That One Kid

Have you ever met that one kid? The one that needs you more than the others? You know.....that kid who won't take a chance and run onto the soccer field. That kid who won't speak a word. That kid who cries when their mother leaves them.

As a person who actively coaches and leads programs, I've met that kid. I've met that kid dozens of times. Each time a little different. I love getting that kid.

Some kids need recreational programs they just don't know it yet. I really enjoy helping them to see how great programs are. You can make them see by being caring, compassionate and patient.

I have one great example I would like to share. A few years ago I had a little girl who was just starting soccer on my team. She was pretty shy and wasn't so sure about starting soccer. The first day I let her check it out. She's only 4, she has time to figure this out. She played the drills with some encouragement. She especially loved a game where you kick the ball at your coach, if you hit them you scream out and animal name and the coach needs to pretend to be that animal and chase you. She never kicked the ball herself but i could see her thinking about it.

But when it came to game time she wasn't interested. She wanted to sit on the blanket and be invisible. Near the game I had her come on  the field after offering my hand. She ran about with me not going into the play, but staying to the side with me. After a few games I was thinking shes doing great shes participating in practices and she happy on the field with my hand. She had even been coaxed to kick the play during game play a few times. She even won little soccer ball patches I had given out for passing and being a team player. She never did display them on her jersey. I thought by the end of the season she would be running around and doing it all herself.

Well to my surprise she wasn't. I was also surprised when her parents thanked me at the end of the year for teaching their daughter so much. She had apparently become much more confident over the summer and was showing everyone her soccer patches. I was reminded that when it comes to kids I coach I don't set the level for success. Each child recognizes success in their own way.