New to Area. Best Soccer 06' Soccer Coach

Interested to learn more about the best coach in D/FW market for my daughter (not club) to help her develop her game. Currently, my daughter is just training privately and new to area. We have an older daughter who went through club soccer in another state and found the coach to be the most important factor in her development vs. club.

Any help would be appreciated.

First question would be logistics. If you live in Frisco, a coach in Arlington probably doesn't work well. I don't know half as much as people like BigErn, Zizou, KC, JST and others on this forum. But a more defined area would help others with those opinions.

We can travel, wife is currently not working. We live in Dallas proper so West of FT. Worth probably doesn't make sense, but we would consider whole DFW area if the coach was that good. I have heard talent is outstanding in North Texas market, but coaches are more about the business side than development side. Just want my daughter in with a good coach.

If Vulture Vic could comment on this, it would be most appreciated.

soccerperson wrote:We can travel, wife is currently not working. We live in Dallas proper so West of FT. Worth probably doesn't make sense, but we would consider whole DFW area if the coach was that good.  I have heard talent is outstanding in North Texas market, but coaches are more about the business side than development side.  Just want my daughter in with a good coach.

Welcome person!

You heard right that you have moved into a hotbed of talent and that youth soccer is a big business, but contrary to what some might have you believe, you'll find as you get out exploring that the majority of the coaches do care about improving your kid. The business side is left for the most part to the clubs themselves ... Which is the case everywhere isn't it -- it is a business after all.

Off the top of my head, the very best coaches that I think have 06G teams would be Matt Colvin and Chris Pulpaneck at Solar SC, Dan Mariscal at FC Dallas, and Reagan Angell at D'Feeters ... I've personally witnessed all of these guys work, turn out quality results, and genuinely care about their kids. Juan Martinez at Dallas Kicks/D'Feeters is also fantastic but I don't think he has an 06 team.

Good luck out there!

Big Ern wrote:

Off the top of my head, the very best coaches that I think have 06G teams would be Matt Colvin and Chris Pulpaneck at Solar SC, Dan Mariscal at FC Dallas, and Reagan Angell at D'Feeters ... I've personally witnessed all of these guys work, turn out quality results, and genuinely care about their kids.  Juan Martinez at Dallas Kicks/D'Feeters is also fantastic but I don't think he has an 06 team.  

Good luck out there!

FWIW, that's a good list of names to start with.  All have a track record of developing quality players and teams across multiple age groups.

There are a ton of great '06 coaches besides coaches listed above..

The best coaches are arguably Adames @ Texans, Gutierrez @ Sting, Ring @ FC Dallas. Sting based in heart of Dallas / Richardson. Texans in Dallas/South Dallas. FC Dallas based in Frisco. These coaches are outstanding with great reputations. Sting Black and Texans South are the best of the best in North Texas. Chris Ring @ FC is not far behind.

All play possession better than Colvin and Pulpaneck. Mariscal is new to FC Dallas from Fever with kids mostly from FW. Solid team but can't compete with Sting or Texans South.

I suspect Sting Black will be the best ECNL team followed by Texans for the '06s next year. Sting is arguably better defensively and plays out of the back better than Texans South, but Texans South has better speed, better possession, and the best keeper in the state.

Don't count Liverpool out.. In 2 years people will be talking about their program. Deep pockets with good infrastructure / fields with a new stadium under construction. Not based in Dallas though. I suspect they will be an ECNL club in the next year or two given the path they are on.

The most underrated club for the '06s in North Dallas may be D'Feeters. They have 4 or 5 really good '06 coaches and there seems to be less turnover than average in the '06 age group, but sometimes inconsistent performance. The '06 ECNL team next year will benefit from all the changes with DA/ECNL and will be a tough contender. The Kicks/D'Feeters merger is having a positive affect on the club.

You can't use the current standings in LH league to determine who the best is. The '06 age group suffered from age pure split and the formation of JDL. This is why Sting Black is in D3. 6 of the D2 teams are just as good if not better than 6 of the D1 teams. Many D1 teams used player passes last year to get the D1 bye and are suffering this year. Solar Byars, Texans Pane, and potentially FC Tenbrink are prime examples of teams that arguably don't belong in D1. Watch them play and you will see long ball instead of possession. The legitimate D1 teams are Texans South, FC Dallas East, D'Feeters Colon, and Texas Spirit.

If you want to sit on the bench these are the teams you need to look towards. I would probably look at some teams that need help on the bubble that your kid can get good playing time. At this age coaches at the next level suggest playing time not worried about rank. You got plenty of time to gauge what's best for your 06.

Thank you for the responses. I have heard outstanding things from parents around Coach Angell and his ability to develop young soccer players. I recently heard Coach Pulpaneck and Coach Colvin are no longer coaching in the 06 division, so I guess they are not an option.

I just saw Colvin coaching the 06 JDL kids this Fall so he's likely still at it.

I agree with TxFutbal regarding Ring and Gutierrez but I thought I'd offer an 'overall' best coaches list -
Based on philosophy, technical/tactical training/development, and temperament. I'd say that both of these two occasionally leave something to be desired on the latter - especially with the littles.

Nobody wants to be a pine rider. Don't burn out the kids too early most attrition from the sport will happen in Jr. High. There's 100s of teams and coaches. Don't get frustrated. Some coaches look for rugby players and some focus on skills. Be a smart shopper you are the buyer they are the sellor.

Make sure you're first question starts with "Will she start on your JDL team"

Good point the 2 for 1 special. There's no scores or a league per se it does have a cool sound to it.

Confirmed. New Coach for 06 team/teams. Solar club informed me upon requesting information about team. Not sure what occurred, but Coach Pulpaneck and Colvin will be moving forward with other teams.

Are you sure these are the best coaches? To decide over a weekend WO checking out the landscape is risky business. Must be a solar stock holder.

soccerperson wrote:Confirmed. New Coach for 06 team/teams.  Solar club informed me upon requesting information about team.  Not sure what occurred, but Coach Pulpaneck and Colvin will be moving forward with other teams.

Did they mention who the new 06 Coaches are?

Bodhisattva wrote:

soccerperson wrote:Confirmed. New Coach for 06 team/teams.  Solar club informed me upon requesting information about team.  Not sure what occurred, but Coach Pulpaneck and Colvin will be moving forward with other teams.

Did they mention who the new 06 Coaches are?

WOW, so both coaches dropped the team(s)!! That's actually pretty big news

Maybe they are moving up some players to DA2...need some warm bodies for the bench.

Bodhisattva wrote:

soccerperson wrote:Confirmed. New Coach for 06 team/teams.  Solar club informed me upon requesting information about team.  Not sure what occurred, but Coach Pulpaneck and Colvin will be moving forward with other teams.

Did they mention who the new 06 Coaches are?

They hired Uknowme.

A coach moving over from concernedparent06 who's real name is newfromNC.

I wasn't told who new coach/coaches were and did not probe for more details. Maybe some insight from current parent whose child is on team would be helpful.

If MC is no longer coaching the 06 JDL ladies, someone may wanna let him know -

Big Ern wrote:If MC is no longer coaching the 06 JDL ladies, someone may wanna let him know -

but CP is gone?

I believe CP just trains them occasionally -

I have a 99 & 06 DD. Over the past 9 yrs, I have observed many coaches in the DFW area. I learned a lot about DFW soccer as well as the national scene through My 99/00. My 06 DD has played with Sting Black Guitierrez from the inception of the team 4 years ago. I am not going to provide attribute comparison of various teams or coaches. My point is She has done a great job with this team and they have dominated the 06 space locally and nationally.

I believe DTS is a very good team that coach Adames has developed well.

Not sure if Pulp and Colvin are still in the space but are good coaches.

Ring is good as well.

Ultimately you have to find the right fit for your DD from a coach and a team standpoint. The best of anything rests with individual fit/perspectives. I am confident you can find the best coach for your DD in DFW. Best of luck!