The motivations behind a club soccer coach...who really wins?

     When I started to play soccer in the late 80's, I believe a lot of my coaches were actually volunteers.  If they were paid it wasn't enough to live by, probably just enough for gas to our games and practices...the coaches always had a "day job".  Soccer has grown so much since then, that now youth soccer coaches can make a comfortable living off of the profession.  But what is the driving force behind the motivation to coach full time? What is the ultimate goal of "the club coach"?  

     From what I see current club coaches try to win as many games as possible, and get as many kids as they can playing at the collegiate level.  Some coaches will not take on groups that aren't in a top league, and will look to combine clubs to make a super team to travel and win tournaments. Sadly, parents are part to blame in this "winning at all costs epidemic", pushing for victories over development. 

     Where did the developmental coaches go?  Where are the coaches who want to teach life lessons and teamwork?  Where are the coaches that are able to teach more to the players when they lose, so that in the long run they are better for it?  From what I know, those coaches do still exist! Sadly, they just aren't getting the job.

     When I was around 11 years old, my team did not win many games.  What I did gain was the ability to kick comfortably with my left foot, how to attack the goal instead of run straight to the end line, and how to defend.  By the time I was 15, I was on a team that was undefeated State Champions and 3 time regional finalists.  The process was sometimes painful, no one likes to lose, but the long term benefits of learning all the facets of the game proved to be more useful as my career progressed.  

     This year I started to train a U-16 team and one day when I asked an outside defender to move up to outside midfield she said "I don't know how to play there".  I was shocked.  How can you play the game and not even have an idea of how each position should be played?  Coaches need to stop taking short cuts and teach the game!  In truth, the continued growth and success of college and professional soccer depends on the instruction received at the youth levels.  So, lets go youth coaches!  Sometimes it doesn't click as quickly as we want, sometimes there will be losses but in the end everyone will benefit from a proper soccer education.