I've read it all and just have to chime in now.
I have been coaching soccer for 13 years now. The problem we face today is the same problem I was ranting about 7 years ago when my daughter was 11.
First off, Mount Pleasant Soccer Club has too many ties too the city government. The facilities and staff have always been paid for by the tax payers of Mount Pleasant(this may have changed recently). So when Susie tax payers son gets cut so a kid from JI, Summerville or Charleston makes the team she goes screaming to her city councilman or the mayor. What she forgets is the out of town kids pay more in registration fees to play in MTP. Mount P didn't say little Johnny can't play soccer they just said he can't play on this team.
Coaches as a whole are more concerned with their winning records than the development and exposure of their players. Every year and in some cases between seasons I recommend to a player or two to move to another team that has a higher level of competition. When I talk to the parents I emphasize that if your child wants to continue to develop or play in college some day he must play with and against the better competition. Is this best for my team? Absolutely not. What is our job as a coach? To develop players and give them the best chance to be successful later, if soccer is something they truly want to pursue.
Every player at level should have a place to play those that do it for social reasons only included. What we have lacked in the lowcountry for years is a concentrated effort for for the Elite Players. We educate to the masses just as in our public schools and the Elite being the minority are the ones that are truly being left behind. We need MPSC, SSC, JIYSC, Charleston United and any others I failed to mention but they should be the feeder system to a club that provides only Challenge and Premier opportunities.
This club should have tryouts in all the age groups for challenge and Premier teams(if qualified) if the numbers and talent level justify it an A and B team may be feasible for Challenge in some age groups. In house, micro, LYSA and classic as well as some form of skills training(Coerver or such) should be provided by the feeder clubs.
My daughter played for MPSC, SSC and Charleston United. We pretty much traveled with coach from club to club in each area of the Lowcountry to build an Elite level team. We managed 1 state championship and 3 runner-ups in six years. With players from MTP, Summerville, Charleston, James Island and Hilton Head we still struggled in Premier league. Yet, due to the effort made by the Parents and one very committed Coach 8 of 9(the 9th decided to pursue a medical career) graduating Seniors will be playing College soccer at the Division 1 and 2 levels.
It's time to throw the ego's and the politics out the window and do what's best for the players at all levels. Parents it's in your hands don't count on your club or your coaches to make decisions for your kids.
