Fields of Screams

More than three million children between the ages of six and eighteen played for organized youth soccer teams in the United States last year. By far, most of them played in the novice and beginning divisions. Teams need coaches to guide them, particularly in those levels. With an average of two coaches per team, that means that approximately one hundred thousand coaches coached those kids last season. Very few leagues have an overabundance of youth coaches at their disposal. It is common for many soccer leagues to beg and plead with parents of soccer players to coach their child’s team. Far too often, leagues pose the threat to parents that their sons or daughters might not be able to play that season, unless a parent of a player on the team without a coach steps up and decides to coach. If they don’t coach, their children’s seasons may be over before they begin.