(PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
COACHING EXPERIENCES … Archbold High School boys soccer coach Stewart Rodger (left) shared some of his coaching philosophy with Archbold Rotarians at their September 27 meeting at The Barn Restaurant. The program was arranged by Mark Hagans.
More than half of the boys soccer regular season is complete with the Bluestreaks posting a 6-4 record. So, head coach Stewart Rodger decided to share his coaching philosophy with Archbold Rotarians at their recent Friday meeting.
Although Coach Rodger has spent a good portion of his life either playing or coaching soccer, he explained that his time as a high school boys soccer coach has been different and, in many ways, more rewarding than his earlier years as a soccer coach.
The difference isn’t only because he’s now coaching teenage boys who are growing into young men, but also because today’s athletes are different in how they react to coaching.
Twenty years ago, athletes conformed to their coach’s expectations. However, today’s athletes are more open about sharing their opinions as well as sharing what’s going on in their lives – whether at home or with their peers.
Consequently, Coach Rodger said they need to be coached as individuals. He said they are more likely to share things that impact their lives. Sometimes, they are looking for help and other times they are just looking for understanding.
He also explained his belief that athletics is more than just winning and losing. While winning is the objective, what athletes do during games provides the coach with the opportunity to use those experiences and mistakes to help the athlete improve and grow – both as an athlete and a person.
“I know the coach has got it right,” he said, “after the season is over. When I see the emotions that show on the faces of the seniors who realize that they’ve finished their last game — something that they have valued and enjoyed for four years is over.
“When I see that, I know that something special has been created and that it meant a lot to be a part of it,” he said.