Eclipse Select

Tox, I am sorry about your co-workers. But, so many people have been brain-washed into thinking that "self-esteem" is a primary goal for sports. Genuine self-esteem is a product of achievement through effort, and anything else is delusional.

Some people think "fun" should be a goal. FUN IS A GIVEN IF
a) the child is passionate about the sport;
b) the coach is knowledgable and passionate about coaching that sport;
c) the coach is working in the best interests of the team participants;

As we've discussed, we found a former college soccer player to coach our girls U13 rec team. We knew he was passionate and knowledgeable about soccer. But, we didn't know how would deal with the girls. Well, he became passionate about coaching the girls, and they responded. He told his girlfriend "I never thought I would care as much about coaching the girls as I have." The team had some nice on-field success, the girls had fun, and the parents loved it.

I don't think we had any "self-esteem" issues. In fact, at the beginning of the year, the coach had to BEG some players to sub back into the game. By the end of the year, the kids coming out of a game would grab their water bottles, walk up to the coach, tell him they were ready to go back in, THEN they would take a drink. It was downright hysterical, and it was great to see the transformation.

I just don't think the fun and self-esteem experienced through true achievement can be replaced by "trophies for everyone" and "equal playing time."

 

Bingo!

I'll go further. Rec as is commonly structured is the cause for the legendary dropout/burnout issue with U.S. soccer, not the solution. Rec replaces the powerful, pure, and intense joy of true achievement with the pablum of fun for everyone. Fun for everyone is like eating Starburst -- tasty at first, but very quickly cloying.

The, it is easier to pass along the joy of true achievement to top athletes than to mediocre athletes. That is the challenge of rec soccer -- how to keep the second- and third-tier athletes without capitulating into the fun for everyone trap. Sounds like your friend has figured out the formula. Good stuff.

 

First, JohnR, thanks for the kind words. I was an assistant coach for some of our girls the year prior. Ironically, the old head coach was one of these "everyone have fun" types, and it was no coincidence they didn't win a game in the spring they played "B" level select.

Select soccer and rec soccer face the same challenge: Finding coaches who are both knowledgeable AND passionate about the game, and have regard for the players they coach. Select programs have the ability to pay such people. Rec teams usually have to look for the most qualified parent, and I can tell you that any parent who is knowledgeable and passionate about the sport usually doesn't have a kid playing rec soccer...

 

Thanks Tox! The "Great Ball Distributors" thread is heading in the same direction as this thread in discussing differences between club teams and school teams. Soccer is basically a club sport, and basketball is a school sport.

I think soccer makes it easier (NOT "easy") for good coaches to actually make a living at their passion. You basically have to be a college coach to say you're a full time basketball coach. Couldn't you make a living coaching a few youth select teams? (From what I've heard that some teams pay their youth coaches, I bet there are full-time youth soccer coaches...)

 

5X300, I know of a number of coaches who are trying to make a living at coaching soccer. It seems a hand to mouth existence for the majority. I wouldn't discourage anyone from giving it a try, but it definitely would not be for those who like the finer things in life.....like a roof over their head and a car that actually runs.

 

The DOCs at the bigger clubs do OK. After that, it's pretty tough sledding, although there are a handful of #2 and #3 guys at the big clubs who are making a go of it.

Mostly, it's people making $5k to $25k per year of supplementary income, depending upon how many teams they coach and what the pay scale is at the club.

 

I am sure it is a meager existence for all but those at the very top levels. But, it may be a kid with few expenses, maybe living at home, who just loves the game. Those that are doing it for little money are probably quite passionate about it, and probably make darn good coaches if they understand the game and can communicate their knowledge and passion.

I can't think of one circumstance where a youth basketball coach has a full-time gig, except for those running or fronting one of the new private gymnasiums that are popping up. And, those people are probably more "facility managers" than they are coaches...

 

That seems in line with what I heard, JohnR. The figure I heard mentioned at a Fall 2004 parents meeting was $10,000 for two seasons (fall and spring) in the Milwaukee suburbs for a select team "rent-a-coach." If you did two teams at once, I could see getting to $20k.

(In hindsight, we should have paid for the rent-a-coach. But, the returning parents had a bad experience the previous year with a local college player who they paid up front. She got pregnant, didn't return for the spring season, and didn't return the money.)

 

FYI - from my favorite resource the 21st Century Player Development Manual: http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/download/129_21st_century_player_development_manual.pdf

What is the going salary for a club DOC?

Currently, full-time DOCs around the country are earning between $35,000 and $80,000. This is an extremely wide range and much of it has to do with the socio-economics of the geographic region in which clubs are situated. Of course, the education and background of the candidates have much to do with salary as well. A fair guideline for this state also varies greatly depending
on where in the state, however a salary between $35,000 and $50,000 is a realistic range to consider. If looking to hire a DOC for 20 hours/week, then it is recommended you pay the DOC between $18,000 and $25,000 depending on qualifications. Something to remember is that a full-time person should also be given health insurance, disability coverage, and some form of retirement fund.

 

PDA won 4 Region 1 Girls titles last year

 

Quoting Student Sports Soccer article by Robert Ziegler & Jeff Paron 6/24/2006

Banner day for Eclipse Select; Chicago-area club wins 4 Girls titles at Region II Championships; Michigan Hawks & Wolves take 3 titles, and Chicago Magic 2

Playing in 5 finals and winning 4, the Illinois club made a huge statement on the national level, mirroring the 4 titles won last year in Region I by PDA Girls teams.

 

PDA Wildcats delivered 1 of 2 Eclipse U18 losses over the past 2 years. Texans also beat them at last Disney 4-0.

 

Speaking of strength of the Texans - 6 total teams through Region 3. 2 boys, 4 girls

 

I guess this belongs in this thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8-SyOeS3lA

My opinion? This is not good for the reputation of the club or the game of soccer. If this becomes news to the general public it is going to be very damaging to a sport that is trying to make its way into the American consciousness. This after their exposure to diving and head butting at the World Cup. Shame on Eclipse.

 

How about a little balanced reporting here? Did you actually see the game? Understand the context? Who do you think might have taken snippets of video and made it look like the entire picture? A disgruntled Texans fan perhaps?

Eclipse did nothing wrong. They won their first 2 games and had made it through to the finals. The Dallas Texans were trying to advance and felt that Eclipse was not doing their part by winning their game against PDA. However, the FULL story is that the Texans also had to win THEIR game and DID NOT. The temperature on the field was nearly 120 degrees and neither team was doing much. As you can see, PDA is not trying to get the ball. Why are THEY not chastised??

Now HERE is the real sad story. FIRST - A Texans U15 parent ran onto the field DURING THE GAME to assault 15 year old Eclipse soccer players and had to be restrained by the PDA coaches. He was then arrested by Des Moines police. THEN, the Eclipse team had to be escorted to their bus by security because a number of Dallas parents continued to hurl VICIOUS AND PROFANE insults at these 15 YEAR OLD GIRLS.

I suggest you get all the facts before you jump to conclusions

 

The simple answer to that was that they were up 1-0 with the ball in their offensive third with no effort by their opponent to move it out. If temperatures are as you say, why should they expend the energy? Note that when the ball moves into the middle third, PDA starts to pressure.

I don't know who took the video, although I have been told that Fox Soccer was there filming. If what you say about the Texans parents are true, than the entire situation is a disgrace.

Here are the FIFA Fair Play Code. I believe a few of them were broken.

 

You really belive Fox Sports took their time to film this riveting soccer sequence... AND then added the "totally unbiased" subtitles? Please!!

The only disgrace was the outlandish behavior of the Texans parents. (And If you need further evidence of the validity of my claim, just ask the PDA coahing staff or the Des Moines Police department. Or better yet, the 18 traumatized 15 year olds PLAYING the GAME of soccer.)

 

As I said, I don't know who took the video, nor do I care. However, USYSA should care that Fox Soccer WAS there filming a team who obviously was ignoring the FIFA Fair Play Code.

I'm certainly not defending the actions of the Texas parents. In fact I've gotten the impression over the years that Texas parents are, to put it kindly, somewhat overzealous when it comes to their children's sports participation. However, this does not change the fact that the Eclispe dishonored the game by not playing to win.