Why not to become a coach ;-)

Oh, go on then, I'll do it! What could possibly go wrong?

Have you ever thought about getting into coaching? Chris Selly, our new U7 coach certainly hadn’t. Here is his story:

"Coach Chris! Coach Chris!" are two words I never really expected to ever be aimed at me. Yes, I may be highly qualified - I played hours of Championship Manager in my youth, fantasised about REALLY being manager of (normally some random team) Sutton Utd, Champions League Winners in 1999 and am fully media trained; having conducted many press interviews in my head "Yes, Sutton have come a long way - it's a team effort; I'd especially like to thank my backroom staff [nods to the dog sitting in the corner of the room]". However, this reality comes from a place of social awkwardness. It all existed in my head, my safe space, literally the stuff of dreams!

So I, almost grown-up, have possibly 2, 3, ok 4 too many children and eventually the most fearful words are said (to a life-long introvert, hermit type person), by one of the coaches at my son's football practice; "We need some parents to step up and coach and manage the U7 teams".

 I look at my son, his puppy like expression, pleading with me to do it. My mouth makes some strange involuntary twitches and then spouts out (without any conscious input from me) "Oh, go on then, I'll do it". WHY!? It all goes dark...

OK, possibly a touch overdramatic! It is very much out of my comfort zone, but now, a few months in, I am enjoying myself! (Fake it till you make it?) Introductory coaching badges obtained, fresh clipboard purchased (still waiting for my own training kit with my initials on - never had that during my Championship Manager career) and now a few games in, I think I'm beginning to understand why people volunteer and ruin their previously completely trouble-free lives (sorry just adjusting my slightly grubby rose-tinted spectacles).

I don't think I'll ever forget the sheer joy, when our team finally scored their first ever goal (I'd run out of fingers counting the goals scored by the opposition by this point) and the scorer made a point of running all the way back to hug the goal keeper. It really was lovely. It certainly makes up for the madness of organising training sessions, picking teams (fair substitution patterns) and that mad dash at the end of the game (collecting match balls, cones, children -back to their parents and then remembering to cling onto my own son while faffing with mine and his football boots!)

So, what could go wrong? Who cares?! It's brilliant fun! ⚽