A Saturday in the Life of a Tiny Troops Soccer Coach
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Ever wonder what a Saturday in the life of a Tiny Troops Soccer coach is like? Saturday classes at Tiny Troops Soccer are a blast, but a lot goes on behind the scenes to prepare. Parents see coaches smiling and ready to greet them as they enter the field with their little ones. Soccer Island is set up for play- cones, goals, balls, all in place. Once everyone’s arrived, the coaches go into action, welcoming everyone to the center cone for introductions. The class goes off (mostly) without a hitch. Little ones learn new skills through games and activities. In the end, we do our Tiny Troops cheer, pass out stickers, and the class ends, and the next one is ready to begin. But did you ever wonder how coaches prepare for each Saturday?
Meet Coach Rachel
My name is Rachel Moravec, and I’m currently the Fort Bragg, North Carolina, coach. I will have been a coach for three years come this August. I started in Fort Bliss, Texas, and then became the primary coach once we moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In my time as a coach, I’ve worked with many little ones and seen them grow and learn. Being a coach is an enriching experience. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure my classes are engaging and energizing.
Prior to Classes Beginning
Before the month’s classes start, there are lesson plans to review. We receive them shortly before enrollment ends for the upcoming month. Reviewing them comes first, and I also print copies to bring with me to the field for review. I look at the games played during the month. I also check the required materials for each game. Since I’ve been with the program for a while, I try to remember what happened the last time we played the game. I also consider any adaptations that I might need to make.
I have a 40-minute commute to the field, so I need to eat breakfast, get ready, and get ready for the babysitter to arrive. I always make sure to have coffee in my system. My gear needs to be double-checked, and I ensure I have snacks and a water jug. Finally, 7:30 arrives, and I’m out the door.
I try to get my head in the zone on my drive to the field. Typically, I’m playing my favorite hard rock playlist, volume turned way up. It’s my favorite way to get energized. When we did Encanto lessons, I had the Encanto soundtrack blasting!
Setting Up for Classes
I have a lot of gear and a distance to walk, so I have a little red outdoor wagon to carry everything. It gets loaded with my gear bag, snacks, cleats, water, and anything else I might need for my classes.
I trek to my field area and begin setup. First, I set the goals, then lay out my cones. Sometimes, this is a challenge because I don’t always manage to get them straight. Finally, I put my cleats on and review my lessons one last time before my first class begins. At the same time, I’m keeping an eye out for my players to arrive. As soon as one does, it’s go time!
A Typical Saturday of Classes
I currently run classes for almost 4 hours each weekend. There are breaks between some of them, allowing me to reset, hydrate, and munch on my snacks. I typically run three 2-year-old sessions and 2 3/4-year-old sessions. It is crucial to make sure that my energy is the same throughout classes. I compare it to performing; I need my last performance to have the same energy as the first one. Parents expect the same energetic coach in each class. No one, not even me, wants to see a tired coach running a dull class. That’s no fun, and that’s certainly not how we coach in Tiny Troops Soccer!
Wrapping Up
Once my classes are over, it’s time to take down the field, pack up my gear, and haul it back to my car. Drained and tired, I did well. I gave my best for my Tiny Troopers. My drive home is much quieter; I typically have an audiobook playing as I let myself wind down and think about the hot shower waiting for me. I know the rest of my Saturday will be slow and easy, and I’ll go to bed much earlier than usual. But, at the end of the day, it’s all worth it, and I wouldn’t trade anything for my time with my Tiny Troopers on the field.
And that is a Saturday in the life of a Tiny Troops Soccer Coach!
