That is a shame. I don't have the numbers but I'm sure there are only a few in the NKY area that actually get scholarships to play in college. And from what i've seen on this board the ones that do are to small schools and probably don't get very much money on top it. Yes there are some exceptions but not many. I bet if the parents took the money they spent on club ball including travel and everything else that goes with it they could have paid for a couple years of college. I think if society could get rid of the attitude of if you don't play club your no good or not cool then you would see a change.

Club ball can be about more than scholarships for many kids. It is about playing at a level with kids of equal or greater skills that fulfills goals as a player. It could be that kids just enjoy playing with the teammates on a club team and want to continue to play with them. Many kids have no desire to play at the next level but still want to play high quality competition during their soccer years. Sure it can be costly, but if the trips are treated as mini vacations that the families enjoy, who is to say that is a bad thing?

Also, do parent coaches who also coach high school get a pass? Just as much temptation to play favorites in that situation IMO.

Also, do parent coaches who also coach high school get a pass? Just as much temptation to play favorites in that situation IMO.

 

Not sure I follow you. Are you asking about "parent" coached select teams that coach high school? If so, I think that is very much along the lines of what is being discussed here. In some cases there may not be problems with mom or dad coaches, but there will always be the perception of favoritism whether it is evident to all or not.

 

The better question might be would this person be the coach if they did not have kids on the team? I ask this because I was once told by a middle school principal that I could help the basketball coach run practice (coach asked for assistance), but when it came time for the game I had to sit in the stands like every other parent because about half of the team played for me in an AAU league.

 

Same school system has now hired multiple parent coaches and I would almost bet that there have been grumblings in each of them about how the coach kids are treated along with the friends of these coach kids.

Should have been more clear, sorry. Not all high school coaches who also coach outside of high school, coach at the club level. Some have select or rec teams. just wondering if that would be a conflict of interest as well, or if it is only high level club coaches that are the issue.

The bylaws of the states written by the soccer associations are ridiculously long if you ever had the unfortunate need to read them. It is full of extra rules like this, written by a bunch of bureaucrats that have nothing better to do than make up more rules and think that that it is their job to protect the kids. They are not the parents. Just because you can make a rule doesn't mean you should. Inform the parents and let them make decisions for their children. They will always know better what is best for their kids. Sorry done venting. ..

Edited July 30, 201511 yr by Randy Parker

I will reply to my own post because I was certainly having a bad day when I wrote that one. Not that it isn't a stupid rule. It is. That is besides the point. I've coached club, high school, been a dad and made all the mistakes. Regardless of the rule, I highly suggest not coaching players in both for many reasons that I don't have time to explain here. It sounds like a good idea but it will cause more problems than you realize. I think letting them continue to play together is a good thing, just stand back and let someone else do the coaching in the off-season.

In Ohio you can not play for a club team if the coach is a head coach or an assistant coach for your high school team. And Ohio also has a rule that you can't have more than 5 players on your club team from a high school team. I'm not sure of the rules in Kentucky. My daughter plays for a club team that plays in the MRL. I like having club coaches at the school. It beats a teacher taking the position that has no clue what he or she is doing.

In Ohio you can not play for a club team if the coach is a head coach or an assistant coach for your high school team. And Ohio also has a rule that you can't have more than 5 players on your club team from a high school team. I'm not sure of the rules in Kentucky. My daughter plays for a club team that plays in the MRL. I like having club coaches at the school. It beats a teacher taking the position that has no clue what he or she is doing.

 

To be fair not sure being a teacher disqualifies you as being a good HS or Club soccer coach, or that coaching Club soccer necessarily makes you a top candidate as a HS coach. Dale Helfrich (Trinity), Todd Bretz (Dunbar), Eric Rothwell (Walnut Hills) and Joe Stewart (Turpin) all very good (current or past) teachers who are/were accomplished HS coaches. I'm sure I'm missing others... please feel free to throw out names

 

Being a good teacher requires the same dedication to developing young people as being a good (and truly invested) HS coach. A teacher may have more appreciation for daily struggles/challenges/concerns of the kids than a Club coach whose interactions are always dialed in around soccer.

 

Let's face it. There are both HS and Club coaches who grow our kids as people and players; and there are both HS and Club coaches who make you cringe that they are allowed to work with kids (no need to add names or schools for this latter category).

Edited August 14, 201511 yr by Sir!

To be fair not sure being a teacher disqualifies you as being a good HS or Club soccer coach, or that coaching Club soccer necessarily makes you a top candidate as a HS coach. Dale Helfrich (Trinity), Todd Bretz (Dunbar), Eric Rothwell (Walnut Hills) and Joe Stewart (Turpin) all very good (current or past) teachers who are/were accomplished HS coaches. I'm sure I'm missing others... please feel free to throw out names

 

Being a good teacher requires the same dedication to developing young people as being a good (and truly invested) HS coach. A teacher may have more appreciation for daily struggles/challenges/concerns of the kids than a Club coach whose interactions are always dialed in around soccer.

 

Let's face it. There are both HS and Club coaches who grow our kids as people and players; and there are both HS and Club coaches who make you cringe that they are allowed to work with kids (no need to add names or schools for this latter category).

 

Don't want to speak for another but I read it more as, "beats the alternative..." rather than a blanket statement about all teachers who coach.

Don't want to speak for another but I read it more as, "beats the alternative..." rather than a blanket statement about all teachers who coach.

 

But that's exactly the point. A Club coach... yes, even a paid, non -parent Club coach... doesn't always beat the alternative. We've all seen plenty to know that's the case.

I certainly didn't mean anything against teachers. But if I could choose a coach for my daughter to play for between a higher level club coach/trainer who has played at a high level or someone who kind of knows the game and got the coaching job because they teach within the district. I'm taking the club coach.

I certainly didn't mean anything against teachers. But if I could choose a coach for my daughter to play for between a higher level club coach/trainer who has played at a high level or someone who kind of knows the game and got the coaching job because they teach within the district. I'm taking the club coach.

 

Fair enough, I just think folks undervalue the invested teacher in the district, who can get kids from disparate Club backgrounds to play together and understands how to motivate them even if he/she is not a soccer "Ace." Obviously the preference would be to have the best of both worlds and I'm sure the most successful high school programs have just that. Well that and a great pipeline of players, and good concessions, and unlocked bathrooms, and...

 

Actuallly, the very best scenario is teams with high end Club players who are mature and poised enough serve as adjunct trainers in practices and coaches on the field on game day. That's when you know they've had great Club coaches and the $$$ in Club fees are paying dividends.

I just wish that the high schools would keep the "You won't make a high school team unless you play club ball" attitude out of the process and let the kids play. If all i hear is that you get seen by colleges when you play in club showcase tournaments then leave the club attitude out of school ball. My daughter doesn't play club and never has but she still competes with the club players so the must play club attitude is wrong in some cases but not all. People wonder why girls school teams are getting smaller and teams are having girls quit is because of this attitude i think. Sad thing is i see it with my 10 year old son who has played club since he was 8. And for his benefit he is taking this year off from club to go back and play with his school buddies in rec. I laugh at some of the parents i hear at the club tournaments at this age talking about scholarships and the way they scream at there kids on the field when they don't play well. The club sports are out of control and i think it is killing high school sports. Sorry got off topic a little. I'm done. Know bash away.:popcorn:

 

While I don't necessarily agree with all of what you say, I agree that the club ball influence on parents seeking scholarships for their kids is way the hell overboard.

 

I'm sure a few of the club/select/travel/competitive team apologists on here will howl, but from what I've seen in the prep sports business is that the overwhelming majority of these parents are going to be severely disappointed when the best offer their kid gets is to play JV for an NAIA school on a partial.

 

And, when they get the bill they get for their kid's school, after grant/scholarship money is taken out, they'll realize they'd spend as much if they just sent their kid to UK, WKU, UofL, EKU or wherever.

 

They'll also usually find all that money they spent on gas, hotel rooms, team fees, road meals, etc., over the years was a bit of a waste and would've been better spent on a proper college fund.

Fair enough, I just think folks undervalue the invested teacher in the district, who can get kids from disparate Club backgrounds to play together and understands how to motivate them even if he/she is not a soccer "Ace." Obviously the preference would be to have the best of both worlds and I'm sure the most successful high school programs have just that. Well that and a great pipeline of players, and good concessions, and unlocked bathrooms, and...

Actuallly, the very best scenario is teams with high end Club players who are mature and poised enough serve as adjunct trainers in practices and coaches on the field on game day. That's when you know they've had great Club coaches and the $$$ in Club fees are paying dividends.

 

.... This!!!!