Enjoy the Game

As the season starts I hear the never ending conversations of "we need to move to club x because they have a better relationship with college scouts" "if we don't go to this tournament our daughter/son will not get the scholarship", etc., etc. The truth is if your whole goal is a scholarship quit soccer, put all the training fees into a money market account (or tutors) and work on the SAT scores and grade point. My oldest played all four years in college, the next turned down scholarships to play, the next just started playing in college and one still in H.S. Enjoy the time now and don't worry about what will happen next season or even next game. You never know when they will get hurt or have different interest. Enjoy sitting on the side watching the game, talking with the other parents. Nothing is gained by yelling at players (either team), the referees or complaining about the coaches or trainers. Be positive, have fun and enjoy the time you have, it goes fast.

Consistency of Calls

"Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are dead." Aldous Huxley. “Nothing endures but change (The only constant is change)" Heraclitus
Hey ref, why didn't you call that on the other end? What match are you watching? Call it both ways? I always do, the right and wrong ways are there others I missed. At our latest re-cert clinic, there were quite a few 75-85 grades and the assessor asked how would you like a game in which the referee got 75% of the calls right. The general attitude afterward was that would be a pretty good game. When I was coaching it seemed so easy, when I was sitting in my chair watching my daughter's games, it seemed amazing that the referee could not see that clear foul when just a few minutes before she carded our player for the "identical" thing, when I started in the center, I wondered how the heck was I supposed to see everything going on. Now I understand, let the players play, control the game where needed, have fun and be consistent.
Consistency (which by my definition means to consistently change and adapt as the game progresses) -- If I can do that, it should be a good game.

Tournament Ready

Recertified and ready to go. Finally went to the doctor about my calf and found out that in fact I had completely torn it last season. Should have done those stretches. Now I get physical therapy and re-arrange the scar tissue what fun.

New Season

It's that time again when the teams are forming, practices starting, referee courses starting, and players, coaches and referees getting in shape. Time to get registered in a re-certification course, take the on-line H.S. COPE course and volunteer for some friendly matches to get ready for the season. See you on a soccer field soon.

High School v. Club

The never ending battle of which is better is about to begin again. This year several players have once again decided to quit club or quit H.S. because the other provides better training, opportunity to make a college team, etc., etc. Why can't the coaches work together for the benefit of the players. H.S. should take precedent during their season and club during their season. The coaches should coordinate training sessions so as not to overwork the players while working towards the best conditioning and skills training. Clubs are so busy telling players how they have to play for them to get a college scholarship when working towards good grades, being a good overall player and all around good kid will get you where you need to be. Let me know what you think?

Referee Shortage

I always hear about how bad the referee was. How I can't believe he or she missed that call or the ref caused us the game. The parents complain, the players complain, the assignor complains (that they can't get enough referees) the coaches complain either that the ref is no good or they can't get referees. Is it any wonder that there is a shortage. How would you like a job where everybody is always complaining? Some coaches even acknowledge that they like to play the ref by yelling and complaining about a call early so they can maybe get a break later. (It doesn't generally work that way) If we want good referees we need to develop them as youth players and help them improve so that they will be ready for the bigger games. Coaches you want better referees how about laying off the U-9 referee who misses a call and letting your parents know not to scream at them. I wonder how many coaches could handle someone yelling at them everytime they didn't make a perfect substitution or coach a perfect game. I have a suggestion for every team, have someone record the parents and the coach during a game and play it back at a team dinner. That might quite the sidelines at least for a while and give us a chance to get in some new young referees.

Youth Soccer

As another H.S. soccer season ends and I look at the girls graduating it reminds me of when they started. My wife coached most of the senior girls (including my daughter) in club soccer when they were U-8 and several years after that. I remember parents being concerned that their little girl was not tough enough to play Division 1 soccer, a girl crying because her shoelaces were wet and several of them staring at the clouds, grass, etc. during the match. I remember all the lunches, trips, hotels, and travel with the teams, but what I remember most is the laughter and fun. What isn't a big deal are the losses which we thought were the end of the world, the coaching mistakes which "cost us the game", or that crazy referee "who cost us the game". After being a player, coach and referee I have learned (it took a while) that the best games are the ones where as a parent I listen to my ipod or talk with other parents and just enjoy the game. I was not be calmest coach or parent in the past, but looking back at those years, I realized it was a waste of time, energy and enjoyment of the game. It is sad to see the seniors leave, but fun to remember the past adventures, USA cup against the monster team from Canada, Embassy suites in Austin, lunches and naps in the car between tournament games. Oh and by the way the little girl who cried over her shoelaces being wet became one of the top forwards in the league, the parents who were not sure if their little girl was ready for Division 1 became an amazing defender and all of them became unbelievable young ladies. Thank you all for the fun years and memories.

Soccer a different perspective

This past week my brother, sister-in-law and nephew were in town and went to see my two daughters' matches. One was the semi final regional final and the other a Presidents Cup match. They are all baseball/football people and about the only time they have seen a soccer match is when they make the rare pilgrimage from West Texas to Sugar Land. It was interesting to hear their comments and gave me a new perspective and appreciation that I overlook. First they were amazed at how fast the game was without any time outs or breaks and how physical the play was. They said they were exhausted after the match from the tension and just watching them run. They also commented on the referees which was interesting in that they did not know the rules, but picked right up on the control of the game and ability. In one game it appeared that the ball went into the goal and hit the side netting and the keeper knocked it out. Their comment was that the AR (or that guy) was not even in a position to see it and shouldn't he be. In the other game they commented on how the referee controlled the game and seemed to know what he was doing. That despite he never said a word the entire match. Their final comments concerned the parents at the Presidents Cup match. They said it was rude of one of the parents from the other team to come down to our side and shout at the players. After the game my brother and sister-in-law went up to my daughter told her she played great and it was a fun game to watch. No why didn't you do this, etc. What a great concept, expect referees, parents, players and coaches to each do their respective jobs, enjoy the game and go home happy regardless of the outcome (both teams lost) because it was a great day and the kids played well. What a great perspective.

H.S. playoffs, fans and referees

Watching the playoff games recently reminds me why I generally wear headphones. The fans are screaming that every bump is a foul (unless it is on their player, then it is the worst call ever made), the other players all play dirty and the referees are blind, old, slow, fat, etc., etc. Is there a problem with some of the referees, yes. One problem is we don't have enough. That is why until we get to playoffs you rarely have a 3 man crew. A friend just told me about a great blog http://fortheintegrityofsoccer.blogs.com. The current discussion is (in part) where have all the refs gone. In my opinion, the reason we don't see great refs (some would argue even good) is because a good number of them get tired of being screamed at and abused by parents and coaches. I know several very good young referees who quit because of a coach yelling at them or parents berating them throughout a game. Should they have been better protected by a mentor or field marshal, certainly, but look around you at the next match (or even in the mirror) and think about if you would want to be on the receiving end of the barrage of noise pollution. If you want to have great refs, be great coaches and fans at the younger levels and it will pay off later.

H.S. v. Club

Every year the battle rages on whether playing H.S. or club is better. Which one gives you the better skills, does playing both hurt you, etc., etc. Having coached club for years, being a H.S. referee, and having four daughters who have played both I feel that I have a somewhat neutral viewpoint. They are very different. For competition I give the nod to club. If you are playing at the Division 1 level the consistency of competition is better than in H.S. where you may have 2-3 good games and the rest may be blowouts. H.S. provides a school spirit, fans and completely different experience. I would recommend both for players, but it would help if he coaches from H.S. and club could work together to minimize the conflict and overwork on the players, but each seems to want to be the primary. It is also funny how club trainers will always blame any injury on H.S. (even when it happens at the club practice) and H.S. trainers complain that the players aren't getting enough rest practicing 5 days a week (at school) and 2-3 times a week (in club). So my advice is have fun playing both and if you have to cut back on club during H.S. season. You will keep in shape with the H.S. games and will still have time to prepare for the club season after H.S. ends. What do you think?

Soccer Parents

I have often heard coaches, referees (and sometimes players) say that the game would be so much better if the parents were not there. Don't get me wrong, parents are great (I am one) and can be a great addition to the game, but there are a few that give everyone a bad name. You have seen them, they yell at the players, know more than the coach (but won't volunteer) and either complain about every call the referee makes or says thank you (not generally appreciated). These same parents get on blogs and list serves and complain about the game they (actually their kids) lost because: bad refs, bad fans, rude players, bad field... fill in the blank). While they go on and on, their kids, the actual players have moved on getting ready for the next game and are probably friends with the opposing team (know by the parents as the dirty, cheating, etc., team). Oh and by the way, your child is not being scouted by x university at the U14 tournament. College coaches know that a large number of players will quit or be injured before they ever get to college so they focus on the seniors and juniors no matter what your club and trainer are telling you. So relax and enjoy your kids soccer and if you really want them to get a full ride to college focus on the SAT.