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Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

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    Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

    We all read about top teams not "developing" talent, but rather poaching it from other Clubs. Not sure it's quite as simple as the anti-poachers would contend, but twist the question on its side and the importance of talent evaluation becomes paramount. Whether a team selects kids from their own town or region, or has a broader reach and entices kids from as far away as Rhode island, Maine, New Hampshire, or Nantucket, (as ridiculous as this sounds, I've read online that this occurs), evaluating talent must be a crucial aspect to the success of any soccer organization.

    How important is this facet? Do specific Clubs do it better than others? Which coaches or clubs seem to consistently do this well? Is it even possible to pick the top kids at the younger ages? How much is picking the right kids, those willing to play for the team, rather than merely themselves, a factor in the success of the top teams? Are DOC's picking parents, at some level, as much as they are picking kids? After the all-important, according to parents on this website, U-13 age, does talent evaluation get easier or more difficult? And for which club team would a kid from Nantucket play? :shock:

    #2
    Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

    Player evaluation is extrememly important to a team's success. One of the problems with some of the smaller clubs is the phenomenon of the parent-coach. I have seen too many times the parent-coach at a local Maple club picking players for his team for all the wrong reasons-they were his child's friends, or played for his local town team, etc. The integrity of the tryout process was compromised and some of those players wrongly cut went on to contribute to opposing clubs. At any level the evaluation process must be free from bias. Independent evaluators, especially if a coach's child is involved, is a key.

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      #3
      Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

      Originally posted by 3372Ev
      Player evaluation is extrememly important to a team's success. One of the problems with some of the smaller clubs is the phenomenon of the parent-coach. I have seen too many times the parent-coach at a local Maple club picking players for his team for all the wrong reasons-they were his child's friends, or played for his local town team, etc. The integrity of the tryout process was compromised and some of those players wrongly cut went on to contribute to opposing clubs. At any level the evaluation process must be free from bias. Independent evaluators, especially if a coach's child is involved, is a key.
      This is exactly what happened at Nova, and it's the main reason the U15 imploded this year.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

        Originally posted by Guest
        Originally posted by 3372Ev
        Player evaluation is extrememly important to a team's success. One of the problems with some of the smaller clubs is the phenomenon of the parent-coach. I have seen too many times the parent-coach at a local Maple club picking players for his team for all the wrong reasons-they were his child's friends, or played for his local town team, etc. The integrity of the tryout process was compromised and some of those players wrongly cut went on to contribute to opposing clubs. At any level the evaluation process must be free from bias. Independent evaluators, especially if a coach's child is involved, is a key.
        This is exactly what happened at Nova, and it's the main reason the U15 imploded this year.
        The ironic thing about this situation is that the kid(s) that was wrongly cut from this team had no problem making it onto another Div. 1 teams, and they are now in a much better situation than there former teammates that stayed. The coaches really made a big mess of things here, and players continue to leave.

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          #5
          Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

          Evaluating talent matters, and the guest that began this thread clearly understood this fact. Teams implode if they don't pick the right kids, train them well, and play them fairly. The specific tone set by the club toward parent and player behavior, setting the right expectations, coupled with regular constructive evaluations and discussions of individual strengths with players and their parents at the younger ages all play a part.

          Top teams get their pick of talent. They know what spots they need to fill, and can target their specific needs. If they need a speedy dangerous striker, ball winning midfielder or man marking defender, they are able to find them more easily than a middle of the pack team looking to upgrade all positions. Unselfish play is a result of the coach expectations and training, as well as individual mindset of specific players. Again, this skill and style of play can be more easily selected and reinforced on a successful team.

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            #6
            Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

            A few MV and Nantucket kids have played off island on club teams over the years. We've seen boys on Cape Cod Crusaders, Cape Cod United and Crusader United and girls on Lady Crusaders and Crusader United. Don't think too many stick around more than a season or two. The high speed boats and regular plane service probably make this easier than in the past, but it's still quite a commitment and undertaking. Our family complains about a half hour commute to practice.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

              Originally posted by Cape Dweller
              A few MV and Nantucket kids have played off island on club teams over the years. We've seen boys on Cape Cod Crusaders, Cape Cod United and Crusader United and girls on Lady Crusaders and Crusader United. Don't think too many stick around more than a season or two. The high speed boats and regular plane service probably make this easier than in the past, but it's still quite a commitment and undertaking. Our family complains about a half hour commute to practice.

              Thats a committment and a half. I'm sure it's not easy for the player, especially during the winter, for him or her to fell in touch with the team. Mid week training would be tough I would think.

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                #8
                Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                Not if you use your helicopter.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                  Originally posted by Guest
                  Not if you use your helicopter.
                  Im so rich, i would just have the team come here.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                    Originally posted by Guest
                    Evaluating talent matters, and the guest that began this thread clearly understood this fact. Teams implode if they don't pick the right kids, train them well, and play them fairly. The specific tone set by the club toward parent and player behavior, setting the right expectations, coupled with regular constructive evaluations and discussions of individual strengths with players and their parents at the younger ages all play a part.

                    Top teams get their pick of talent. They know what spots they need to fill, and can target their specific needs. If they need a speedy dangerous striker, ball winning midfielder or man marking defender, they are able to find them more easily than a middle of the pack team looking to upgrade all positions. Unselfish play is a result of the coach expectations and training, as well as individual mindset of specific players. Again, this skill and style of play can be more easily selected and reinforced on a successful team.
                    This post is right on. Especially regarding the differences between evaluating, recruiting and landing talent when it comes to top teams and those described as middle of the road. It is also easier to sell the top teams. Not everybody wants to play for the Stars or Scorpions, but if you are a player interested in playing in college you know that these teams offer the best chances to be seen by the most coaches. MPS also shares this distinction and the Aztecs are working hard to get to this level. I also think the widening stratification between the top Stars and Scorions teams (and also MPS) and the rest of the state has made it more difficult for those other Mass clubs still playing MAPLE and MASC. Programs like Puma, Nova and Eagles really don't compete with the Stars or Scorpions A teams but with their B and C teams. This is true both on the field and off. I do believe that the fact that probably 98% of Massachusetts club teams have no realistic chance to win a State Cup has made the training environments better for these teams. It should lessen the pressure to win and allow for more long term training plans and multi-year committments to players.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                      It should lessen the pressure to win and allow for more long term training plans and multi-year committments to players.
                      In your dreams. If anything, those clubs maybe more driven to win just to prove they are as good. The multi-year commitment would come only because they are unable to recruit better players to make them more compeitive. It still all comes down to the horses in the stable and the most important stable is the stable of coaches a club has.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                        Originally posted by Guest
                        It should lessen the pressure to win and allow for more long term training plans and multi-year committments to players.
                        In your dreams. If anything, those clubs maybe more driven to win just to prove they are as good. The multi-year commitment would come only because they are unable to recruit better players to make them more compeitive. It still all comes down to the horses in the stable and the most important stable is the stable of coaches a club has.
                        Prove to whom?

                        The "must win" model only exists here in the US. In Europe, Australia, etc all youth sports arent even or barely coordinated at U14. Many simply start at that age.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                          Originally posted by Guest
                          Originally posted by Guest
                          It should lessen the pressure to win and allow for more long term training plans and multi-year committments to players.
                          In your dreams. If anything, those clubs maybe more driven to win just to prove they are as good. The multi-year commitment would come only because they are unable to recruit better players to make them more compeitive. It still all comes down to the horses in the stable and the most important stable is the stable of coaches a club has.
                          Prove to whom?

                          The "must win" model only exists here in the US. In Europe, Australia, etc all youth sports arent even or barely coordinated at U14. Many simply start at that age.
                          Prove to themselves. That's the biggest issue, those egos that have to justify themselves and what they do.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                            Originally posted by Guest

                            Prove to themselves. That's the biggest issue, those egos that have to justify themselves and what they do.
                            Interesting. Im not sure I agree but still interesting.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Importance of Evaluating Club Soccer Talent

                              Originally posted by Guest
                              Originally posted by Guest

                              Prove to themselves. That's the biggest issue, those egos that have to justify themselves and what they do.
                              Interesting. Im not sure I agree but still interesting.
                              It is the nature of the beast. If you are a competitive personality, you obviously want to win. The problem though, is that as a coach, you should first want to make you players better players and then let the wins take care of themselves as a result. To do so, you may have to subjugate your competitive juices on many occasions as players are learning the game. It's a little easier for a coach who has been around the block a few times to do that, than one who hasn't yet proven him or herself.

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