1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: There's plenty of places for all these players to be playing. 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: There's so many avenues out there now between junior colleges 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: in AI and Vision three, two and one. The most 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: important things to me for these players experienced need to 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: be good. You know, you don't need to try to 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: go to a Division one program and then sit for 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: four years. You know everybody wants to play, So go 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: find the place that's the reality of where you can. 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: This is the Reformed Sports Project, a podcast about restoring 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: education and advocacy. HI, this is Nick Bonacoor from the 12 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: Reformed Sports Project podcast with me today. Is the head 13 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: women's soccer coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Randy Waldrom. 14 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: In addition to his current duties at pitt, Waldrom has 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: been the head coach of the Nigerian women's senior national 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: team since and prior to joining pitt Waldrom saw unprecedented 17 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: success in his tenure at the helm of the perennial 18 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: powerhouse Notre Dame women's program. Coach Waldrom and I discussed 19 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: changes in youth soccer over the last few decades, navigating 20 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: club demands for a year round commitment and his advice 21 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: for those looking to play sports in college. Man, I'm 22 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 1: fired up. I got another awesome guest. He's the head 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: coach at University of Pittsburgh women's soccer program, but he's 24 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: a legend two time national champion coach Walls from Randy 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: Waltrom thank you so much for hopping on, coach. Well, 26 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: thanks for having me Nick. I'm excited as well. So 27 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: it's a great way to start off the new week 28 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: for me. Well, I appreciate you, sir, and uh, you know, 29 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: I want to just get right down to it. Uh. 30 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: We connected via social media. You know, obviously you have 31 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: a ton of experience and been around for for many 32 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: many years. And you know my background is baseball from 33 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: you know, college, and I played a little bit professionally, 34 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: but I've interviewed, I mean a ton of soccer, you know, 35 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: coach isn't even many um MLS players and some you know, 36 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: Olympians and so on and so forth, and there is 37 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: a kind of like youth baseball, and then there's a 38 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: lot of good in everything. But you know which one 39 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: is a little bit more crazy, you know, the soccer 40 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: or the baseball. Right they're starting it elite teams at 41 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: three years old and national rankings at seven. When you 42 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: look at the state of youth sports, and I guess 43 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: you look at what are some things that you like 44 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: and what are some things that maybe kind of you'd 45 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: like to see changed. Well, no, you bring up some 46 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: really good points there, and uh, you know, I've I've 47 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: got I would say some mixed feelings about it. I mean, obviously, 48 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: from the time I grew up playing uth soccer to 49 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: where it is today, it's it's a drastically different world, 50 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: you know, back when when I grew up playing and 51 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: I'm obviously aging myself here, but you know, we had 52 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: volunteer parent coaches or just coaches that volunteer. At your time, 53 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: you you kind of played for a team in your 54 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: city and U you know, you went that pathway. And 55 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: then it changed when quote unquote professional coaches started being 56 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: brought over, especially in our sport, A lot from England 57 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: kind of came in and started being paid coaches to 58 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: coach youth teams. And then then we started to form clubs, 59 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: you know, and and these clubs now had players from 60 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: all over. You don't play for your city or your 61 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: hometown anymore. You you drive an hour to go play 62 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: for the best club you can and um, and some 63 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: even farther than that. So it's it's really it's really 64 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: changed now. On the one hand, I would say this, 65 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: I think today we have so many more good players 66 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: around the country than we did when I grew up playing. 67 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that our best players and in my 68 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 1: day weren't as good as the best players art today. 69 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 1: I think that's that's kind of an argument on one side, 70 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: but I think we produced some really good players in 71 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: my time as well. I think the difference is obviously 72 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: because the sport has grown in the US so much. 73 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: We obviously have a lot more good players today than 74 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: we had in my time. So there's been some positives 75 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: in the youth game for sure, Uh, no question about it. 76 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: The country has evolved, is is a soccer playing nation 77 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: at all levels, and and the game has obviously grown 78 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: um as far as popularity in the US. The negative 79 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: side for me is is also that's created a problem 80 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: because now as you start to pay national coaches for 81 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: these youth teams like you mentioned, we're getting kids three 82 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: or four or five years old getting into quote elite 83 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: teams Academy teams final teams were winning now becomes the 84 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: only thing, and I think we're losing a lot in 85 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 1: just simply player development by going down that path. So 86 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: I have some real concerns, um, where we are in 87 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: our youth game right now. I know, again I grew 88 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: up only played baseball a short amount of time when 89 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: I was young. But you know, I I say the 90 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: soccer parents are crazy. I have been to a couple 91 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: of youth baseball games too. I think they're equally as crazy, 92 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: and as in fans and the baseball side. So I 93 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: don't know who would win that argument of you know, 94 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: which parents are more are more? Are more crazy in 95 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: the way they deal with this this uh kind of 96 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: youth scene that we live in now. But there are 97 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: a lot of common threads and I think it's a 98 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: big problem for me when we start having you know, five, six, seven, 99 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: eight year old you know playing on elite teams that 100 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: are select and you know that are are being pushed 101 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: to a point where they're burned out by the time 102 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: they're twelve thirts and fourteen years old. They don't they 103 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: don't want that pressure anymore. Um, in our sport, there's 104 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: always something to be said about you know, the game 105 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: being the best teacher. And I guess what I mean 106 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: by that is you learned by just getting out in 107 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: the streets and playing. And you know, I think right now, 108 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: when you start getting these seven, eight nine year old 109 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: kids that are are practicing, you know, three times a 110 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: week with their clubs, kind of enforced mandated practice, they 111 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 1: don't have that love to go out and do it 112 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: every day on their own, just playing with their friends 113 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: when they can experiment and try new things and and 114 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: developed just by playing the game. And I also think 115 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 1: that the youth of the world today is a lot 116 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: different than when I grew up. You know. Now, with 117 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: you know, with video games and so much computerized technology 118 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: and things that we have, so many kids aren't outside 119 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: playing all the time like they used to. They have 120 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: so many other things to have options from. So I 121 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: I really worry about where we are right now because 122 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: you know, there are some concerns that maybe we've kind 123 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: of peaked in our development. And I don't mean that 124 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: like we'll never get better, but I just mean we 125 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: started to create all these better players by getting better 126 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: and better youth coaches out there around the country, and 127 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: we kind of over the last fifteen years really improved 128 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: our base of good players around the country. But are 129 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: but I'm not sure we're still developing the elite player. 130 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: You know, when you look at around the world in 131 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 1: our sport, you look at a mess Ay or Ronaldo 132 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: or an embot Bay or some of these world class stars. 133 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: I don't know that the US are producing those kinds 134 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: of players. And so the question is why, you know, 135 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: why aren't we're producing those? And I think there's a 136 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: lot to be said about in the youth game that 137 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: we're not just allowing our players to play. You know, 138 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: my my granddaughter an interesting story. You know, she's um 139 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: just turned seven and she's playing in a one league 140 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: that's four verses four, which is a great setting for them, 141 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: playing in her age group, and they're getting a lot 142 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: of touches on the ball. But yet she plays on 143 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: a quote elite travel team. Also it plays seven versus 144 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: seven and on a big field, and at that age, 145 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: it's just ridiculous. We should still be playing on small 146 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: fields where the players are getting a lot of touches 147 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: and a lot of actions on the ball, and at 148 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: that age is just young. So we got it backwards. 149 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: I think steal in a lot of ways, and the 150 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: youth seem unfortunately. You know, I was fortunate enough to 151 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: interview a couple of your former players, a Notre Dame 152 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: of Britney back and also Amanda Sinali and and you know, 153 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter what sport I talk of. This is 154 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 1: subject I talk a lot about, but I think it 155 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: feeds into the whole. When I look at youth sports, 156 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: I look at it. It's there's so many different tentacles 157 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: of it. Um. But let's face I mean this is 158 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: just from my experience. I mean I think if you're 159 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: a halfway decent salesman, I think you can make a 160 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: good amount of money in that game because I think 161 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: there's clearly a market. Parents love their kids and will 162 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: do anything they can to help them. It's and I'm 163 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: sorry as a parent, um, it's very easy to be 164 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: taking advantage of. I think in that I think you 165 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: become blinded. I think it's easy to sell in. One 166 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: of the biggest pitches I believe coaches is that your 167 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: kids need to spend all of their time with me. 168 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: They are the next and although they're the next, you know, 169 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: whoever the hell it is. And in order to get 170 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: there quickly. They got to do it year round, starting 171 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: as early as possible. But you know, I talked to 172 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: Britney Back, I talked to Amenda Sinale. These were professional 173 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: players that that won a national title at the highest 174 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: level in college. They credit their multi sport youth experience 175 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: with being a major impact for their development. I mean basketball, 176 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: whatever the sports, the transition, the crossover, the relationships. Um, 177 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: you know, I never spoke to her Abbe Wombach. Any 178 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: number of highly successful soccer players will tell you, and 179 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: it's not just soccer, it's baseball, it's it's every sport. 180 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 1: But then you have your clock coaches and I'm sorry, 181 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: they'll tell the kids and they'll tell the parents. In 182 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 1: order to play here, you need a full time, year 183 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: round commitment, and that kind of sucks. How do you 184 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: navigate that as a parent? Well, you know, you you 185 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 1: think about this and when you when you mentioned the 186 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: multi sport I mean, look at the crossover from sport 187 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: to sport. I mean I've heard shortstops talk about prenching 188 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: their youth soccer, you know, for their ability because of 189 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: the change of direction and the agility that's required to 190 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: play soccer, and those kind movements translates, you know. I 191 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: used to go watch Tubby Smiths when I was coaching 192 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: at the University of Tulsa with the men and the 193 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: women's soccer programs there. I used to go watch Tubby 194 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: smith and these basketball practices because there's so much in 195 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: basketball that translates, you know, with their movements. Like the 196 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: sports are very similar, the movements and soccer, Yeah, they are. 197 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: So I agree with you with that. I don't think 198 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: you have to be uh one that isolates at a 199 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: young age and and just one sport. And I would 200 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: even go a step farther and say you shouldn't be 201 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: one that should positionally get isolated, you know in it. 202 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: I mean, learn to play all the positions, learned to 203 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 1: know experience what it's like to play a forward, defender, 204 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: a midfield player, or a goalkeeper, even at a young age, 205 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: because you never know where you're gonna end up being. 206 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: So I think parents have to be very careful because 207 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: you you really hit on something big now. And I 208 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: think there are a lot listen. I don't want to 209 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: take away from the really quality youth coaches that are 210 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: out there, because we do have a lot of really 211 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: great youth coaches that are doing a really good job. 212 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: I think we've got even more pretenders out there. And 213 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: I hate to say that, but I think there's just 214 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: to your point, I think there's a lot of youth 215 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: coaches out there that really aren't highly qualified in the 216 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: coaching world. They haven't done any of their coaching education, 217 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: they haven't learned from other coaches. They've just learned that 218 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: they can make a quick buck on you know, selling 219 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: themselves as the next gurute to get their child to 220 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: the college scholarship. So I think parents have to be 221 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: really really careful. Uh, probably in every sport. You know. Obviously, 222 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: I know I know it well in soccer. I don't 223 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: know it as well in the other sports, but I 224 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: would assume it's his name and all youth sports that 225 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: you know, you just it is. You're exactly right. It's 226 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: an easy way to make some money if you just 227 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,960 Speaker 1: take somebody that's willing to jump in. You know, I 228 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: see on social media all the time, you've got all 229 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: of these guys doing private lessons and doing you know, videos, 230 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: are doing workouts at my workout is the one that's 231 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: going to transform you to be a better goal scorer 232 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: or you know, just and it's some may be good, 233 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: but I think you have to really investigate it and 234 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: find out that that the trainer that you're working with 235 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: really is is what they're all about, you know, whether 236 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: it's a male or female coach. I think it's it's 237 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: vitally important because, um, it is a market now. And 238 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 1: as you said, we as parents, and I'm as guilty 239 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: as anybody, we'll we'll do whatever we can't for our kids. 240 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: We'll pay whatever we have to pay and sacrifice whatever 241 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: we have to sacrifice to get our kids the best 242 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: of what we think is going to get them to 243 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 1: their goal. So it's it's really a fine line to walk, 244 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: isn't it. It really isn't. You know. My oldest son, 245 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: he's a wrestler, and I see it him wrestling to 246 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: the great here's the great thing. Wrestlings really would open 247 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: my eyes. I grew up playing football, baseball, basketball, you know, 248 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: basketball more of recreation, you know, So I gravitated towards 249 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: those sports with my kids. And it wasn't until my 250 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: kids started wrestling and then they tried lacrosse. I couldn't. 251 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: I didn't know how to coach anything, you know, and 252 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: it was like a relief. It was really like, man, 253 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: this is kind of cool. I just get to sit 254 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: back and be a fan. I don't feel the pressure. 255 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: I don't. I still am learning. We're talking about six 256 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: seven years and sometimes like is that a good I 257 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: just don't know, which is kind of it's pretty naive, 258 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 1: but it's also really kind of cool to take it 259 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: in that way. And the point I'm making is, you know, 260 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: as a parent, it's hard not to get invested in 261 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: You kind of touched on it a little bit there. 262 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: It's it's a fine line, right, like, because to me, 263 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: the market is we're hyping it up. Right, Let's get 264 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: our kids really good at seven, eight, nine, ten, because 265 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: when they get to middle school they'll be really good, 266 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 1: so that they get high school, then they can start 267 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: getting college looks. It's like selling the recruiting thing, which 268 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:27,319 Speaker 1: I get what I mean. This is just from my experience. 269 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: I've interviewed like almost five people, and money of those 270 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: have been college coaches. I can't think of a time 271 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: in the history of the world where it's been easier 272 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: to get seen than it is now. Called me crazy, 273 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: but it's almost like the fear still leading the charge. 274 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: Can you talk about the recruiting scene, because that seems 275 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: to be why this whole thing is kind of put together, 276 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: which I'm sure helps coaches and kids get exposure. But 277 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: I mean, can you just talk about that a little 278 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: bit well speak. Let me give you a good example, 279 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: and this is what I always tell parents, because you're 280 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: absolutely right starting at whatever that is, whether that's ten 281 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: year old or a little bit younger in some cases 282 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: in our sport, as parents start to now invest because 283 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: their kids are on a travel team or an academy team, 284 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 1: or whatever whatever word the club uses to make it 285 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: sound elite, parents are investing the money for training and 286 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: it's listen, it's it's really expensive in our sport. Our 287 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: kids are probably paying average around the country three or 288 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: four thousand dollars a year just for the training and 289 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: to be on a club team. Now that doesn't count 290 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: what mom and dad puts in for every tournament they 291 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: go to and travel and uniforms and and everything else. 292 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: So hotels, travel, Yeah, it could be. It could be 293 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: a ten thousand dollar a year investment easily for these parents. 294 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: And what the club coaches are selling it on is 295 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: the fact that will prepare you, you know, for a 296 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: college one scholarship. But blah blah blah, and that that's 297 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: kind of the selling point because in the women's game, 298 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: selling the pro game is not really quite there yet. 299 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: It's more so on the men's side, but not quite 300 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: as much on the women's side. But they're they're selling 301 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: a college scholarship. So think about this, and this is 302 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: what I tell parents. It's very difficult to get a 303 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: Division one scholarship. It's it just is. And now there's 304 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: Division two, there's Division three, there's n ai And like 305 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: you said, to your point, in the world we live 306 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: in with social media, with video technology, with networking, that 307 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: we have, a good player is not gonna go hidden. 308 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: So if you take a club player that parents are investing, 309 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, five six eight thousand dollars a year for 310 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: their kid to play from ten years old up. And 311 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: you take a high school kids to your point earlier, 312 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: playing multiple sports and playing high school soccer, that kid, 313 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: if they're good enough going in the high school route, 314 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: is still going to be seeing. It's very hard to 315 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: be hidden in today's world. Is a good player. And 316 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: here's here's the biggest point that I tell parents. We 317 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: got three hundred and thirty Division one schools. So I 318 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: just did some quick maths on this. We're allowed fourteen 319 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: scholarship in the women's game, less than we have about 320 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: thirty four thirty five on our roster. Fourteen full scholarship 321 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: for women and only nine point nine for men. Wow. 322 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: So if you think about this, with three hundred and 323 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: thirty Division one schools playing soccer at fourteen scholarships, and 324 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: that's if every school was fully funded, every school is 325 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: fully funded, that's only forty six hundred scholarships available to 326 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: the entire US. So you know you'll have more. You'll 327 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: have forty six hundred high school seniors coming out of 328 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: the state of Texas, you know, or California. So if 329 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: parents look at it that way, that's how much money 330 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: is available. And it's not every year, because fourteen scholarships 331 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: is at any given time that's between our freshman class 332 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: and our senior So the money that they've spend in 333 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: club soccer, if they just invested that money and put 334 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: it away, they would have probably a more likely chance 335 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: of paying for their kids education than them getting the 336 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: college scholars Let's be honest, though, let's cut right to 337 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: the chase. There's nothing sexy about saying I put money 338 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: in ira A and my kids schill pay for it. 339 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: Come on, you're you're absolutely right, And and that's not 340 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: the hope because you always think is a will just 341 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: be different, My kid will be one of those hundred. 342 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: But you know, on the other side of the two, 343 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: parents need to understand. I think it's just trying to 344 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: make them aware. Is that you know, with fourteen scholarships, 345 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: you're not giving out fourteen full rides because you you've 346 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: got to develop a team, so you know, most of 347 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: that money is spread out over multiple players, and so 348 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: it's it's just it's a difficult animal to process and 349 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: parents just have to be aware. And I think there, 350 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: I'll go back to what I said earlier. There's some 351 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: good club coaches that really prepare them for that, let 352 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: them clearly understand that. And I think there's some other 353 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: club coaches that really are just there to make a 354 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: buck and uh, once they graduate and go off to college, 355 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: that's their problem. You know, the club coach now the 356 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: longer involved with them. So you have to be careful 357 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: as a parent. That's all. When we come back, Randy 358 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: and I dig into recruiting. Welcome back. We're coach Waldrom 359 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: and I left off. We're about to discuss whether college 360 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: recruiting is behind the eaziness in youth sports today and 361 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 1: judging players abilities properly to ensure they find the right 362 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: fit in college. I'm fortunate, and I say I'm fortunate 363 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: because I played, and I like to think, you know, 364 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: my experience kind of removes those blinders that can happen. 365 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: And it's not of love, it's not of great intent 366 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: when it comes to a parent. You're trying your best, 367 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: but I'd like to think, you know, having had some 368 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: experience that like I don't look at my kids and 369 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: automatically think for the best athlete in the country, like 370 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: they're not. You've seen the highest level. There is a 371 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: I always say to people, there's a word different, like 372 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 1: you can look at an athlete, but that kids just different. 373 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: You can't even articulate, just look different. And I remember 374 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: my freshman year of college to the North Carolina Wesleyan College. 375 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: We were at Division three national champs and my coach 376 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: was Mike Fox. He he left after my freshman or 377 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: he got the job University of North Carolina the tar Heels. 378 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,719 Speaker 1: My sophomore year, our team at Western goes and watches 379 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: a game at Chapel Hill and I'll never forget it 380 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: because we were like at that time, rank number one 381 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: or two in the country. It was the beginning of 382 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: this season, and we go watch coach Fox and one 383 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: of our other players went with him, and he's starting 384 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: in the outfield of Chapel Hill. And this is the 385 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: A C C. Right, this is the highest level of 386 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 1: college sports in baseball. And I remember looking like, these 387 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:05,959 Speaker 1: guys are the same age as me, but they just 388 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: look different. I mean, they just do man and we 389 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: were good, um, but they just look different. And I 390 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: think it's important for parents to know that while there 391 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: are late bloomers, right kids develop at the role place, 392 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: but there's also God given ability, there are natural things 393 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: that can't be taught, and and there's a right fit 394 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: for everybody. It's okay to accept that. Hey, you know, 395 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: my kids a great basketball player, but you know they're 396 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: they're they're not six five. Not everyone can play soccer. 397 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: University of Pittsburgh. How do you know from your experience 398 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 1: where parents can look to kind of determine, especially from 399 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: the soccer side, what level might be the right fit. No, 400 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: And I think you said it right. A parent that 401 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: hasn't been through it or that doesn't understand it, I 402 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: think they need some some guidance and and to me 403 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: that I think that's a big responsibility of our youth 404 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: coaches out there is to really guide them, to let 405 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: them know. You know, one of the things I always 406 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: tell parents is go watch. I mean, if you leave 407 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: in a country where you do have a university or 408 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: multiple universities around you, you should go watch the different 409 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: levels and see it for yourself. To your point, what 410 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: you guys saw, um, But I also think to your point, 411 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: it's it's one of those things that we need to 412 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: get everybody understanding it's okay to play Division two three 413 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: in AI. You know. I I've played it in a 414 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: high school in my career, and I was drafted out 415 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: of the n ai and played briefly as a pro 416 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: as well. So goals can be met, I think. And 417 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: there's plenty of places for all these players to be playing. 418 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: There's so many avenues out there now between junior colleges 419 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 1: in AI and Division three two and one. Um. You know, 420 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: in the most important thing for me for these players 421 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: is the experience needs to be good. You know, you 422 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:44,680 Speaker 1: don't need to try to go to a Division one 423 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: program and then sit for four years. You know, everybody 424 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: wants to play, and so go find the place that's 425 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 1: the reality of where you can. So I think your 426 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,959 Speaker 1: coaches have to help guide players to the right place, 427 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: and I think players have to take some responsibility to 428 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: do some homework and to watch games for themselves, you know, 429 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: to see that level firsthand as well. I want to 430 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: get into this. I believe youth sports or sports in general, 431 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: is a platform to help prepare kids to be the 432 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: best human beings they can be. I think you could 433 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: teach life through sports. I think it's bigger than wins 434 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 1: and losses. I think there's so much more When age 435 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: appropriately you you tackle things the right way, with the 436 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 1: right um, with a long term approach, right, That's just 437 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: my thought. Tough in this day and age. But taking 438 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: that out of the equation, how do you separated? Coach? 439 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 1: Like I feel confident now where I don't care when 440 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: I'm coaching my kids. You know ten you or nine you? 441 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,359 Speaker 1: Eight you? Games? Am I gonna try to help the 442 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: kids put them in the best position to be successful? Yeah? 443 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: Are they going to be passionate about winning? And losing yet, 444 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: But don't ask me as a parent, what's the score, 445 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: you know where I don't want to hear about that. 446 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about that, you know, but there's lessons 447 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: in losing and winning anyway. What's the line? How do 448 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 1: we teach competitiveness? How do we teach life? But at 449 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: the same time making sure it's not about us the coaches, 450 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: and we're letting the kids steer the ship is discipline? 451 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: Is structure vital to helping kids? How do you teach 452 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,479 Speaker 1: life through sports? How do you do it? You know, 453 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 1: it's um, it's exactly what you said. It's the environment 454 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: that you create every day in training. It's the way 455 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 1: you talk to your team. Um, you know when you 456 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: have them together. You know what it's before or after games, 457 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: before after practice. It's the structure that you put together. 458 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: I think you used a keyword their discipline to me. 459 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 1: And I don't mean discipline in terms of punishment. Discipline. 460 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,880 Speaker 1: I mean and discipline in the way you go about 461 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: you know, every day, and and studying the expectation. And 462 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: it's just one thing that we've always done anywhere I've been, 463 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: is you know, right from the from the very first day, 464 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: we set a standard that we want to compete with 465 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: and and the way we want to train, and that's 466 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: our expectation. We set a set of Now again I've 467 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: got older players. I'm not coaching seven year old but 468 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: you know, with us, we have a set of rules 469 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: and expectations that we expect everybody to follow. And there 470 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: are things that I couldn't agree with you more that 471 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: the sports is really about life lessons, you know. I 472 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: think the hard part is a young coach, you know, younger. 473 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: I think there's so many coaches out there that just 474 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,919 Speaker 1: want to win because that's how they boost their career. 475 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: I think as you've been in it a while and 476 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: you gained some experience, you understand the bigger picture is, 477 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: you know, developing these players to set them up for 478 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: the rest of their lives. And you know, the winning 479 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: will take care of itself if you've got all the 480 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: structures in place, the way you train, the way you prepare, 481 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: the way you discipline yourself to the things that you 482 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 1: know you have to do to perform um. And then 483 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: I think it's you know, I mean, let's face it, 484 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: youth coaches should be worrying not only about you know, 485 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 1: how they play on the weekend, and how they train. 486 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,919 Speaker 1: But you know, how are those kids doing in the classroom? 487 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: You know, how are they doing off the field? Will 488 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: have to fit into a coach's philosophy in the environment 489 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: that they create for the players, because that's what we 490 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: can make the biggest impact. Last point, coach, And this 491 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 1: has been amazing, This has been amazing. I cannot thank 492 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 1: you enough. You know, you got the mic. We're at 493 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: the s piece. You know you're receiving the Coach of 494 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: the Year award. You got everyone's eyes and ears. Um 495 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: you you got the mike, and and and everyone's wondering, 496 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: parents and kids, what do I have to do to 497 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: be seen? What's the best way for me to put 498 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: myself or flip side, How can I help my kids 499 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: put themselves in the best position they can't you know, 500 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: to eventually go on to be college athletes. Well, I 501 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 1: think I think what you've got to do as parents, 502 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: as you've got to let your sons or daughters compete 503 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,919 Speaker 1: and play and enjoy it. And as a parents, sometimes 504 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: as hard as it is, I think you have to 505 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: take a step back and you know, not critique them 506 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: on the drive home and and not criticize their performances. 507 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: I think you've got to be there to support them 508 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: in every way that you can to allow them to grow. 509 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: Because young players have to make mistakes, they learn from mistakes, 510 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: they learn from winning, they learn from losing, and that's 511 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: part of it. So we have to just provide for 512 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: them and be there to support them. But I think 513 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: we also have to teach them as young players to 514 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 1: be accountable, um, you know, for their actions, whether it 515 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: be on the field, off the fear, in the classroom, 516 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,479 Speaker 1: wherever it may be. I think we've got to create 517 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: that as an environment as parents to let them grow 518 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: and develop, you know, on a natural course. I don't 519 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: think it's should be one of those things that we're 520 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: putting them under intense pressure. They will grow and succeed 521 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: if they're in the right training environment and have the 522 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,640 Speaker 1: right youth coaches, and if you don't worry so much 523 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: about winning and losing. But more importantly, as a parent 524 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: and as a child, you worry more about your individual 525 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: development and being in a setting that you know is 526 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: going to help you get better. Uh, you know, winning 527 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: and under ten trophy is not really in the long run, 528 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 1: don't mean too much to anybody when they get to 529 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: bemteen eighteen years old and getting ready for college. That 530 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: would be my advice to young players and two parents. 531 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 1: Coach Waltrom, University of Pittsburgh, this has been awesome, a legend. 532 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: I just can't think you know, this has been really awesome. Listen. 533 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 1: I appreciate it, Nick, Thank you and keep up the 534 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: great work. That's Randy Waltrom, head women's soccer coach at 535 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 1: the University of Pittsburgh. Thanks for listening to The Reformed 536 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: Sports Project pot cast Dominick Quoticourt and our goal is 537 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: to restore a healthy balance and perspective in all areas 538 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 1: of sports through education and advocacy. For updates, please follow 539 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,719 Speaker 1: us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or check out our 540 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: website by searching for the Reform Sports Project