Southern Indiana United

Lately, people have been asking me about my soccer coaching philosophy. After careful thought, I can articulate my philosophy with precision. I simply don’t have one. Perhaps I should, but alas I do not. I have never thought about it in the seven years I have coached both co-ed and girls recreational soccer for Southern Indiana United. Enthusiasm, commitment and love for the players and the game of soccer are all I have to offer.

            Prior to the fall of 2002, I had never even seen a soccer match. My wife thought registering our girls for soccer would be good exercise for them. So I signed them up for recreational soccer with Floyd County Youth Soccer (predecessor to SIU). Jenni and Megan played that fall while I struggled to understand the game. I cheered from the sideline but knew I wanted to be more involved.

            When I signed my daughters up for the spring, I asked to be an assistant coach on their U-8 team. I started to understand the game more and loved being involved with my kids’ activity. The coaching clinic my club offered that spring was a good base but I did not fully understand how to “coach.” All I was doing was organizing the chaos.

            I enjoyed being an assistant the first time and signed up to assist again in the fall of 2003. The Registrar handed me a U-10G roster at the coaching clinic and I asked, “Who’s the coach?” She replied, “You are… good luck.” That is when my education really began. I had no one to rely upon and nine young girls looking at me for guidance. So, I read more, always had a “plan” for practice and dug in to make the season enjoyable for the team.

            I learned more that first season as a coach than I have in the many seasons since. I learned that it’s not about the game; it’s about the players and making sure they’re having fun. Improving their speed, fitness and skills is just a product of their desire to enjoy playing soccer. Although the score of the match is not tracked in recreational soccer, the players always knew “how it went.” So I learned that the kids do not have to win but they have to be competitive with the other team or it was not much fun for them. Accordingly, I knew to learn even more about how to coach my teams to make it fun for the kids. I needed some actual soccer knowledge.

Practice focuses on several skill-building games, followed by a scrimmage. The scrimmages usually last for half of the total practice time since that is what the rec players come out to do… have fun. I will encourage but do not criticize because young kids can be fragile. As the players get older I tend to make more suggestions because they want to learn more. For example, I will ask my older team, “Was that a pass or a shot?” They know I don’t care if it missed or went out of bounds as long as they knew what they were trying to do.         

Over the years, I like to think I have developed some actual soccer knowledge, not only from reading but from observing other coaches during practices and games. I have never missed an opportunity to listen to the coaching strategies and philosophies of others. My willingness to learn from others about soccer is how I obtained some soccer knowledge. However, it has always been the players who have taught me the most. 

            After seven years, I think I had as much as fun as my players. Many have gotten older and play Select soccer. Some still are on my team even though they have the ability to play competitively. I still struggle with actual coaching knowledge. There are at least two parents on my present U-12G team who have more soccer knowledge than me, but they allow me to coach their girls. I am sure I make mistakes in activities or formations but the parents only offer help when I ask. They seem to realize that I am enthusiastic, committed and have a love for the players and the game of soccer. The most important aspect of the game is that my players have fun. And they do!