The topdrawer soccer website has some good articles on different approaches to soccer. I thought this was a good one on what to look for in a club team -player or team development. Soccer, of all the sports, is the most team oriented and a good club approach will focus primarily on just that, coupled with exceptional skill/technical training. One comment from the article: " I've just seen too many teams who win everything at a young age and then are nowhere to be found when they are in the years that REALLY affect their future opportunities in the game.".... really says a lot about how to approach the team selection process. As I ref, I have seen far too many teams at ages U11 to U12 with coaches screaming belittling, demeaning comments during the game and at halftime.(I wish coaches would do the coaching/instruction more at practice and let the guys/gals play at gametime). Its no wonder that there are explosive incidents between parents when the coaches are allowed to scream at the kids. Those kids will either grow to dislike soccer because they 'don't win it all' for the coach, or they may quit altogether. (By the way, there was a fine example of the 'don't win it all' disgusting attitude in some older guys and coaches when Irmo(ranked #1 nationally and undefeated) didn't win it all, and finished 2nd in 2002 state championship. They refused to accept their trophy and awards on the field.)
