SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP Clubs Earning Respect

[Preface: I've taken this to a more appropriate area of the board.]

>>[The Fan] LCSC club sometimes doesn't get the respect that they have earned.<<

Help me out here; what respect has LCSC "earned?"

I'm aware that this is a somewhat inflammatory question; however, I'm not asking to try to make a point but rather so that someone out there can tell me the answer. In other words, please treat this as an honest question rather than my trying to disparage the club -- I believe that there very well might be things going on I don't understand here.

I am aware of a team or two that has "earned" respect over the years; I am at this time unaware of what the club as a whole has done to "earn" respect.

To put this another way -- ignoring that every now and then Lexington has a group of team-oriented parents and players that get together and do whatever it takes to field a very good team -- what has and/or is the club doing for all of the teams and players in the club such that the task of those team-oriented parents and players is made easier?

What is the club doing to try to grow the sport of youth soccer?

What is the club doing to reach out to areas such as Gilbert, Swansea, etc. and try to create a more compelling set of services that would attract more kids?

About as much as Discovery in York Cty!

"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?" John Maynard Keynes

Recently came across something that gave me the hope that a new day might be dawning at LCSC. This link gives the tryout material for LCSC. [Note: This is not the easiest to find material and can't be referenced directly by URL on their web site; thus I pulled it off and placed it in a linkable location.]

Several interesting notes:

• LCSC has entered the "licensed coaches" war begun by CUFC with a vengeance -- stating it has the most highly qualified coaching staff in the midlands and calling out having 4 A licensed coaches.
  
• LCSC really put an emphasis on focusing on the player as a distinguishing feature of the club.
  

Interesting stuff...

Chico,

Chico,

Yes your question can open up a dialogue that wars could be fought over. However, I am going to answer that question in general as a parent of Club players. There seems to be a bias among high school coaches, in general, very strongly against Club soccer in this state. I feel that this is a power struggle from the high school coaches because they, in general, know that coaching wise they can't offer the same quality of coaching to their high school teams. Thus, it appears to be easier to puff out their chests and try to make life miserable for the players that participate in Club and Club sponsored events.

It is my opinion that these referenced (remember, in general)should be VERY thankful to the clubs for supplying the high schools with quality players that actually know how to play the game. But they just can't seem to do this.

Now, to answer your question not specific to any one club, a Club offers team practice averaging 3 times a week from August to December with certified and devoted to soccer and it's advancement coaches. These guys live and breathe their soccer and share the love of the game with these kids almost year round. The players have specific training - they have team practice and the GK's have a separate training session just for GKing. I do not know of a high school that does this, but if there is kudos to them!!! Another huge benefit of Club soccer is that the aspect of playing as a team is pushed very hard by the Clubs and the coaches. I actually challenge anyone who loves soccer to go watch a high school soccer match and I assure you, you will know who has played Club and who hasn't JUST by watching the field.

It would be ideal if we could get the resisting high school coaches to come off their high horse and actually work with the Clubs in their area AND to quit punishing the Club players when they have a Club event!

I think that most high school coaches in 2007 are also involved in club soccer or either have been in the past. Don't know of much resistance between the two areas. What's your angst ntheno?

My point is that there are some "old school" (for lack of a better word) coaches in this state that do very much resist working with Clubs. The ones that lose out in this situation are the kids who aspire to play college level ball. These kids and their families know that the exposure to the college coaches is through their Club, NOT high school. If both entities worked together in entirety, soccer in this state would benefit greatly.

Congrats to Colubia United FC for engaging High School programs by sponsoring the "Clash of the Carolinas" All-Star Games. That's a glaring example of a Club Earning Respect.

>>[ntheno] There seems to be a bias among high school coaches, in general, very strongly against Club soccer in this state.<<

I don't know of any high school coaches who are biased against youth club soccer. I do see a case-by-case situation in which different high school coaches allow participation in club spring events.

>>I feel that this is a power struggle from the high school coaches because they, in general, know that coaching wise they can't offer the same quality of coaching to their high school teams. Thus, it appears to be easier to puff out their chests and try to make life miserable for the players that participate in Club and Club sponsored events.<<

Let's take this from the high school coach's perspective. Their job is to represent the team, not the individual player. Thus, when a player wants to blow off a practice or a game, the coach has to be concerned with the team first and the individual player second. From the player/parent perspective, it's about the individual first and the team second. It's these two perspectives that can put a high school coach and a player/parent at odds.

Do certain high school coaches handle this situation better than others in trying on a case-by-case basis to optimize the good of the team and the good of the individual? Absolutely.

So what does a player/parent do if they feel that their coach is "unfair?" There are three options: talk the coach into your position, accept the coach's decision, or quit. That's it.

What I like about this is that this is typically the option in the "real world" of employment when you have a boss with whom you disagree. Helping the player understand that these are the only three options, and then helping the player deal with the situation, is pretty much all that you can do.

While it's easy to see both sides of this, I'll state one strong opinion -- this is the reason we need clubs in South Carolina offering a full range of spring events -- so that players (and parents of players) have options.

>>[ntheno] My point is that there are some "old school" (for lack of a better word) coaches in this state that do very much resist working with Clubs.<<

Agreed.

>>The ones that lose out in this situation are the kids who aspire to play college level ball.<<

Only if they choose to play high school and is a member of a club that has only events that directly conflict with high school practices and games.

This is one of the reasons that if your kid wants to play college ball, that you want that kid to be a member of a club that offers many opportunities to play during the spring instead of just one or two.

Conversely, the kid should have enrolled in CESA CAP. It's an open program and there are enough events such that you can find one which doesn't conflict with a high school practice or game.

>>These kids and their families know that the exposure to the college coaches is through their Club, NOT high school.

99% agreed. I would note, however, that there have been Division 1 coaches at some of the Lexington girls games, however (e.g., Auburn.) But you're right 99% or more of the time.

>>If both entities worked together in entirety, soccer in this state would benefit greatly.<<

Agreed.