Jeff Rogers, Mike Howard, Tom Davidson at NSCAA 2007
As I approach my 5th anniversary running this website, with the Catholic vs Kickapoo game coming up this Friday, I’ve had a chance to reflect and look at some of the things I’ve learned about the game. One that I’m fond of repeating to anyone who will listen is “if you want to play soccer in college, you can”. There are three keys to achieving that goal in my mind:
1) The player has to take the responsibility to achieve that goal, both on the pitch and in the classroom. Like anything else in life, it’s not easy but it’s there for the individual willing to do the work.
2) The best fit will occur when the player sets realistic goals. In my five years of coverage locally, there have been two players who have achieved success at the D1 level that began here (Ozark Conference) – Nick Dryden, Missouri State class of 2010 and Heath Melugin, Missouri State class of 2012. That’s out of 1000 high school players a year in the region, boys and girls. There are several more within reach of that goal, but for now, that’s it.
3) your Coach is the most important resource available to you.
Which brings me to these articles I’ve come across recently that I felt were worthy of sharing with you.
Professor Colby B. Jubenville, Middle TN State, wrote an ode to his college football coach recently:
Coach Ranager was destined to coach and more specifically, destined to coach me. It’s easy to say that now, but as I look back and reflect on my own life, without his presence and his will I can say, without an ounce of doubt I would not be the person I am today.
Developing your children, challenging them and teaching them to make their own decisions. Pretty important I think. I hope that is the type of Coach your child has. The tools a Coach needs vary based upon the age of the child as well. I am working to develop some resources targeted to age-appropriate coaching techniques but there are a couple of other factors that a website I recently began following does a much better job of discussing then I am capable.
Why you can’t be Mancini or Moyes
Coaching youth sports is a much different proposition. These kids don’t work for you and they do look to you as an example. If your attitude sucks, so will your players. If you abuse referees, so will your players. If you are disrespectful of opponents, your players will be as well. A youth coach has a job that is more like a school teacher than a professional soccer manager. With that in mind, can you imagine a school teacher behaving the way you have seen far too many youth coaches acting? Of course not. And for good reason. So why do so many parents tolerate this behaviour in their child’s sports coach?
So there you have it. As we dive into this High School season, as well as the Youth Leagues we have in the region, I hope you have fun and achieve your personal and team goals. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. And remember to tell your Coach thank you if he/she deserves it. They are very important people.
Here’s some good news. It’s only a Spring exhibition game but it’s a good start – the renewal of the SLU vs SIU-Edwardsville Bronze Boot game that used to draw 20,000 fans to Busch Stadium in the 80′s and was played into the 90′s.
