by Claudia Bushee

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

When my son was eight, and had been playing soccer for a couple of seasons, his coach called me to take over the team. I'm an odd choice for the job of soccer coach of a boys' team. I'm a woman who never played soccer and never participated in team sports. Coach Norbert called me up, probably the last call he planned to make in his quest, asking that I take over the rag tag team. Norbert was a good enough guy. He knew the game, although I wondered if he had ever played competitively. He was tall, soft in the middle and whined at the boys. "You guys have got to pass!" he wailed across the field. The boys paid no attention, and once the play stopped, they resumed their grass fights, ended up rolling on the field, laughing. Norbert's eyes widened and he cried, "Stop that right now. Don't you guys want to learn the game?" The boys barely flinched at the sound of his entreaties, but they struggled up, moseyed over to the appointed spot to once again attack the ball.

My son loved, and still appreciates soccer. It is a tough game. One has to "see" the field. It's all about getting the ball to the open spot. I think he liked the social aspects, as well as the competition. And not just the competing against the other team. He tested his own skills; he juggled the ball around the family room and I'd find him out in the backyard slamming the ball into the fence. The simplicity of the game a ball, a goal, and some kids makes for the most elegant of games.

I said yes to coaching. I went to the soccer store, had a chinwag with the owner, who looked very dubiously at me, but welcomed me to the fray. I spoke with the league coordinator, Tony, who expressed delight. I was wary of his effusiveness. Why would this guy want me to coach? I didn't know a damn thing. But, he gave me a list of coaching clinics. I went. I had fun! I had never met a ball that I could hit. In fact, a college tennis instructor told me to quit at the end of the semester because even though I gave it my all, I was never going to be any good. So, having fun at a sport and being encouraged to do it, even though I wasn't adept, was a new experience. I went to many of those clinics over the fourteen years of coaching. I learned something every time. I went from learning half-turns and names of positions, to the intricacies of ball throw-ins and offside rules.

The first couple of seasons were a little rough in terms of wins. The league philosophy was to encourage the learning and appreciation of soccer. For the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>