Me? A Soccer Coach?

I signed up my almost 5 year old for soccer and thought I would volunteer to coach. Well, I was thinking I would be an assistant since I know NOTHING about soccer. Like, I played a season when I was a kid. The one memory I have is doing cartwheels on the field when the action was on the other side. I know NOTHING.

But, she convinced me. The kids at this age are playing 3 on 3 and there are only 6 kids on the team. There is really only a need for one coach. Despite having over 20 years of coaching experience with volleyball, I was still a little bit hesitant. Yet, I agreed. WHAT am I getting myself into?!?!?

We had our first practice when it was 40 degrees outside. Their threshold for canceling is 35 degrees and since it was the first practice they didn't want to cancel. At the beginning of practice all of the kids do some activities with one of the REAL coaches before they are released to their teams.

I had a few things in my mind to do for our practice. (Oh, and THANKFULLY they gave us some ideas for drills and games.) When we got there, since it was so cold, they suggested that we just have them play for a little bit and then send them home. My own child was crying because he was cold. I felt bad for him. But, we played and gave high fives when anyone scored a goal.

And you know what? I realized once again that God really did make me to be a coach. Even soccer. I left there energized like I feel after volleyball practice. And when I was on the field, as when I'm in the gym, I didn't have a care in the world except those moments.

How do you know that you are supposed to be a coach? What emotions to you have after you have been with your team?