Coaches Corner
Important and Informative interviews with various coaches
These interviews are designed to help the player have a better understanding
of how their coach is thinking and what he/she expects from them.
Please scroll all the way down to read about other "Coaching" related matters
This page will be updated quarterly
Check back to read interviews with teen players who are assistant coaches
This is great feedback if you are thinking of coaching
(good site for coaches)
*Read the Coaches questions and answers posted below*
*This will help you to better understand your coaches expectations*
What advice would you give a player who is considering playing
DI competitive level (what should they expect commitment wise, etc...)?
Coach John Markey, Director of Competitive Soccer
Birmingham United Soccer Club
Players that wish to develop to the DI Competitive level in the hopes of playing soccer at the ODP or College level in the future must have a strong commitment to training and learning. Commitment to attend 2-3 training sessions per week should be a given. This means a commitment to getting school work done before or after practice, keeping up with chores at home and planning each day so that you will be able to make the assigned trainings. This commitment goes way beyond soccer. Soccer practice and games should not be in lieu of homework or studies, but should be a reason for being committed to keeping up with them. Your GPA, ACT or SAT scores become more important than your soccer ability when deciding at which college you would like to play. This being said, you should plan each week with your soccer training in mind and have a schedule set for getting all your work done. Don’t learn to live by excuses for missing. Instead, create opportunities for training.
Commitment to DI soccer also includes passing on other opportunities such as High School homecoming, middle school dance, a weekend at the beach, Alabama / Auburn football, etc. Schedules of so many thousands of soccer players is hard to control and can not be considered at a Competitive level. Players come to the top teams from many different schools with many different schedules; therefore schedules are set that provide for the best development of the players. Any conflicts that arise with social and school activities provide an opportunity to evaluate your ability to make a tough decision and weigh your level of commitment to your soccer development. Coaches ask for this level of commitment because we know what it takes for a player to compete at the next level, regionally, nationally and collegially. Our job is to develop top level soccer players and along the way we hope to assist in the development of good citizens.
Lastly, and in my opinion, most importantly a player must have a commitment to work on their own on improving their game. The most successful players I have trained or seen come out of Alabama soccer are self driven to becoming a better player. I have witnessed these players on off days on the field practicing and working on areas of weakness in their game. They spend hours at the field because they love the game and want to be the best they can. Ask your coach what areas of your game need improvement and go to your backyard or a nearby field and work on it. Grab a team mate or friend or older sibling and take them with you. Train with better players when you get a chance in order to force you to play your best and be challenged. In the end, make a commitment to love the game of soccer. The rest will take care of itself.
What advice would you give a DI level player
who is considering playing for college?
Coach Tony Schroeder of Kicks Soccer Club
Realize that if you want to play at the college level that you will be able to find a school that fits your criteria, because there are lots of woman soccer programs out there. A player that wishes to play soccer at the college level will have to commit to playing for the strongest team they possibly can. This includes playing the strongest competition and playing with the best players. They must be willing to train at least 3 times a week with there respected team if it is offered. There are not a lot of scholarships in soccer that will pay all their college cost, but a player can get a partial academic and a partial soccer scholarship to help in paying for school. With that being said you must keep up with your GPA, ACT, or SAT scores and your studies without having it affect your soccer training. A player looking to play in college will have to balance their school work with there soccer practices and games, so that neither their academics nor their soccer abilities will suffer.
Even if your team practices 3 times a week it is not enough individual practice for you to become the best player you possibly can. Working on their own is the most important thing a player can do that is looking to play at the college level.
This is very simple in that all a player has to do is take a ball into their back yard or to a local park and can be done by themselves or with a friend. This will not only make you a better player but also will show that you are driven to a certain goal and willing to do what it takes to achieve that goal. In the end if you want to play college soccer and are willing to put in the time and effort to play then you will be able to find a school that suits what you are looking for.
Here is the question for the two High School Coaches:
What are the qualities you look for in a Varsity vs. Jr. Varsity High School Player?
Coach Todd Schaefer, Hoover High School
The main thing that I look for in a player is a commitment to hard work. Players have to be willing to work hard to attain their goals and to help the team reach its goals. I would rather have a team of hard workers than a skilled, lazy team.
OIf course, the individual skills that a player has are important. Players have to be able to dribble, shoot, pass, etc. I also focus on the physical attributes of the player: speed, quickness, strength, etc.
High School soccer, in my opinion, more closely replicates the college game than club soccer does. Practices are daily; there are usually 2-3 games a week; you travel as a team, and at least at Hoover, offseason workouts are everyday as well. Because of that, how well a new girl gets along with the rest of the team is important. Team unity cannot be underestimated. The attitude of the player toward the coaching staff also comes into play.
Coach Stacy R. Shamlin
Girls' Physical Education and 9th Grade Head Varsity Girls Soccer Sparkman High School
The most obvious BIG three are skills level, ability, and fitness along with commitment and dedication. Do they have the skill level needed to go against a V team or a JV team? Do they have the ability to hang with a V player or a JV player? Are they ready to play full out for a whole game or am I going to have to take the time to condition them? Are they able to take the initiative to get out and work out on their own? A coach also looks at a player during try-outs to see how coachable they are. Is the player able to take constructive criticism? Will they listen to the coach and do as asked or just listen then still do their own thing. Are they a team player? There is a reason why soccer is a team sport. However, a coach also looks at how well a player will fit into the level of play and style of play. What is the chemistry of the team? Will this player do better with another year on JV to hone certain playing skills and understanding of the game or are they ready for the V? Another big decision point is mentality. Can this player go into a V game and be called on to perform at the highest level without breaking down? Can they play and make a mistake then be able to rebound or do they get down and take another ten to twenty minutes to rebound? In games at the V level if a player takes a twenty minute break before rebounding it could change the whole chemistry of play.
_Becoming a Coach
As a player, if you want to be an assistant coach you may do so
without a license. There are many coaches out there who would love
to have your help. Just let the Director of Coaching for a club
know that you would like to assist with a team and he or she will hook
you up with a coach. Especially on the rec level it should be easy
to find a coach who would love to have an actual player help them. If you think
you want to become a coach, assisting is a great way to start out and
find out if it is really what you want to do. Coaching is big responsibility!
If you do want to begin getting your coaching license, you may do so as
early as the age of 14 or 15. Check with your state office regarding classes
and requirements. Many state offices are offering the Youth Module Level
Licenses course on line now. It is great to have this on your BIO when/if
you get ready to tryout for ODP or contact college coaches. Not only
is it impressive but it tells the coach you are serious about soccer and
have a coaches understanding of the game. Players truly do not
understand what it is like to be in those coaches shoes until they have had
to stand there. It is a very rewarding experience and a lot of fun!
Here is a link that will give you some information about coaching:
www.ussoccer.com
(Click the link above and you will go directly to the Coaching information page)