The Impact of a Coach
When I was 13 years old, my mom and I sought additional training outside of my club team and high school to help boost my technical ability as a player. There were many coaches in the area who did supplemental training and we met with several over a span of two weeks. Only one coach stood out, and I trained with him for the next 4 years before heading off to The Ohio State University to play soccer for the Buckeyes.
The difference in this coach was evident in a statement he made when my mom and I met with him. My mom asked a very basic question, “How long have you been coaching soccer?” Immediately, the coach responded, “I want to make one thing very clear. I do NOT coach soccer.” My mom and I were a little taken back and for a moment felt that we had wasted our time. His next statement has stayed with me to this day and has impacted every step of my teaching and coaching career, “I coach people. Soccer is just the tool I use to do it.”
Through my time working with this coach, I found out, and now fully understand, what he meant by that statement. He was a gifted coach and tremendous teacher of the game, but it was not the training activities that made the biggest impact on my development. This coach’s ability to make me believe in my potential, to understand what it takes to achieve what is difficult, and to experience the true meaning of the word “commitment” when working towards a goal are the reasons I was successful. All these lessons went much further than the soccer field and still impact my life to this day.
I read an article by Bill Beswick on the “Craft of Coaching.” In his article, he talks about the 4 responsibilities of a coach: 1) observation 2) organization 3) instruction 4) motivation
All four of these areas are important, but the responsibility to motivate is the critical component of coaching. Once kids stop believing or become uninterested, it is hard to teach them what they need to learn or push them beyond what they feel is possible. Being good at observing players, giving proper and age appropriate feedback, and being organized during a training session will allow players to get more from each minute on the field, but the coach who can motivation is the coach who can make the most meaningful difference in a player.
In addition, he talks about the importance of the coach and the expectation there should be for people in this role. As coaches, we must always be conscientious about the impact we are having on the players we work with on a daily basis. In consideration of this incredible responsibility, every time a coach steps on the field with players of any age group or ability level, the players deserve the coach’s best. It is a coach’s job to motivate, to teach, to be prepared, be enthusiastic, and most importantly, be genuinely concerned about each child’s growth and development.
My staff and I are always aware of the impact we have on the players who train at SuperKick and see the difference we make through our interaction with the parents and the development of the kids. The parents put a lot of trust in us to help their kids develop their skills, grow their love for the game, and make them believe in themselves. We work with players of different ability levels and ages, each with different dreams and aspirations, but all with a common goal; to reach their potential.
- Tony Earp, Senior Director of Programming
