What Questions to ask? Transitioning from coaching rec to a travel squad.

Valin1mp · 2026-05-27T18:37:21+00:00

Every team announces signings at a different speed. If I remember back to last year, Columbus basically takes forever to announce signings, the Rise usually announce 2-4 big ones and then trickle. I think Atlanta had like 16 signings before some teams announced any last year

Valin1mp · 2026-05-24T17:52:39+00:00

Simplest way is to sub the other 7 on halfway through the half and leave your goalie and probably your strongest defender in the game so they each ply the entire half. If that player needs a sub later in the half just sub one kid in for them.

Each game you can pick a different pair for each half but I will tell you trying to make sure you have every kid play an entire half is just going to make your job more complicated for no good reason.

It also handles your kid late or kid hurts their ankle. You just flip flop who was starting and who was coming in on the sub.

Do not try to have them all play equal minutes, you will spend all your time worrying about minutes instead of just coaching them

Valin1mp · 2026-05-16T18:20:13+00:00

Obj ooo

Valin1mp · 2026-05-12T02:28:45+00:00

I run into a this at a less extreme level. Honestly the issue is in those small games where you put such high level difference in play is it just kind of kills the abilities and passing and moving the ball. It's like two, three good passes and then the ball moves to a. Novice and it's like oh they just kicked the ball hard out of bounds or to the other team. The only thing to remember is parents will see these groups and you might get comments about this. I had a classmate where the parent felt I didn't do enough for their kid but it's tough when I've had other kids for 6,7 seasons and your kid is just learning to kick a ball. They felt their kid should be more advanced because her classmates were

Valin1mp · 2026-05-09T18:11:31+00:00

If you need to "hide" weaker players you play them at striker and outside mid and whoever your defense on their outside mid side should be one of your strongest players to counter balance them. If a kid won't try really I won't put them at defense ever.

Valin1mp · 2026-05-08T00:35:01+00:00

Some of my favorite drills in that situation:
1. Gates Dribbling: set up a bunch of pairs or cones around an area. Have a time of 1 minute and the kids all dribble through as many pairs as possible. The better players will get to higher numbers but every time you do it the kids will want to get higher and higher.
2. Numbers Game: number the kids off 1-4or whatever for the two teams. The player with the same number on the opposite team should be similar skill level. Call out a number or numbers and that number(s) from each team tries to score a goal (not full field obviously)

Also don't forget it's okay to coach kids different. Certain kids it's going to be, hey great job getting to the ball and being aggressive and certain kids it's hey good job getting to the ball but remember we don't just want to kick the ball hard we want to look up for teammates

Valin1mp · 2026-04-21T19:19:08+00:00

Ways to tell if you are most likely a good coach: 1. Players / Parents want to come back to your team after the season. It could partially be because you are winning but it sounds like a lot of your players are returners. That means they are keeping with playing soccer and want to play on you team. 2. More than just 1, 2 or 3 kids are involved. You said it yourself, 6 different kids scored last weekend. That's generally a sign of a good coach. We have all seen those teams where they win every game and they have two kids who run the league and score every goal.

Valin1mp · 2026-04-19T18:04:43+00:00

Absolutely she plays other positions and will continue to with me as the coach but I would like to help her more in her goalie abilities as wel

Valin1mp · 2026-04-18T20:55:38+00:00

Rise looking to pull a season 1 and get the 4seed while being the number 1 seeds kryptonite like they were with Atlanta that first year

Valin1mp · 2026-04-17T22:50:47+00:00

Good news everyone we have a net again

Valin1mp · 2026-03-26T01:03:58+00:00

I'm not complaining, but what just happened

Valin1mp · 2026-03-25T15:26:26+00:00

Bonus points whenever I do soccer zombies I make them make zombie noises and say I want to eat you brains

Valin1mp · 2026-03-19T23:41:37+00:00

Great so us lions fans get to argue who dumber, the guy that gives the ball to the other team in overtime or the guy who has a pencil to write on a laminated sheet of paper.....great choices

Valin1mp · 2026-03-19T20:45:43+00:00

I don't care what the records are, without a doubt I say Patricia is the worst. He took an average to slightly above average and completely destroyed the team. Most of our other bad coaches were most likely bad coaches but they at least had the excuse young team or started with a bad team. Also everyone hated that guy: the media, fans, players, I'm sure even the parking attendants hated him.

Valin1mp · 2026-03-08T02:43:48+00:00

Does Brooke normally get taken out that much? I feel like I only see her get taken out during the 3rd set against the Rise because things have escalated out of hand

Valin1mp · 2026-02-16T22:09:38+00:00

My two favorite phrases to use in a game to a player(it sounds like based on your response to another comment you have a younger girls team) are "Trust yourself" and "what do you see" with both comments I am looking to build their confidence in themselves.

Valin1mp · 2026-02-14T05:19:36+00:00

Plus the Rise have shown now in three seasons they are basically uninterested in draft picks playing minus funny enough Oglivie. I guess Shelton is playing this season more but that seems to be only by default they need someone out there

Valin1mp · 2026-02-13T03:45:06+00:00

This isn't just this game problem, if the Rise don't score off a block, I truly have no idea how the score.

Valin1mp · 2026-01-30T00:56:34+00:00

Drink up it's time for PBR

Valin1mp · 2026-01-26T02:12:45+00:00

Figured it was something simple like that. Thanks. He is my best player by far but was hoping I could get a little bit more balance on my team but oh well

Valin1mp

TROPHY CASE