The primary purpose of the CRYSC preseason survey is to provide coaches with information to better understand and coach their players. Each child is unique, and a coach’s ability to connect on a personal level can accelerate the player’s learning and grow their joy for the game, while coaching the technical side of the game. Thank you for your participation!
Throughout the fall season, survey data will be analyzed and used to improve CRYSC programming, help athletes better connect with the game, and ultimately, provide a better youth soccer experience across all teams and regions. Check out the word clouds that have been generated from CRYSC responses, as well as a brief analysis of them by CRYSC Technical Director, Donald Gillies, and Satori Soccer CEO, Adam LeFevre!
What do you hope for you child’s CRYSC experience this season?
“Improvement as a player” and “joy of playing soccer” were the clear top priorities. While this isn’t necessarily true for every family, it is true as a whole for nearly every team. For members, enjoyment playing the game rated almost exactly as high as improvement as a player. As coaches, we sometimes get so focused on the soccer-side that we forget to ensure each player is having fun. When players love playing the game, they’re more likely to passionately put in the work, short and long term, needed to reach their potential.
What are your child’s favorite hobbies outside of soccer? Why do you think they enjoy them?
Outside of soccer, spending time with friends was the most mentioned thing players enjoy doing. This is a good reminder that we’re social beings and our interactions with others often determines whether we’re having fun and feeling inspired. Creating an environment where the players feel comfortable and look forward to interacting with their teammates is pivotal to learning and enjoyment in the sport.
Which behaviors from adults seem to motivate your child the most?
The word “positive” was the most mentioned word regarding what motivates players. This emphasizes the importance of positive feedback, where coaches recognize and make a point of letting a player know when they are doing something right. Positive experiences players have on the field can then be bettered with constructive criticism.
Which behaviors from adults seem to demotivate your child?
The most mentioned behavior that demotivates players is yelling. The word cloud generated by this question makes it clear that there is a real benefit to educating coaches on holding high standards for the ways that they motivate players. Yelling instead of teaching or using a negative and nonconstructive tone can have a lasting impact on the player’s experience and growth.
How would you describe your child’s learning style?
The vast majority of players are visual-type learners. Long, wordy explanations need to be increasingly replaced with quick explanations, alongside further instructions while performing the activity. This isn’t easy to master as a coach, but there is high value in doing so. Teaching by example is an incredibly powerful tool in the coaching arsenal and the data shows that players are more receptive to learning what they can see.
Thank you for reading! You can look forward to seeing your preseason survey responses and suggestions implemented throughout CRYSC programming this fall.
