Sping Soccer Sunday

So I got asked to coach my oldest son's Soccer team again this year after I was not planning on coaching this season. I have been coaching him and his friends for the past 3 years, since he was four. For the most part, I have had the same bunch of kids in the spring and in the fall, so I have been with them for the past 5 or 6 seasons.

I had always coached with my friend Seth, but we had both decided we weren't going to coach this year, since neither one of us are soccer players, and did not feel like we could add much more value to the kids. We had been decent or mediocre at teaching the kids the fundamentals (not too hard with 4 and 5 year olds) but they are getting to the age, where they need to start to learn the game, and I am incapable of doing that since I don't know the first thing about the game. We also decided that we would be coaching our daughters in the fall, when they start playing in the fall. You know, go back to what you know.

I was all set to sit on the sidelines this season and watch Jacob play. My wife works every other Sunday at her Store and I would be responsible for watching the other two on those days. This would also give me the opportunity to keep an eye on Mollie, who has always sat patiently on the sidelines for the past few years and watched her older brother play. I was also a bit concerned since Owen is now crawling, and will be all over the beach if left alone. But the league commissioner called me and said they had no one to coach his team this year, and I asked if I would consider doing it again. There is no way I could let the kids and parents down, so I decided to come back. I do not regret the decision today.

I dropped the two little ones off at my in-laws (they gratefully agreed to watch them on my behalf) and then Jacob and I went to West Beach to play. I had two other fathers offer to help me out this year, which will allow me to sit back a bit more. The first hour is primarily practice, and one of the parents ran the kids through a passing drill. He worked them hard and I think the majority kids actually understood what they were being taught (further proof that the kids could learn more from others).

After a few more drills, we started the game and considering we have not played since October/November, the kids played really well. They did not bunch as much as they used to, the defense hung back waiting for the other team and they tried to pass to each other. I know next week the entire team might play completely differently, but I have to admit I enjoyed being outside on this cool crisp spring afternoon and watching them go.

It was fun coaching them, since these kids are all very adaptable and want to learn. They listen to what we are saying and attempt to do what they are told. There are other kids in the league who simply don't listen to their coaches and do as they please, these kids are not like that.

During the game, all the kids moved, participated, were part of the game and most importantly had fun. It make my decision to return to coaching this season that much more enjoyable. I hope next week bring such good feelings for a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds.