Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Coaching Isn't What It Seems

Quote from an article in today's Salt Lake Tribune, about the highly successful soccer coach at Waterford:
"It's not that he knows more soccer than everyone else, although his soccer knowledge is vast. It's not just in his ability to manage and motivate people, although he's very good at that. He has a clear vision of what we're going after, and he gets everyone on the same page and he teaches them their role".
Pretty clear that paramount to success (in any field i'd argue) is organization. Over what you'd otherwise think is important, in this example the coaching skills of knowledge or managing/motivation.

It goes on:
"For all the on-the-field success that he's enjoyed, however, Capener says he looks back on three primary things: No. 1, he's tried to instill a love of the game in his players because of how much he's loved the game. No. 2, he's tried to instill in his kids the idea that the sum is greater than its parts. No. 3, he's loved the associations he's had with his assistant coaches — Hercules, Tim Dolbin and Scott Stewart — and with his players and with his opponents.
"According to Capener, some of his proudest moments as a coach have come in years when his teams haven't won state titles. But when everything comes together, it's been especially sweet".
If that isn't coaching 101, I don't know what is.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

RSL - Thoughts on New Season

The obvious question going into the season is if RSL can take that next step and win on the road.

While there is reason to be hopeful, and people point to the playoff 'wins', I think a lot of it remains to be seen. Some of those wins were actually ties with penalty shootout wins, and the final was the same on a neutral field.

I'm not saying the performances weren't clutch, just that they still have something to prove. I for one think they have a little leeway, what with winning the cup and all :), but I also still have the bad taste of frustrating regular season away performances in my mouth.

It seems that they're taking the right approach though, and it all starts tonight. I'm super excited, and I hope we all get to see them be the team we know they can be.

Go RSL!

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

To Deron Williams: Keep the beard!

It's at six now, there is no reason to mess with the karma. Plus we all know, beards give you power.