December 1, 2024

Coaching my kids’ soccer teams is something I have done since they were little. Now that my youngest is in high school, I am facing the end of that journey.

I’ve learned a lot in the process, some of which the author, Rory Smith, discusses. I am a fan of his, having listened to him several times on the excellent Men in Blazers podcast. If nothing else, this is a great takeaway from the article, and something all youth coaches should understand:

They are not there to win. They are not there to fulfill your dreams. They are there to feel the joy of playing, to love the game, to learn all it can teach about teamwork and endeavor and exercise.