My Coaching Beliefs

1. Success as a Coach

I have been coaching soccer now for 8 years, I have an "E" coaching license and I have coached U-6 through U-16 teams. I judge my success as a coach by how many players want to play for me again the next year, how much fun they have and how much they learned, not by how many games we win. I try to teach the players to be the best they can be individually and to be the best they can be as a team player. I will spend equal time on personal skills development and team strategy development as this will benefit the children the most.

Too many players see practice as a tedious nuisance rather than as a crucial vehicle where they can work on their skills, earn respect from their teammates, and improve as a unit. I will always try to set a good example from the initial practice session that practices will be fun, challenging, constructive and rewarding. I want you to do the same, encourage your kids to come and to have fun.

Laps, lines and lectures. They bore our players and turn them off to the game of soccer. I do my best to avoid them and if you see me doing it, remind me. I want to make our practices fun. Some days I will let the kids pick teams and play, I will referee, but do very little coaching or interfering. This encourages team communication and unity, and they love it. I will always strive to be positive and give nothing but positive correction. I do believe that a negative comment benefits no-one especially a child. I want you to remember that as well. Be positive and supportive, no negative comments.

Beyond the instructions of the technical aspects of playing soccer, this is a chance for me to greatly influence the players’ outlook on the game. It is the coaches that establish team character and identity by how they handle winning and losing, how they respond to pressure and adversity, how they define acceptable and unacceptable behavior and how fairly they treat players, opponents and officials. I will always insist on good sportsmanship from all players and parents. This is a game for the kids to enjoy and have fun at, that means we must let them have fun. It is important that we not criticize the coaches and referee’s. This just erodes their confidence in their integrity and ability. When the team is on the field during games or scrimmages, please don’t yell instructions, yell encouragement to the whole team. If a player needs some direction one of the coaches will give it. I don’t want the players getting mixed directions from different adults. If you have some advice or a suggestion, tell me, I’ll listen.

5. Open and Honest Communication with the Players

I encourage a "two-way" street with my players, so that they are comfortable both listening to and me and speaking to me. I want the players to feel they can trust me, this will encourage them to give me excellent feedback and ideas, they will work harder and learn more quickly. All I ask from them is to give me their best. If they say, "coach, I did my best", then that’s all I can ask for.

Players always need to realize that soccer is truly a team sport. The sum of all the team’s parts together will reap great awards if everyone is on the same page. There must be humility and role playing with occasional situations when the player may have to give, not take, for the sake and betterment of the team. Teamwork and sportsmanship may very well be the most crucial lessons of soccer and all youth sports. Encourage teamwork and sportsmanship and help me instill this in the team.

We will never fear an opponent. Soccer is a team game and any team can win regardless if it is a "David vs. Goliath" situation. Always believe that our team can win and, more importantly, improve. But understand I don’t coach to win games at all costs, I coach to teach and to develop the players, by doing that the wins will come. Every child deserves to play the different positions regardless of talent and every child deserves equal playing time based on attending and participating in practice regardless of talent. This means that sometimes we may not win to allow this, that’s okay with me and it needs to be okay with you.

I love to coach soccer and I love coaching kids, I make sure they know it by getting into the practices and games. I need you to get into it as well, but most importantly show that you enjoy it. Bring a laugh and a smile along with a big helping of enthusiasm for the players to feel and hear. They will borrow it from you, with more emotion and effort in their performances.

Nothing motivates a player more than praising them. The first thing to come out of a coach’s, or a parent’s mouth should be positive, which then can be followed by understanding, then help, then constructive criticism. Shout your praise for all to hear, whisper your criticism for the one. We all need to help each other with this. If anyone catches another violating this, including myself, we need to remind them of this important concept. If you are new to soccer, learn the rules so you will understand and enjoy the game more. If you bring family or friends to our games make sure they know our team rules and how we treat one another. It is my job as the coach to maintain order on our sideline and I will ask anyone to leave if they are abusive in any way at a game or practice.