What determines starting positions??

skiberdad wrote:

Sho'Nuff wrote:

skiberdad wrote:
4) The coach thinks you don't fit right now but with work you can -- Then, by all means, encourage your kid to earn it. Valuable lesson there.

I salute any coach and parent that are able to get there.

My daughter left for ECNL years ago, but Kenneth Penn at Fever did this for my daughter for which I will be forever grateful.  There are coaches out there that give a sh*t about your kids.  They sure are hard to find, though.  He made my daughter earn her starting spot.  He let her know what he needed from her and when he got it, he was good for his word.  My daughter works hard for things she wants now outside of soccer because of what he taught her on the soccer field.  She will carry that lesson for the rest of her life and she will be more successful because of him. My kids have had several good coaches in their careers, but none had a more meaningful effect than Penn.  Everyone who reads this forum, remember that name.  If you have kids that are of the right age, you won't find a better man to teach your kids.

BIG BIG BIG fan of Coach Penn. He did very exact thing that SKIBERDAD described to my dd as well. Penn was my dd's very first academy coach ( I think she was around 6-7yrs old). He taught her to hold up head high even when she was considered the 'weakest link' of the team. He always praise her with her work ethic and told her that all the effort that she is putting in will be rewarding on the field in the future. He told her it is all about progress and her time will come and to be patient. He showed her what 'hard work' was at every practice by working hard with the girls. Penn is intelligent, passionate and kind hearted person. We are lucky that my dd was able to spend her early years of development with him. My daughter is now U-15 and she still wants to chase him down the field if she spots him to say hi. She does not do that with any other coach that she has been with.

Coached and dds played against him. He coaches his teams to be hard-nosed and hard working, but he is classy and respectful. Too far away for us, but scrimmaged often. Good man.

Does he have a jdl team?

soccerjack wrote:Does he have a jdl team?

No because he coaches for an independent club called FEVER UNITED. Since it's not one of the BIG 5, he is shut out - which is a crying shame because his 05 team can play. AND he's the kind of coach that you'd think North Texas would want to showcase. He is all about the kids and he could care less about the big salaries of the Big 5. He left the Texans to coach at Fever. Prolly took a huge paycut. My daughter knows a girl so I've chatted with the dad. They pay like $1600 a year in fees. A LHGCL D1 team - $1600. Seriously. it's less than HALF of the big 5.

This guy sounds like a great guy and an excellent coach. Good to here he is doing well!

skiberdad wrote:

soccerjack wrote:Does he have a jdl team?

No because he coaches for an independent club called FEVER UNITED.  Since it's not one of the BIG 5, he is shut out - which is a crying shame because his 05 team can play.  AND he's the kind of coach that you'd think North Texas would want to showcase.  He is all about the kids and he could care less about the big salaries of the Big 5.  He left the Texans to coach at Fever.  Prolly took a huge paycut.  My daughter knows a girl so I've chatted with the dad.  They pay like $1600 a year in fees.  A LHGCL D1 team - $1600.  Seriously. it's less than HALF of the big 5.

If they don't have jdl and only charge $1600, they can't be all that. Probably only pay $200 for their kits too. Disgraceful!

skiberdad wrote:

Sho'Nuff wrote:

skiberdad wrote:
4) The coach thinks you don't fit right now but with work you can -- Then, by all means, encourage your kid to earn it. Valuable lesson there.

I salute any coach and parent that are able to get there.

My daughter left for ECNL years ago, but Kenneth Penn at Fever did this for my daughter for which I will be forever grateful.  There are coaches out there that give a sh*t about your kids.  They sure are hard to find, though.  He made my daughter earn her starting spot.  He let her know what he needed from her and when he got it, he was good for his word.  My daughter works hard for things she wants now outside of soccer because of what he taught her on the soccer field.  She will carry that lesson for the rest of her life and she will be more successful because of him. My kids have had several good coaches in their careers, but none had a more meaningful effect than Penn.  Everyone who reads this forum, remember that name.  If you have kids that are of the right age, you won't find a better man to teach your kids.

Don't know him at all, but great post. This forum needs more posts like this.

Wait... you mean parents still have choices when it comes to NTX girls soccer???

Shhh... don't tell anyone...

FC1 wrote:

skiberdad wrote:

Sho'Nuff wrote:

skiberdad wrote:
4) The coach thinks you don't fit right now but with work you can -- Then, by all means, encourage your kid to earn it. Valuable lesson there.

I salute any coach and parent that are able to get there.

My daughter left for ECNL years ago, but Kenneth Penn at Fever did this for my daughter for which I will be forever grateful.  There are coaches out there that give a sh*t about your kids.  They sure are hard to find, though.  He made my daughter earn her starting spot.  He let her know what he needed from her and when he got it, he was good for his word.  My daughter works hard for things she wants now outside of soccer because of what he taught her on the soccer field.  She will carry that lesson for the rest of her life and she will be more successful because of him. My kids have had several good coaches in their careers, but none had a more meaningful effect than Penn.  Everyone who reads this forum, remember that name.  If you have kids that are of the right age, you won't find a better man to teach your kids.

Don't know him at all, but great post. This forum needs more posts like this.

yup. Just thought I'd change it up... talk positive for once... LOL

soccerjack wrote:

skiberdad wrote:

soccerjack wrote:Does he have a jdl team?

No because he coaches for an independent club called FEVER UNITED.  Since it's not one of the BIG 5, he is shut out - which is a crying shame because his 05 team can play.  AND he's the kind of coach that you'd think North Texas would want to showcase.  He is all about the kids and he could care less about the big salaries of the Big 5.  He left the Texans to coach at Fever.  Prolly took a huge paycut.  My daughter knows a girl so I've chatted with the dad.  They pay like $1600 a year in fees.  A LHGCL D1 team - $1600.  Seriously. it's less than HALF of the big 5.

If they don't have jdl and only charge $1600, they can't be all that.  Probably only pay $200 for their kits too. Disgraceful!

lmao It's true. Making soccer about soccer and not a money machine is truly against all the NTX soccer stands for.

Thank you for the kind words about the Fever United Futbol Club and our DOC, Kenneth Penn. We try to promote a positive atmosphere where student athletes can be consistently challenged physically and more importantly...mentally.
Enjoy the rest of your week and good luck in your respective season. 

Thanks,

Fever Management

Starting position is a honor for the players who excel in the team, it is a way for coach to show respect for his top players.

It is also a feedback to parents how coach value your daughter on the team. If the coach says your daughter is highly valuable but not starting, it is a lie. If I were you, I would like to have a serious talk with the coach, then considering to move on next year.

In my dd's team, and all the competing teams in the same level, starters are almost fixed. These coaches know the value of starters, they don't want to make confusions and risk to lose them.

Great points, any good coach should honor the best players based on skill , size , deceptiveness , ferocity , consistency at training and games, the coaches in general in DFW prefer the kids that can sprint a 100M dash.  In their opinion , these players are valued more than soccer players who bring a lot to the table. And coaches admit there are politics.  Look at the new AP 04, 05, 06 teams last 3 weekends. Teams are built on size alone. I don't want to be labeled as difficult parent, helicopter parent and mess up for my soccer child.  

PowerKick wrote:Starting position is a honor for the players who excel in the team, it is a way for coach to show respect for his top players.

It is also a feedback to parents how coach value your daughter on the team. If the coach says your daughter is highly valuable but not starting, it is a lie. If I were you, I would like to have a serious talk with the coach, then considering to move on next year.

In my dd's team, and all the competing teams in the same level, starters are almost fixed. These coaches know the value of starters, they don't want to make confusions and risk to lose them.

PowerKick wrote:Starting position is a honor for the players who excel in the team, it is a way for coach to show respect for his top players.

It is also a feedback to parents how coach value your daughter on the team. If the coach says your daughter is highly valuable but not starting, it is a lie. If I were you, I would like to have a serious talk with the coach, then considering to move on next year.

In my dd's team, and all the competing teams in the same level, starters are almost fixed. These coaches know the value of starters, they don't want to make confusions and risk to lose them.

I find this a little crazy this has to be a LOL.  "Respect for his top players"  There are many times throughout the season where the "Top Players" might not start depending on what your trying to do as a team.

Highly valuable but not starting is a lie.  Again in the world of unlimited subs that takes place if you can't sub and keep the level of game up your going to have long term problems.

Almost always fixed.  Where is the creativity where is the drive for 11-14 to try to show that they need to crack the top 11.  

Hey different strokes for different folks.

Too much is worried about "starter"  or not starter.  The real measure is Contributor or not contributor.  How you define contributions will depend on the goals of the side.

Power Kick you are playing right.

you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

ItsMeAgain wrote:you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

Yeah, the reason my kid doesn't start is "political". Forget the fact she has a bad attitude half the time and there are 8 harder-working, better teammates in front of her. It's all political.

5050Ball wrote:

ItsMeAgain wrote:you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

Yeah, the reason my kid doesn't start is "political".  Forget the fact she has a bad attitude half the time and there are 8 harder-working, better teammates in front of her.  It's all political.

I love your handle, 5050Ball. I don't think parents even notice this stat, unless of course their DD is good at winning 5050 balls.

Mall_pugh wrote:Great points, any good coach should honor the best players based on skill , size , deceptiveness , ferocity , consistency at training and games, the coaches in general in DFW prefer the kids that can sprint a 100M dash.  In their opinion , these players are valued more than soccer players who bring a lot to the table. And coaches admit there are politics.  Look at the new AP 04, 05, 06 teams last 3 weekends. Teams are built on size alone. I don't want to be labeled as difficult parent,  helicopter parent and mess up for my soccer child.  

PowerKick wrote:Starting position is a honor for the players who excel in the team, it is a way for coach to show respect for his top players.

It is also a feedback to parents how coach value your daughter on the team. If the coach says your daughter is highly valuable but not starting, it is a lie. If I were you, I would like to have a serious talk with the coach, then considering to move on next year.

In my dd's team, and all the competing teams in the same level, starters are almost fixed. These coaches know the value of starters, they don't want to make confusions and risk to lose them.

No doubt a lot of this holds true. Again, I would suggest that there are teams that are not run this way. I promise you there are coaches out there that reward improvement and competition on the team. It's not always political and merit does win the day in some systems. It's not always size and speed. You do yourselves and your daughters a disservice when you just throw your hands up and make that assumption.

I'm not saying it's common or easy to find, but it is possible.

5050Ball wrote:

ItsMeAgain wrote:you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

Yeah, the reason my kid doesn't start is "political".  Forget the fact she has a bad attitude half the time and there are 8 harder-working, better teammates in front of her.  It's all political.

your sarcasm shows how naive you really are.......................every team has marginal players.....................more then one.......................with bad attitudes that talk back to their coaches...............bad mouth their teammates on and off the field................give a minimal amount of effort on and off the field......................and their ability to play smells as foul as your sarcasm...........................yet they start and play majority of the game over others because coach likes mommy and daddy more or the kid brings the coach cupcakes before every practice.................................

Older siblings seems to help. I don't know if it's favoritism, knowing the parents will pay dues for years to come, or if they truly project the player to be like their older sibling.

I remember Bill Parcells drafted Bobby Carpenter thinking he was his dad.

Mall_pugh wrote:Right , no-one is a superstar at select age group. Just trying to get input from anyone in the same situation.  We are just finding it strange in this unfamiliar territory.  We will talk to coach at some point to see what she needs to work on and wish to sort this if it hinders her progress.

Mall, with us I felt my kid was maybe middle of the roster a few years back. We liked the coach, loved the players and parents but ultimately dd was not getting enough play time to develop in game situations. We came to realize that dd just did not fit coaches system and he was a very structured, business like man. We talked to the coach about it and realized the best approach was to leave. It was hard, but looking back it was the best thing for my kiddo. And the AP/ECNL impact totally wiped out that former team so all those girls are spread across the 02/03 club map now.

Never hurts to have friends at other clubs. It widens the perspective :-)

ItsMeAgain wrote:

5050Ball wrote:

ItsMeAgain wrote:you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

Yeah, the reason my kid doesn't start is "political".  Forget the fact she has a bad attitude half the time and there are 8 harder-working, better teammates in front of her.  It's all political.

your sarcasm shows how naive you really are.......................every team has marginal players.....................more then one.......................with bad attitudes that talk back to their coaches...............bad mouth their teammates on and off the field................give a minimal amount of effort on and off the field......................and their ability to play smells as foul as your sarcasm...........................yet they start and play majority of the game over others because coach likes mommy and daddy more or the kid brings the coach cupcakes before every practice.................................

Naive? LOL. Maybe. Four kids, lost count of the years, I've been called worse.

I'd say a better descriptor is lucky. No, make that incredibly lucky. Because none of the 4 found themselves on a team that matches your bleak description above.

I can't really see any of our current or past coaches falling for that old cupcake thing either. It's so 90's. Deer lease, maybe. But cupcakes?

5050Ball wrote:

ItsMeAgain wrote:

5050Ball wrote:

ItsMeAgain wrote:you are all making it way too complicated and analyzed.............................unless the kid is a stand out phenom then favoritism is the primary reason a questionable players start and get more playing time over more qualified players.........................every coach has them and justifies their playing as a front.............................anyone that tells you otherwise is out to lunch

Yeah, the reason my kid doesn't start is "political".  Forget the fact she has a bad attitude half the time and there are 8 harder-working, better teammates in front of her.  It's all political.

your sarcasm shows how naive you really are.......................every team has marginal players.....................more then one.......................with bad attitudes that talk back to their coaches...............bad mouth their teammates on and off the field................give a minimal amount of effort on and off the field......................and their ability to play smells as foul as your sarcasm...........................yet they start and play majority of the game over others because coach likes mommy and daddy more or the kid brings the coach cupcakes before every practice.................................

Naive?  LOL.  Maybe.  Four kids, lost count of the years, I've been called worse.  

I'd say a better descriptor is lucky.  No, make that incredibly lucky.  Because none of the 4 found themselves on a team that matches your bleak description above.  

I can't really see any of our current or past coaches falling for that old cupcake thing either.  It's so 90's.  Deer lease, maybe.  But cupcakes?

yep..........your pretty lucky..........thus your naivety...............but hey................all good.............and though i was following you lead with the sarcasm, the cupcake enticement is still in play..............just ask InaB

RightWingDad wrote:

Never hurts to have friends at other clubs. It widens the perspective :-)

ItsMeAgain wrote:

RightWingDad wrote:

Never hurts to have friends at other clubs. It widens the perspective :-)

Makes you realize they're all fd up and to just grin and bare it.

soccerjack wrote: just grin and bare it.

Wouldn't be the first time that tactic has been used by a parent to guarantee a kid a starting spot...