Indiana Soccer Director of Coaching Education Steve Franklin took the time to visit Franklin County for an evening of fun-filled soccer activities and coaching mentoring. The Franklin County Soccer League has been in existence since 1976, when Bob O’Bryan moved there after an undergraduate club career at Ball State University. He grew up playing in Lebanon and wanted to provide the same opportunity to the youth in Brookville.
“We’ve been very fortunate in that we have drawn a very consistent group of 200-300 kids that have played in the program for decades”, stated Bob O’Bryan. “We just wanted them to enjoy the game as much as we did.”
Volunteer coaches experienced new methodologies and ways to make learning fun for the grassroots players, focusing on the needs of who was in front of them. O’Bryan has relied on volunteers to provide the coaching, often with no experience in the sport.
“The players experienced the “Play, Practice, Play” methodology where the kids arrive at training and immediately scrimmage using small-sided games – providing them tons of touches and decision-making opportunities, stated Franklin. “We then give them a nugget or two of take-home knowledge to make their game a bit better (the practice part). Then they scrimmage again, trying out those new nuggets. Desert, dinner, desert if you may.”
Coaches had a unique opportunity to learn first hand from the Director of Coaching different ways of keeping the kids engaged, offering them just a couple of coaching points to improve their game, while having fun. Coaches were provided with a seasons worth of lesson plans to assist in their volunteer efforts.
“I just wanted to personally thank you for conducting a very special clinic for our league.
It was apparent on the night of the clinic that the players were definitely enjoying themselves, stated Kathy O’Bryan. “However, since then, Bob and I have received several positive comments from coaches. We both thank Coach Franklin for such a positive presentation. It is now up to the coaches to take what they experienced in the clinic and put it to good use”
