Coaching recreational soccer is less about what you know about the game and more about how much you care and how you show up for the kids. And because of this, it is something that is near and dear to the hearts of many members of our SYSA community and keeps them coming back year after year.
Here we hear from two SYSA volunteer coaches that love the recreational game and this soccer community for exactly what it is: a chance for kids to be active, learn life skills, have fun with their friends and enjoy the game without the pressure or expectations that have too often become associated with youth sports. If you have ever considered coaching a recreational soccer team, this post is for you…
Coach Jenna & the U6 Shorelake Monster Trucks
“The joy the kids have at practice and games is priceless. It is pure and wonderful and we all need more of that in our lives.”
What do you love most about coaching recreational soccer?
Coach Aaron Peterson, LCSC U12 girls
I played rec soccer growing up, and always had an appreciation for the less structured approach to the sport. I am not particularly interested in the sports where people are afraid to lose, and/or where there's some perception that perfect is possible. Even the playing field in soccer can be bumpy, so it can be a great means of teaching kids that it's OK to make mistakes, and that that's where the learning happens.
On our team a key concept has always been "if you're not making mistakes, you're not trying". As they get older I may modify that a bit, but the main concept will always apply. It's just soccer. Go out, have fun, learn, grow. Repeat. I tend to look at soccer a bit more philosophically than I might have when I was younger, and I'd like to think that this has been a good thing for the players.
Coach Jenna Hulse, Shorelake U6 co-ed
The joy the kids have at practice and games is priceless. It is pure and wonderful and we all need more of that in our lives. They are great sports because, at this young age, they don't know how else to be. They skip and run and are just happy to kick the ball, even if it's in the wrong direction (but that happened a lot less than I would have expected). And seeing how proud, excited, supportive and just happy the families are on the sidelines makes coaching 100% worth it.
I started coaching my daughter's U-5 team last fall, her first official soccer team, and I am SO thankful I did. Some of my greatest memories from my childhood revolve around soccer and the Shorelake teams I played on with my dad as coach. He still has our soccer pictures from the early 90's hanging in his office - the Shorelake Hot Shotz! And now, he's coaching my daughter and her Shorelake Monster Truck teammates with me! It's hard to say who has the most fun at practice - the kids, me or my dad! Getting to know all of the kids and their families, who will be our friends for decades to come, is another huge benefit to coaching.
Did you have any reservations or worries when you first started coaching? What were they and how do you feel about these things now?
Coach Aaron Peterson, LCSC U12 girls
I think I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't have the bandwidth to coach, or that I wouldn't be able to add much to the process. When my daughter Amelia's first coach left, I mostly just stepped in because everybody else stepped back.
Coaching youth soccer was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I one time had a player who was feeling down because their conditioning wasn't equal to some of the other players. I looked at her when she was taking a break and said something to the effect of: "I know this is hard for you, but I'm proud of you. Anybody can do the easy stuff. It's easy to do the easy stuff. But you're doing the hard stuff, and that takes grit and character and you should be proud of yourself."
What other venue do you have the chance to help kids develop life skills like this? Life can be hard. Everybody is eventually going to have some bad and very bad days. What you teach them may be what helps them to get through the tough times a bit more gracefully.
Coach Jenna Hulse, Shorelake U6 co-ed
My biggest worry/reservation was wanting to be sure I'm teaching the kids in the right way...I'm not the most technical coach, and when they get older, I might worry about that more, but right now, what's most important when coaching such young players is focusing on keeping it fun and positive, and anyone can do that!
Yes I want them to pass with the inside of their foot, and not their toes, and we do talk about that, but they leave every practice and game smiling and that's what matters at this point. They cheer for each other, they pass to each other, they laugh and have fun. I want to build great teammates and team players, so hopefully when the time comes to really start focusing on more technique, they will have the sportsmanship thing down!
Are you planning to coach again this fall season and why?
Coach Aaron Peterson, LCSC U12 girls
Yes! I have had a pretty broad range of athletic abilities on my team, and it has been my great pleasure to try to find ways to help each player grow in their own way. It's possible that I could have used more high intensity drills (e.g. lots of running), but I have sometimes had players who weren't sure they were athletes yet, and I needed to find ways for them to grow their abilities without setting them up for failure.
This past spring season, some of the kids who maybe thought they might not be athletes have now decided that they love the game and are even searching out soccer activities on their own time. At the same time, some of the more athletic players deserve to be challenged as well, and this is where it is important to have fun, engaging drills/games during practice so that nobody is getting less than their share of growth opportunities.
To answer the specific question, we've helped the players start to develop some new skills over the fall/spring seasons, and I'm excited for them to keep applying these and watching them grow even more in the fall season.
Coach Jenna Hulse, Shorelake U6 co-ed
I can't imagine not coaching the Monster Trucks again. We have four of our six original kids returning (the others live a bit farther away), and several friends of our teammates signed up for the fall already. All of our parents are super supportive, kind and thankful, so coaching their kids is a treat for me!
What advice would you offer to someone who is interested in coaching but is maybe on the fence?
Coach Aaron Peterson, LCSC U12 girls
First, as long as the kids are challenged and having fun you can't go wrong. Don't be afraid to be a bit goofy if you think it adds positive energy to a drill/game in practice. Second, get the kids as many touches on the ball as possible. Search for something like "most fun kids soccer drills", then pick a couple that appeal to you, and will help the kids keep moving while picking up skills.
Also, you don't have to do it alone. There is often at least one other parent who is willing to help out as a co-coach or even with things like substitutions or covering for vacations.
Finally, and possibly most important. WSU football announcer Bob Robertson used to say "Always be a good sport. Be a good sport All Ways." That second statement has a ton of wisdom in it that applies far beyond the soccer field; how to win AND lose gracefully, how to encourage teammates instead of criticize, how to keep going when something is difficult, etc. If you have any interest in helping kids to learn the importance of the 2nd statement, while having a lot of fun, you should definitely consider coaching.
Coach Jenna Hulse, Shorelake U6 co-ed
I don't think you'll regret trying, but you really might regret not trying, so just DO IT! As long as you enjoy being around kids, and want to teach them to be kind, positive, hard working and honest out on the field/in life, you can make a positive impact on the life of MANY kids by coaching.
Also...when they are this young, we are at all the practices and games anyway, so it's not that much bigger of a commitment. It's worth it! And worst case, if you don't love it, you can say you tried and be that much more supportive of your child's future coaches. You'll certainly make some great memories with your kiddo!
