Alex Weaver, Director of Coaching at Highline Premier FC, has some definite opinions about youth soccer in America, and in the Puget Sound area, too. When I asked Weaver to talk about the Seattle United movement, he gave a respectful 'no comment.' However, Weaver was more than willing to share his insights into his strategy for Highline Premier FC, and to talk about developing players and coaches in America.
Here is part one of our interview with Alex. Also continue the interview by reading PART TWO where Weaver again takes on 'winning at all costs' at the youth level, versus training players to learn the game first, and get results second.
Visit: http://hpfc.cornerkicksystems.com
PART ONE:
Give us a brief summary of your soccer experiences / history in Seattle.
Alex Weaver: "I came out to Seattle first in 2005 as a coach with Manchester United. I was working in their Soccer School (MUSS) department of development and was sent out just for seven weeks to manage the summer program at the time. After that I was then sent to Paris for three months and then Dubai for six months before taking on the MUSS Director of Coaching role in Seattle permanently in June 2006. The program finished in December 2007 after which I went to South Africa to head the MUSS program there. Following an offer to become the Head Coach of the Seattle Wolves I returned again to Seattle in 2008. When I left that position I took on my current role as Director of Coaching for Highline Premier Football Club (HPFC). My wonderful wife is from Texas and we met in Dubai. She teaches in West Seattle and we are expecting the future captain of the England or USA Womens national team, Ella Weaver, in April....."
What are the key differences between youth soccer (football) culture in the USA and England?
"The main one which encompasses everything is that the game is just not embedded in the culture here as it is in England. It seems an obvious thing to say but it makes a huge difference. I don’t just mean in terms of ability of the players – it’s a myth that every kid in England is good at the game – I mean, as an example, even the low level kids in England could name the starting lineup of the England team. I doubt that even 10% of players over here could name the starting lineup of their ‘favourite’ MLS team never mind the national team. The game means so much to everyone in England and in the majority of other places in the world too.
"There are two levels in youth football in England - Elite & Grassroots. The 'Elite' youth game in England and elsewhere in the world is attached to professional clubs who provide the development program in order to develop players for their 'first team'. There are no fees involved as it is the best interests of the club to develop quality players. It also enables the club to control how things are done. Here, understandably because of the fees paid out, most parents feel the need to be involved in every little aspect from team selection to coach selection to actually thinking they should coach from the stands. This is kind of similar to how the 'grassroots' youth game is in England, but without the astronomical fees. The Sounders RTC's (Regional Training Centers) will probably eventually morph into a full academy which would be great. However, they will and should have all the best kids in the area...but who are they going to compete against? If all the PDL clubs pass on their best players to play with the Sounders Academy then besides expensive tournaments in other states or traveling to other MLS teams they will have very little opposition to play against on a regular basis. Its a difficult one but I'm sure the club will figure it out.
"To give you an idea of the problem this country has think about this: In England, (not much bigger than Washington) the country is split into 4 sections. In the Northwest section alone you have nine Premier League clubs within a 70 mile radius: Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, Stoke, Blackburn, Wigan, Bolton, Burnley. Another 40 miles south, you have Villa, Birmingham and Wolves. So within about 110 miles you have twelve out of twenty Premier League clubs who all have 'Elite' development academies. On top of that, in the same area, you have hundreds of grassroots level clubs attached to semi-pro clubs and just separate youth clubs like you have here."
HPFC '92 Blue pose with their 2009 Cascade Cup trophy and medals.
What can both learn from each other?
"Well in England the game has been going for over a century so things are pretty well established there. Things are not perfect but at least nobody is arguing over ‘who’ has control over ‘what’. England has it’s governing body (English FA) and they govern and everyone abides by it. It hasn’t always been like that and things are still debated to a degree but the FA does a good job for football at all levels in England.
"Here in the states at the senior level, instead of getting around a discussion table with MLS and finding ways to move the game forward and maybe even form a ‘feeder’ league with an exciting promotion/relegation format, the USL has now split and the NASL has been formed. I see this only as a huge step backwards for football in the US. As for the youth level, every state does its own thing in the US and the fact that there is so much emphasis on winning over here is just unbelievable and to be honest, I think the less said about what is happening here in Washington at the youth level, the better really. It’s 2010 and we are still talking about the organizational side of things and not the actual development of kids within this wonderful game.
"There are lots of things that can be discussed in comparing other countries with the US but I don’t wish to labor on for too long."
Give a few highpoints of your plans for HPFC.
"My goal is to focus on coach development as a priority. I think in youth sports things are quite reversed in general – in England too – that such a lot is based around ‘what’ to teach the players. In my opinion, if I have a great group of talented, supported and challenged coaches with a sincere determination to better themselves and to ‘teach’ people the game, on my staff then I know that the kids will naturally have a great development experience. As a DOC it is impossible to coach every team and every player within HPFC but I can ensure that I put into place a twelve month coach education program and observe my coaches and provide feedback on their practice while giving seminars and practical sessions and email educational information to them. I have informed the coaches at HPFC that I will expect them to hold themselves to high standards both on the field and off it. Most have done well but we have made some changes for next season. In eight months since I was appointed, I have delivered nine classroom seminars and seven practical sessions for my staff.
"By focusing on the coaches at HPFC, I don’t wish to ignore my role in the players development – far from it. As part of the support system for our coaches, I have brought to HPFC a twelve month, age specific and progressive Player Development curriculum that I designed for Manchester United. It is based around four phases throughout the twelve months and covers a whole variety of topics that are tailored for the different age groups within the club. The coaches have taken a while to adjust to this as they have just been used to doing ‘their own thing’ in the past but a club must have structure in the way it develops its players. It also has to have consistency in the way it plays also. We have focused a lot on ‘style’ of play and the philosophies synonymous to what I would like to eventually be known as the just the ‘HPFC way’ of doing things. The main part of the vision of the program is to ingrain a mentality in our coaches that I am only focused on developing the kids. I am not concerned about scores or league placing at all. If we can continue to push players onto a higher level of play at college or even the Sounders then that is success to me. So much of the reason why the US is not successful at the senior level is that success at the youth level is perceived to be ‘big and fast’ and not 'clever and creative' – this is similar to the English way but the English game has developed a lot of excellent players in the last couple of decades, mainly due to the influx of foreign players into the country which has raised the standard and has forced the development of youth players to improve also. If the salary cap in the MLS is raised the game may move on quicker here because of that, who knows."
In PART TWO with Alex Weaver, the HPFC Director of Coaching answers the following questions:
- What should be the role of Sounders FC in local youth soccer?
- Where are ''tomorrow's US soccer coaches" being developed today?
- What is the most misunderstood aspect (by parents & the public) of youth soccer?
Comments
Thanks for the continued focus on all aspects of soccer in our area, David! This article is wonderful, and I can't wait for part two! One thing Weaver needs to 'get' though is that each country must do things its 'own way' for the end result to truly be a 'national team' that reflects the country and culture.
HPFC rocks and Alex tells it like it is!
I've never seen the English FA complimented before. Are we sure Weaver is from England? ;)
Um, if things wer not 'how they are' in America, would Mr. Weaver even have a job? Just wondering...
Also looking forward to part two. I just wonder if it is even reasonable to tell Americans *not* to compete, and lower age levels. Or focus elsewhere. That is simply not a part of our culture.
Very informative. Thank you.
I just can't see that sort of thinking taking off in the states. It would just be too traumatizing to see little johnny keep on losing to other teams while the coach says "that's OK, at least you are learning the correct way to play the game!" Sorry, but you've got to do BOTH: win and teach the fundamentals. Kids don't like to lose at any age.
Being knee deep in guiding my son through youth soccer at the moment, it is refreshing to hear a perspective that acknowledges this… What wins games at the younger levels is not the same thing that develops quality players over time. Focusing on creativity and ball mastery can be a painful process in youth soccer, especially at the younger ages when speed and size can overcome a focus on skill and clever play. Understandably, relying on speed and size is the path of least resistance, as some children are naturally fast and/or big…no hard work required. The creativity and ball mastery route takes an enormous amount of work and dedication.
Relying on speed and size alone is a tactic which quickly loses ground as the players age and develop. So kudos to coaches like Weaver who are willing to put in the hard work to increase the quality of the hours our kids spend with the soccer ball!
I know. My son played for a select team where many of the kids didn't own a soccer ball. What is the matter with those parents? Did they think it was a play date? If I were the coach and those players showed up at practice week after week without a soccer ball and they didn't know how to dribble without looking at the ball, I would have sent them home. How apathetic. I would have also bought them a flippin' ball with my own money. How are you going to learn to dribble or juggle if you don't own a ball?
Hey that cascade cup is in my home office. Hey that jake gillen guy looks a lot like me in that picture.
Other examples of the comedy show run by sir alex weaver.
Why are all your coaches leaving?
Go GRFC!!!!
So...if that is you, David, I shall change the name. However that was my 'mistake,' not anyone at HPFC's. I saw the listed coach for that club, and the photo had no caption.
i agree....
Why is HPFC and Alex telling obvious lies here?
That is not jake in the pic and half of that team left when Alex fired coach Griffith for wearing adidas.
Wears the Dev Academy that they were running a year ago!?
Dillusional!
Shame on you.
Lies? Hardly. I chose that photo from their website, having no idea about the background. Now, If you'd rather I take the photo down and thus not give credit to what those boys did back then, then I will consider it.
Mr. Weaver was well-spoken and gracious in his interview, and parents / coaches who don't agree with a DOC's policies certainly have a right to go elsewhere (a new club). That doesn't make Weaver's ideas any less interesting for publication.
Thanks for the stunning examples, WPFC Mom and David Griffiths, of how this sport is about adult egos run amok in this country and seldom, seldom about the youth.
Watch Damn United. It's common to get fired, normal, it's part of the deal. It's not normal to have a little hissy fit about it. Move on. Find a new team. Man up. There might be some impressionable kids watching.
Hey, David Griffiths and WPFC Mom, what are you afraid of? That Alex Weaver may steal some of your clubs players? Gimme a break. As a soccer dad of a PDL female player, I love what Alex Weaver stands for. He never said winning wasn't important, but he stresses that cannot be your only goal. Development has to be at the core of any youth program.
I have seen too many coaches who only care about winning. The type of coach constantly is recruiting in new players and turning over rosters from year to year, with no emphasis on developing players from within. One of them is the GRFC DOC Mr Griffiths.
I find it refreshing that Alex Weaver is standing up for what he believes in, is getting rid of coaches who disagree, and is bringing in coaches who do have this same philosphy. The new GK coach, Pete Lechak, is an awesome coach who first and foremost cares about the kids development over anything else. This is the type of coach that would atract my daughter to HPFC.
Go Alex Weaver!
Is Alex's arrogance or naivete more astounding? I cannot decide and I say that every time I get one of his blowhard emails.
Naivete - please call me in 20 years after your baby-on-board has been raised and tell me how to approach soccer or any activity with my child. Parents are invested in raising fine young men and women regardless of whether they pay a penny to a coach or not. Most parents don't look at their newborn baby with visions of national soccer teams.
Arrogance - sorry but the English superiority BS went out of style in America in 1776. If Americans wanted to create a Manchester United system, they would do so and do it better than England any day. Quit sending me your "England is superior" emails!
One final point - we Americans and HPFC customers plan to do what we feel is best for our kids. We will "vote with our wallets" this spring because our loyalty is to 1) our children and 2)their teammates and good coaches. The club and DOC is last priority. Watch the ex
Wow, paying parent, seems you have an inferiority complex. Get beat up by some English gent as a teen? Alex Weaver is one heckuva coach and teacher of the game of soccer. The to be U13 Red girls team at HPFC is going to love his approach to development and they will win. They already have an excellent team. Add in some excellent coaching like they had when Danny Jackson was there, and look out.
I was just happy someone wanted to discuss coaching philosophy. I'm sorry everyone had to jump on the bandwagon and make it personal. That Mr. Weaver will discuss some of the perceptions, misconceptions, strategies, hierarchies, well, I'm grateful.
Coaching Critic: It's so funny you should mention the soon-to-be U13 girls team...LOL. Of course, it's the team where all the board members kids (the same who hired Alex) are rostered. How convenient and cozy that Alex will be coaching that team! I fully understand your vested interest in defending Alex's approach. However, there is a bigger club at HPFC that is, quite frankly, fed up with BOD incompetence and Alex's arrogance as a DOC.
Did you attend the Extreme Showcase this year? It was a disorganized mess with significantly fewer colleges represented than in the past - the worst college showcase I have ever seen. No resources for the boys team AT ALL yet a lovely "girls only" presentation on how to prepare for college recruiting was held this year.
Again, watch the exodus. When you wake up from your "Alex hangover", it will be too late to rebuild the club.
I honestly think, no I know, the kids would enjoy a good intramural soccer program more than this bs.
Paying parent, it ends for everyone. Grow up, your kids are watching.
I agree with Weaver. Parents like the "payingparent" have little to no clue about soccer or how it is in other countries. This guy Weaver is trying to revolutinize the approach to the game, make it an actual passion here, bring some knowledge to the states...of course its scary for the "paying parent" likes....the best will play, not the paying parents' kids. Hey, someone has to start it sometime, Weaver will get an earful, tho.....but who cares, i say keep at Weaver
PayingParent, great, if Weaver is a bad coach, you should love the fact that he will be coaching the G97 Red team, then they should be really bad and the board members will be punished:)
But i suspect that you know he is a good coach, and the board members kids will be better off off having his coaching expertise. I agree and also know that the other coaches at his club will benefit as well. HPFC is beter off for having Mr Weaver there.
With regards to the Tournament showcase event, the responsibility lies with the club chairperson, and all the volunteers who worked hard to give their time, not the DOC.
I really hope you find a club and/or a coach that fits your needs. That's all any parent wants for their kids. I for one, am looking for a coach that values development first and foremost. Winning will come as a result of the kids being better soccer players. Good luck in your search, enjoy the ride. The kids grow up too fast. Don't bash those who want to help teach our kids.
Wow, what a bunch of adult babies. Saying "as americans" is pure bs. Go whereever you want. Don't bolster about it. Just do it. Oh, take the kid with you because he is learning to be like you. Alex Weaver is stating what he believes in. If this is how English soccer is run, they have done good. If you don't like it, move on, and continue shopping your soccer child around until they get dizzy from team to team. I wish Alex the best but in this PC world, you never know.
"Paying Parent" - The issue with your approach and mantra is ironically highlighted by your name. The old adage of 'Reassuringly expensive' comes to mind and unfortunately this payment process gives many parents an ill conceived entitlement to the inner workings of the coach. Sadly this is simply a reflection of this Liberal 'apathetic' State we live in where people are quick to criticize but slow to offer alternatives or solutions.
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your child is not going to be professional no matter how many shiny medals they win... and why would you want to? The average wage in the MLS is not much more than an experienced school teacher but with the big difference of having a shelf life of circa 10 years. Do yourself a favor and get some perspective, you are playing in the lower echelons of local youth soccer, with the ceiling on play artificially capped.. No amount of pushing your kid will make up for the life you wish you had.. Let them enjoy it.
Your right! i just found out a little more about Alex Weaver, and his experience.
Manchester United Soccer Schools, Seattle. = Failed
Manchester United Soccer Schools, South Africa. = Failed
Seattle Wolves, fired and taken over by Crossfire.
HPFC = ?
There is a trait here! Dont you think?
I am betting the number of HPFC players will be far less than ever in the new season. Thus, Alex Weaver will have another failure to his name!
Your right! i just found out a little more about Alex Weaver, and his experience.
Manchester United Soccer Schools, Seattle. = Failed
Manchester United Soccer Schools, South Africa. = Failed
Seattle Wolves, fired and taken over by Crossfire.
HPFC = ?
There is a trait here! Dont you think?
I am betting the number of HPFC players will be far less than ever in the new season. Thus, Alex Weaver will have another failure to his name!
Since people learn from their mistakes, Alex Weaver must be getting really smart.
Sadly, 'Paying Parent' you only serve to provide credence to what Mr Weaver is actually trying to say. To quote alleged 'failures' from within a commercial enterprise and then try to use them as a yard stick to beat Mr Weaver over the head with respect to a youth setup is laughably ironic, however, as suggested previously it is symbolic and indicative of the deeper issues in youth sports and highlights the emphasis on success and failure.
If you don't align yourself with his coaching philosophy then that is great, this is the land of the free, find somewhere that does. However, to attempt to publicly discredit and tarnish someones reputation based on irrational and misplaced emotion does you nor your family and credit. Disagreement is part of life, however, you have a great opportunity to teach your children some life lessons in diplomacy and class, the question is can you do it?
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