COACH'S PERSPECTIVE - MARCH 2023 
The Coach’s Perspective
Dear VSA Community,
2023 is off to a fast and exciting start. In February, players from ODP Vermont traveled to England and Italy to play and learn. In March, we kicked off a successful D course. The momentum will continue in April with coaching education starting up and Vermont Soccer days at the Revs on April 1. With all these good things in motion, I want to thank the clubs, volunteers, and coaches for all the time and effort you put into the game to provide amazing experiences for everyone. Together, let’s make 2023 the best year yet!
Inspiring Greatness: Publix “first game” Commercial
The link below is to one of my all-time favorite commercials. It’s a great reminder to all of us adults that our perspective is likely very different from that of our young players. As we head into the Spring season, this must watch video captures what matters most to our youngest players and candidly portrays their pure and simple enthusiasm for the game in such a relatable way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtAwOpQBYPI
Fostering a genuine love for the sport is important to supporting our players and it’s a concept we touch on in the Grassroots Courses. Below is a sampling of the questions asked of the student coaches in our Grassroots Course as well as some of the most frequent answers. I find it interesting that every time I ask these questions how similar the responses are and how they really highlight the challenge coaches have to create a learning environment that meets the needs of the players in a positive, supportive, and challenging way.
I encourage coaches and parents to consider these questions and answers. Would your responses be the same? How would you prioritize the list? Are there others you would add?
Why do children play soccer?
- To be around/ play with their friends
- Because it’s fun!
- To be social
- To expend energy
- To improve sporting goals
- For exercise and health
- For the love of the game
- Because they love competition
- To be part of a team/community
What do parents expect from their child’s soccer experience?
- To make friends
- To have fun
- To try something new
- To learn/grow as a person/player
- To improve at soccer
- To learn socialization, growth, positive work ethic
- To build character, learn from winning and more importantly losing
- To learn how to take instruction from other adults
- To meet personal goals
US Soccer Grassroots Coaching Education
Professional development is key to our growth as coaches, for those interested in upcoming coaching education opportunities, courses are added throughout the year. If you're interested in engaging in coaching education, I would recommend reaching out to your club’s Director of Coaching or myself. I’ve included a link below to the Vermont Soccer Coaching Course page where you can find more information. Member clubs of Vermont Soccer interested in hosting a course for your coaches can also reach out to me at doc@vermontsoccer.org.
Current course offerings: Coaches Courses | Vermont Soccer
Interested in coaching development, but unsure where to start? This free introductory module, which represents the first step in the newly revised coaching license pathway, is now the general starting point of the licensing pathway and it is the required prerequisite to undergo any of U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Licensing Courses. Coaches who complete the module will also be provided with four complimentary Play-Practice-Play training sessions.
The module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/16/details/1546
Upcoming courses**: (courses open to all)
9v9 Course – Shelburne, March 30, April 2
9v9 Course – Randolph Center, April 13, 15
C4C – Randolph Center, April 15
C4C – Essex Junction, April 15
Coaches Courses | Vermont Soccer
**Our April courses are filling quickly. If you’re interested, register early.
Vermont Soccer Day at the REVS
https://www.vermontsoccer.org/vermont-soccer-association-day-at-the-revs/
April 1, 2023, 7:30pm vs NYCFC
Referees Needed! 2023 New Referees
Vermont Soccer needs referees!! Hurry, one class left before the start of the season.
Click on this link for more information and to register for a class.
https://www.vermontsoccer.org/referees-how-to-register/
Olympic Development Program
In January 130 players from ODP Vermont participated in an ODP event in New Hampshire. Click on this link to see some pictures and what the players had to say about the event.
https://www.vermontsoccer.org/odp-new-hampshire-friendlies/
In February, ODP Vermont players traveled to Italy (Milan/Turin) and England (London/Manchester). Our players received professional guest coaching, played in friendlies, attended professional soccer games and toured historical and cultural landmarks as part of their international experience. One of our teams in England had the opportunity to learn from guest coach Ray Hall, Everton Academy Director who was the first to identify and scout Wayne Rooney as a youth player. At the beginning of the session, he shared some simple, but profound insights with our players:
- “All the best players are the ones that work the hardest”
- “It’s important to love football”
He also shared that there are three important things to remember before starting every training session:
- Make many mistakes… the more the better
- Learn at least one thing
- Have a smile on your face and love every minute of it
He said the last one, which he described as “having a chuckle in your boot” was the most important because it is that unique quality that makes many of the greatest players stand out from everyone else.
We are very proud of all our kids who participated in these trips for representing Vermont with good sportsmanship and pride. Our hope is to be able to continue to offer these opportunities to our players and I would encourage anyone who might be interested to contact John Curtis at doc@vermontsoccer.org for more information on Vermont’s ODP program.
Spring ODP Tryout - Registration link below
April 16, 2023 – Shelburne Field House
https://system.gotsport.com/programs/16H475648?reg_role=player
To find out more about Vermont ODP 2023 and how to participate in the upcoming cycle click here.
Thanks again to all our players, parents, coaches and referees for all you do to make Vermont Soccer so great. We wish you all a great start to the Spring season! Remember, we are here to support you in any way we can.
John
John Curtis, Vermont Soccer Director of Coaching – US Soccer A license, youth coach, high school coach, college coach, coaching instructor, and parent.
Director of Coaching John will provide the Vermont Soccer Community with his perspective monthly on important events, ideas and initiatives that impact players, parents, coaches and families (current and past).