Comments on: Boys Soccer: Standouts, Rankings, Standings, Stats

By: natural righty

natural righty — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:40:32 +0000

When you give your stipen back to the program, that makes you a volunteer.

By: EBAL Coach

EBAL Coach — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:35:49 +0000

And for the record Natural Righty…since we are buddies now…Salazar is NOT a volunteer coach..he gets paid just like all of the other coaches in the EBAL. Peanuts yes…but he gets paid. And..Salazar is not a “volunteer dad” off the street…he was a former great high school and college player in his own right…which is exactly the point I was trying to make and defend.

By: EBAL Coach

EBAL Coach — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:08:59 +0000

Natural Righty…

Congrats on your son man..that is awesome. Believe it or not, I am debating on the side of high school sports..not against Club. My kids play Club as well. My single point is that the Clubs are removing the option for kids to be excited about high school soccer, in my opinion. And in my opinion, I don’t think a kid should have to choose between what is more important…Club or High School. I think a kid should be able to experience both equally and with as much vigor as the other. I am not saying I have all of the answers…I don’t.

By: natural righty

natural righty — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:07:14 +0000

Hello darkness my old friend…

EBALcoach, are you going to grow back your mullet from 1984 and tell us more about the glory days of tri- valley soccer.Wait, I think I hear “A Flock of Seagulls” in the background…and I raaaaaan, I ran so far away….I couldn’t get away! Maybe next you will tell us all about the header goal you scored against Dublin High and that mom and dad took you out for an ice cream afterwards.

By: natural righty

natural righty — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:44:53 +0000

Hey EBAL coach, I coach JV in the EBAL and have been a volunteer coach for more than 12 years. since my own kids started back in the late 90′s.

Your also wrong about volunteer coaches in the EBAL. I know one in particular ( Chris Salazar at Granada ). Even though his son graduated in 2009 he continues to do it for the love. I guess not only are you greedy but your a bad gambler as well.

Oh and what teams have you coached or is that a fake handle like Dr. Feelgood

By: natural righty

natural righty — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:30:34 +0000

Hey EBAL coach, you were the one that said money was ruining soccer ( read your original post ). I was just saying that prior to the “pro coach” era, fees for kids to play club were about half of what they are. Put it together. I’m going to assume you are a coach with the handle of EBAL coach. God bless you for doing what you do. Not to mention the passionate counter point you pose. There isn’t anything wrong with making coaching your real job. Just don’t tell me you are doing it because they only enjoy it then ask for your $10,000 a year per team fee.

When you played for your “legendary” high school team back in the early 80′s, did you learn a thing or two? I’m going to guess Coach Geib wasn’t getting paid close to what you get now as a coach. He probably volunteered. If they all enjoy it so much, why don’t they do it for free? I do. I understand not all coaches are fortunate to be able to have a first career that pays the bills that allows them to coach on a volunteer basis. It’s too bad. Many more kids would reap those overall rewards.

My argument wasn’t on behalf of my own kid, it was for all of the kids that club is excluding because of the monetary demands. Think about how mnay kids slip through the cracks because their families can’t afford to pay the $2,000. The numbers are staggering.

EBALCoach, I don’t ever remember any coaches creating delusions of grandeur as you put it. Many parents already think that their kids are the next Messi,
right?

And finally, to your jab on me personally. The money was never an issue for me. My kids coaches earned the money we paid them each year. They were all top notch. I didn’t need to cry to them about playtime. The coaches knew what the team needed.

Oh and by the way EBALcoach, the pipedream is alive and well!! There is a scholarship to a major D-1 program locally for my little Mikey.

By: EBAL Coach

EBAL Coach — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:16:36 +0000

One last thing Natural Righty….since you seem to be an expert. How many “volunteer dad” coaches are there in the EBAL…boys or girls? Answer: ZERO. Let me ask you one final question Natural Righty…when is the last time a team your kid played on was so lucky that YOU yourself volunteered to help or god forbid, coach? My guess is never.

By: EBAL Coach

EBAL Coach — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:00:16 +0000

By the way Natural Righty….a HUGE percentage of the coaches in the EBAL, both on the girls and boys sides, are former college Division 1 OR pro players. Just an FYI.

By: Junior

Junior — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:57:26 +0000

Post #68 is right on the money. Should be required reading for all parents of youth soccer players.

By: EBAL Coach

EBAL Coach — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:16:19 +0000

Natural Righty…you crack me up. “The ex-soccer players that are sticking it to the parents”…..that is too funny. Just as you support kids “playing at the highest level” and being more “competitive” etc etc….tell me, what is wrong with these “ex-soccer players” MAKING coaching soccer their “real job”?? It is that “elitist” attitude that is killing youth sports. Forget about teamwork, bonding, learning what it is like to win AND lose together. Just build champion crybabies that EXPECT everything handed to them on a platter without having to work for it. You are probably one of those guys that cries to the coach everytime little Sally doesn’t get to play the whole game at Center Mid. You are just pissed that you keep paying the Clubs these “ex-soccer players” coach for $2K every season…season after season…so that these “ex-soccer players” can teach your little Susie and Mikey to dribble so they can wishfully save you thousands on their college education someday. It’s a pipedream dude. Wake up from it. High School soccer used to be about passion. It used to be about the huge challenge of bringing together 4 different sets of age groups, 4 different sets of talent and ability levels, and 100 different sets of personalities, and get them to play TOGETHER to win. In 3 months. THAT is a real challenge. You mention that the High School experience is fine “for the good teams”. And therein lies the problem with youth sports today. PARENTS who care ONLY about WINNING..and THEIR KID being successful and could care less about the TEAM. Soccer is a TEAM SPORT. And oh by the way Natural Righty, those “ex-soccer players” that you disparage so broadly and without knowing any of them….trust me, they don’t do it because they are lazy and certainly NOT because they are making ANY money whatsoever. They do it because they enjoy it, and because it makes them feel good to make a difference in a kid’s life. Bottom line. There are zero “ex-soccer player” coaches driving Benz’s…I can assure you of that.