Coach a kids soccer team

“In the early 1990s, I coached my young son’s AYSO soccer team. At the first practice, I gathered all the parents and told them my rules for everyone to follow [...] I had to pull only three kids from games before the parents realized I was serious and became supportive. We won some games, lost some games, but won the award for “best and fairest” team three years in a row. The kids enjoyed their pizza and video game rewards, and I had parents asking to have their children on my team.”

“I’m so sorry you had a bad experience. It’s been four years since my daughter swapped soccer for swimming, and when I run into one of my players, who are now freshly minted teenagers, I still get a “COACH!” and a high five. They were good kids and we had a lot of fun, and considering I knew nothing about soccer when I volunteered I somehow managed to teach them a lot. Thank you to our club and others who share age and skill appropriate lessons for volunteer coaches.”