By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
With so many leagues, clubs, training organizations—Super This, Elite That—and now pre-academy teams and countless playing platforms, it’s easy to see how difficult it is for parents to choose the right place for their child to play.
What should be apparent is that decisions should not be made based on hype, headlines or the marketing materials clubs, teams and training organizations produce. I would also avoid getting caught up in debates about which league is “better.” Leagues can differ greatly by age and level—Division 1 in one area may look more like Division 3 in another.
Be cautious of social media posts as well. Almost any claim can be made online, and winning is often promoted as the primary measure of success.
Before working through the suggestions below, take time to reflect honestly on what you truly want for your son or daughter and their experience in youth sport. Be brutally honest. If your “why” is centered on sport for life, fun and enjoyment, long-term athletic development, and the growth of social and life skills, then this guide may be helpful.
If your “why” is solely about winning, collecting trophies, or chasing a scholarship, the best advice I can offer is to hire a guidance counselor now.
To make an informed decision, you need to gather key information—and then observe whether that information is a living document or simply empty words on paper with no impact on the daily workings of the team or club.
Documents to Collect
- The club or team’s teaching philosophy and long-term aims
- The club’s game model and game idea through the 7v7, 9v9, 11 v11 progression, which tells the story of how the teams play
- A list of core values and how they influence training and game day
- Qualifications and experience of coaches in the relevant age group
- Nature and frequency of internal coach development. How are the club helping the coaches improve their craft.
- Number of players in the club at different ages and rates of attrition
- Club-hosted events that demonstrate genuine family involvement
- Coach attrition rate within the organization
- Examples of the teaching curriculum from age group to age group
- Game formats used (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11)
- Expected annual “soccer diet” by age (how many soccer exposures per year)
- Tryout process and selection methodology
- Club hierarchy and lines of communication
- Parent interaction and initiatives. Are you part of the process or just the ATM?
People to Meet and Things to Observe
- The age-group head coach, while coaching both training sessions and games
- Parents within the club from both younger and older age groups
- A board meeting—see how long it takes before “player development” is discussed
- The age group coordinator
- If the club uses an external training company, ask to see their curriculum and observe their staff in action
- Sit in on a monthly coaches’ meeting
I appreciate that all of the above requires time and effort. However, given the importance of this decision, the increasing number of players leaving the game at younger ages, the reduction of physical education in schools and the growing number of children struggling with obesity, is there really a better way to spend your time?
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/