General Philosophy
We do not coach girls, we train FEMALE ATHLETES!!!
‘Girls’ is an inappropriate term and does not keep with the high level of soccer we intend to play. We work hard, we train hard and we play hard. We expect the kind of play a serious athletic soccer player would execute. When a head ball is needed, we expect the ball to be headed. We will play an aggressive, attacking style of soccer at the highest achievable level.
As a coaching staff, we will do our absolute best to improve your technical ability (footskills, passing, shooting), tactical comprehension (understanding the flow of the game, ability to analyze play, making appropriate decisions), physical capabilities (fitness, strength) and psychological outlook (confidence, self-worth, acceptance of responsibility).
In turn, we expect you to expect to play. The only reason to participate is to play and compete. It is not only acceptable for young women to compete against each other, it is imperative and we expect nothing less. Bring everything you have to each training session and contest, and you will be amazed at what you are able to achieve. During the regular season, all players will participate regularly in each match. We expect you to strive to meet our expectations and we will do our best to meet your desire to play. During the post season, those players that are bringing us the most success will dominate play. This is competition. This is real life. Each and every one of you is capable of being that player that brings us success. How far we can go is up to you!
Our philosophy boils down to one single concept: Do the right thing! As coaches we will set the example and do what is right. We expect the same of our players and parents. The heart of this approach is comprised of three questions:
- 1. Can I Trust You?
As a player, can I trust the other players to support me physically and mentally
during the match? Can I have the same reliance on all players off the field? As a coach, can I trust that you will consistently do what you have been taught? Am I providing a consistent role model with fair and reasonable decisions so that the players can trust in my assessments of what is best for them and the team?
- 2. Are You as Committed as I Am?
Do you work as hard as you can at practice? Do you try to improve your skills, fitness and strength during the off-season? Do you do what is right for the team to perform at its highest level? Do we continually evaluate player and team weaknesses and work to correct them? Do we continually work with our players to make them the best individual players and the best team it can be?
- 3. Do You Care About Me as a Person?
We strive to win. However, in the end, what is most important is that the young female athletes involved in this sport and on this team have grown individually and collectively. If you are productive young citizens with a positive self-image and respect and consideration for those with whom you work, today and in the future, then we have achieved success. We want to see all of our young women succeed, in sports and in life. We want all of you to feel that you have contributed to the success of the team. Sometimes that may require some forthright, frank communication. We need you to understand what is required and why it is important. Our comments are intended to assist you in that understanding. It is never personal! We set very high standards and great expectations and then we work as hard as we possibly can to achieve them.
We hope that the parents understand and support our philosophy. State Championships are wonderful events. But, soccer is, after all, just a game. The game must never become bigger than life. Objectivity, for a parent, is difficult, yet necessary for her development as a player and a young woman. Honesty and frank communication are often the best policy. Our kids are quite intelligent these days. If she comes off of the field after playing poorly, she knows she has played poorly. If we tell her she did a nice job when she knows she did not, it means one of two things: either we do not know or we do not care. I DO know and I DO care. I will not patronize my children so I will certainly not patronize yours. They will be confident in this environment if they know they are safe and will get honest feedback. We will continually push them outside of their comfort zone so they can learn, grow and gain confidence. I have attached some documentation directed toward you to give you some idea of our general expectations of you as parents.
