The Takeaway Check, Issue #78
My new experience coaching my daughter’s soccer team
It’s time to update my resume as I’ve taken on a new role: volunteer head coach of a U6 coed soccer team.
A few months ago, I most certainly did not think I would be here. For the past two years, we signed our daughter up for the local soccer program. I have to admit, initially, I pondered what it would be like to see her playing in the World Cup. Instead, we were never convinced she really liked it.
She’d complain the morning of that she didn’t want to go. We would get there, and she wouldn’t participate in at first unless I was holding her hand. By the end of the 40-minute practice, she’d be a more willing participant, but it would be a journey to get there. Our family joked that her favorite part of the session was the water breaks. Somehow though, after every session, she’d walk off the field and say, “Thank you for taking me, Daddy. I had fun.” We weren’t going to sign her up last season, but about a month before the season started, she randomly asked, “Daddy, when do we start soccer again?”
The first two years were just about getting the kids out there with a ball at their feet. It was more individual, and they’d have the kids play games like red light, green light and freeze tag with the ball. Parents were expected to participate with their children, so my daughter’s insistence of running while holding my hand wasn’t too awkward.
She was moving to the U6 level now, which puts the kids into actual teams where they play 5v5 games. First, we asked if she actually wanted to play —several times — and her response never wavered from yes. That’s when my wife and I talked about me being one of her coaches. Not only would I be on the field still working with her, but it would also be quality time together.
At first, I volunteered to be an assistant because I knew there were a couple weekends we were going to miss. They sent an email, though, that the signups for that age group was so large, they still needed two more head coaches. I was already in, and they needed help, so why not just step up all the way?
I was definitely nervous though. I’ve coached, and I’ve coached soccer (I coached the team at the middle school I teach at from 2014 through 2019, going 10-0 in what was my final season), but I’ve never coached four and five year olds.
I’m only two practices in, but it’s been a lot of fun and so funny.
Between every drill, they all want to tell me stories. At one point, we paused practice just so they could all tell me what they liked to watch on television.
We played red light, green light. When my daughter finished and got to the end, she gave me a big hug. So naturally, when everyone else finished, instead of giving me a high-five or running by me, they all tackled me and hugged me, too.
My favorite story from our first practice, though, came afterwards. As I was cleaning up the field, one of the girls on the team — the leading story teller and talker — asked, “Coach Phil, can I give you a hug?”
“Sure,” I replied.
“Yeah, you want a hug from your girl!” She called back.
Now, while all this was great, we still needed to tackle the issue of upmost important for a U6 team: the team name.
At the end of the first practice, I asked for suggestions. I received three: the Rainbows (the girl that suggested this said it was because everyone was wearing a different color shirt, but then her mom told her at the games, we’d all be wearing the same color), the Spider-Men, and the Grizzlies.
I had them vote. It was a slightly flawed system since some of them voted more than once, but the Rainbows received the most votes. Maybe I should have left it at that, but there were a couple of really disappointed faces, and I didn’t want to ruin the experience, so I said we would finalize it the following week.
At the end of the second practice, I brought up the team name dilemma. “So I think we liked the Rainbows last time?” I asked.
“And the Spider-Men,” another boy called out.
“And the Grizzlies,” I also heard.
No one seemed to be budging until I came up with a conclusion I’m surprised I hadn’t thought of.
“What if we combine them? Then, we can be the Rainbow Spider-Men Grizzlies.”
Jaws dropped. Eyes widened. I had blown their little brains.
“YES!” They jumped and cheered.
So there you have it. Team Shore became the Rainbow Spider-Men Grizzlies. It’s a mouthful, but it’s original.
We play our first game tomorrow. I have no idea what that will look like, but what I do know is they love the team name, and they will have snacks after the game.
I also know my daughter is enjoying soccer. When I picked her up from daycare the other day and asked if she remembered what she had, she broke into a smile. “Soccer with Coach Daddy! I’m so excited!”
Recent Work:
“Q&A: Connecticut Player of the Year Josh Marcus” (New England Lacrosse Journal)
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