Ability, Accountability, Responsibility……

[imthebackseatcoach]

After following threads you can pick out parents, coaches, players, those both knowledgeable and with no knowledge of the game of football, better known to us as soccer.

What I see is this: transport these threads to another topic totally unrelated to this sport or even sports in particular. You have your complainers, your martyrs, your saints (you all know who you are). What’s the old saying about opinions, everyone’s got one. Everyone knows the best way to 1) Vote; 2) Coach, 3) Referee…..yada, yada, yada.

Here’s my 2 cents:
Unhappy about how the team you support is coached? Attend the next CECP class and become a certified coach yourself. If nothing else you will truly now know what the local CECP coach was taught….you no longer have to speculate.

Don’t like the refereeing, take the next Referee course. We are ALWAYS in need of truly good referees. As a referee you can take the field and prove what a better job you can do than the one currently on the field. That’s putting your money where your mouth is…..

Want to vote, well, like everything else in the US, voting is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege that like most things we enjoy, was won by someone else at an expense we will never have to pay, but for a privilege we can all enjoy….if we are willing to get out and get the credentials necessary to COACH.

By the way, before you say you cannot coach because you never played, let me share something. I have coached for over 30 years: softball and soccer. I coached softball because I played the game from an early age and was successful at passing on the rules, techniques and fundamentals I knew. I coach soccer because I can teach. I have never played soccer, but I have read and learned, and can share that information as a teacher.

We all teach, the question is, are we teaching something to be proud or ashamed of in the things we do and say. Are we quick to accuse or read into a situation something that is not truly there because that is what we want to believe rather than believe the truth?

[misltek]

imthebackseatcoach said:

Don’t like the refereeing, take the next Referee course. We are ALWAYS in need of truly good referees. As a referee you can take the field and prove what a better job you can do than the one currently on the field. That’s putting your money where your mouth is…..

None of them will...and even if some do, they'll think that barely passing the course entitles them to center the State Final.

[thugbehram]

I think that it's better for one to play at any level, low or high, to become familiar with the minor nuances with the game. Through my experience as a player I find that those coaches who have played can better relate to the problems that those on the team my have. That's not to say, however, that to be a good coach, you must play. I know many coaches on both sides of the spectrum that I have come to know and respect. Soccer is primarily a mental game, and to coach/ref/play well you must have an understanding of the game, wherever you may draw this from. I find that the only prerequisite to becoming a valuable member of the soccer (I don't understand the condescension towards a particular dialect) "community" is to understand the game.

I find a lack of respect from all sides to all other sides. Players don't respect coaches; coaches don't respect the players; refs don't respect the players...

I think many younger players would love to further their participation in the game. I am 18 years old and do plan on enrolling in either a referee or coaching course; however, I am unable to at the time with school etc. commitments. I think the most sensible option would be better cooperation between the coaching and referee associations of a particular area with the major local clubs in the area. Becoming a coach or referee was an impetus given to me by my parents and not particularly by the clubs that I've played in (SYSC, MSC, CSA).

It's not just a lack of will or motivation. It's a lack of "know-how." If refereeing or coaching was a more accessible option to me at a younger age, I probably would've consider taking it up earlier. It's good pay with flexible hours, ideal to younger "children" in junior and high school.

[lakeview]

CECP class teaches about soccer. Not from what I have been told.

Get a USSF license and keep learning. Watch FSC and MLS games. Go see the ShellShockers or the Capitals. Or an LSU game. These are top flight coaches and referees.

[FYSA Director of Coaching]

lakeview said:

CECP class teaches about soccer. Not from what I have been told.

Get a USSF license and keep learning. Watch FSC and MLS games. Go see the ShellShockers or the Capitals. Or an LSU game. These are top flight coaches and referees.

You won't find any better advice than this. The CECP class is about eligibility more than anything else and does not educate you on how to coach soccer. Go out and get a USSF Coaching License. Having taught these courses for several years I know you won't find any better knowledge. I also have taught the FA courses in England and they have finally caught up with their coaching education. There is no doubt that US Soccer has the best coaching education programs in the world of soccer right now and is a trend setter for other countries.

Remember, you never stop learning in this game and it is very important to constantly challenge yourself. I am taking a new coaching course this coming summer to make sure I stay in touch with the game.

[pompey]

If I may add, many things have stuck in my mind in coaching courses, cannot recommend the NSCAA National diplomas highly enough. I remember a few yrs back took the D Licence and XroadsDoc's Dad who if i may be so bold, is likely in his late 50s or in his 60s simply stated to me, "you have to keep learning the game." Coach Godwin told me that he keeps reading, analyzing, learning the game. And that comes from a person who if you know him, would duly consider him a master coach.

Good Stuff and Play up Pompey

[Mung]

Pompey, I think Derek Godwin, or "Coach Clean"(due to his resemblance to Mr. Clean, the soap logo), is around 70+, though he looks much younger. He and son Mark have been fantastic pushers of the beautiful game here in Cenla, and really for the whole state. The entire family is involved in coaching high school and youth teams around here, and the fact that they both recommend continued learning is instructive. Given all the kids that have graduated from soccer programs over the past few years, who played their entire lives, we have a huge pool of knowlegeable talent to work as coaches and referees. We just need to convince them to give back tothe sport that gave so much to them. I'm working on the daughters, so they can earn some money refereeing, and quit digging in my pocket all the time for drink money(now that they're off to college, or almost).

Great thread Debbie, and many thanks to you for being so involved in the sport, and devoting time to coach lots of girls to love the game(including my little caboose).

[pompey]

Agreed, i always pester the girls to get involved more. HS girls do not understand, they an almost ru a session for really lil ones better than a good ole dad. Getting them involved in reffing is a bonus too, and ot just for Mung's wallet:)