IMS in search of youth soccer correspondent
2009 May 12
Over the last several months I’ve had numerous requests to do more youth soccer stories. Currently the State Cup is in progress and unfortunately I’m stretched far too thin to be able to get out and see these teams and report on them. IMS is looking for someone who is very in touch with the youth soccer scene and has the time to report on the teams that are making news in the state. This could be done in a number of ways and I’m open to discussion in how this could be covered. If you’re at all interested please drop me a line and we can discuss the options. Please email me at insidemnsoccer@gmail.com or use the contact form at the top of the page.
6 Responses
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In this guy’s humble opinion IMS should not wade into this muddy water. I have lived and coached in 7 different states, its bad everywhere… Minnesota takes it to a new level. I feel sorry for whoever wants this job given the hyper-political nature of MN youth soccer. All you have to do is look at the whacko propaganda being anonymously spewed all over the “MN Futbol” blog to know what a nightmare you’re opening this fantastic blog up to by inviting in youth comments/discussion.
This is a great site with really good, objective reporting. I think you’ll have a hard time finding someone without an agenda to talk about youth soccer in this state, but if you do, good luck to him/her!
Though I think some youth soccer coverage would be great, Djam has some very good points. Anyone who takes on the youth soccer reporting had better just stick to interviewing the DOC of clubs on a weekly basis and then compiling a weekly report with results and standings. Also, turn the comments for that section off.
I’ll leave more thoughts when I have time, but for now I will say that I have some of the same fear of reporting on youth soccer. As Djam say’s, it’s true everywhere but seems to be four fold here in MN for whatever reason that we’ve gotten to this very sad and sorry spot.
By the way, readers comments have been GREAT so far here at IMS. However, I did set a policy when I started the blog and which you can find in the “About” tab at the top of the blog that states that any story that involves a minor will have the comments turned off.
BQ
I think some good could come from reporting on Youth Soccer. However, I would suggest not reporting on Youth Soccer in Minnesota but reporting on developments in youth soccer across the nation. I have often thought the biggest problem with Youth Soccer in MN is the amount of people we have in local leadership roles that are uneducated about organized soccer. I think it would help that situation tremendously to have someone reporting on other states organizations, spot light some youth clubs outside of the state, like Chicago Magic, Scott Gallagher, etc… As well as articles about what I will call here truly “community clubs” clubs outside the state of MN that focus not on developing Premier teams with players from 5-8 different communities but community clubs that have 2000 players playing in house leagues, C3, C2, teams. One of my frustrations when looking at MN Youth Soccer is how everyone wants to be a premier club and no one sees the benefits of being a community club. The Thunder and Lighting I think somewhat struggle because of this. If more kids were out on a soccer field because they enjoyed the game, the more fans they will have to fill the stands. I see a good year of educational reporting that needs to be done before anyone should start reporting on any of the MN Youth Soccer. Even then, I would only report on what is going on at Regional’s. Having written that, I obviously am not a writer. It could be interesting to get perhaps the Thunder players themselves to report on either their local club or on their favorite youth club.
It would be great to have an IMS corespondent who would write about such things Pat and I would support that idea. Right now there’s just one of me and I’m going to need help in doing that. However, I think that’s a great idea!
Someone should interview the Champs at Osseo.