Goal Reflection Essay

     A few years ago, I volunteered to coach my daughter in her first year of soccer. There was a need for coaches at the YMCA. I was a body who liked sports, so I showed up. Little did I know that would be just what I was looking for in terms of my future career. I brought some of my training and experience from my military career to the soccer field, but 3- and 4-year-olds are much more intimidating than a bunch of twenty something year old army guys. These kids had such a passion for life, it was inspiring. I wanted to be the best I could for them, just like I do my own daughter. I spent hours researching soccer drills and calling all of my buddies who played soccer in high school. I was trying to piece together a plan of success for each of these little kids. I wanted them to have the best experience possible. I stumbled upon a book by Joe Ehrmann called Inside Out Coaching. I opened this book and knew before I finished part one that I needed to grow myself to be a better coach for these kids. I decided to further my education at Michigan State University and applied for the Master of Arts in Education Degree Program with a concentration in Sports Coaching and Leadership, setting the small achievable goal to take classes to better coach and educate these kids at the local YMCA as well as my own sports loving daughter.

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     I am still finishing out my career in the military and furthering my education, while coaching to fulfill my passion of mentoring little athletes. While at MSU I have taken several courses in coaching that have added to my toolbox. However, the most valuable skill I have learned from my time at MSU was to never stop developing.

     Long term I had envisioned the goal to coach my daughter as she progressed through soccer. She has since switched sports. However, I am still able to help her grow herself as an athlete in the healthiest way from home and in the stands. Additionally, I hope to help other young athletes to grow and reach their own athletic goals while giving them a solid foundation that helps them learn life skills that they can transfer from sports to their own personal life. I believe my small achievable goals of educating myself to be a better coach at the local YMCA and help educate my own daughter has turned into my future career goal to mentor young athletes through sports. While my initial goal was to grow as a coach and parent it has morphed into an entire career path for me that offers such a great deal of fulfillment. Regardless, as to where the future takes me, I will know that I have the tools to make a difference for each athlete that I work with by giving them skills they can carry with them forever. Most people have at least one story of a coach that has influenced them. I can think back to my younger years as an athlete and think of my very first coach and how he influenced my life, probably without even knowing. I hope I can be the type of coach that leaves a positive influence with athletes and guides them in their future. I’d love to hear your stories of how past coaches have influenced you.

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