Coach's Perspective

However well-intentioned our vision, there’s no getting away from the fact that running a soccer franchise without friendly, dedicated coaches is a bit like asking David Beckham to play soccer in a pair of hockey skates.

Fortunately we have enough well-tuned coaches to make Greyhound Bus Lines go green with envy, because, as we all know, enthusiasm and energy are no substitutes for a resume brimming with the right blend of physical fitness, hard earned coaching qualifications and a deep-seated appreciation of working with children.

Our outgoing coaches come from all walks of life, ranging from sports students and teachers to purposeful parents wanting to try something a little different.

We are delighted to share a bench with such polished professionals, which is why we’d like to give up the rest of this page to a leading Little Kickers coach to provide his own personalized perspective on what our team can offer.

FROM THE DUGOUT

Ryan Baker, Director and Head Coach of Little Kickers Canada.

I joined Little Kickers in May of 2007 as a fresh graduate from Sports Administration at Laurentian University. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a position in the UK that provided me the opportunity to not only coach pre-school children but also to help train new coaches and witness the Little Kickers program (and the participants) grow.

For me, coaching Little Kickers classes has always  been the highlight of my week. My sessions are high on energy and high on fun! The smiles and laughter that fill the room prove that the kids are getting as much enjoyment as I am. I believe that children will be way more likely to continue to participate in sports as they grow older if they are given a positive and fun introduction at an early age and Little Kickers facilitate this perfectly. There is a real sense of achievement when a parent tells you that their child has been talking about Coach Ryan all week and refuses to take off their uniform!

There are not many jobs where you are encouraged to let out the inner child and play for 45 minutes at a time, and for that reason I will continue coaching Little Kickers for as long as I can.