Richmond FC - New Turf

Soccer in Richmond just got a bonus. The new Minoru 2 Turf is ready!   Terrible for parking, but the turf is nice.   Laid over a base of sand, the turf has a spongy feel,similar to decent grass.  The field runs east to west, so sun is only an issue in the early morning.

Played our first game there on Nov 15....was a great day, but a bad loss. 1-0; now we are out of the Cup.

Sigh.  Still, it was a nice day.

What a difference a year can make...

Soccer Season is upon us again. Coaching u14 girls house team, with most of the same girls as last year. They are a handful but so much fun. They work hard and all get along so well (very unusual for this age!)  Two games in, undefeated and allowed no goals.  Lost three players to the Gold team, proud that I was able to help get them to a higher level, sad to see them go.  The remaining young ladies are great though. Should be a fabulous year.

On the boys side, was relegated down to the u16 Silver team, after coaching Gold for the past 5 years. Politics involved - sigh.  I must say, the u16 team has its challenges.  They have not had any "soccer" coaching, have 8 new players and I am asking them to learn a new formation. They are troupers and work hard. There is some serious raw talent on this team. Lost the first one (close!), but came back strong in the 2nd game (against the toughest team in the division). This team has heart.

The best part of both teams, is the parents. I haven't' had such a great group of parents in 5 years. It is amazing how much fun sports can be when you have an engaged, positive parental group, interested in seeing their kids advance and have fun.

I am so thankful and I am a happy coach again!

What's the point?

Soccer, Baseball, Ball Hockey, Rugby....who gets it right?  What is it all about?  Who is it about?

My kids play lots of sports, both the boys and the girl.  I have been a spectator, and a coach though 15 years of their activities, and if my body holds up, I will continue to be involved.   Through the years, I have seen many strange and wonderful things in the kids sports world.

Is it about winning?  Player development? Engaging players? Community? Some people think great athletes are born.  Some think great athletes are made. I think great athletes are a combination. They are coached, and guided and moulded. The difference between any two players is opportunity. Give an athlete the best coaching you can, give them guidance and direction. Provide them motivation by engaging them and giving support; it's a start. Players need the opportunity to develop. This can only happen with opportunity. Players need to be given the opportunity to succeed or fail, and this can only be done in a game environment.

Coaches need to realize kids will fail, and through failure they will learn to succeed. Put them in game situation, and if they make a mistake, let them work though it. Don't take them out of the game, encourage them to rise to the challenge. 

It has taken me a long time to learn that it is not all about winning, but by engaging players, developing their skills and forming a community around the sport they play in, winning is a by-product.

So, Who gets it right? What is it all about? Who is it about? What's the point? Good questions. What is the answer? Ask the kids.