The Youth Soccer Insider section of Soccer America received the following submission recently – Is Your Rec Program Getting Enough Attention? by Tyler Isaacson

It’s a worthwhile read regardless of what side of the story you are coming from. For our local club programs, it raises some basic elements of running a recreational program that are critical. Why? Because the recreational program 1) pays for most of the clubs resources if done well and 2) feeds travel teams with players prepared to compete effectively.

For a parent looking to for a place for their child to play, it offers some background on what to look for in a well run club. I was asked this weekend by a single mother what she should do for her 6 year old who is moving from Ozark to Springfield soon. My suggestion – start at her elementary school and the PTA and see if she can find some of her son’s future classmates and where they are playing. Alternately, head to Lake Country Soccer and find a team.

The reason for this advice is that my measurement of kids happiness identifies camaraderie, the fun that comes from being part of a team, is more important for the vast majority of them. Sure, winning is always more fun than losing but winning on a team that you don’t like or enjoy? Sounds like a job and we all know how much fun that is! So find an environment where your son or daughter can be happy first and then build on the skills.

How can you build the skills? Look at the recommendations this Club Director is making:

In many clubs the recreation side gets much less attention than the travel side of things. This is unfortunate because the recreation side, in most clubs, has participation of three to four times more players then travel.

As an administrator you need to ask yourself — “Are you doing all you can to provide your recreation players with a positive learning experience and are you providing your coaches with the tools to help them achieve this.”

It all starts with your volunteer coaches. Are you providing them with the training and tools so that they can transfer the clubs recreation philosophy to the field? These coaches are usually just getting their feet wet with youth soccer and have no idea where to begin.

Read about the models that the writer is offering. Look for similar methods and programs as you and your children spend time within a Club program. It is a better long term predictor of success. And if the Coach yells at your kid? Not a good sign.

UPDATE – I see Michael Stacy covered the Fun aspect as well recently
UPDATE – in the KC Star today, an opinion letter about fun! To each child, her own beautiful strength