I wanted to say thank you, from a coach's standpoint, for a great post! A lot of what you said reminded me of players on our team--again, not a "soccer powerhouse," but finding ways for players to love the game and take pride in what they do. My four-year starting keeper is graduating this year--I still remember her first varsity match ever. A freshman, she had never played in the goal before, and with nothing but preseason training her first-ever varsity match went to PK's. It was one of a very few wins that season, but one I think she'll carry with her for a long time...and many times I think the team coming together to rally after a tough loss has carried just as far. With the right attitudes and priorities, the positives really do carry farther than the negatives.
My thanks is to all of the parents like you--and I have been fortunate to be blessed with them--who support your daughters and sons in what they do, win or lose, and place importance on the quality of experience, life lessons learned, character, sportsmanship, development,and just plain enjoyment of what they do rather than just looking at the tally in the win-loss columns. Your support, and the values you instill in the young people you share with us, help to make this job one of the most rewarding and worthwhile a coach could ask for...I'm sure I speak for many when I say thank you.
