How you define "winning"
affects how good you are as a coach

In My Opinion: A Disconnect in Player Development

There is a clear disconnect in the coaching process when it comes to developing players in our country. In today’s youth soccer environment, far too much emphasis is placed on winning. This obsession stems from a broader societal pressure in America—where being the best, being first, and achieving immediate success is glorified. Unfortunately, this "win-at-all-costs" mentality has thrown the balance off in youth sports. We see it in the rising aggression at youth athletic events. The focus has shifted entirely to the outcome, rather than the process.

Too often, as long as the team wins, everyone is satisfied—regardless of whether true player development is taking place. A great player is not born only through talent, but through love for the game, supportive parents who understand long-term development, and a coach who shares the same vision. That full alignment is rare. Sadly, it’s often left to chance—and luck.

Player Development vs. Competition

When competition and the culture of winning are introduced too early, coaches are forced to focus on short-term results. Look at a typical youth soccer schedule: the coach must prepare the team to compete every weekend. That leaves little to no time to focus on increasing the players' long-term capacity and potential.

This fast-paced cycle of games limits the coach’s ability to work on the deeper development of players—technical skills, tactical understanding, physical literacy, and emotional maturity. In essence, the development gets sacrificed for the performance.

The Role of Parents and "Facilitators"

Let’s not forget the impact of modern soccer parents. While many parents generously step into roles as volunteer coaches, referees, administrators, and supporters, the lack of formal soccer education often leads to decisions that harm—not help—the game.

Some parents make critical decisions regarding coaching, training, and team selection without understanding the developmental needs of young players. These early missteps can stunt a child’s growth in the sport. Sadly, the damage caused by unqualified coaches or misguided parental involvement is often irreversible, and at best, may only produce mediocre players.

How We Evaluate Coaches

Another issue is how we measure coaching success. Today, coaches are judged primarily on their win-loss record. This flawed evaluation system encourages coaches to prioritize recruiting and stacking teams over actually teaching the game.

What if we measured coaches on the growth, development, and improvement of their players? After all, coaches can’t always control the final score, but they can absolutely control the process and culture they build around player development.

Coaching Education: Are We Holding Coaches to the Same Standards?

Research shows it takes at least 10 years and 10,000 hours of focused, quality training for an athlete to reach elite levels (Ericsson et al.). That’s roughly 3 hours a day for 10 years. We apply this standard to players—but what about coaches?

Shouldn’t we expect the same commitment from those entrusted with shaping young athletes? Quality coaching requires time, education, mentorship, and continual growth. If we don’t invest in educating our coaches, how can we expect to develop great players?

Final Thought

The system is flawed—not because people don’t care—but because priorities have been misaligned. If we truly care about growing the game and producing skilled, passionate, and intelligent players, we must shift our focus from winning now to developing for the future.