www.youtube.com/watch
Parents,
I had a coach within the club send me this video recently. I watched this video and laughed out loud at how ridiculous this sounds but at the same time realized how real this is in youth sports. I know our coaches have conversations with parents about this all the time. I know i do. We need to change this approach. I know many parents that are guilty of this. Some will actually admit it, and some won't admit it but will demonstrate this approach through their actions. In the end, for the resources we have and the amount of kids we have playing soccer, we should be producing better players. Here are some alarming stats and thoughts:
-We have more youth players playing soccer in the U.S. than the the total population of Uruguay who just finished as one of the top 4 teams in the 2010 World Cup.
-Prior to the 2010 World Cup, "World Soccer" magazine predicted the top 25 stars of the WC. One month after the WC, they announced the the 40 top players from the WC. Only 1 player was on the original list. If the "experts" can't predict how some of these established professional players will perform, what makes us think we can predict how far our 8 year old will go in this game.
-75%-80% of of players registered in the U.S. are under the age of 12. This is where we make them or break them.
- FInally, GREAT PLAYERS make themselves. It's not the amount of wins they accumulate. It's not the amount of league games they play. Its definitely not the amount of tournaments they play. It's not the level of their t eammates or the parents screaming on the sideline. These are a ll excuses we make as parents when our kids don't get to the level that we planned for them to reach. It all comes down to the player and a knowledgeable coach to give them guidance on how the game should be played. Just because you have watched your child play soccer for a few years in that fold out chair, doesn't make you an expert in the game. If so, i need to take my fold out to a hospital or to a courtroom, or to NASA headquarters. NO! That will not make me an expert. Let the kids PLAY (be in control) and let the coaches teach!
As a CLUB, we will try our best to make a difference.
-
John Ramos
Director of Coaching and Player Development
Plantation Football Club - Recreational and Competitive
954.448.3571
