By Tim Bradbury, Director of Coaching, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
It has always struck me as a little odd when clubs or leagues tell me that they struggle to find youth coaches. I cannot begin to imagine a life without coaching. Please find below the Top 10 Great Things About Being a Soccer Coach.
1. The smiles and joy you will see on the kids’ faces as you create fun and challenging environments for them to learn and play in.
2. The personal growth you see in kids as they learn to handle challenge, disappointment and some success and the joy you get in being there to support them.
3. The joy and pride you see in the parents’ faces as they watch their child learn and develop as players and teammates.
4. The pride you feel as you bump into kids you taught to play in years to come and they smile and thank you for the great times and memories the team gave them.
5. Your own growth as a teacher as you self-reflect on all the varied situations you have had to deal with while maintaining self-control.
6. The lifelong friendships you will develop with both the coaches that you work with and the parents of the kids you coach.
7. The extra step and zest for life that comes from the increased level of activity that being physically active as a coach will bring.
8. The pure pride and joy knowing that you helped lots of kids develop a love of sport for life and how much a healthy life will benefit your players.
9. The great memories that you and your family have from the games you will play and the places that you will get to see.
10. The unforgettable and stirring emotions as you see how strong the bonds are of the team you develop and how the group forge friendships for life.
I really cannot imagine how empty my life may have been if I had not been lucky enough to start on my journey as youth coach. If you’re interested in becoming a youth soccer coach but unsure how to get started, contact me here.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/