Interviews with US Youth Soccer’s 2016 National Coaches of the Year – Part 2
Recognizing those who give their time and efforts to grow the game of soccer and perform an excellent job, US Youth Soccer gives the top boys and girls competitive and recreation Coach of the Year awards at the annual Awards Gala. Coach of the Year awards are selected by the US Youth Soccer Board of Directors on the basis of sportsmanship, player development, personal coaching development and community involvement — which is another word for citizenship. This year’s winner were:
- Rec Coach: Girls – Angela Huber, Rochester, WA
- Rec Coach: Boys – Patrick McCrory, Vilonia, AR
- Comp Coach: Girls – Monica Lovett-Groat, Stafford, VA
- Comp Coach: Boys – Xavier Rico, Milwaukee, WI
So what makes a Coach of the Year so special? Is it his or her leadership on and off the field? Is it what they like about soccer? Here is part two of SoccerToday’s Interviews with US Youth Soccer’s 2016 National Coaches of the Year:
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you like most about soccer? And, being a coach?
Angela Huber: Soccer is a sport that you can be any shape or size. Anyone can play. I love that! I love coaching because it keeps me in the game and it allows me to pass on the love.
Patrick McCrory: I love that soccer, especially at the youth recreational level, can be played by any child. You don‘t have to be the most gifted technically or athletically to play the game and have fun. In soccer you will hopefully have the opportunity to learn the game and develop as a player. As a coach I like to see the players developing their skills and building confidence in their game. Then, I love seeing kids take that confidence into other aspects of their lives. I love seeing the joy the kids feel over their experience in soccer. It’s great to be a part of a positive experience in a child’s life.
Monica Lovett-Groat: It’s an ever changing game, every time you step onto the pitch it is different, exciting and a new chapter. It is still very odd for me to be on the sideline, I still want to get out there and play and have to calm myself down at times. That competitive spirit is something I will never lose and the game gave me that. Now I get to pass that on to my players and see it grow and hopefully a few will keep the flame going.
Xavier Rico: As a coach I feel very fortunate that I get to work with kids, which I try to shape as a person as well as a soccer player. Coaching players has give me the opportunity to have a massive and important influence on the future of futbol in this country. I love being a role model for so many kids. I hope I will be remembered by my players for all the right reasons and they copy me as an example.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your favorite professional team?
Angela Huber: I honestly, am not into watching much professional soccer. My husband loves watching all games. He is a huge fan of the European league. I watch bits and pieces, but am more of a doer than a watcher.
Patrick McCrory: My favorite teams to watch are the U.S. National teams. My favorite professional team is Manchester City.
Monica Lovett-Groat: I have a few in different leagues, Olympiacos FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Xavier Rico: I have been a Real Madrid Fan since a i was little. I grew up watching Hugo Sanchez a goalscorer who made history in Real Madrid. Real Madrid went on to win 5 consecutive Ligas when Hugo played, so growing up it was almost a given that any kid my age would follow them – and I have been a fan ever since.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think US Youth Soccer does great?
Angela Huber: I’m so thankful for US Youth soccer and their efforts to spread the love of soccer.
Patrick McCrory: I love US Youth Soccer. They do a great job of producing educational materials and opportunities for all of us coaches to use.
Monica Lovett-Groat: US Youth Soccer has been a great asset with continuing my coaching education with licenses and help through our state affiliation.
Xavier Rico: I think it’s a great program created to support soccer as a sport nationwide, and to give this country an organized US National Soccer team that can compete. And with these new changes, we are starting to see a shift in the right direction, where players are judged on style and performance, not wins and losses.
Diane Scavuzzo: How was the NSCAA convention and US Youth Soccer workshop? Why should coaches come next year in Los Angeles?
Angela Huber: This past convention was my first real experience with them. They did a great job putting together the convention and recognizing people from all over for their giving to the game in all aspects. I had no idea what I was getting in to when I headed to Baltimore. The experience was overwhelming and amazing! I loved the workshops and learning from the greatest coaches in the world! The gala was like a dream. I am energized and ready to start Spring season.
Patrick McCrory: The convention was an amazing experience. We had the opportunity to hear and see so many great coaches talk and do what they are passionate about…teaching soccer. Every hour we were learning something exciting to take back home to our players and our club. The biggest problem was that there were more exciting sessions to go to, than time would allow. You could go to sessions that covered every aspect of coaching. There were classes and demos on attacking, defending, goal keeping as well as team and club management issues. It is an experience I wish every coach had the opportunity to have.
Monica Lovett-Groat: The convention this year was an absolute blast, the lectures and field sessions were top notch and getting to meet some of your coaching mentors in person is always amazing. It is a great networking opportunity and I really enjoyed speaking to coaches from other clubs, colleges and professional teams to talk shop. I’m already excited for LA.
Diane Scavuzzo: What advice can you share with young coaches?
Angela Huber: As soon as you figure out that the game is not about you, but about your players and their families, you will go way further in spreading the love of the game of soccer. Ask your team if they love coming to soccer. Listen to the answers. Change accordingly. If they aren’t winning some games, figure out why. Watch the games to find the weaknesses and every week improve in those areas. If you don’t know how, ask questions. Go watch other practices of the teams that are beating you. What are they doing that you aren’t. Learn from others.
Patrick McCrory: The best advice I can give to young coaches is to never stop learning and trying to improve your understanding of coaching. You will be a better coach by learning more about coaching kids and what they are really able to do emotionally as well as physically. Soccer does an amazing job of putting information out there for us coaches. US Youth Soccer, USSF, NSCAA and each state provide manuals, classes, diplomas, certifications, videos, and websites for us all to use to learn and grow as coaches. If we take the time to improve ourselves as coaches, we will become better at developing players and growing the game.
Monica Lovett-Groat: Never give up no matter what gets in your way! You will hit road blocks of every sort, trust me. You have to keep plugging along and remembering why you are doing it. \
Xavier Rico: Make sure training sessions are fun and challenging for everyone, including you. Trust me, kids do not want to listen to us talking the whole time especially at a young age, – the key to any kid’s heart, is through the game.
Get to know your players, every player has a different personality, everyone gets motivated by different factors, the more/better you know your players, the better they will perform for you. Be honest to your players, a bad pass is a bad pass, and not “unlucky” or “a good try” and vice-versa. The more honest you are with them, the more you are setting them up for success.
Be patient and always remember that you are coaching for the players to be successful for the long term and not just to win the weekend game.
RELATED COVERAGE: INSIGHTS FROM AWARD WINNING SOCCER COACHES – PART I
