Desperate Soccer Moms

As the level of competitive youth soccer continues to increase, the need for high quality players becomes vital, if a team is to continue to succeed at the top level. Most teams begin as a local group of players,competing at u8, playing against other local teams made up of kids from the same communities. Inevitably some young teams are obviously much stronger than most of the others and quickly acquire a reputation. If this powerhouse team belongs to a top youth soccer Club, the future for the less powerful Clubs is bleak.Inevitably the stronger players, in the weaker teams will eventually move towards the stronger team, in the high profile Club. By u12 there may only be one or two strong teams left in the City making some of the League games totally unbalanced even at the premier level.

What is interesting to see, is a great young team, belonging to a smaller “low profile” Club and how long before it begins to disintegrate? It is inevitable and sad to see.Why does this happen? It is the Law Of The Jungle-only the strong survive!! There are several ways the top Clubs eventually attract the top players. One is obviously because of their deserved National reputation, appealing to parents who naturally want the best for their child. A simpler way is to hire the coach of that successful team, knowing they have the ability to bring the team along with him/her. Few coaches have the strength of character, to turn down a big pay raise and the chance to coach at a high profile Club.

The methods of recruiting individual players are incredibly aggressive and often bordering on unethical.Offering players free cleats, shin guards and soccer equipment is a practice used to entice lower income children. Helping parents finding a job or work thru somebody in the Club, is a huge incentive to parents to move their child to another Club. With fees now often $1500 or more “scholarships ” may often be given. Not on financial grounds but on the importance of the player to the team. Providing transportation to and from training and games is in many cases crucial if the “STAR” players parents are unable or unwilling to do the driving

When recruiting players whose parents have limited or no English, having a parent in your Club who speaks the language and understands the culture and needs of that family is vital, to make them informed and feel comfortable. Too often coaches forget they are dealing with children NOT commodities!

Losing your best players to these recruiting practices, is often heartbreaking to a coach who is in it for the simple Love Of The Game. Loyalty from parents and players is often lacking and once a team starts to crumble it is usually too late to arrest the problem. Rarely,if ever do you see a smaller Club produce a National level team. Inevitably and inexorably, the top players gravitate to the Elite teams and the lesser Clubs finish with weaker, older programs

When you are recruiting on behalf of a top Club it is often so easy to impress the parents with the successes and National reputation of your Club. What I don’t like to see is Coaches denigrating other Clubs, often lying about the problems or weaknesses of their opposition. I have recruited many players over the past 28 years and I have also lost great players.Competitive youth soccer is exactly what it says-COMPETITIVE-not for the faint of heart. However, let us strive, as coaches to be ethical and respect the kids, parents and fellow coaches.

Best wishes,
Jeff Illingworth

Daily San Diego Soccer News Has just published the list of 50 most influential persons in San Diego Soccer. ( Link to the Story )

#3 - Jeff Illingworth: The co-founder and co-director of coaching at CV Manchester will increase his influence in the local community with the unveiling of his book, “Desperate Soccer Moms [And Dads],” a tale of his first 15 years of coaching in San Diego. In Part I of the paperback, the England transplant offers a candid look at the politics and inner workings of youth soccer in all the club’s he’s coached for, which includes Mission Bay Soccer Club, Hotspurs, La Jolla Nomads and Surf. In Part II, he plans to delve into the development of the DMCV Sharks into a local powerhouse and then co-founding CV Manchester right next door in 2001. The hoopla began in 1981 when he arrived in San Diego. The soccer community has never been the same. Illingworth’s former players include Chuggar Adair, TK Inbody and Frankie Hejduk. Both on the field and off, Illingworth is known for his whit and humor, which begged a successful standup comedian career in England.