Welcome to our SYSA educational series! This series is where we provide advice, guidance and useful tools for parents, coaches and volunteers within the Seattle Youth Soccer Association.
As recreational neighborhood soccer programs across Seattle start to open up their fall registration, a question comes to mind for a lot of local parents. Should I volunteer to coach youth soccer this year? Should I volunteer to coach my kids team?
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Yes, it can seem like a big commitment, but it’s a commitment that comes with so many benefits. Here's a few of the reasons why volunteering to coach a youth soccer team is totally worth it:
You get to connect in new ways
Volunteering to coach a youth soccer team put you into a position that connects you with your community. Not only does it get you out into your neighborhood for practice sessions at the local park, but it also allows you the chance to interact with the other parents and volunteer coaches. Putting yourself into an environment with like-minded people who share the same values gives you the opportunity to expand your social circle.
Volunteering to coach your kids soccer team also allows you the opportunity to connect with your child in a new and different way. Not only will you get to spend time with them, but you'll be in a new environment together where you are able to learn more about each other and add to your relationship.
You get to play soccer, and soccer is fun!
One of the best reasons to volunteer to coach a youth soccer team is that it's fun! Volunteering to coach youth soccer gets you outside, gets you active and gets you enjoying something new. Coaching can be a refreshing change of pace from your other daily activities and commitments.
{Related read: Keeping soccer fun! Here's why it's so important}
Also, if you have previous soccer experience, volunteering to coach a youth soccer team can help you rekindle your love for the game. Coaching can motivate you and spur your curiosity to want to learn more, further expand your soccer knowledge and become a student of the beautiful game!
You get to see players improve
One of the most rewarding parts about working with kids on the soccer field is seeing them learn something new and grow from it. Over the course of the season, seeing the team and individual players grow and prosper is hugely inspiring. It's fulfilling to see them find success, especially when they worked hard for it.
And we're not talking about success as in only scoring goals and winning games, we're talking about success when it comes to the little things: improving your touch, learning how to pass, learning how to get along and work together with teammates. All those little things that matter and make the game more enjoyable.
You experience personal growth
Volunteering to coach a youth soccer team can be huge for self-development and personal growth. Taking on new challenges like coaching can put you into situations where you have to expand. Here are just a few examples.
Coaching can help you become more self-aware of how your emotions, body language and communication impacts those around you. Coaching can help you develop patience on several fronts: patience for the shorter attention spans of kids, and patience for the process of progression and improvement. Coaching also requires a lot of self-reflection and ability to objectively look at what you are doing and how you might be able to do things differently.
You get to give back
If you are someone who had a positive sports experience in their youth, you might feel drawn to giving back and paying it forward. Coaching allows you that opportunity.
Giving back to your community is really important because good volunteers are the biggest piece of keeping nonprofit sports programs alive and well. Most neighborhood youth recreational soccer programs wouldn't be functional if it wasn't for their dedicated, hard-working volunteers. Volunteers make it possible for kids in the community to have the opportunity to play soccer, have fun and learn valuable life skills in the process.
There are many, many benefits to volunteering to coach youth soccer, even beyond our list here. While it is indeed a time and energy commitment, the return is huge - and not just for the players but for YOU as well. The benefits you get from coaching are really something special that you can't get anywhere else.
