Lost focus in micro development.

[easoccer]

Through my years on the pitch, I have noticed a serious oversight in our development of micro players.

As per BC Soccer LTD all kids should play in various positions with each given equal time. I am not talking about u12-u18. Im talking at u7 and up development programs.

In u5 I coached 3 girls. These players showee promise from an early age.

Each of the girls played up to u7 at which time they were "all" selected for development programs.

They played until u8.

At which point they all quit.

In talking to the parents, they lost interest, their children lost interest. They decided to pursue other interests.

What was the common denominator? Lack of playing time.

They were all selected for the bench.

This is a problem because your star at u7/8 may not be your star in a couple of years and now 3 promising players have been eliminated from the system.

We need less focus on winning and more on developing all the players at this age.

 

[Old Girls Coach]

Each of the girls played up to u7 at which time they were "all" selected for development programs.

Why on earth is a club running a separate development program at U8? At most promising players should be offered an extra program in addition to playing on a regular team. 7 year old girls don't give a crap about development, they just want to play, and play with their friends.

 

[easoccer]

They run a seperate league for development. PDS Interclub. Everyone else plays within club until u10 I think?

Regardless, I have seen it everywhere. Winning has priority over equal playing time at all ages.

 

[Old Girls Coach]

They run a seperate league for development.

Well, yeah, I knew that, but it is ridiculous to be running a league at U8 for development. It is especially ridiculous to be running a league at that age where anyone actually cares about winning. Benching a 7 year old? WTF! As I have said elsewhere, player development in Canada is just screwed. Players at that age, assuming we want to identify them at all, should not be playing games as a team. hey should be getting extra instruction in skills while playing games on a un-tiered team. My daughter just made our club's development program but if you had run player identification two years ago she wouldn't have been. There are players I am coaching right now that will be much better when they are 14 than they are now at 9. We throw too many players away by selecting so early, and puberty is not an equal opportunity developer.

 

[TKBC]

Why shouldn't u12 get equal playing time? Of course they should.

As per BC Soccer LTD all kids should play in various positions with each given equal time. I am not talking about u12-u18. Im talking at u7 and up development programs.

They played until u8.

At which point they all quit.

They were all selected for the bench.

Kids at u12 should get equal playing time. So should teams up to and including u15. All teams up to and including u18 at tier 3 and down should as well.

Equal playing time will always be contingent on factors being satisfied: attendance, following team rules, appropriate behaviour.

I have to say the TD clearly seems to have failed those little girls. So how many other kids has the TD failed? Assuming the TD was aware. Did the parents speak up?

But to your point I add this. YES. u6-12 has been completely failed in this province. Especially with this unreal focus on BCSPL by BCSA. Where is the equal focus on Metro? Division 1/Gold? Do they not understand how many kids in those levels are easily BCSPL level? How many kids from those levels fill BCSPL rosters when inevitably kids quit BCSPL just as you described of these 7 year old girls?

u6-10 requires the focus, and standards that is given to BCSPL.

 

[TKBC]

Regardless, I have seen it everywhere. Winning has priority over equal playing time at all ages.

The TD, and the board should all be removed.

Winning is important. Development is more important.

 

[Admin]

No, having fun and enjoying the game is more important.

"development" is for adults looking to give their own lives meaning.

 

[TKBC]

No, having fun and enjoying the game is more important.

"development" is for adults looking to give their own lives meaning.

Fun as top priority goes without saying - but maybe it doesn't? To me it does.

 

[Old Girls Coach]

"development" is for adults looking to give their own lives meaning.

And I'm as guilty of it as many parents. Especially with my own daughter.

Many years ago when I was coaching because I loved coaching, before I had my own children, I had a 'keeper who was pretty good. At U13 she made a Metro team in tandem with another 'keeper. My 'keeper sat a lot. 2 years later and after a lot of player change in the three metro teams in the region, I was trying to put together Gold team for some of the girls who had lost their places. We needed a 'keeper and we approached this girl because she had quit altogether. She came out but her spirit was just beaten. I had a long talk with her before the first game of the season and told her that, yeah, we're a Gold team but we're just here for the fun of the game. It's one of my proudest moments because she went on to have a three really great years on that team, became confident enough to try out for the provincial program, and in U18 she took the Metro starting position. She needed fun in the game more than she needed someone pushing player development to get better. I think we are forgetting that.

 

[TKBC]

And I'm as guilty of it as many parents. Especially with my own daughter.

Many years ago when I was coaching because I loved coaching, before I had my own children, I had a 'keeper who was pretty good. At U13 she made a Metro team in tandem with another 'keeper. My 'keeper sat a lot. 2 years later and after a lot of player change in the three metro teams in the region, I was trying to put together Gold team for some of the girls who had lost their places. We needed a 'keeper and we approached this girl because she had quit altogether. She came out but her spirit was just beaten. I had a long talk with her before the first game of the season and told her that, yeah, we're a Gold team but we're just here for the fun of the game. It's one of my proudest moments because she went on to have a three really great years on that team, became confident enough to try out for the provincial program, and in U18 she took the Metro starting position. She needed fun in the game more than she needed someone pushing player development to get better. I think we are forgetting that.

Too many coaches forget these young players are people first.

Every mistake a player makes is a teachable moment - be it attitude, or technique - and we have to speak with them as people.

 

[easoccer]

Why shouldn't u12 get equal playing time? Of course they should.



Kids at u12 should get equal playing time. So should teams up to and including u15. All teams up to and including u18 at tier 3 and down should as well.

Equal playing time will always be contingent on factors being satisfied: attendance, following team rules, appropriate behaviour.

I have to say the TD clearly seems to have failed those little girls. So how many other kids has the TD failed? Assuming the TD was aware. Did the parents speak up?

But to your point I add this. YES. u6-12 has been completely failed in this province. Especially with this unreal focus on BCSPL by BCSA. Where is the equal focus on Metro? Division 1/Gold? Do they not understand how many kids in those levels are easily BCSPL level? How many kids from those levels fill BCSPL rosters when inevitably kids quit BCSPL just as you described of these 7 year old girls?

u6-10 requires the focus, and standards that is given to BCSPL.

I agree. They should get equal time. My point was in relation to the girls I know. If you are selected, and your commitment, work ethic, and attitude is good then definitely.

I cant speak for every club, but my kids have been treated very well in clubs outside of newton as far as playing time goes, but for some reason it is not the same here. For the most part there is definitely a win at all cost mentality within this park.

 

[TKBC]

Seems to me then the board and TD have to take steps to intervene, or be replaced if they can't/aren't willing.

 

[easoccer]

The people involved in these clubs have a stranglehold on the clubs and work in groups to maintain these positions.

 

[TKBC]

The people involved in these clubs have a stranglehold on the clubs and work in groups to maintain these positions.

Get organized and find like-minded volunteers to help you, if you and others you know are interested in board positions and making positive change - if you believe the current environment is not suitable to development.

That being said, I'd just talk to the TD who can put influence over the current coaches in the club, and also select replacements for those coaches if needed (and if replacements are available).

 

[easoccer]

I have gone to the clubs when it was happening. Of course I made a fuss. They all promote LTPD, but they cant be bothered to enforce it.

I am happy that there are clubs that do focus on developing young players and equal playing time.

Anyway, I am coaching my kids and am doing my best to manage the players fairly.

 

[easoccer]

I should be clear that this story is about 3 separate girls from 3 clubs in Newton. Not a single club or TD.

 

[TKBC]

I should be clear that this story is about 3 separate girls from 3 clubs in Newton. Not a single club or TD.

ah ok. Yes, results-first is a problem in that part of the Fraser Valley. My guess is it's the influence the parent-groups have and the power they have to vote in who they want. I don't know that to be fact.

 

[Jenny]

No, having fun and enjoying the game is more important.

"development" is for adults looking to give their own lives meaning.

All these years football in Canada was "for having fun and enjoying the game". Any results?

I agree. They should get equal time.

Kids at u12 should get equal playing time.

Same question: Almost everywhere in Canada kids having equal time ( maybe except BCSPL ) - any results?
Argentina, Brasil, Mexico, European countries - they don't have the "equal time" rule. I am talking about U10 and higher.
That "rule" is not fair rule at all. Let's say we have 1 kid in a team, who loves football more than everything. He practices hard, he wants to be best, tries to do everything to be better, he imagines himself playing at Real Madrid one day. And we have other kid, who doesn't care about football, he just wants to have fun with his friends. The first boy tries hard on practices. Second - fooling around. And you think the second boy deserves the same amount of playing time with the 1st boy?
How long will the first boy's passion last if he sees that "unfairness" every weekend? And I saw lots of that "1st" boys. In fact, most of them quit playing for clubs because of that.
It depends what Canada wants. If Canada needs to develop football level - should be as fewer restrictions as it possible. Every kid should show to his coach that he wants to be on the field during his practices.
If Canada wants to just keep kids busy, give them more opportunities to have a fun - then it is OK to have "equal time" rule
Just to avoid misunderstandings - I am not saying, that better players should play more. I am saying, that kids, that loves football more should get more playing time. If a kid tries hard, practices with heart ( even he plays "worse" than other natural talented boys)- he deserves to get more than another one, who comes to football just because he doesn't want to sit home. ANd it is a job of a coach to recognize those kids and help them to grow giving them more opportunities to show their performance.
Canada needs to educate coaches, not put artificial "boundaries".

That was my humble opinion

 

[Admin]

All these years football in Canada was "for having fun and enjoying the game". Any results?

All these years that we have had this "professional environment" BS, any results? Seriously, BCPL is how old now? Shouldn't we be seeing "results" from BC? From what I know, BC reps in National teams have been declining.

 

[easoccer]

Like I said earlier. Based on behavior, attitude, commitment and work ethic.

Hopefully if you go out for development or rep that your mindset is correct.

But in the case of everything being equal, except a deviation in skill, but both made the same squad, then my feeling is that each player should be treated equal.