Soccer programs demand expertise and knowledge of many aspects of teaching. To provide a structured and effective program, coaches need to study not only the rules of the sport, but also develop a set of personal skills that allow them to effectively communicate their thoughts to students. In addition, such skills may include the ability to organize information in an easy and presentable way. Thus, creating and running soccer programs requires significant effort from coaches and their assistants.
Experience acquired by coaching varsity soccer for fifteen years allowed me to understand the importance of knowledge and personal skills. In addition, fourteen years of working as a high school teacher have influenced my views on the effectiveness of proper communication with students. By applying my knowledge and experience, I intend to develop a soccer program that would benefit students’ lives and help them score goals on and off the field.
To create such a successful soccer program, coaches need to focus not only on field performance, but also evaluate students’ progress beyond the pitch. For this reason, coaches need to develop a transformative approach to education and training. Such an approach should include assistance in both the physical and psychological aspects of teaching.
Equally important is the ability to take responsibility for students and their success. Even though the performance of an athlete primarily depends on his cognitive and physical capabilities, some coaches can improve the results by using their personal knowledge and experience. Successful programs can improve the lives of young people and help them unlock their potential.
By applying the knowledge from the training programs, students can learn how to effectively communicate with other people. For example, faster physical reactions acquired from years of practice can improve their ability to perceive information. In addition, students can improve their ability to focus on important tasks and apply it to various domains of occupation.
A program should also be based on scientifically proven information. Coaches need to study the biology and physiology of humans to understand the effectiveness of their approach. Furthermore, facts obtained from research can serve as a source of credibility and expertise for a coach and would only enhance their reputation. However, knowledge of the physical sciences only partly examines the aspects of training and coaching. To have a greater scope and vision, coaches need to study social sciences such as psychology and education. Such an approach can improve their communication skills and establish effective methods of planning and assigning tasks.
The purpose of this portfolio is to demonstrate how an effective soccer program can benefit students in all of their endeavors and aspirations by using research based on science and many years of experience of coaching. A successful program should not limit itself only to physical performance and accomplishments, but also evaluate how students apply the knowledge from soccer training to other fields. To achieve that, a program should include scientifically verified information. Medical data and research on physical performance should be used as a foundation for such a program. However, the personal skills and experience of a coach also play an important role in the adaptation and utilization of such knowledge. Therefore, teachers should use their best judgment when they apply facts and scientific data to their training programs. Creating a soccer program requires relevant experience and knowledge of all aspects of teaching.