People of SYSA: Jeff Scott, McGilvra Youth Soccer Club President

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

Recreational soccer in Seattle is made possible for thousands of kids each year through the dedication and commitment of volunteers like Jeff Scott. We recently sat down with outgoing McGilvra Youth Soccer Club President to talk about the 9 years he spent with the club. Here's our conversation with Jeff:

Photos courtesy of Jeff Scott

Getting involved with SYSA

Jeff first got involved with McGilvra Youth Soccer in 2014. Jeff, who's played the sport since he was a kid, and his wife Sabrina, who is from Brazil and grew up around soccer, had been recently throwing around ideas for how to get involved in their community. When their daughter expressed interest in wanting to play soccer, the pieces just came together. They decided they would co-coach their daughter's U6 soccer team because they knew it would be something that they would enjoy doing together.

At about the same time that they volunteered to coach, Jeff learned that McGilvra's current president was looking to finish up his time with the club. Jeff was interested, and upon meeting with the outgoing president and then also realizing that he already knew half the leadership (the treasurer and the club's registrar were both friends of his) he volunteered to step into the role.

It's ALL about community

Fast forward 9 years later, and Jeff has nothing but good things to say about the entire experience. Both roles, coach and President. "We have coached our daughter's team, the Thundercats, for 9 years now (minus a year in the middle that my daughter tried select) and honestly it's been amazing. Coaching with my wife and coaching our daughter has been awesome, it's been the most important thing. Getting to know all of the kids has also been amazing. This group has stayed together and are all still friends because of this rec soccer team. It's also been great getting to know the parents and all that. All of this is what community soccer is all about," says Jeff.

Being a part of McGilvra Soccer Club all these years "has been a great way to connect WITH the community and connect WITHIN the community" - Jeff Scott

McGilvra is a club of about 75 teams and is run effectively and efficiently by a small group of dedicated, hardworking individuals. "We have a small board at McGilvra, 4-5 people maybe. I knew it was going to be a commitment when I decided to accept the role of president, but once I started digging in to the history of the club and chatting with the community about the value it brings to the neighborhoods, I knew it was going to be worth it and it has been.  It's an important and valued piece in the puzzle of our community and that value has become even more apparent to me over the years," says Jeff

McGilvra Soccer Club is a big deal, Jeff says, because it bring so much value to the community and harps back to an earlier time when everything was about connection to others in the area that you live. "It provides an experience that just doesn't exist in the world anymore. Community soccer is one of the last bastions of the old school community atmosphere. It's just a different world for kids these days," says Jeff.

Camaraderie, teamwork and friendship

When asked about the value of his 9 years with McGilvra, Jeff further leans into this idea and says that being a part of something that's centered around helping kids have this community experience has been the most valuable thing he will take with him. He's especially loved seeing the friendships and togetherness that the kids get to be a part of, coming back year after year to people they've been friends with since they were 5 years old.

"For kids to be able to learn this idea of camaraderie and teamwork and friendship and the value of all that, we can't lose this stuff in the world! It's less and less of this that we have out there, fewer and fewer opportunities." - Jeff Scott

Jeff gives an example. His daughter and his wife went down to Brazil for a semester of school recently. While his daughter was attending school at the international school there, she played soccer for the middle school team and then got invited to travel with the high school team to some bigger events. "When I talked to her about this, she was happy for the opportunity, but she said to me, Dad - it's been good but I'd much rather play with the Thundercats. The camaraderie is just not there with this team and I miss playing with my friends."

"To her, that idea of being able to just play with her friends, that is what soccer means to her," recalls Jeff. "And being a part of that idea, that environment that created that, is what I value most."

McGilvra moving forward

"Covid was not fun," says Jeff, when asked about when he knew it was time to move on. In fact, it was his least favorite part because of how difficult it was. After leading the club through that period, and staying on board long enough to get things back up and running, Jeff knew it was time to part ways. His daughter and her teammates are also headed into high school now, so it seemed a natural transition point to leave McGilvra in the next set of hands.

"McGilvra is in a good place right now, and that fresh excitement for soccer and interaction after the pandemic, that's what we kind of rode to find a replacement," says Jeff. Enter Nick Tchemitcheff, McGilvra Youth Soccer Club's new president. "McGilvra Soccer Club has been such a big part of my life, and I want someone else to be able to continue on and have that experience as well. Nick has everything he needs and is ready to lead."

After navigating the pandemic and coming out of that intact, the club is strong. Jeff believes that McGilvra Soccer Club is well positioned going forward due in big part to the collective dedication of everyone involved.

"A special thanks to Anne Bare and all the dedicated volunteer board members/coaches over the years.  Without them, recreational community soccer wouldn’t exist." - Jeff Scott

"McGilvra Soccer Club is ready to build upon the framework that is already there and take things to the next level. The club is ready to expand into some of the things we haven't been able to offer before, and ramp up the community-building aspect to further integrate into new areas. I'm excited to see where they take things," says Jeff.

Thank you Jeff!

Jeff - SYSA is extremely appreciative of all of the time, energy and expertise that you have so freely given to this soccer community over the years. We are grateful for all of your work helping to support not just McGilvra, but the association and the other neighborhood clubs in the city as well. Thank you so much for your years of service, leadership and kindness.

People of SYSA: Jonathan Smith, Capitol Hill Field Scheduler

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

There are 12 recreational soccer clubs that make up SYSA, each one volunteer operated. From board members to coaches to MOD program directors and field schedulers, volunteerism is the foundation upon which these neighborhood soccer clubs are built. Without these volunteers, kids in Seattle would have less opportunity to get outside, participate in a team sport, and play the beautiful game.

For this edition of People of SYSA, we spoke with Jonathan Smith - Capitol Hill Soccer Club's longest running volunteer. Jonathan has been helping Capitol Hill soccer players since the 1990's! During that time he has seen a lot of change and a lot of people come and go (including his son who started playing when he was 6 and is now in his 30s) - but through it all, Jonathan has steadfastly continued donating his time and expertise because he believes wholeheartedly that volunteering is important work.

Here's more from our conversation with Jonathan:

Getting involved with youth soccer in Seattle

Jonathan's story starts as many parent volunteers does, offering to help out as a parent coach when his son started playing soccer at the young age of 6. At that point the program for the younger kids was run by Seattle Parks. Around 1998, when Jonathan's son was old enough to play with Capitol Hill Soccer Club, they made the switch and Jonathan continued on as a volunteer coach. Despite not having a soccer background or really knowing much about the game, he gladly gave his time to the team and to the organization.

Within the first few years of being at Capitol Hill, Jonathan shifted into more of an organizer and manager role with his son's team, which included helping as a parent referee at games and ensuring players had rides to games and practices. "There were a lot more people working at the club level when I first started," says Jonathan, which was replicated in how his son's team worked. "Some parents did the coaching, others stepped in to do the organizing and managing, and yet others moved to help with other logistics and fun things. It was great."

Volunteering is all about people working together

The way that Jonathan's son's team operated in those early years is a great example of effective, community volunteerism: a collective group effort where everyone does their small part and no one person has to carry the whole of the load.

"Some people like to do technical things, some people like to be organizers, some people are really cut out for coaching and working directly with the kids. I like doing the support pieces, things that I am good at. Volunteering does take time, but if enough people get together and take little pieces of it, the amount of time that each person needs to put in is modest. Volunteering is all about people working together," says Jonathan.

"When there is co-leadership and a facilitated overall group effort, no one feels too overwhelmed or overloaded. Too often the negative side of volunteering is when people have to take on too much, while already having too much on their plate to start."

When recreational youth soccer teams are run this way, everyone feels like they are a part of the collective effort. The magic of this is that volunteering becomes easier and less work because others are also contributing. This also allows for everyone to be able to do something that they enjoy doing or are good at, instead of being thrown into a role. Jonathan's advice to other parents is to "get involved in the overall effort, split things into small pieces, find out what you are good at and do your small part."

Field scheduling through the years

After helping out with coaching and management tasks on his son' team for several years, Jonathan switched gears and started helping Capitol Hill Soccer Club with organizing and coordinating the fields and scheduling team practices. This was the type of work that Jonathan really enjoyed so he was happy to step up. At that time there was another volunteer doing it as well (again, sharing the load) and they worked together for a number of years before Jonathan took on the role fully when the other left the organization.

Jonathan has now been Capitol Hill's field scheduler for over 20 years. When asked about the evolution of 'field scheduling' over the years, he dove into a quick history. "Some Microsoft folks had written us some software to use in the early days. We used that on the club's web site to publish available practice field info, then email and phone to request, confirm and record practice field assignments. Somewhere in the 2005-2008 range we switched over to our current way of doing things with spreadsheets. "

"The forms and spreadsheets are more involved and more sophisticated now. Everything used to just to get emailed out, now we can just post a form and everyone has access. It does take some time to organize the fields and it is intense for a few weeks, but I really enjoy it," says Jonathan.

Still at it, all these years later

Volunteering is an important part of Jonathan's life, and his family's life as well. Jonathan's son played in Capitol Hill Soccer Club all the way up through high school, through U19, but then stayed involved and coached a bit before going off to college. He even assistant coached with Seattle United for awhile as well.

Jonathan also volunteers at the Arboretum. "It's a special place for me, and a fantastic place to work," he says.

"I just like to volunteer. The fields job with Capitol Hill, it's easy to do because I know it so well, so why not keep doing it?," says Jonathan. "People ask me why don't you quit? Your son has been done playing for 10+ years." He replies," I tend to be a person of habit and I like volunteering. I get to talk to people and that's nice. I feel like I'm appreciated and I enjoy helping out. Plus, I retired in 2013 so now the time crunch isn't so bad."

It's become a piece of Jonathan over the years, being involved. "Volunteering is my social outlet. I like volunteering and being involved in socially responsible things that make a difference. Along with this, I also did Cub Scouts for a number of years and spent some time helping at environmental organizations after college. And now the Arboretum. I just like to be involved."

A note of appreciation

As we close out our conversation with Jonathan, we wanted to give Capitol Hill Soccer Club a moment to express their appreciation for Jonathan's volunteer service over the years:

"Jonathan is our longest volunteer. It has been well over a decade that he has had a child playing youth soccer but he continues to help and stay involved. Without his dedication our teams would not be able to practice each fall. Even when his wife was battling breast cancer a few years ago, Jonathan found time to organize our practice schedule. Jonathan is dedicated, patient, understanding and invaluable to our families. He is the bedrock of our club!

Thank you Jonathan for a job well done! Our club is incredibly fortunate to have a volunteer like you!"

- Shelly Chinn, President, Capitol Hill Soccer Club

Thank you so much Jonathan, from everyone here at Seattle Youth Soccer Association as well! It is volunteers like you that make SYSA what it is.

People of SYSA: Christopher Jones, LVR Volunteer Soccer Coach

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

Here at SYSA, we recently had the opportunity to talk with Chris Jones, a volunteer soccer coach with LVR Soccer Club. Chris, who goes by CJ, is the head coach of the LVR Sounders Girls U16 team, a team he has been coaching since the girls were in kindergarten.

Photos courtesy of Chris Jones

Keeping a group of high school girls involved in the game at the recreational level is a hard thing to do, as girls tend to drop out of sports at a high rate once they hit their middle school years.  But CJ has done something special. He has created a culture of community and inclusion that has kept players and their families coming back year after year. He has helped create a safe space for the girls to be themselves which has made a massive impact on the lives of these young women.

Here's more from our conversation with CJ:

GETTING INVOLVED WITH SYSA

Both of CJ's daughters started playing soccer when they were really young. They started out in Lake City Soccer Club playing on coed teams and then moved to LVR, which is when CJ first decided to volunteer to coach. The team has been playing both fall and spring season every year since then.

"After all these years together, all of the girls are so close and understand each other so well on the soccer field. They go to different schools yes, but man when they get together on the field - and they know each others strengths and weaknesses - they just know how to bring each other up and support their teammates," says CJ.

KEEPING SOCCER FUN

CJ, who is a developmental psychologist by trade, was reading an article when his daughter was about 6 or 7 that said that the number one reason girls stopped playing sports as they got older was because it stopped being fun. "So I decided early on that fun was going to be my number one focus," says CJ. "Some of our players that have moved on to select soccer still play with us to have fun and keep that enjoyment. Some girls do all three (high school, select and LVR). What is special about our team is that they all have fun out there, they all have a good time together and there's no judgement."

"To see their love and enjoyment and appreciation for the game evolve and grow over the years has just been amazing. They have all evolved and grown so much in terms of what soccer means to them and in terms of what this community means to them as well, " CJ says. And a big part of that is that, as a group, they HAVE been able to keep it fun, and keep it pressure and expectation free.

A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY

CJ says that even though their focus is keeping soccer fun, they've still had their hiccups and their ups and downs over the years, as is expected with any group of young adults growing and evolving together. He's had his fair share of 1:1 conversations with players, but his favorite coaching tactic when it comes to overcoming obstacles is to have them take on leadership roles and problem solve together. As a team. As a community.

For example, in the first season back after Covid-19, the team was having a difficult time forming. The girls were considering not returning to play. The world was in the middle of COVID and that was a big psychological hurdle that they were each having to navigate in their own lives. It was a confusing time for everyone and the lack of social exposure and uncertainty over the past year had them hesitating because they didn't know what the future would hold. CJ didn't want to make the decision for the team though, he wanted THEM to make the choice about whether they would go on or disband. "I think in the end, they, as a group, came to the realization that they all wanted to hold on to this small semblance of a community that they had built with each other. It was one of their safe spaces."

Photo courtesy of Chris Jones

By letting them be involved in this decision, letting them come up with a plan for how to keep the team together, they felt ownership, " CJ says. They were more motivated and driven to step up for each other and make this happen because it was THEIR plan. "I want them to feel like they have ownership in the way the Sounders Girls culture evolves. It's their team and I want them to know that," says CJ.

"These days you don't have a sense of community in many environments anymore. But we have that here and it's wonderful. It was really was good during Covid to have this community infrastructure."

CREATING COMMUNITY BEYOND THE FIELD

CJ jokes that sometimes he thinks the parents actually enjoy the community aspect more than the players. "The parents love each other. They hang out outside of soccer. When players are on the fence about playing next season, the parents are always encouraging them to stay because they personally want the community aspect as well."

CJ reflects on all this fondly as he thinks about what keeps him involved and signing up to volunteer to coach year after year. "Recently a parent sent me a memory, from when the girls were like 8, " he says. "At the end of the season,  I had given them a notebook with pages with their teammates names at the top of each one and they had to write one thing they liked most about this person, and one thing they respected about this person. We then gave each player all the pages everyone else had written about them. 7 years later the kids are still looking at it. This is what keeps me going and keeps me coming back for more."

Photo courtesy of Chris Jones

THE COACHING EXPERIENCE

We asked CJ a few questions about how he approaches volunteer coaching and what he uniquely brings to his team. Here is what he had to say:

SYSA - Do you have a coaching philosophy? What values are important for you to teach your players when it comes to team culture?

CJ - "Enjoyment of the game, mutual respect for the other team and especially their fellow teammates, and a general focus on health - meaning stretching properly and everything associated with injury prevention."

SYSA - What is your greatest strength as a coach?

CJ - "Humility and humbleness. I'm OK saying I messed up, it creates a safer space for the players. I feel if I can create an environment for them to feel safe, we can really talk about anything. We get into some really deep stuff sometimes and I attribute that to being able to create that safe space."

SYSA - Proud coach moment?

CJ - "The first city tournament that they won, which was in 2016 or maybe 2017? The girls were on fire that day. I said I would do a cartwheel at the end. I wore all professional attire. Yes, I wore a suit to the final game, complete with a soccer bowtie. It was a cold day, everyone was bundled up in Sounders Girls scarves. And the girls they just came out and shined so well as a group and they supported each other. I mean, we had players typically afraid to play goalkeeper making some awesome saves. It was great."

SYSA - Favorite coaching memory?

CJ - "About kindergarten till about 4th grade, I used to have coach-talks with the kids where all the girls were climbing all over me in order to see the coaches board. All of that adoration, that is my favorite memory."

SYSA - Any advice for parents thinking about volunteering to coach?

CJ - "The coaching resources are out there. If what you are worried about is not knowing what to coach or how to coach, it's all out there - and truthfully you don't need any of that to coach, especially not at the younger ages. Just work together with the kids and have fun. If they get the ball in the goal, great. If not, great. As a coach, if you are encouraging the fun, the rewards heap up themselves."

SYSA - Any advice for players thinking about playing rec soccer for the first time?

CJ - "There are very few places in our lives where it is really safe to make mistakes and put yourself out there in a way that you can still feel good about yourself when you do that. Rec soccer is that place. The reward comes from trying, the winning piece isn't as important here."

And to close things out, we asked CJ the all-important question: which pro teams do you follow? "I watch it all! When I'm washing the dishes at night, I prop my phone up on the windowsill and watch all the highlights. Premier League, Bundesliga, MLS, doesn't matter, I love it all. But if I had to pick one team, I would say Barcelona - but the Messi Barcelona years."

Thank you so much CJ for all your years of volunteering and your commitment to the LVR Sounders Girls! SYSA appreciates everything you have done!

People of SYSA: Jay Patrikios & Cassie Martin, Woodland Volunteer Soccer Coaches

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

Rec soccer in Seattle runs on volunteers. Without volunteers to organize practice fields, do the admin work and coach the teams, thousands of kids would not get the opportunity to play soccer each and every year. In this edition of People of SYSA, we are proud to feature not just ONE of SYSA's amazing volunteer coaches, but TWO of them: and from the same household!

Photos courtesy of Jay Patrikios and Cassie Martin

Jay Patrikios and Cassie Martin are partners who coach for Woodland Soccer Club. Jay currently coaches their son's U9 team and Cassie, their daughter's U10 team. Recreational soccer is all about the kids having fun and enjoying the game: both Cassie and Jay embody this through and through and it is exactly why they come back each year and continue volunteering their time. They understand the immense value that recreational soccer provides to their kids, and to everyone, in the community.

Here's more from our conversation with Cassie and Jay:

GETTING INVOLVED WITH SYSA

Of Jay and Cassie, Cassie is the one that comes from the soccer background. She played all the way up through college, at which point she decided she needed a break from the game. Years later, after seeing the Wallingford neighborhood park full of kids playing soccer, her 6-year old daughter expressed interest. Cassie signed her up to play with Woodland, and signed herself up to coach. "We started out with a group of random kids and now it's a really tight community that we have, 5 years later," says Cassie. Their community extends outside of soccer as well. "One of the parents is a pharmacist and we've done team flu shots. We do stuff like that together. The kids all love one another, it's just been so great."

Jay didn't pick up the coaching mantle until the following season when their son also decided that he wanted to play. He did not have a soccer background like Cassie, but because his son asked him to coach, Jay was happy to do it and enthusiastic about the idea.

THE COMMUNITY ASPECT

When asked about the best part of being involved in the rec soccer world, both Cassie and Jay went straight to the community aspect. "The community part is just really important," says Jay. Looking at his team, 4 years after they started playing together, "the collective is really strong and supportive of each other. The player and parent community is SO strong - we all help each other and it's just been wonderful." Cassie adds how the parents worked hard to kept the kids playing together during Covid and just how healthy that had been for them all to have those relationships during that time.

Extending beyond Woodland, and looking at the SYSA community at large, Jay says it's really awesome how his players will all go a summer camp together, make new friends with other kids from around the city, and then end up playing them during fall league. "The players will remember them and want to go say hi," says Jay. "Community wide, the players remember and make friends with kids from other teams. It's really great."

Photos courtesy of Jay Patrikios and Cassie Martin

Both Jay and Cassie love that team sports have this unique ability to create community. "Team sports can really help you through rough times in life. I see our kids benefiting in so many ways, ways in which you can only get from being on a team," Cassie says. Jay, having been a distance runner and NOT a team sports person growing up, says that now he totally gets it. "I'm actually SEEING it, I am seeing the benefits of the the team stuff, the community stuff. Translating off the field too."

COACHING STYLES

Jay is all about teaching durable skills that translate from soccer to regular life. One of Jay's big things is that he likes having players take leadership of the team. He wants them to feel like the team is THEIR team and that their ideas matter. He incorporates this into his coaching by often asking questions like, "what do YOU think we need to work on?". This approach not only helps the players self-advocate more, but it helps them feel invested in the team and WANT to support their teammates more and work hard for each other.

Cassie also brings in a lot of characteristics into her coaching that are important to the family as a whole. "A big one for me is always be inclusive of everyone," she says. "We really see the kids rallying around each other and finding each other's bright spots. Generosity is another another one: sharing a ball, having a good assist, being generous with your time and your ideas, etc." And last but not least Cassies says, "have fun. Always have fun. Even if you're working hard, you should still be having fun."

Jay fully lives by this when coaching his son's team. "The important thing for my team, is that you've gotta work with their strengths. No rigid discipline, it won't work. Maybe a couple of drills at practice, but then let's scrimmage," he says. "You gotta work with the vibe of the team. And my team, they are wild and fun and they love it."

They both understand that the kids want to play, have fun, make friends and enjoy the game in a relaxed environment with no pressure."Want to know what our team cheer is?  Fast Flying Tigers - LET'S HAVE FUN!!!", Cassie says. "After a game, the questions are always 'did you have fun?' and 'did you try your best?', thats it. Never 'did you win?' Rec soccer is so important because of this - it's gotta be all about the fun."

THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEER COACHING

Both Cassie and Jay agree that there are a ton of benefits to being a volunteer soccer coach for SYSA. One of the biggest benefits being the added time they get to spend with their son and daughter. "My son asked me to coach his team, and I figure there's a limited amount of time that my kids are going to ask me to do stuff with them. I want to take advantage of this time," says Jay.

Cassie adds, "Coaching is a lot of work, but coaching forces you to stop and do something different with your time. There's something really nice about knowing that you can turn all that stuff off and just focus on the kids."

And for Cassie and Jay as a couple, they have bonded over coaching as well. "It's really cool that we can talk to each other about coaching. It's really nice to bounce ideas off of Cassie that I am considering trying. It's nice to talk to each other about soccer, something that isn't work and isn't parenting and I find it really beneficial. Rec soccer has become a fun aspect for everyone, it creates a fun family dynamic for all four of us."

Thank you so much Jay and Cassie! We here at SYSA appreciate all of the time and dedication you have given to your teams over the years. Rec soccer in Seattle would not be the same without you!

People of SYSA: James Mayton, Mount Baker-Lakewood Volunteer

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

For this edition of 'People of SYSA' we sat down with James Mayton, a volunteer with Mount Baker-Lakewood Soccer Club. James wears many hats on the admin side of things at MBL. He's the Mod Program Coordinator and Fields Coordinator, and he has recently stepped into the role of Community Outreach Director as well.

James is a fantastic example of someone who understands the value of volunteering one's time as it relates to the larger picture of cultivating community and inclusion in the neighborhoods that we live. He values soccer for its ability to be that connecting piece that brings everyone together.

Let's dive into our conversation with James:

GETTING INVOLVED WITH SYSA

James and his family originally got involved with Mount Baker-Lakewood Soccer Club about four years ago when his son expressed interest in playing. James's older daughter then decided to try it out after seeing her brother enjoying it so much. The family has been playing in MBL ever since.

Right away, James wanted to help out. "This is a volunteer driven association so this type of thing is important," he says. He started out by getting involved in the Mod Program as a parent drill leader for his son's U6 team. After that he slowly got more involved in coaching and then eventually moved over to the administrative side of things. James jokes that he "signed up to be Fields Coordinator after realizing that was the only way to know what field my kid would be practicing on." But in all seriousness, James wanted to use his organizational and management skills to benefit the nonprofit organization.

THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING

James doesn't look at volunteering as a chore, he looks at it for its value, both in regards to what it brings to his community and to himself personally.

"Putting yourself in a volunteer role where others around you are also really passionate and dedicated has been a really good social support for me through these pandemic years. Being able to support kids who are struggling and have been sheltered indoors, and the parents of these children, by bringing them back outdoors, in a safe setting where they can see their friends and play soccer - just being able to help in that capacity has been really rewarding."

When it comes to volunteer coaches, James emphasizes how much he appreciates rec soccer coaches and their ability to understand that the most important part of ALL of this is giving kids a social outlet to interact with their friends and have fun playing this wonderful game in a safe, supportive environment.

"During these Covid years, recreational soccer has been a super stable thing and support for kids going through these troubling times. It's been great for my kids personally, I've seen them benefit from it and a lot of that has to do with the culture that is created by their rec soccer coaches. I really appreciate that," James says.

If you are thinking about volunteering, but just haven't committed yet, James's advice is to "start small, that way it won't overwhelm you. You can grow it over time, but taking the first step is always the hardest, especially these last couple of years with everything else that has been happening in the world. Most folks that do take the first step keep on walking."

THE MOUNT BAKER-LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY

Recently, James has gotten more involved in community outreach and has been focusing on growth of the organization's impact and reach within their club boundaries.

"A distinguishing factor for MBL Soccer Club is that we have a lot of socioeconomic diversity. Working towards more equitable participation with everyone in our boundaries is an important thing for us right now," James says. In his new role as Community Outreach Director at Mount Baker-Lakewood, James is helping the club look at and analyze the current soccer landscape, including participation and resources, to see what steps can be taken to make soccer more accessible for folks of all households and all socioeconomic backgrounds.

"The soccer landscape in Seattle right now, it's different north of 1-90 than it is south of 1-90. It's a bit of a soccer desert between the 1-90 and and Starfire. Some organizations are coming in and trying to change that: you've got RAVE Foundation building new fields specifically located in South Seattle, and others delivering new programs and service ideas such as free soccer camps, which is great. We want to be a part of that changing landscape. At Mount Baker-Lakewood Soccer Club we want to be recalibrating things to be more inclusive and meet people where they are in life."

{Related read: Seattle Sounders RAVE Foundation to build 26 soccer fields by 2026}

LOOKING AHEAD FOR MBL SOCCER

Looking to the future, James sees a lot of good stuff in the works for Mount Baker-Lakewood Soccer Club. Stuff that he is excited to be a part of.

"We have good momentum behind our U6 program. We've been working to set a solid foundation for registration growth, focused on the Mod Program. One of the big things we are doing with the Mod U6 program is working to bring in professional support for coaches. One of the hardest things is to get parents into the roles of coaching,  so we want to help parents gain confidence in regards to leading activities and drills in practice, right away at U6, so that next year, in U7, they have the skills and confidence they need to step into head coaching roles."

In his dual roles of Field Coordinator and Community Outreach Director, James also says that one of the biggest challenges for MBL is the extreme north/south distance that their soccer club covers. It can take up to 25 minutes to drive to a field sometimes, which isn't easy for parents, especially ones with multiple kids playing. So looking ahead, one of  the things James is excited to experiment with more, is figuring out to most effectively group teams geographically both east/west and north/south so that socioeconomic diversity is still happening in the team's makeups, but also so that players get the opportunity to practice at a field that is close to home, and preferably even within walking distance.

Regardless of what he is currently working on for Mount Baker-Lakewood, James continues to volunteer and stay involved because he is driven and motivated by the immense benefits that this nonprofit organization brings to the community. From the fun and excitement that the game generates, to being a great social outlet for both players and parents, to finding ways to make sure everyone who wants to play soccer gets the opportunity to play - this is what volunteering is all about to James.

Thank you so much James! You are doing amazing work at MBL. It is volunteers like you that make SYSA what it is.

People of SYSA: Tom Powers, Woodland Volunteer Soccer Coach

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

In this edition of 'People of SYSA', we have the pleasure of featuring Tom Powers! Tom is a volunteer coach with SYSA's Woodland Soccer Club and is also an assistant coach at Eagle Staff Middle School. Tom has been coaching his son's rec team at Woodland for the past 8 years. He started with them at U6 and this upcoming 2022 fall season they will be U15!

Tom is a dedicated and caring coach who is very invested in the growth of his players. Tom's coaching style is all about development, but not just in the soccer sense, in the HUMAN sense. He is an upbeat, positive and motivating person with a background full of skills that lend themselves well to coaching and working with kids. He has spent his career working in education and mental health and really values the importance of connection, community and working collaboratively on the soccer field.

Here's more from our conversation with Tom:

GETTING INVOLVED WITH SYSA

Tom is a wonderful representative of community soccer and all it stands for. He started playing soccer in his 20's when he moved to Seattle and joined a recreational adult league in order to meet people. Later, when his son wanted to start playing, Tom was excited and signed him up for Little Kickers. His son didn't take to that first soccer experience very well so Tom decided to try something new and find a different environment. That's where Woodland Soccer came into the picture.

After registering their son for recreational fall soccer, Tom says his wife announced, "the good news is that I got him on a team, the bad news is that you're coaching!" Tom wasn't the first soccer parent in history to have this information bestowed upon them, the difference with Tom though is that he was prepared. Not to coach soccer specifically maybe, but to work with kids and help them grow and expand. And as Tom says about that first year, "it's 6 year olds - at 6 you are not coaching soccer, you're coaching kids."

STRONG TEAM CULTURE

Nine years later, Tom and his son are still involved in SYSA.

After the first 5 good, positive years of recreational soccer with Woodland (years in which the entire team advanced and grew and every kid gained a solid set of foundational skills which they could use to enjoy soccer throughout the rest of their lives) Tom thought that the team would disband and go their separate ways as middle school started up.

"But elementary school ended and EVERY KID WANTED TO COME BACK," Tom said. So he decided to stick with it and coach the Woodland rec team through middle school. After-all, "the kids enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, we always got better, so why not?" he said.

Tom attributes the players wanting to stay to strong team culture. "Our rec team hasn't lost kids because we have good culture. Our team's practice and games are a couple hours in a week where, as long as they show up and try, the kids can't do anything wrong. We've created a culture where players are always willing to keep trying. If someone messes up (your teammate), they usually know it, they don't need you to tell them." And because of this they keep going, they keep trying again and again, they keep working and growing and having fun and getting better.

"To parents, I always say, give your kids space where, for even 1 hour in a week, where they can do no wrong in your eyes. Kids respond to that, they appreciate those things." Tom has built this mindset into his team culture SO WELL that they've had seasons where, despite losing every game, not a single player left. They all returned for more the following year.

Coaching middle school boys is a different picture though, and Tom knows there more issues at play now than when they were younger. "A big thing we always talk about, a big part of our culture, is that you can't trash talk. You can't trash talk your teammates, the refs, your coaches, OR YOURSELF."

Tom says this last piece has really hit home with some of his players, as middle school kids are especially prone to getting down on themselves, holding themselves to standards of perfection and allowing their self-worth to get wrapped up in performance on the soccer field (or anywhere really). A big part of what Tom does well, is he coaches in a way in which these conversations are continually had so that the kids are able to gain self-awareness and start to coach themselves out of their self-defeating mentalities.

IT'S BIGGER THAN WINNING, ALWAYS

Tom's personal coaching mission statement is "through the principled pursuit of victories and the growth-focused management of losses, I coach to develop caring, resilient adolescents who act with integrity."

One impactful moment that stands out to Tom and exemplifies this statement fully, has to do with a very muddy game, a 11-2 loss and a cherished photo that reminds him of why he coaches. In this image there are huge grins across the faces of his 9-10 year old players, despite the fact that they just lost big time. This was a game where players could easily have walked off the field upset and self-critical, but not this group and not this time. These kids were happy and thrilled to have gotten to play soccer that day. The experience of playing was bigger than winning.

Tom likes to look at this photo and ask, with a big grin across HIS face, "we lost this game, can you tell?"

Photos courtesy of Tom Powers

Tom loves this photo because it reminds him of his purpose in coaching. It reminds him that helping players feel good about themselves and put their best foot forward is what it's all about. "I always tell them, play in a way that makes you proud. You will always get better, if you show up you WILL get better, you won't get worse."

OBJECTIVE MEASURES

A big piece of Tom's coaching style is that he likes to give his players objective measures to work towards and point their effort towards on game day (instead of outcome or results based measures such as winning or scoring). Objective measures meaning, what makes a good game for YOU? What small pieces of the game can you focus on improving today? "You have to have different metrics," Tom says. "You can find opportunities to be your best self in every game, and throughout the game."

Here's an example: Tom likes to help his players get faster and increase their speed over the course of the season. To start, he tells them "it doesn't matter how good your footskills are if you can't get to the ball". Over the course of the year, he'll time them on 50s, 100s and 200s and by the end of the season they can actually see themselves getting faster. This is an objective measure that they get better at just by showing up and participating. This is a small piece of their game that they are able to improve through effort and working hard.

FITNESS AND ATTITUDE

Tom is a soccer coach yes, but he's also a self-proclaimed "fitness and attitude" coach. These are his strengths and areas of specialty. The attitude piece comes in because his coaching style was born from his experiences of working in both education and mental health. He's able to use his skills and experience to help his players see a different side of the game:

"I can help people see a different value in sports beyond winning. It's the PURSUIT of winning that has value," Tom says. "Sports is a platform for learning life lessons. It's an opportunity to deal with big emotions, it's an opportunity to be a good guy and treat someone well (a teammate for example) even when they let a goal in or make a mistake."

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

On closing, we asked Tom for his words of advice in regards to players and parents looking to get involved in SYSA soccer this upcoming fall season.

SYSA - Any advice for parents who have been thinking about getting into coaching?

Tom - "Just do it. It's an opportunity to build a great relationship with your kid and to get to know how they are at their best and worst. It's a window into their life that you wouldn't get otherwise and allows you the chance to have more influence especially as they get older and are at vulnerable stages. I have been able to have more open conversations with my son because I already saw and knew so much about how he deals with emotions: because of soccer, it has been easier to talk about other stuff. So it's been a great opportunity to stay involved in his life and not get shut out."

Also - "coaching also allows you to do some good in the world, no matter how everything else went that day. It's also brought me lifelong friendships with other parents that I wouldn't have met otherwise. Really though, I just enjoy it (coaching) and I wish more people who truly had that perspective (to give kids an enjoyable time) would jump into coaching. At the rec level, we are here for fun and enjoyment, and lots of people can contribute a lot for these kids."

SYSA - Any advice for players who have been thinking about trying soccer for the first time?

Tom - "Join rec because it's fun! Jump in and try. If you don't like it, you don't have to keep doing it. I always say to my players, rec soccer is a VOLUNTARY recreational activity, nobody NEEDS to be here. If anyone really hates it just let me know and I will talk to your parents."

Thank you so much Tom! We appreciate you and are so glad you are a part of our SYSA family!

People of SYSA: Sneha Sastry, LVR Volunteer Soccer Coach

Welcome to our 'People of SYSA' series! This series is where we talk with players, coaches, administrators, parents, referees and volunteers from all across SYSA and learn a little bit about them and why they love being a part of Seattle Youth Soccer Association.

To start off the series, this week we have the pleasure of featuring Sneha Sastry. Sneha coaches with LVR Soccer Club and this year she was the recipient of the SYSA Boys Recreational Coach of the Year award. Sneha coaches all three of her son's LVR teams and is an excellent leader for all of her young charges.

She is a dedicated, invested and extremely caring coach. She LOVES soccer and is passionate about the game's ability to create community. Sneha feels strongly that soccer is a sport where there's a place for everyone and that every player can absolutely contribute something unique and special to their team.

Photo credit Lynne Craig

Here's more from our conversation with Sneha:

Getting involved with SYSA

Sneha moved to Seattle in 2015. Her oldest son was entering 1st grade at the time. She joyfully recalls the fact that "I signed him up for LVR soccer before I signed him up for school!". While Sneha didn't volunteer to coach that first year, she gradually become involved as the year went on by helping out here and there as needed. The rest is history.

Seven seasons later in 2021, this past fall, she was coaching all three of her son's LVR soccer teams: U7, U11 and U13. When asked about managing the logistics of being able to coach 3 teams, Sneha says that "Saturday's were crazy but so worth it."

Soccer as a community builder

One of the reasons that Sneha decided to get her family involved in SYSA immediately upon moving to Seattle is because she knew that soccer was a great way to meet new friends and get involved. She loves that the sport is such a community builder and allows you to bond with new people over a shared interest.

Sneha's whole family is 'soccer people'. She played soccer herself up through high school and continues to play in adult leagues in Seattle. She currently plays multiple nights a week, both in outdoor 11v11 RATS league and indoor at Arena Sports Magnusson.

"Adult soccer has been huge in my life. It's such a positive, active community and I've made so many good friends. Playing soccer is huge for me because I can socialize, get exercise and be a part of a team. As an adult, where else do you get the opportunity to say 'I got your back!' It's just been great for me."

Effort and individual contribution

When asked about her coaching style, Sneha immediately said "I'm a big effort person. It's all about the effort." With the players, it's always all about hustling and giving your best effort every time you're on the field. It's also about individual contribution as well. As in - what unique thing can YOU bring to the team? To the game?

"I'm never the best person on the soccer field, but I always tell myself that I can be the BEST contributor that I can be. It's all about being yourself, but putting in the effort to be the BEST VERSION of yourself." Sneha tells her LVR players this a lot and works hard to help them find value in the small pieces of the game.

As a coach, she puts a lot of emphasis on the small things that make a difference. The individual contributions from each and every player. "I notice the 10 steps that got us to the goal instead of just the goal itself. The goal is exciting, but I like to notice and point out the things from before (the assist, the tackle that caused the momentum change, etc.)"

Seeing players shift makes it all worth it

One of Sneha's favorite parts about coaching recreational youth soccer is the process of improvement that she sees her players through. "On a personal level, my favorite part about coaching is being able to see the kids shift. Seeing the kids transition from head-down-looking-at-the-ball, to head up, making passes and understanding spacial awareness on the field is just amazing."

Sneha enjoys the part of coaching where she gets to help players who are not sure of what to do. She loves being able to help them take ownership of small pieces of their game, succeed at them and grow their confidence. "Having them feel good about the plays they are making, is what makes me feel really good too," she says. For example, in terms of defending, she often tells her young players that their job is just to be first to the ball. That's it. When they have a specific, manageable objective they are better able to achieve it.

Sneha says her greatest strength as a coach is that she "genuinely cares about these kids," about all of them, not just the superstars. "If you develop a caring nature first, they respond better to everything."

Words of encouragement

On closing, we asked Sneha for her words of advice in regards to players and parents looking to get involved in SYSA soccer this upcoming fall season.

SYSA - Any advice for parents who have thinking about getting into coaching?

Sneha - "If you are thinking about coaching I would say do it, it's fun. It takes time yes, but the value of it is just huge. The dynamics you can have with people (parents, kids) is just amazing.  My second piece of advice would be to be clear about expectations, it goes a long way in setting you up for a fun and successful season."

SYSA - Any advice for players who have been thinking about trying soccer for the first time?

Sneha - "My advice for players is to go out and do your best and try not to compare yourself to others. There are always going to be people that are better, but you can always contribute something to a team. You can be a valuable member of a team always. There's so many things you can do in soccer that aren't dribbling and scoring. Slowing someone down, picking someone up, anything. There's a value to being on the field and working your hardest."

And as we were parting, Sneha had one final thing to say about why she coaches youth soccer: "my hope is that these kids learn enough to be able to play lifelong soccer because it's so enjoyable and I want them to enjoy it for a long time."

Thank you so much Sneha! We appreciate you and are so glad you are a part of our SYSA family!