The soccer saga, which many clients have related to me occurs in all of the other sports too, has finally come to a sincerely positive conclusion. Pierson has settled into his new team and is a very valued player who is given constructive, genuine and positive feedback from his coach. Playing on a team that is a higher level has increased Pierson’s confidence and play immensely.  And he enjoys all of his teammates too.

Pierson told me tonight that despite the fact that every training session is one in which he leaves everything on the field, he is enjoying the training so much more than his past team’s training. The drills make sense and there is no nonsense, wasting time, standing around or false compliments.

Pierson is very insightful and also told me tonight that he always knew that Bill, his former coach, was more concerned with the boys liking him than actually teaching them soccer. Bill really didn’t care or know about soccer and that is why he punished me for telling him that he wasn’t really liked by anyone. The whole coaching thing for Bill was about being liked; by the boys and also the parents. I sat there stunned by the fact that this is a 10 year old boy giving me this analysis....out of the mouths of babes, I guess.

In contrast to his former coach, Pierson’s new coach played in the MLS (Major League Soccer) and has an ‘A’ license which makes him more qualified to coach soccer than anyone I have even heard about in this area of Ohio. He does not really seem to care about the boys liking him, he has earned their respect through his knowledge and conduct. At first, Pierson was terrified of him because he was such a sharp contrast from his last coach, but he is now in complete awe of his new coach. I like the fact that his new coach is fair and firm, but is still well-liked by the boys and parents.

The funny thing is that with the old team I really wanted for Pierson to have success in the games (read win the games.) I knew his talents were not being developed properly or even appreciated and I thought at the very least he should enjoy a winning season with his teammates.  It sounds pretty pathetic in retrospect.  I wonder why I was willing to stay with the old team and compromise the genuine development of my son.  I think it was a very foolish, selfish and lazy thing to do.

With his new coach, I am so comfortable with the fact that his talents are being developed, his skills and confidence are growing, and more importantly he is being appreciated and enjoying himself, that I do not even care about his team winning this season. Don’t get me wrong winning is great, but I know that Pierson is getting so much more out of this experience than any other soccer experience he has had that I am happy either way. I feel like the team fee we paid for this season has already been paid back to us with interest, and Peter and I couldn’t be happier or more grateful for the opportunity this new coach and club has provided to our son.