It’s not uncommon for long term athletes to transition into coaching positions. Whether their athletic career has come to an end, or they want to give back to their community, coaching is a great way to keep one’s love for a sport alive. I’ve interviewed a few of our AmeriCorps Summer VISTAs about their relationship with their sport, and how their transition from athlete to coach affected that.

Here is what they said:

Kari McCullough

AmeriCorps VISTA Soccer Coach - Girls Leading Girls

I had a love-hate relationship with soccer. It was fun for the most part, an outlet, and a confidence booster. The downfall was it became the identity I didn't want and didn't know what else I could do in life. I felt trapped and it was no longer fun. Eventually, I was able to bring myself to quit and discovered who I was outside of being a soccer player. Soccer helped me learn how to work under pressure, be strategic in the workplace, and work as a team player.

My transition to coaching was easy to get into, but turbulent in figuring out what kind of coach I am. My experience as a player and my knowledge of the game made it easy for me to know how to help a team win strategically. But my relationship with soccer made it hard for me to have a healthy approach to it at the beginning. When I first started, I echoed how I was coached by using fitness as a punishment, approaching soccer as a coach's game rather than a player's game, and thought yelling at my players was a motivational tool. That way of coaching was quite toxic and exhausting. Having grown emotionally since then, my approach is with compassion and empathy, and to coach a player's game.

Mikey Richardson

AmeriCorps VISTA at Harlem Lacrosse and Leadership Los Angeles

Playing lacrosse has impacted my life physically and mentally, showing me how far I can push my limits when I give it my all. Lacrosse has opened doors for me to escape the world of living in a rough neighborhood by being able to get a scholarship to attend boarding school in New Jersey and a chance to play college lacrosse in Colorado. Lacrosse to me is more than just a sport, it is therapeutic, as it allows me to release stress from my daily life and put my emotions towards something positive. My transition to a coaching position was smooth as I was a volunteer, and the kids already knew who I was but I just had to make myself known again as an official coach. Being an athlete has helped me as a coach because I have been around the game of lacrosse since middle school and have learned a lot from my different coaches. I have taken their advice and techniques that they have taught me and showed my kids things they can incorporate into their game. 

The challenges I have faced as a coach were trying to find ways to teach because I have difficulty teaching. Sometimes I do not word something correctly and the kids will get confused and I would have to find a new way to explain the drill. Luckily, I have great coworkers who had my back when I struggled to introduce a drill. Coaching has impacted my life because I get to give back to kids that look and live in the same areas as I did—showing them that they have a support system both on and off the field.

Loni Brewer

AmeriCorps VISTA Soccer Coach at Girls Leading Girls

My soccer career came to an abrupt end due to injury. For the first time ever I had to navigate my life without soccer in it. Through the years I knew something was always missing and I struggled to find my way. It wasn’t until years later that I started coaching and my love for soccer became alive again. Becoming a soccer coach filled the gap that was missing in my life and I was happy to be back on the field again, even though it looked a little different. 

There are times where I think about my former playing days and try to compare it to some of my players I coach and have to remind myself that everyone has a different journey. The best I can do is share my passion for soccer while mentoring and developing my players and hope their love for the sport continues to grow. I strive to always positively impact all my players with strong technical and tactical game skills, with respect for the game and their community. 

Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. It has shaped me to who I am today by teaching me the skills on and off the field. It is where I learned all about teamwork, discipline, resiliency, respect, and compassion, to name a few. I also have soccer to thank for many of my relationships that have been created over the years from both playing and coaching. I only hope as a coach that the players gain some of these skills and have positive relationships through their own soccer journey and that I can provide the safe, creative space for them to do it in.