Quote:

The "problems" that you cite do not exist, for the most part, at the big, successful soccer schools (Riverside, Eastside, Mauldin, Lexington, Spring Valley, Fort Mill, Dutch Fork, Dorman, Wando, etc.). Why? Because there rosters are stuffed full of high level club players who know how to play the game. Their parents are also more knowledgeable for having come up through the club structure for all of these years.

So your problem exists primarily with the referees (limited resources) and with programs that don't have all their kids playing year-round soccer (club). I don't have the answer regarding the officiating but as for the high school programs that don't have an abundance of club players feeding into them...what's your solution? Let's take a fairly large school like Sumter that doesn't have a great club feeder program....what are you going to do? I can name three or four very successful club/high school coaches in South Carolina who cut their teeth in Sumter. They all left for greener pastures and succeeded in other communities (markets).

What's the answer?



You make an excellent point. I would argue the answer starts with two important elements: A knowledgeable and dedicated coach along with a school/athletic department who will support that coach.

The coach can instill the knowledge and respect for the game by building a PROGRAM—not a team. Additionally, the practices and expectations can be raised to a professional level. Many high school practices are sloppy and disorganized (in ALL sports). Doesn't have to be that way.

Also, begin to instill in the players within your program that you want/need year-round players. Lobby for club, accept rec, and discourage players doing nothing (if the player is involved in other sports, that is a fact of HS—I wouldn't take a stand on no other sports; although I think single-sport focus is best for success of the program, but not always the player).

Also, begin a policy that NO players talk to the refs; that's the coach's job. Then, communicate with parents and ask the same of them; also ask parents to pass the word to other fans. Cheer for the players, don't antagonize the opponents, and leave ref criticism to the coach. This can be done.

Next, I think SC soccer coaches need to be more proactive and positive in speaking out for better and more consistent ref'ing. We need a mechanism for evaluating referees. We probably need a similar mechanism for evaluating coaches.

When both the coaches and the fans are encouraging players who are playing recklessly, when they are cheering for hard fouls, when they are arguing against proper calls, the players are surely not the source of the problem.

"Living well's the best revenge." r.e.m.