Recruiting Question

One of our ten year old girls was approached by a man after a game. He asked her if she would like to play for his team. Turns out he is a coach. This being a tournament he's not badged or identified in any way as a coach. Her parents think it's inappropriate for a grown man to be striking up a conversation with a ten year old girl instead of the parents. I don't have any problems with coaches recruiting. It's what we have to do to build our teams. Just curious if anybody else thinks this is inappropriate?

Its a waste of time is what it is. A 10yr old can't change teams without a parent so might as well talk to the parents

At a tournament? In public? With hundreds of kids and adults around? Probably in broad daylight? With the "victim's" parents probably within eyesight? Did he ask the girl to help him find his lost puppy or offer her candy if she'd get in his van?

So a coach, probably of 10 year old girls, spoke to a 10 year old girl at a soccer field. He is probably used to having conversations with 10 year old girls on his team. It's sad that the first thought people have is that it's inappropriate - which is code for "creepy". The guy's probably a pervert.

I assumed he was asking if it was inappropriate from a recruiting standpoint, or without talking to the parents first. Not that he was a perv. I could be wrong though.

"...it's inappropriate for a grown man to be striking up a conversation with a ten year old girl"

It doesn't sound like a recruiting question unless the same question would be asked of a grown woman or a 10 year old boy.

CB: of course its inappropriate for a stranger to approach a 10 year old kid and start up a conversation

These days it is....me...as a parent... I'm just sceptical like that behind my seedlings...especially a guy approaching my girls. I may feel a little differently if coach says to Jr. "what's up lil man, you're pretty good, you should play for me..." But still in all that statement should be concluded with the question "where are your parents?" I made the mistake and watched The Lovely Bones...my mind isn't right.

Very disturbing movie.

Yep...I didn't get the closure I needed to say I enjoyed the movie...check your PM Sheets

I think Coaches can compliment a player but shouldn't ask the player if they want to switch teams or even if they are happy with their current team. Coaches interested in a player should definitely seek out the parents. IMHO there is nothing wrong with a Coach giving a player a compliment about their game performance.

There are still 'complete strangers' at the 04' level?

In Select, is coach recruiting illegal still? I am asking this because I hear of players where the coaches are calling directly.

Players or parents?

Parents.

FCsoccer1 wrote:In Select, is coach recruiting illegal still?  I am asking this because I hear of players where the coaches are calling directly.

http://www.ntxsoccer.org/assets/pdfs/2014-2015_NTSSA_Bylaws_and_Rules_2-10-15.pdf

Section 3.10.9 covers this.

Coach can call a player/parent at any time and express interest in having that player come practice/try out for their team for the upcoming soccer year as long as they don't ask them to violate any practice rules (i.e. coming to a practice prior to June 1 without proper release paperwork), or break a current commitment (i.e. can't suggest or ask for the player to get a release to transfer to their team during the current soccer year).

Coach also can't offer a roster spot before July 1 (I know, I know, this rule is technically violated all of the time with "verbal" offers), can't use enticement beyond a need-based scholarship covering standard playing expenses for the year (i.e. can give playing time "guarantees", and can't use misleading or negative statements to influence a decision (i.e. can't say "your current team is going nowhere and your current coach/club has no record of developing kids into college players).

As with anything, there is plenty of "gray area" in the wording and interpretation of the rule, but what I have above is the general gist of it.

It is my understanding that prior to June 1 coaches could not contact recruits that were signed on other select rosters unless that player had a release. Coaches could contact rec players, parents can contact any player/parent and players/parents can contact coaches.

On June 1 players/parents who are signed on select rosters can be contacted by coaches. I believe guest play still requires a release during June. Please chime in if the rules are different.

CBTeamworks wrote:It is my understanding that prior to June 1 coaches could not contact recruits that were signed on other select rosters unless that player had a release. Coaches could contact rec players, parents can contact any player/parent and players/parents can contact coaches.

On June 1 players/parents who are signed on select rosters can be contacted by coaches. I believe guest play still requires a release during June. Please chime in if the rules are different.

I don't see anything in the rules that says a coach can't call a player on another team before June 1st. As I read it, the only limitation is that the conversation has to be about the next soccer year, and they can't suggest or request that they player break any commitments to their current team during the current soccer year.

...but again, there is always the "spirit of the rule" and "between the lines" interpretation.

bwgophers wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:It is my understanding that prior to June 1 coaches could not contact recruits that were signed on other select rosters unless that player had a release. Coaches could contact rec players, parents can contact any player/parent and players/parents can contact coaches.

On June 1 players/parents who are signed on select rosters can be contacted by coaches. I believe guest play still requires a release during June. Please chime in if the rules are different.

I don't see anything in the rules that says a coach can't call a player on another team before June 1st.  As I read it, the only limitation is that the conversation has to be about the next soccer year, and they can't suggest or request that they player break any commitments to their current team during the current soccer year.

...but again, there is always the "spirit of the rule" and "between the lines" interpretation.

Not in this instance. Your interpretation is 100% accurate.

Coaches can contact whoever they want whenever they want as long as it's regarding next year.

I am not sure where your info is coming from. This is everything I could find on recruiting, from the NTSSA website. ARTICLE V - RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING SCOUTING AND RECRUITING
1. It is unethical to scout any team, by any means whatsoever, except in regularly scheduled games.
2. The use of videotape or motion picture equipment to scout an opponent’s regularly scheduled games for the purpose of recruiting is unethical.
3. All NTSSA rules pertaining to recruiting shall be strictly observed by the coach, manager, or any team representative. Riiiiight....and Hitler was a Boyscout
4. It is unethical to recruit player(s) actively playing for another team. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ha, stop....please.......I can't breath
5. It is unethical for a player to be recruited or enticed from the Olympic Development Program (ODP) setting, either by his ODP coach or any other coach, manager, parent or team representative.Otherwise, the Easter Bunny will never come to your house again
6. When discussing the advantages of his organization, the coach has an ethical obligation to be forthright and refrain from making derogatory remarks regarding other coaches, teams, and organizations. Also, he/she must compliment your mother's cooking and wax poetic on your father's exceptional character
7. It is unethical for any coach to make a statement to a prospective athlete which cannot be fulfilled; illegal to promise any kind of compensation or inducement for play; and immoral to deliver same. It's also against the rules to break any of the Ten Commandments, at any event associated with soccer
8. Allegations of illegal or unethical recruiting are very serious and should be based on concrete facts rather than hearsay and innuendo. While documentation of recruiting violations is essential, the use of videotape and other electronic equipment is discouraged.We also have these nice parka's on sale, for when hell freezes over.

All of that is relative to the current select year only.

You sound very sure. Where can I find that?

Call LHGCL?

To my knowledge it's not written down anywhere. If I recall, I actually did call LHGCL or talked to a friend who was on the board about it.