The U10 Boys have cinched their 1st place spot in the State League! Congratulations!

A Perspective on Change

by Chip Smith

Chip Smith, coach of the U17 Boys Premier team, has coached in the Toledo area for 10 years. He has coached for St. Francis de Sales High School(1997-2005) and the Pacesetter Soccer Club (2003, 2005-Present). Many of the teams he has coached have either reached or won a State Cup Final.
Chip holds a USSF National D License, NSCAA National Youth Diploma, and a NSCAA GK I Diploma.
Chip has also taught Social Studies to 6th-8th Grade students at Gesu School for the past six years.

Take a good look around Pacesetter. Whether youre at the Indoor Facility, an early season game, or outdoor training, youll notice one thing: new faces.

There are many new players and parents in our club this spring. It is an exciting time to be a coach associated with the club because of the influx of new and the return of old talent. The future for Pacesetter Soccer continues to look bright.

Those who have been with the club may also notice some new faces on the sidelines of their sons or daughters games. New coaches are working with teams and old coaches are working with new teams. Players are getting an opportunity to learn aspects of the game from different people and benefit from their fresh ideas and expertise.

These new faces are great for our club. They ensure that our foundation as the best club in the area will remain. However, as history has shown us sometimes change can be scary. Sometimes the unknown human element can be difficult to decipher. New players to the club must adjust to our training environments, club philosophy, and behavior expectations.

New coaches must establish rapport with players, implement their training principles, and acclimate players to their unique coaching methods and styles. Change is certainly not easy.

Humans are creatures of habit. We learn that certain things in life equal success, and we use them when appropriate. Uncertainty surfaces when we are introduced to a situation where our prior knowledge is tested. Players learn that what has been asked of them in the past is now different. A new coach may require different things. The level of competition may be greater than what their skill-set at the time can cope with.

These are the types of scenarios where we have problems changing. The key issue that coaches working with these new players will face is emotional resistance. In working with adolescents throughout my coaching career, I have seen this emotional resistance first-hand both in high school soccer and in the soccer club.

In both of my experiences I came into situations where a foundation had already been set for the soccer program. Right away there was a testing of the waters. I noticed that as I made suggestions for improvement, players scratched their heads and at times questioned the reasoning behind it. In their eyes my suggestions of change implied that what they were doing was not good enough. To many that is a threat.

The key for us as coaches is to clarify that in order to change one must accept that what they are doing now may not be the only way, or the optimal way to do things. Players must understand that there are various ways to approach situations in life and in the game!

Too often we hear the phrase, Well, thats not how so and so taught me to do it. This is counter-productive and a rigid response to being pushed outside our comfort zone. Below is some advice to help our student-athletes stop resisting change.
1. Emphasize to your child that it is the coachs job to challenge them to change prior habits, mind set, and ways of playing.
2. Remind players that it is worthwhile to work and learn from other coaches. This is a vital life-skill, necessary for success in the real world.
3. Encourage your child to seek understanding by asking questions. As the saying goes, The only bad question is the one you never ask.

As a player I have had to deal with change. It was never easy. As a player I had two different coaches at the high school level. It was a tough transition. I am not sure I truly got out of the experience what I could have because of my emotional resistance to the new coach.

As a coach with the club, I have been the new face to a team. Taking the reigns of a team from an old coach proved a difficult task. However, change takes patience. After time, the team I worked with began to see my point of view and the value in what we were doing. Behind the scenes I had many great parents and fellow coaches supporting me. Because of their continued support, the change we were all experiencing was made a little easier.

A lot of athletes resist change, finding it easier to stay within the comforts of old habits and routines. Although routines and habits are not always bad, they sometimes can stifle development. Our attitude about change has a lot to do with how we deal with it. If we see change as a negative we will continue to treat it that way. It is our responsibility as parents and coaches to help our children see change as an opportunity and encourage them to make the most of it!

News from the Board of Trustees

The Annual Meeting of the Pacesetter Soccer Club took place in February. At that meeting, long time president Steve Wurth stepped down to make time for his many other professional and family activities.

Todd Cooperider (U12G, U15B, U17B) was elected President; Mark Fisher (U16G) will now serve as Vice president. Scott Ramey continues as Secretary and Jim Weber (U15B) was elected as Treasurer.

In addition, Marcy Kuehnle (U17B) joined the Board as a member.

At the March meeting of the Board, our Code of Regulations was amended to increase the number of Board members from 10 to 12. As the Club has grown, a larger Board was deemed necessary to best carry out the Club's Mission. Denny Lyle (U13B) and Pete "Fritz" Klein (U9G, U11B) were then elected to the Board.

For a complete listing of all Board members, please go to the Team Directory page.

Uniroyal and Tireman Drive Donations to Club

TOLEDO, OHIO, (Dec. 5, 2007) - Pacesetter Soccer Club is receiving a donation of more than $1500.00 in funds and equipment from Tireman Auto Service Centers and Uniroyal Tire as part of a longstanding program designed by Uniroyal to support youth soccer across the nation.

Now in its eighth year as a major sponsor of youth soccer, Uniroyal and its dealers have provided 735,500 free soccer balls to soccer families across America and have donated a total of $10 million in funds and equipment.

"The Uniroyal Soccer Program has been a perfect way for us to show our appreciation to the community," said Bob McClain of Tireman Auto Service Centers. "It's been an honor to meet the families connected with the Pacesetter Soccer Club, and we really enjoy the children's smiles when they receive their free soccer ball."

Uniroyal Tire Brand Marketing Director Kaz Holley said, "Every year we have exceptional dealers such as Tireman Auto Service Centers participating in our soccer initiative, which helps organizations like the Pacesetter Soccer Club provide very worthwhile programs for local children."

Uniroyal Tire is one of the world's leading tire brands for passenger and commercial cars, pick-ups, light trucks, mini vans and sport utility vehicles. Dating back to 1892, Uniroyal Tire has developed a reputation for providing high-quality, affordable tires including its Tiger Paw® and Laredo® series. Uniroyal® tires offer just the right combination of dependability, traction and grip in almost every weather condition, and come with one of the industry's leading warranties.

To learn more about the Uniroyal Tire Soccer Program, visit the brand's Web site at www.uniroyal.com. To learn more about Tireman Auto Service Centers please contact Bob McClain, 419-842-8473, at 3159 King Road in Toledo, or visit www.thetireman.com.