are able to take a moment to laugh--not when it's just a job and a duty.
Not taking a poke at SCKicker with this, please understand...just that scsoccer's comment put me in mind of this, and it's something I've observed in multiple places in both club and high school soccer.
Coach Chass, i truly appreciate your comment on this one. There is just one thing though,parents are paying A TON of money that they could be using for other things,let alone investing in other sports for their kids.Yes there is the fun factor that we definately need to magnify in the soccer system but truthfuly there is more work to be done about how we do it as coaches and what we honestly believe we can make our players benefit out of it all.By this i am referring to say 10yrs way after the players have left the club program.Are we equipping them to deal with that scenario or just training them to skip and hop and smile? Both though are applicable to the ultimate enjoyment of the game but which prepares them better for the aftermath of club soccer or to even break it down "age group" advancement.However as scsoccer commented earlier,if we can combine his thought to constructive and productive methods of training as opposed to the combination of "fun" and training methods simply meant to profit the clubs,then maybe we are onto something. Once again thanks for your input.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
Another hurdle is trying to get young people involved in the sport while fighting the perception that soccer has to be an "elite" sport. In this country (unlike many of the parts of the world where soccer is king), people seem to cultivate the idea that soccer is all about top tier recognition or nothing. I've known a number of young athletes who have been reluctant to join the sport, or have dropped out, because they feel they are not "good enough" to play at the level where their efforts are recognized and appreciated--an image that is often perpetuated by a focus on the top levels only with a lack of recognition for what is going on at the grassroots and middle levels. A significant number of young athletes who could both benefit from and contribute to this sport are sometimes turned away by the idea that they have to go to the "right" clubs or the "right" schools starting at the "right" age, or they might as well not bother.
Coach Chass,Wow,great post you just made. A very impressive observation. While we continue with the original post,can someone tackle this for us and possibly share how they think we can overcome this?Good stuff coach chass!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2
Coach
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Coach
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,256 Likes: 2 |
I agree...please don't mistake anything I say about fun as advocating a "hop, skip, and who cares" attitude. My belief is that to be at their best, players need to put their best into the sport. So much of the intangible difference on the field is made through heart...loving what you do enough to push beyond the mathematics of what you "should" be able to do. Part of that is being able to truly enjoy the experience--and that means a sense of accomplishment through conscientious effort and results combined with a sense of fun and team camaraderie.
I once worked with a club trainer who told our girls, "There's no room for laughter at soccer practice." At that point, they were struggling, disheartened, and fairly negative about the experience. We made room for some laughter balanced by hard work and dedication, and a couple of years later the same team laughed and fought their way to their state finals.
I've got good news and bad news...
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
1. Fields
2. Organization - getting a group of busy people on the same page at the same time is a huge challenge.
3. Money - club soccer is too expensive. Kids are left out as a result. I know, all clubs offer scholarships, but we all know of players that were scared off by the cost of playing. All of the clubs are non-profit, but one way or another money must change hands to pay for overhead, coaches, equipment, etc. Look at most clubs and there is some form of indirect government subsidy for them, usually in the form of public fields or grants.
A lot of good is done at our soccer clubs. While we sometimes talk of profits and pay, I believe that all of the clubs I've seen are sustained by a passion for the game.
I can't help but wonder if the club soccer system is sustainable in its current form. I'm not advocating mergers as a solution. While mergers may be appropriate in some circumstances, it seems that a merger spawns new clubs within a couple of years.
Club soccer is relatively young in this country, and as soccer grows I wonder if we will eventually move to a different way of developing our young players.
Returning to Legrazies post,Point #2 is one of the overlooked aspects but yet very influential in twisting the game in youth soccer.It is tough with al lthe responsibilities for some and for others multiple kids doing various sports.Not that much fun to juggle.Not had kids to swing around like alot of parents but sure have chauffered kids playing at different age groups to games e.t.c and it is something else altogether.Are there any parents that have favorably dealt with this before?Don't have to name anyone just the experience and how it got easier for you to deal with.
The point about the money and profits.Am sure we do have some finance proffessionals around or even others who became finance proffessionals after the whole soccer experience  ,any views or takes on this topic?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
I agree...please don't mistake anything I say about fun as advocating a "hop, skip, and who cares" attitude. My belief is that to be at their best, players need to put their best into the sport. So much of the intangible difference on the field is made through heart...loving what you do enough to push beyond the mathematics of what you "should" be able to do. Part of that is being able to truly enjoy the experience--and that means a sense of accomplishment through conscientious effort and results combined with a sense of fun and team camaraderie.
I once worked with a club trainer who told our girls, "There's no room for laughter at soccer practice." At that point, they were struggling, disheartened, and fairly negative about the experience. We made room for some laughter balanced by hard work and dedication, and a couple of years later the same team laughed and fought their way to their state finals.
Standing right behind you on that point Coach Chass!
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67
throw in
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throw in
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 67 |
Quote:
Quote:
To me money can only be gathered in "profit mode". It is a very private sector mentality that I believe gets lost or forgotten when encased in a (forgive the curse word) non profit endeavor.
Can you please expand on what you perceive to be the biggest difference between these two?
In very general terms a "not for profit" organization is required to have no net profit. Any profit at the end of the year needs to be turned back into the basic "business, or business sector" that generated it. You can get very sophisticated with this and have an annual operating reserve, and even a net operating reserve, (how do you think the SCYSA has a big bank account carried over year to year?) provided that's defined in the non profit status, however these reserves are not to be distributed as profits to members of the organization.
Nowhere in this mode and distinction is it implied or mandated that the organization does not follow standard business practices, including the generation of excess funds to return to the business, which most would call profit.
In general people hear the term non profit organization and somehow think it has to operate differently than other businesses. More importantly, I believe they feel that as a not for profit organization, they somehow have a different level of control of the business, or a different requirement for knowledge of how the business operates.
Quite educative.Thanks.
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