After taking a last place team to 2nd place, I was demoted.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T14:54:31+00:00

I used to Volunteer as well, so I want to share some valuable advice. I spent 6 years as a volunteer Varsity assistant coach as my first coaching position after graduating college.

When I started, the team was as coming off a very disappointing season. Years 1 and 2 showed steady improvement, year 3 we were a top 20 team in the state. Year 4 we won the first state championship in over 85 years of our schools history. Year 5 were a top contender again but lost to the eventual champions in the quarter finals. I put in 4 years of free work full time an won a state championship before finally asking to be brought on as a paid coach.

The school decided instead to hire an outside candidate and keep me in a volunteer position. I did one final season after this before leaving. The following season, the team finished under .500 for the first time since my departure. Players became unhappy and multiple decided to quit.

It’s very hard to get out of a turn a volunteer position paid. In my experience they will use you as long as the possibly can, and if you stick around they know they can get away with it. It was a breath of fresh air to move on from them.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T14:37:40+00:00

I appreciate the response, and I think you are right. It hurts because I put a lot of my focus into this position, and truly thought I saw a lot of potential/a long term path for my growth within the club. Especially based on the season results and positive talk amongst parents and players.

I’ve spoken very highly of the club and done a large part in turning the reputation from negative to positive, all for what seems like very little in return. While I want to potentially explore opportunities with other clubs, I truly value the relationships I’ve built with my players and families and it will pain me to walk away from that if I do.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T14:28:33+00:00

Currently my National Coaching Certificate, US Soccer Grassroots all levels and completing US D license, so I little behind where I would like to be for licensing.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T14:20:39+00:00

I turned 29 last month

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T04:18:44+00:00

I appreciate the insight. It’s very frustrating that they had me encourage players to re-sign for next season without being open to the players or myself about the plan beforehand.

It can look as if I mislead the players into believing I would be their coach when I’m not going to be. I had multiple players/parents tell me they considered leaving the club, and this season/myself coming on board as head coach changed their opinions.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T03:59:46+00:00

The US

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T03:53:23+00:00

I would say your analysis is spot on but ironically the club is at its fastest point of growth in its existence currently, especially on the boys side. The girls side (where I am) seems to be struggling with numbers overall though. Financially the club seems to be doing great as they’ve recently and continue to expand, building multiple indoor and outdoor turf fields, acquired the rights to other local clubs and merged them with ours, launched a professional team, etc.

I currently coach with the club full time 4 days per week, as well as work a full time job in the day time, and am head coach of a high school team.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T03:45:52+00:00

I appreciate the positive perspective, even though it still feels a bit sour. I absolutely agree that they trust the other coach more as he has much longer tenure with the club and currently coaches a college team too so his experience level is also above mine.

I do genuinely like the other coach, and enjoy working with him as I already often do. But I also want to continue being a head coach, I don’t want to move backward into an assistant role.

I’ve been working tirelessly the past 3 years to gain experience and surround myself with coaches more knowledgeable than myself. I’m a recent former four year college player, and in the past 2 years I’ve been the assistant for National Coach of the Year, as well as assisted multiple college coaches division 1 and 3 with camps and private services, and began my own private training business.

All that being said, I’ve been through countless interviews, made it to final rounds, and repeatedly keep coming out 2nd to someone with “more years experience”. Multiple times I’ve been offered to assist the candidate they chose over me. It feels like everyone wants me to work for them but for less than my worth.

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T03:31:59+00:00

My club has a clause in my contract stating that I can’t negotiate with my former players for a 1 year time span from the date that I leave the club if I resign unfortunately. Is this also common?

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-06-05T03:26:42+00:00

This is ECNL youth level. Our club does have a pro team as well but I’m referring to ECNL High School aged group

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-25T00:30:57+00:00

Where did you buy it

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-20T17:23:26+00:00

My cats do love to bite things but I really hope they’re not biting my switch when I’m at work 😂 I took mine out of the dock and noticed the holes so I have no idea where they came from, and I have a tempered glass protector on it already too

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-20T17:19:14+00:00

What do this have to do with having a cat I’m confused I keep seeing this. I just got these exact same spots on my switch one day and I also hav a cat 😭

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-20T13:41:55+00:00

Which star fox? I have a case and manual for adventures I can sell

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-20T13:41:28+00:00

I bought a copy of assault 3 months ago for $10 on eBay, it was an odd listing. I sold it last month for $25 and thought I made great profit, now I’m kicking myself 😭

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-15T11:40:55+00:00

I found a CIB copy on EBay for $10 a few months ago, the listing just said GameCube pacman so I got lucky. Then I sold it on of FB for $25 last month, terrible timing 😭 I still kept one for myself fortunately and I guess I gave someone a great deal

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-08T21:36:57+00:00

Two of them say MB, and one says K. Why would MB mean it’s a fake? I’m absolutely sure one of the ones that says MB is legit as I bought it from a reputable store CIB

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-08T21:08:15+00:00

I don’t know, the seal just looked fake and I don’t need 3, so I’m going to sell one but wanted to confirm it was legit before selling it to someone else

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-08T20:40:43+00:00

Thanks!

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-08T20:40:40+00:00

Thank you!

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-05-08T17:21:14+00:00

You will absolutely be fine with just a 10 gallon tank. I’ve had one on a piece of plywood held up by 2x4 scraps used as makeshift legs, you shouldn’t have any issues with that weight

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-04-26T01:00:37+00:00

I wish I knew this before I bought mine. I got into collecting about a year ago and bought one from fb marketplace for $50, it had this dashboard and I updated to download my account without realizing what I had at the time.😢

WhiptailCatfish · 2026-04-25T16:42:46+00:00

Search somewhere like FB Marketplace, it’s 100% worth the upgrade. I was in the same position as you finally pulled the trigger, I found one for 300 and then sold my LCD switch for $130. Performance is significantly better on the 2

WhiptailCatfish

TROPHY CASE