Matt Hall Named Director of Coaching Where He Played As a Youth
“I am now the Director of Coaching for my hometown club, the Vista Storm. It is an honor, and I am excited to help the club, that helped me so much as a youth,” says Matt Hall.
Southern California’s Vista Storm Soccer Club (VSSC) announced it has named Matt Hall as the new Director of Competitive. As Associate Head Coach at San Diego State University (SDSU), Hall brings 15 years of coaching and soccer leadership to VSSC and holds a U.S.S.F. National “A” license. Vista Storm Soccer Club is a recreational and competitive soccer club in Vista, California.
“We are extremely excited to announce Matt Hall as Vista Storm’s new Director of Competitive,” stated Lupe Farias, President of VSSC. “With his experience and love of the game, we know he will bring a positive level to the club and foster a great working relationship with the community and our youth, his love and commitment to our city is a bonus. Together we plan to create opportunities beyond soccer to the kids in our city.”
“I would like to thank the Vista Storm Soccer Club board and all who have given me this great opportunity to be the Director of Coaching. It is an important job, and the fact that Vista Storm has chosen me is quite an honor,” said Hall. “Vista Storm Soccer Club has been a leader in youth soccer and has been an inspiration to its players and the community for decades. I am looking forward to not only continuing the club’s legacy, but making it even stronger.”
A native San Diegan, Hall grew up in Vista, CA and played on the very first competitive Vista Storm Soccer team in the 1990’s. “About 25 years ago I started my competitive soccer career here at Vista Storm Soccer Club both the community of Vista and the club has been extremely significant to my personal and professional development,” Hall remarked. “I am just very excited to be back in my home town with an opportunity to give back to the club and the city that started it all for me.”
Hall is the also in his third season as the Associate Head Coach for the SDSU Men’s soccer program. It is his 16th overall season with the SDSU men’s soccer program and his primary responsibility is working with the goalkeepers and coordinating the team’s recruiting.
In 2007, Hall was recognized by College Soccer News, being named one of the top 12 assistant coaches in the nation.
As SDSU’s recruiting coordinator, Hall assisted in helping produce three top-40 recruiting classes from 2005 to 2007, and three more the past three seasons. The Aztecs were ranked No. 39 by College Soccer News in 2005, No. 19 in 2006, No. 17 in 2007, No. 22 in 2009, and No. 29 in 2010 and No. 35 in 2011.
Hall completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Diego in 2001 and is a familiar face to San Diego State soccer fans — having spent three years (1996-98) defending the Aztecs’ net and he listed third on SDSU’s career saves list with 213. Hall’s professional soccer career also included starting for the San Diego Flash, which reached the quarterfinals of the A-League championships in 2001.
Here is an interview with the Matt Hall on his new role in youth soccer in Southern California:
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you first become involved with beautiful game of soccer?
Matt Hall: I started playing when I was 6 with the Vista Soccer Club. I started playing because I loved soccer, and it gave me a chance to meet new friends. Obviously, the game has evolved into so much more for me. Throughout each step, I played because of the relationships created and because I enjoyed playing and competing.
Diane Scavuzzo: If you look back, when did your passion for soccer start?
Matt Hall: My passion truly began when I was ten and I made my first competitive team with Vista Storm. Everything changed from the day the coach told me that I made his team. I remember it like it was yesterday. From that moment on, I was all soccer, all the time.
Diane Scavuzzo: Where did you play collegiate soccer?
Matt Hall: I was goalkeeper for SDSU and USD and then after college, I played in the A-League for the San Diego Flash.
Diane Scavuzzo: A good coach sees the potential in every child – do you agree? Does this philosophy belong in Competitive soccer?
Matt Hall: Yes, I totally agree. And yes this philosophy is great for competitive soccer. We obviously have to be realistic about how far that potential can take each player but everyone can improve and should be encouraged to do so. It is our job as youth soccer coaches in America to make sure every player understands this and, more importantly, we need to inspire youth players to strive to actualize as players and people.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your thoughts on the cultural pressures on parents to create super achieving kids? How does this impact youth soccer in America?
Matt Hall: The biggest concern with this is that the wrong person is the driving force.
For players and people to be great, they need to be intrinsically motivated.
If it is the parents, and not the players, wanting achievement, then at some point the whole thing will break down. Obviously, in certain instances it has produced great results. But generally, it is not a great recipe.
Diane Scavuzzo: How important is winning in youth soccer?
Matt Hall: At a certain point, winning is important. But if chasing wins stunts the growth of the player, then we are doing them a disservice. Being competitive and wanting to win is significant in sport but it is only a part of the process. The objective should be to get better as an individual and a team. Winning is the by-product of that process.
Diane Scavuzzo: What has been your greatest challenge?
Matt Hall: There were some definite obstacles in my life that I had to overcome but that is why I love soccer so much. It kept me focused and taught me valuable lessons that allowed me to be successful and conquer those challenges. Without this sport, and the opportunities it has provided me, I do not know where I would be today.
Diane Scavuzzo: If you look back at your career, what is the one thing you would change, if you could?
Matt Hall: I am now the Director of Coaching for my hometown club, the Vista Storm. It is an honor, and I am excited to help the club, that helped me so much as a youth, and I don’t know if I would want to change anything that has led me to this point.
Maybe I would have tried to play a little longer. But with that said, making that decision allowed me to start my coaching career so I can’t regret it too much, as I am extremely fortunate to do what I do.
Diane Scavuzzo: I know you are a very passionate and committed coach, but tell me, why do you coach?
Matt Hall: Irrespective of the game, I coach because I believe in trying to make this world a better place. I feel the sport is the best way to prepare young people for life and that is what our mission should be. If we produce great players, that is fantastic. But it is more important to produce great people and give them opportunities to better themselves.
I coach because many of the greatest memories I have in my life revolve around soccer and I want to provide an opportunity for young people to have similar experiences.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the role of a coach in youth soccer in the USA today?
Matt Hall: Soccer in the United States needs to continue to evolve, and it is up to us – as youth soccer coaches – to help. It is a big job, and it is going to take some time, but if we keep working hard to make our country better, we will be successful.
I believe the modern coach has much more to do than coach. We are mentors and educators who help young people mature and make proper decisions. We should be facilitators who work hard to show young people the opportunities that are out there for them. And more than anything, we should be role models. Coaches need to be examples for young people to emulate and look up to.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the biggest problem with youth development in the USA?
Matt Hall: There are some fundamental issues with player development in our system. There is that too much emphasis is put on winning and not enough on development. Another major problem is that there are too many people within our system involved in youth soccer for the wrong reasons. This job should be about helping others, and too many coaches, clubs, boards, etc., are involved in youth soccer for selfish reasons.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you think that soccer will ever become more popular than football?
Matt Hall: Well the good thing is the amount of young people participating in soccer is greater than football. That is a start. But it is hard to believe that soccer will ever be more significant to our media and culture. Though, there are certain regions, namely the Pacific Northwest, where you can see a distinct soccer culture and passion that rivals the traditional American mainstream sport hierarchy.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your favorite soccer team? Who do you root for behind closed doors?
Matt Hall: The United States Men’s and Women’s National Teams.
Diane Scavuzzo: What super power would you like to have and why?
Matt Hall: I would like to fly. I was a goalkeeper, so if I could fly, I would probably be playing….
