What type of things would you look for when searching for a coach

I just wanted to see what we should look at when searching for a coach for our daughter. What would be the most important things we should consider. Thanks in advance, any input would greatly be appreaciated.

Is it the type of license they have?
Is it their communication with the team?
Is it their coaching style?

1. Does your DD connect with the coach
2. Focus of sessions for the age in question.

License is last on the list if even on the list. I know some A licensed that ain't worth the paper its printed on, and an E licensed that can hang with any of them.

Good integrity.
Knowledge of the game.
Ability to challenge, inspire, motivate, and encourage players!
Support and guide players.
Make a positive difference in his/her life.
Feel pride the PLAYERS' accomplishments
Willing to obtain more knowledge.

If you can, sneak up behind the coaches' sideline and watch them. See how the coach interacts with the players. The coach will be an influential figure for your daughter and you should know the type of person the coach is when parents are outside of earshot.

In particular, see how the coach balances playtime. See how the coach approaches a player that made a mistake. See how the coach reacts when they are losing a game.

If you’re on the parents’ sideline, watching from across the field, you really don't know how the coach is managing the kids. It's hard to pay attention to which kids are being subbed and which are glued to the end of the bench for all but 5 minutes.

For the last one, seeing how they react when they’re losing a game... all coaches are fantastic people to the children when they're winning by a couple goals. It's all sunshine, sugar, and gumdrops when you’re winning. But when the coach’s team is losing by a goal or two, you may be looking at a different coach entirely. That is when a coach shows their true colors.

Also... Watch for unnecessary touching.

1. Does your coach motivate your daughter to want to become a better player?
2. Does your coach allow the girls to have fun, or is it all work, work, work?
3. Does your coach react to adversity in a positive manner, such as losing a close match or when players make mistakes?
4. Does your daughter feel comfortable and like your coach?
5. Does your coach have good knowledge and passion for the game?
6. Does your coach treat the parents with respect such as providing honest feedback and replying to emails or phone calls?

If you can anwser yes to these questions, that is a great place to start. There are lots of coaches that might have the "certification and pedigree", but have no clue on how to be a good role model and teacher. Good coaches, especially for players at young ages, can be major influences in not only kids' soccer development, but they can be teachers of valuable life lessons as well. Many coaches feel pressure to win, mostly from the parents. IMO, at this age, winning is not near as important as learning the fundamentals of the game. If you think you are with the wrong coach, trust your instincts...

(1) What is the coach's win/loss record? If he (or she) is any good, his teams should win most of their games. If he talks about "development" more than "winning"... Run!

(2) In what division does he coach? Anything below LH D2 and you're probably looking at someone who offers sub-par training. The very best coaches offer separate skills training for $40-$50 an hour in addition to what they already make for training you daughter's team.

(3) Does he work for one of the "top 5" clubs? Beware otherwise. You get what you pay for. Anything less than around $2300 a year and there's just no way it can be worthwhile.

(4) Does he have a foreign accent? Good. Is he faking a foreign accent? Bad.

(5) Does the coach scream and berate the players? A good coach knows how to get 100% effort at all times and will utilize the methodology necessary. Watch out for the quiet types.

(6) Did he play professionally? MLS is loaded with lousy players who somehow go on to become "excellent" coaches. If the guy didn't at least play at a D1 college and currently hold a B license, look elsewhere.

(7) Does he allow the parents to scream at players and officials from the sideline? Are the parents ever featured in YouTube videos for fighting? Good coaches pick passionate players AND parents.

(8 ) Does the coach communicate regularly with the parents? Good coaches avoid this. They simply don't have the time.

(9) Does the coach primarily play his top 11 in games? That's a plus. It's a subtle punishment of his bench players for not being better and is very motivational for girls.

(10) And finally, does the coach's name regularly come up on this forum in negative discussions? All the better. It's best to follow the lead of parents on here who subject their daughters to regular mistreatment by the coach. They realize the ends justifies the means.

shoesnsocks wrote:I just wanted to see what we should look at when searching for a coach for our daughter. What would be the most important things we should consider. Thanks in advance, any input would greatly be appreaciated.

Is it the type of license they have?
Is it their communication with the team?
Is it their coaching style?

Same thing you would look for in a teacher of any subject and it varies by age.

At the younger ages, can they teach them the skills and concepts that the kids will need to build on later? Can they demonstrate and make the learning enjoyable, if not fun. More important to be a teacher of skills and concepts and how to apply in game siuations than being a good game coach.

As they get a little older teaching them how to apply the skills and concepts sucessfully in game situations, self discipline and self awareness become more important. Teaching them how to be an sucessful player given their levelof skill, athleticism and soccer IQ to allow them to keep enjoying the game. Improving their understanding the game and being able to read situations and anticipate situations (see the game faster than others)becomes more important. Ability to provide in game adjustments to influence the outcome of the game.

At the older ages it is applying what has been learned, motivating, in game coaching and
preparing them for the next level if that is what they want.

Ha, ha, Xara, I get it.

Hmmm...first, there may be more than one "right coach" for you child. Supposedly Academy encourages this Even if you pick a coach and are happy with him/her it is nice to go to clinics, skills sessions, 3v3 or somewhere they can be exposed to other coaches with different ideas.

I agree with watching a coach during a game, especially during a loss. Although many coaches can get heated up during a game and still be a good coach for your kid. If you can watch SEVERAL practices that can help too. Often, a prospective coach knows you are there for a "visit" and may be on their best behavior but several practices should show you more. Also, ask anyone and everyone you know about the coach. Network like crazy to find people who know the coach or know someone who does. Of course, not everything you hear may be true or unbiased but it is still info to put in your decision "bank". Continue to "network" even if you think you've found the right coach--coaches change, teams change, and you never know when you may be looking again.

Also, I go watch a couple games and what I specifically look for is whether most of the players have good individual skills. I'm not talking about the "one speedy fast flashy forward" I'm talking about all the players. Do they pass, do they receive well, how is their touch, do they control the ball well, do all the players play or is the goal just to get the ball to the one "speedy forward". To me, this is the number one thing--if you see that all the players are obviously being taught good technical skills then you likely have a good coach behind it.

Last, you just have to try one out. Again, it's academy, so the THEORY is that it's okay to try different coaches, even each new season, to find the right fit.

If he models his tactical style after Stuart Pearce, John Peacock, or Noel Blake...run like hell...lol

xara-

My two cents.

At a young "Academy" age I think the coaches ability to verbally (email doesn't count) communicate with both players and parents is extremely critical. This may also be true for Select ages... but I have no experience there (yet) so cannot speak to it.

Next, the coaches dedication to the team is very important. I'd ask parents (not the coach) how many practices have been cancelled (except for weather) over the last 3 months. If greater than 3... I'd run for the hills.

I also think it's important for coaches to seek out the best competition for their teams. Some coaches hate to scrimmage other teams and also hide their teams from tournaments since they fear losing. So that's another question for the parents on the team... how many scrimmages/tournaments has the full team participated in over the last 6 months?

And I'd also find out the thinking that went into choosing the league the team plays in. Some coaches seem to love to rack up wins against weaker competition since everyone (except the other team) smiles after a 10-0 beat down, right?

And, finally, as previous posters have covered quite well... the coach should obviously have some good soccer experience and background. But, really, just about every Academy coach in the area seems to have this covered to some extent which is why the things I mention above are what's most important to me. Of course, you will need to seek out the best "style" of coaching for your DD since some coaches like to spend hours on footskills while others teach tactics while others teach both. You will need to find the style that works best for you and your daughter. As for me and my DD... we prefer a nice balance.

Oh, man I almost forgot, for 04s and below... if they don't have an awesome team cheer (yelling club name doesn't count)... get out of there. You MUST have an awesome team cheer!

I like coaches with black trucks

coachr wrote:I like coaches with black trucks

With shaved legs?

Blank77 wrote:

coachr wrote:I like coaches with black trucks

With shaved legs?

Mmmmmmmm sounds good to me!

coachr wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

coachr wrote:I like coaches with black trucks

With shaved legs?

Mmmmmmmm sounds good to me!

And/or paws?

wolf2.0 wrote:

coachr wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

coachr wrote:I like coaches with black trucks

With shaved legs?

Mmmmmmmm sounds good to me!

And/or paws?

Wolf or cat?

coachr wrote:

wolf2.0 wrote:

coachr wrote:

Blank77 wrote:

coachr wrote:I like coaches with black trucks

With shaved legs?

Mmmmmmmm sounds good to me!

And/or paws?

Wolf or cat?

Cat paws are only good for making cookies and shifting kitty-litter.