U10 coach - half the team is going club next year.
I've had a hard time putting this into words.
Coached more or less the same 7-8 boys for the last 4 years, two seasons a year. We've come a long way as a rec team, losing every game years ago to now one of the two best teams.
I'm thrilled with the progress these boys have made. Become great friends with the assistant coach. We have a lot of fun coaching this team.
Now, 4-5 kids are going out for club ball next season. I have many conflicting feelings about it. I grew up in club ball but that was a different system than the pay-for-play model now. Every kid will make a team because they don't turn anyone away, they just take the family's money and stick the kids on a mid level club team, in my opinion, only a level or two above where we are already playing.
Now I know they will get better coaching than maybe I can provide and certainly better competition. But they are 10 year olds. I think there is still time to develop in the rec leagues and then hit the clubs in middle school. But it's also not my choice and I don't think the parents care to hear my opinion.
Now here is where it gets a little sticky and maybe I'm overthinking this. I'm competitive, I run two businesses that employ many people and demand a lot of my time and effort, but coaching soccer has been a wonderful outlet for me. I love it. But I also keep it light hearted and fun because it's rec.
The other coach and I could certainly ramp it up a notch or two and probably provide coaching on par with some clubs. I can't help thinking that maybe the parents just don't think this could be more serious and develop their kids, so they are looking to club. And I don't want the team to split up and be left with a bunch of other kids who don't care about the sport much.
I'm just wondering if my time as a coach is coming to a close. Also wondering what many other coaches have experienced at this level when kids start talking about club.
Thanks.