When to go from a SAHM to a Private soccer detective

{sigh} When will people ever learn that the internet is the most amazing and yet the worst friend one can have? It leaves no room for the past to stay there. On one hand, it can serve as a constant reminder of past mistakes. People have a hard enough time overcoming their pasts in their own minds but to have to revisit can be hard. When doing business like hiring a soccer coach, make sure you do research on them IF they say they played pro. Why? Because so many coaches are doing this and it’s not ethical.

Research soccer coaches who say they played pro

On the other hand, the internet can be a parent’s best friend when it comes to researching the best possible choice for your child’s trainer. This handy little tool allows a SAHM [Stay at home mom] to become a soccer detective in researching the facts surrounding those trainers she is considering allowing in her child’s world. {BTW – I love the fact that the North Texas Soccer Association, AYSO and other associations nation wide are very diligent in promoting kid safety in this way through the use of background checks.}

Historically, when someone told you their credentials, you would choose to believe them, hire them for a service, and learn the hard way if their word was good or not. Now you can go online and quickly do a Google search and find out a lot more about that person’s public and playing history. So if your trainer says they played pro then be a soccer detective by googling their name. Most of the time you won’t find anything.

Google the soccer coach if they say they played pro

So many of these soccer coaches tell the kids and parents that they played pro soccer. Or if not they say they would have, but they broke their leg. Get used to hearing this. If they tell you things like this, then google their name. If nothing shows up then you know that they lied and you then have to question their character. To me that is stealing, if they are getting paid to coach or train your kid and telling you they played pro soccer to beef up their stock.

Make sure your soccer coach is not cursing and screaming

The first thing that parents should really evaluate is the coach or trainer’s history. As a father, I am very protective of my daughter. Not only do I want to know that the person training her has been thoroughly background researched, but that their personality and approach to my child is completely above board. None of the cursing and screaming that I so often hear about when parents bring their formerly passionate and happy soccer kid to me. Parents are often asking for me to help rehab their kid’s confidence and passion for the game. It’s sad and wrong and it speaks to the issues of the coach, not the kid.

Be a private detective & see what experience your coach has

Another big issue parents should evaluate is the coach or trainer’s experience. Does your coach or trainer have experience coaching or playing past high school {& I am not referring to intramural}. There are so many coaches in America who have only played high school soccer as their highest level and maybe a year at a Junior college and then started coaching youth with not much playing experience or coaching experience – which is the worst combination.

I realize that everyone must start gaining experience somewhere and no one is born an expert. However, when the above occurs, this is the worst combination. You have teachers with little to no real experience who are now teaching the game to others.

Soccer coaches playing experience does matter

So you might be asking, why is high school level of play not ‘good enough’ for coaching? From a purely developmental side, a player up to high school may know the game, how it’s played, its rules, and more but have yet to develop the other maturity markers of development to support their argument of being knowledgeable enough to be an expert. Also, there is a significant leap in speed and style of play between high school and college. Again, from a development point, consider a young man in high school. Tall, athletic and good with the ball, yes, but during his time in college he will become a man more in the physical development sense of his capabilities. His natural strength, speed, and style of play will change considerably, as will the expectations put upon him by his coach, the team, the school and the world.

Doing business with people of character

Finally, consider the source of the coach or trainers’ knowledge. They may say they played for a team but if you cannot verify their resume credentials, then chances are they may have not played or embellished the level of play. If you see that they did indeed make a college roster spot, see how much playing time they actually experienced. These are important factors to consider, not because the best coaches or trainers were the best players but because they speak to one’s character.

Great coaches who did not play high level

There are many coaches who are great who did not play at a high level but they’ve never misrepresented their experience. They’ve learned by taking coaching courses and gaining experience to further their knowledge. So just be wise when making a decision about the person you are allowing your kid to study and learn and be influenced by as an authority role. Don’t let people fool you for your money.

Proven soccer training methods

If you are wanting to improve ball control, trapping, footskills with a proven method then get my online courses. I promise you will be challenged, but it will be easy to learn. After your first 30 minutes practicing the online course lessons you will see change. You will love the soccer even more because of how you can control the ball.

If you are wanting more of the encouragement and motivation than the best thing is a private trainer. Of if you are wanting shooting or finishing type of drills you need a trainer to cross balls to you. But to be put in shooting situations you first need to have good ball control. Don’t wonder if your trainer is teaching the right stuff. Instead just get my ball control courses and then let your trainer work on other parts of your game like finishing and passing.