Dave Edwards gained his BS Degree from Staffordshire University in 1998 before coming to the United States to ply his trade as a soccer coach. Dave directs all the STAR Consultancy soccer programs. He is the Director of Coaching (Travel) for Loudoun Soccer in Loudoun County, VA and is also the VA State Technical Coordinator for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He played soccer at the professional level in England and is a former men's college coach in the U.S. Dave also has a HND in Sports Science & Sports Injuries and an International Masters Diploma in Sports Therapy from The International Institutes of Sports Therapy (IIST).Dave Edwards: Director of Coaching (Travel) Loudoun Soccer; NSCAA VA State Technical Coordinator.
VSN: When and how did you first become involved in soccer?
DE: Aged seven, as a school team player in Wales. Started club soccer at nine.
VSN: Do you feel that competitive youth soccer is becoming too much of a business?
DE: In some ways, yes, but the global game has changed with society. Everything is a 'business' now - academic tutoring, music lessons etc - and in many ways, we have the right model here in the US. Education comes first and sports is second, even though it is very well supported on all levels. In Europe, many kids at 11/12 or even younger are trying to get into a professional clubs' youth academy in the hopes of gaining an apprenticeship and eventually a pro contract. Here in the US, the focus is on getting into a good school so you can become educated and play college ball. The high costs of 'travel' soccer is considered an investment towards potential college play or beyond.
VSN: What is your soccer playing background?
DE: Started playing competitively at seven and played through high school and youth soccer. Gained an apprenticeship and played for Chester City for 2 years until the age of 19, then went to college and played semi-pro through college, also making the England Universities and Great Britain Universities National Teams.
VSN: How does your playing experience help mold your coaching philosophy?
DE:I think it is important as a coach to constantly try to relate to your players as well as the ever-changing game. Therefore, reflecting on your own experiences as a young player is crucial. However, you also have to be aware of your current audience. The type of modern day player we coach here in the US is a very different type of child to the type of child I was or that I coached in Europe. Children nowadays lead more sedentary lifestyles and don't play in the streets or against older players as much as we did. They are also much more enabled by parents, teachers, coaches etc. So you have to tailor your environment to your audience. You cannot say "it was good for me when I was young, therefore it's good for them". And for two English speaking countries the cultural differences within each society are vast. Your coaching must also take that into consideration. I consider myself an American coach, not a British coach trying to teach a British style of soccer in the US.
VSN: At what age do you feel youth soccer players should begin to focus on specific positions, is that the same for the Goal Keeper position?
DE: Approximately thirteen for GK's, but possibly later for field players and it should always be a minimum of two positions, even once they are well into their teens, so they develop a more rounded understanding of the game as a whole. It is the coach's responsibility to keep all avenues open to players so they may evolve into or choose their positions later, once they have matured.
VSN: Why do you think the United States produces a large number of top level Goal Keepers?
DE: The popular belief is that the hand-eye cordination sports such as basketball, baseball and american football are in the genes of parents and in the culture here. There is probably some truth in that but I think, in addition, overall athleticism is at a very high level in American youth players. I also believe the level of GK coaching in this country to be better than anywhere I have visited in the world. Possibly because of the money involved in youth soccer in the US, a large number of very good coaches stay at the youth level and, as a result, GK's receive excellent training and develop quickly.
VSN: What do you look for in a player during tryouts for your teams?
DE: Technical ability, Tactical understanding, Athleticism, Attitude, Work-rate.
VSN: If a player participates in both a club team and a school team, which do you think should receive priority if there is a conflict?
DE: That's a tough one. For many youth, HS sports are an intregral part of the players adolescent experiences. So that should be embraced. Having said that, if a player is ambitious they are going to get a lot more from the club game than they are from the HS game. But, speaking purely theoretically, if there was an option to abolish the HS game, that would defintiely not be the answer. The diversity of the training environments, different styles of play and training/playing with different players is a refreshing change for the players for that part of the year. The greatest challenge is getting coaches who understand and respect that both environments can be good for the player and having them work together so the players stay fresh, avoid injury and never have to choose between one or the other.
VSN: How important is it for coaches to obtain coaching certification from groups such as NSCAA, USSOCCER and The FA?
DE: Extremely important. While coaching education certifications alone are not sufficient to develop a coach, there has never been a coach who became a weaker coach from gaining that experience. It is a wonderful opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with fellow coaches as well as learn from some of the most experienced people in the game. A broad, diverse collection of experiences from attending all different organizations is going to allow the coach to develop a clearer philosophy and belief structure about how they think the game should be played and how it should be taught. The net result of this process are more productive and positive training environments, better players and players who want to stay in the game for longer.
VSN: Describe the difference in the soccer cultures of the United States and Wales.
DE: Wales is a small soccer country - but does boast some big names such as Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Gareth Bale - and has similar social and soccer cultures as the other British countries. This basically means that young players, through their club teams, are now trying to be selected by a local scout to attend a professional satellite centre within their region so they can then be selected to attend a clubs full youth academy. The starting age for this process is getting younger all the time and is controversial due to the issue of players being put under too much pressure to perform at a young age instead of playing for fun/the love of the game. This can result in players being placed at inappropriate levels with false expectations from parents and then not making the grade and thus, leaving the sport altogether. This same priniciple is why, at Loudoun Soccer, we promote what we call an 'academy system' that supports player changes each year. The best environment for a player is one where they can be challenged but play regularly with good playing time and develop from playing the game. While there is some pressure for the players to try out each year, it does allow them to spend the next twelve months at an appropriate level with realistic expectations and great coaching appropriate to their level of play. One significant area that is very strong in all areas of Europe, including Wales, is the 'Pyramid System'. This is where there is a promotion/relegation process to various senior leagues above and below the level you are playing at. This starts with local leagues of various levels and progresses up through the semi-pro ranks into the part-time professional ranks and the full-time ranks of the Football Leagues, Championship and the Premier League. In my opinion, this is the biggest shortfall we have here in the US. There are not enough leagues around the country to support a high-level of semi-pro play in the post-college years. This results in a large drop-out statistic for older players and less aspirations for players to stay in the game and earn money through the semi-pro structure.
VSN: Do you feel the MLS will reach the same level as the NFL, NBA, and MLB in the United States, if so when?
DE: Perhaps not in my lifetime! But I do think it will get to the point where it is a very attractive proposition for many youngsters to pursue their dreams of playing on a big stage. We are probably at that stage already actually, or very close. But it will improve even further and there will be more earning potential. The league has been smart about controlling finances based on the experiences of the old NASL in the 70's/80's but I think that will change and the possibility of earning big dollars will be a realistic possibility for a lot more players in the future. Having said that, until there is an increased commercial value to soccer through TV contracts, high-level corporate sponsorship etc, it will probably never be as big as the NBA, NFL and MLB. In addition, the building of smaller, more compact stadia is, in my opinion, a huge step for the growth of the game. There will be a better atmosphere at all games and this will make people want to attend more.
VSN: Do you feel the MLS will ever be at the same level as the major soccer leagues around the world such as the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and Siere A?
DE: Again it will require capital investment on all levels, but I do think the growth has been and will continue to be, exponential. We are seeing more players coming here to play in the MLS at much younger ages than has occurred in the past. With the introduction of David Beckham you can see that it has sparked some interest form players who understand that they can make a contribution to the game in a country where it is growing rapidly. I also think that a lot of players recognize now that there will be life after football and therefore think that a post-career lifestyle in the US is an attractive proposition. This obviously aids the flow of younger players to the US and thus, leads to an increase in the level of play. However, it will be many more years before we see top-level professionals from Europe who are at the peak of their careers coming to America as they cannot currently earn what they do in Europe and play at the same level.
VSN: Final question, any predictions for the upcoming World Cup 2010 in South Africa?
DE: Wales first, USA and England tied for second!! :)
Special thanks to Dave Edwards for taking his time to allow VASoccerNews to interview him.
*To speak with Dave about sports coaching services, please email him at dave@starconsultancy.inc. or call 703-310-6245.
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