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Shot Happens #8: Interview with Tommy Park of Alexandria Soccer Association

We have another special guest on this week to talk about the tough topic of ongoing player evaluations. Tommy Park is the executive director of the Al

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We have another special guest on this week to talk about the tough topic of ongoing player evaluations. Tommy Park is the executive director of the Alexandria (VA) Soccer Association. After years of coaching in the DC area high school and professional ranks, Tommy became the club’s first full-time executive director in 2011 and has overseen its massive growth in terms of players, staff, and volunteers. How do they do this? Thorough processes focused on helping the player grow and meet their goals in an honest and useful way.

In this episode, the three gents talk about the best ways for club administrators, players, and parents to provide each other with ongoing evaluation about a player’s performance. How do we move away from number-based ranking? When is it time to leave a club (hint: not as soon as you may think)? What are some key signs you should look for to make sure the club is looking out for your child’s best interest?

For those interested, here is a link to the ASA Model Parent presentation.

Reach out to us: Tommy Park (@tparked / @AlexandriaSoc), Reed (@Coach_Reed), and Robert (@roberthayjr).