“To be as good as it can be, a team has to buy into what you
as the coach are doing. They have to feel you’re a part of them and
they’re a part of you.”
– Bobby Knight
When coaching a group of kids, you gain a new found respect for both yourself, and for them. I played soccer for a total of 13 years and I have been coaching for 3. In those three years, I have gained so much knowledge and perspective surrounding the sport of soccer. Every child has a different love for the game and a different way of doing things. That is what makes each team you coach unique.
When coaching a team of both boys and girls, you have to make sure that they understand that being respectful to everyone is drilled into their heads. When boys and girls have different strengths, but the same love of the beautiful game, the results can be remarkable. However, when coaching little girls who haven't even touched a soccer ball, you get to instill the love and appreciation of soccer into their tiny little hearts. That is what made me fall in love with coaching.
I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given as a coach; by the same organization I grew up playing for. Every single one of my coaches has impacted my life for the better and I can't thank them enough for bringing out my true colors on the soccer pitch. I wouldn't be the person I am today without any of them. To know you may be that person for someone else, that is one of the best feelings in the entire world. The second best feeling as a coach, is being able to see your team improve from the very first practice to the last game.
I coach with my best friend and it is the best experience that either of us could ask for. To act as a role model for so many kids is the chance of a lifetime for us. We both may be young ourselves but I think it is better to have younger coaches who love the game and have a ton of experience than a coach that got talked into coaching his daughter's team because no other parent would. In order to make sure your players love the game, you have to love it even more yourself.
I have roughed it out through seasons containing: freezing rain, 90 degree heat, player injury and not enough kids showing up to have a full 11v11 game. I can positively say that everything has been 100% worth it. Coaching soccer is one of the most difficult things I've chosen to pursue but it is by far the most rewarding. Every player is a piece of me and I hope that, I too, have become a part of them.
Soccer is a beautiful sport that requires an immense amount of skill. Without any coaches, it would be nearly impossible to teach yourself the entire game. Most coaches are volunteers and they give up their own free time to coach your children, so go easy on them. They may not do things the way you would, but the one thing that matters above all is the team having fun. What's a game without a little bit of fun?
If you love what you do, it isn't work...that is why I coach soccer.
