What is the value of a high school coach? It is a question that I sometimes ask myself and ask of my peer coaches. We know that many of us do not coach for financial gains alone. The average public high school coach in the state of Massachusetts makes somewhere around $4,000 to $6,000 per fall … [Read more...]
Coach’s Perspective: How to make players’ mental health a point of focus
Someone recently asked me how I got into coaching high school soccer. My answer was a quick and easy one. "Because of my high school coach and the experiences that I had as a high school player." I’ve been at the helm for Pembroke (Mass.) High School for nine years now. We have had our ups and … [Read more...]
Coach’s Perspective: The case for playing high school soccer
I recently had a phone call with a good friend of mine, who is also a local high school soccer coach. His program is one of the strongest and most consistent there is in the state of Massachusetts. As a coach, he is one of the most accomplished there is in our local game, from both a results … [Read more...]
Coach’s Perspective: Why what happens in the summer shows in the fall
School is out and summer is here in New England. Our high school student-athletes will be busy with quality time with family and friends, possible summer jobs and enjoying the best weather time of the year in our region. As a high school coach, I am also hoping that they will be busy working on … [Read more...]
Coach’s Perspective: How to be diligent in the quest for picking the right club
With the month of May in focus, our local club soccer world will have a two-tiered focus for their organizations and ultimately for each player and family. The first and most immediate priority is the current spring 2023 season. The second and more intermediate target involves looking ahead to the … [Read more...]
Coach’s Perspective: Observations and lessons from local training sessions
When I first started writing for the New England Soccer Journal back in 2013, the focus on my column was to support the "volunteer coach." As the years passed, the column focus expanded a bit to cover topics for all coaches at all levels (volunteer, club, high school). Much has changed for me … [Read more...]