One of the most important things to me is to problem solve, find solutions.  As a football coach it is a constant process of …play -> reflect -> find solutions -> play.  I have always thought that there is no football match that you cannot win, it is just a matter of finding the right solution to beat the opponent in front of you.   In coaching every player has potential, and reminds of these words I read in ‘Heart of a Teacher’, and adapted.

The player arrives like a mystery box,
with puzzle pieces inside,
some of the pieces are broken or missing,
and others just seem to hide

But the heart of a coach can sort them out,
and help the player to see,
the potential for greatness they have within,
a picture of what they can be.

The coach’s goal isn’t just to teach knowledge,
by filling the box with more parts,
it’s putting the pieces together,
to create a work of art.

Two years ago I took on a soccer team that needed to grow, needed to problem solve in order to enable themselves to be successful.  That journey was a bumpy one at times, especially in the beginning.  With the commitments of the players, and a focus towards problem solving we began to enable the players to grow.  That journey brought some small steps of progress, but showed a limit to how far it could go.  That was until this year, when new strides were taken, more progress was made, and obstacles overcome.

And it led to this..

… my boys under 14 soccer team won their State tournament at the beginning of February.

To make that happen they had to get by a semi final game that required the best of problem solving.  The team applied themselves, overcame the obstacles and raised themselves to achievements even they were a little surprised to achieve.  In the final they went on to overcome and were crowned Champions.

Being successful is not about the winning, it is about the collective problem solving, of reaching to achieve, and to do it together with your team mates.  As a coach, to play an integral part in helping make that happen is such a wonderful experience that I have never taken for granted.

We ended the journey with, well, a journey.  A trip to England to round out our 2-year adventure.  I love travel because it changes you, it changes you in ways that are so subtle that they are hard to pin-point sometimes, but these Bainbridge Island FC B05’s will be all the better for sharing that adventure with each other.  I was delighted to be along for the journey to Manchester, and for the past two years !!