Interview

1) What influenced you to become a coach and have you always wanted to be one? 

My love for the game as a player started my out - it was definitely not the money influence. I enjoy the competition during training and games but more importantly I enjoy being involved in guiding players both on and off the field and helping in anyway I can - actually I have.....

2) What was your career path and do you have plans to move even further in your career?

My career path used to be University or Regional/National staff - having a wife and 2 kids has changed that a bit. Less about me and more about them. So I am happy with where I am at - where I have been and what I have done. 

3) What were some of the challenges you faced in getting to where you are now?

1. No degree! In order for me to get into a college position (other then assistant) you need to have one. Low pay - starting out is not always great - getting with a good organization / players sometimes you have to be the low man on the totem pole in regards to salary. Worth it in the long run but in the beginning it is a grind. Parents - all the same just different faces - I have learned to distance myself but in the beginning - I was seen almost as a friend in a lot of situations. Never ends well if I have to make game day decisions and their son is not a part of the piece. I learned the hard way ... 

4) What is your coaching philosophy?

Making the most of every training session and game - you dont have to win but you have to push yourself to be better. 

5) What are some ways you expand your knowledge of the game?

First is the other coaches that I talk and work with over the years - this gives a more realistic approach to what your trying to apply. Taking a coaching coarse through the USSF and  I watch alot of MLS and Premiership too. 

6) What are some tips you would give an aspiring coach? 

In order to be a good coach you have to be willing to accept the fact you don't have all the answers and be willing to learn from others.

In this day and age - coaching licenses are important - but if you are looking to make this a career at any level - you got to have a minimum of a C National. This doesnt make you a good coach - like a Masters not making a good teacher - but it does help.

Be patient - realize it is a career - be willing to do more and not less. You can have a family and a coaching career - dont be a slave to the job - just do your job when your there.

Meaning of Life Video

 In this video Les Brown is speaking on the meaning of life and finding your purpose in life. The purpose of the video is to inspire people to live a purposeful and meaning life. Because there are no TedTalks or TJOP videos on coaching soccer, this video is the next best thing with me not knowing what my purpose of life is. I am using this project to help discover that. In the video it talks about how 85% of people are not happy with their jobs. It also talks about how the majority of people go through life without showcasing their greatness. In life we never really spend time to step back and discover what we have going for us. Les Brown encourages those who know what they want to do to go out and do it. For those who aren’t quiet sure what there meaning is, like me, to go out and explore to find out what your purpose is.  Once you find your meaning you are put in your “power place” in which you are more likely to be successful. Although this video is not about soccer the message it portrays is applicable to my topic.

‪theJourneyofPurposeTJOP. “Meaning of Life.” Online Video Clip. Youtube.TJOP, 1 October 2014. Web. 9 November 2014.

Keys Of Becoming A Coach

This article written by Ian Barker, the Director of Coaching Education for NSCAA is about ten ways of getting into coaching soccer. The vast majority of people that get into this career already have a passion for soccer and Mr. Barker recognizes that as he gets more into detail. Just like any other job, you have to have the desire to want to do and want to get better at it. Experience in a job like coaching is key. Although it may be uncomfortable at first, the lessons you learn through the positives and negatives are what will make you a better coach. Through your experiences you will be able to discover your goals and preferences as a coach regarding age and gender. Although there are many classes and levels you can get certified in as a coach, Mr. Barker lets aspiring coaches know that patience is key in regards to moving yourself up the ranks of coaching. He also says that playing experience is very helpful to being a successful coach by using what you see on the field as a player to help improve what you are coaching your players. Barker explains that when you are a younger coach is when you should take full advantage of putting yourself in situations to expand your knowledge such as working camps and attending clinics. One of the most important things to do is to start building a network of connections in the soccer and coaching world. As I was reading these ten things to do I can say that I have done the majority of them already just on a smaller scale. By continuing to play soccer at the college level and increase my knowledge of the game was one of the key steps Ian Barker talks about. I can potentially see myself as a coach and these ten ways are a good source of things to increase my knowledge of the subject.

Barker, Ian. "Not a Member? Join the NSCAA Today." Getting Started in Soccer Coaching. NSCAA, 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

Research Sources

1. The first article takes a look at psychological techniques used by elite coaches to enhance their team’s performance and be successful.

Freitas, Simão, Claúdia Dias, and António Fonseca. "Elite Soccer Coaches use of Psychological Techniques." International Journal of Psychological Studies 5.3 (2013): 56-70. ProQuest. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

2. The second article gives helpful insight on how to get into the soccer-coaching world.

Barker, Ian. "Not a Member? Join the NSCAA Today." Getting Started in Soccer Coaching. NSCAA, 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

3. The third article is about a masters degree program started specifically for soccer at a university.

Carr, Dr. David. "Ohio University." Coaching Education- Soccer Track (M.S.R.S.). Patton College of Education, 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

Research *Idea*

In college we are supposed to figure out what we want to do for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately for me, that hasn’t happened yet. All the readings and videos about the meaning of life have had me thinking about mine. Currently I am studying to become a business major. What kind of business? I don’t know yet. Although I see myself in the business world, as I think about it more I don’t know how I am going to let soccer out of my life. With that being said, I am also considering looking into becoming a soccer coach. To further my understating about coaching I am considering researching about it. Here’s a list of some questions I am interested about:

-What influenced you to become a coach?

-What do you think it takes to become one?

-What are some benefits of being a coach?

-What is the average salary?

-Do you need another job besides coaching?

-What does it take to be an elite coach?

-Is there a certain major in school that is directed toward becoming a coach or would help?

-Are you able to make a good living being a coach?

Well-Planned vs. Summoned Life

According to David Brooks there are two ways you can live your life. In "The Summoned Life" Brooks describes to us these two lifestyles. The first one is the “Well-Planned Life” in which you look at your life in terms of goals. More importantly, we have to look at our life in the long-term goals. He’s not saying that you have to know exactly what you want to do with your life at the age of 10, but he is suggesting that we start planning and doing things that will help us find out what we want to do. Brooks says," life comes to appear as a well-designed project, carefully conceived in the beginning, reviewed and adjusted along the way and brought toward a well-rounded fruition". On the other hand, Brooks explains a completely different way of living “The Summoned Life”. In my opinion this way of life is a lot more carefree and easy going. I say that because in this way of life we just go with the flow. We might know what people have said about a certain place or situation, but we are not able to fully understand it until we go through the same thing. In “The Summoned Life” we find ourselves down an unknown path hoping to discover our meaning through our experiences. Compared to the “Well-Planned Life” where through setting goals and working hard we are supposed to find a better future. Personally, I find myself stuck between the two ways of life. At the end of the day I am working towards the goal of being successful in the future, but I have yet to decide specifically how and by what (well-planned). In order to find out how and by what, I find myself exploring different things and “just going with the flow” as I said earlier (the summoned life).