Let's give you the punch line right now, as I see it, of course. The mom and pop coaches are THE most important component in soccer's sustainability as an organized sport in Canada.
You may hear the sentiment that parents should not be coaching their own children. Maybe so, but that's not a realistic scenario. so why go there?
When it comes to elite programs involving talent identification, tryouts, selections, uneven playing time, etc, parent coaches may not be suitable. If it's avoidable, I agree 100%. (Unless you're Walter Gretzky, you will probably not have 100% comfort as a parent coaching a travel sport)
Before that age arrives, there is an army of soccer players out there looking to play.
Kudos to the Ontario Soccer Association and other provincial federations for investing in and stressing grassroots soccer.
In June 2013, I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in a 4-day FIFA Grassroots Workshop
