Nic Smock: A Calling, Not Just a Game.
2025 Indiana Soccer Youth Volunteer of the Year Award (Noblesville United Soccer)
Soccer has always been my number one sport. My journey started as a kid playing for Hamilton Heights, then continued with travel teams like the Noblesville Rowdies and Westfield. In high school, I transferred to a school that didn’t offer soccer—and I was devastated. But the game never left me. Shortly after graduation, I joined the adult league at Off the Wall Sports, reconnecting with the sport I loved in a new way.
In 2019, my oldest daughter started playing U12 Rec for Noblesville United SC (NUSC). It only took one season before I jumped in as a volunteer coach—and it quickly became the most rewarding job I’ve ever had
Teaching soccer skills, planning games, and sharing life lessons with the kids filled my heart with joy. My wife didn’t always understand why I was there 30 minutes early and the last to leave—but for me, it was where I felt most alive.
By fall of 2020, Chris Garlinger and Coach Rudy convinced me to join the NUSC board during a pivotal transition period. Back then, we had around 600 kids in the club. Over the next two years, we doubled that number, updated our facilities, and brought new energy to the program. From painting buildings to replacing goals and nets, we poured ourselves into the club—and I served proudly on the board for about three years.
What truly sets our club apart is the community. We don’t just develop soccer players—we help shape good people. We believe in teaching responsibility, from setting up flags to taking out the trash, refereeing games, and working the concession stand. These simple tasks build character, teaching our kids the value of teamwork, work ethic, and being part of something bigger than themselves. Our goal as a board is simple: to become the best rec soccer program in Indiana. And I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing to make that happen.
I’m also a proud soccer dad of two amazing young ladies. My nine-year-old loves playing rec soccer with her friends, while my fourteen-year-old, now a high school freshman, worked hard to make the Noblesville High School soccer team. She also plays varsity lacrosse, and I couldn’t be prouder of their passion, effort, and growth through sports.
The love of my children, the love of the game, the people, and the community—those are the reasons I knew this was my calling. Coaching helped me realize that my work schedule gave me the flexibility to dive deeper. Life moves fast, but when I’m out at NUSC with my family and friends, I feel at peace. Whether it’s concession stand duty, popcorn runs to Sam’s Club, or picking up trash on a golf cart with my kids, those are the moments that fill my cup.
To me, youth soccer development goes far beyond the field. It’s about helping kids become great teammates, teaching them how to win and lose with grace, and showing them how to be part of something meaningful. In today’s world, where screens often win their attention, I believe they need strong, positive, real-life influences more than ever.
As parents and coaches, we play a crucial role. Teaching sportsmanship, navigating tough situations—like how to deal with a difficult teammate—and being present matters more than we know. Our kids see us. They know if we’re truly there or distracted by a phone. So, my advice? Be present. Be supportive. Be joyful—win or lose.
That same advice goes for volunteering. Get involved. With over 1,200 players and 130 coaches, we run entirely on volunteers. And while donations are always helpful, giving your time is where the real value lies. Working at the fields, side by side with my kids, brings me more joy than I can explain. Whether I’m fixing nets or sweeping floors, they see me show up—and that’s a lesson worth passing on.
What does winning this award mean to me?
It’s humbling. I feel honored and incredibly blessed. I’ve had some amazing role models in my life, and I pray that my efforts have inspired someone else to step up and be there for the next generation. I’m truly thankful to NUSC and Indiana Soccer for this recognition.
My message to Indiana Soccer:
Number one—continue to fight for our youth. They need strong advocates.
Number two—keep finding ways to connect clubs together. The relationships we’ve built through NUSC with other clubs have helped us grow and become a more successful, fine-tuned organization. Collaboration makes us stronger.
