Interview by Wavey Cole

Question: How would you describe your coaching style and how do you think it resonates with players? 

Answer: I would describe my coaching style as direct, honest, and I put a big emphasis on learning through doing. I think on a varsity team where we have different ages and different levels of experience, It's helpful for players to learn from their teammates and not just from the coaches. Players learn so much more from the players that are on the field with them rather than the person standing on the sideline. I think the learning through doing and learning through practice and through game-like scenarios is resonates best with them.

Question:  What has been the most rewarding part of coaching the Girls Varsity Soccer team so far?

Answer: I think seeing the confidence growth in different players, no matter what age they are or their years of experience on the team, is the most rewarding thing. Seeing friendships develop between girls is extremely rewarding, especially between upperclassmen girls and lowerclassmen girls. And then, of course, getting results in games is extremely rewarding. It's a reflection of what the girls have put in each day. 

Question: What are some challenges you face as a coach, and how have you worked through them? 

Answer: This is my first year as the head coach of the varsity soccer team, with Coach P going on maternity leave. I knew I had a lot of responsibility to take on, and my biggest goal was to do right by the girls and by the team, and Coach P set such a high standard for that, that was something that was on my mind. I feel extremely grateful for Coach Isaac. I could not have done it without him this year, and the guidance that he's given our team and the time that he's put into our team. Something else I try to balance is using my own experience playing to help inform my coaching, but to also understand that that was many years ago and that the style of play is different now and that is different with whatever players we have. 

Question: Can you share a moment this season that made you especially proud of your team? 

Answer: I think recently, the game against Dwight, that was a high pressure situation where if we didn't get a result, we wouldn't have, made playoffs or we would have had a lower seed in playoffs and the girls knew that was on the line, and they really stepped up that game and got it done, and I felt extremely, extremely proud of them for that. 

Contributor Amita Gadkari

On the Girls Varsity Soccer team before every game, Sophia Tsitiridis stands up on the bus and addresses the team as a whole. What does she talk about? It’s not soccer strategies, or a cheer to get everyone excited about the game, but instead, psychology. 

Through Sophia’s own personal experience in sports she grew an interest for the human mind and its functions. “Sports is what got me into my interest for psychology,” Sophia stated, “Sports has taught me more (than a classroom) as it’s taught me how to actually apply the things I want to learn to real life.” Her passion, stemming from sports allowed her to create a podcast in growth mindset and create a case study on how growth mindset affects stress regulation.

But how does this tie to today? As Sophia observed the Girls Varsity Soccer team as a player she noticed her own mindset as she played, and decided to apply this observation to allow the team to grow. Taking action, she brought to the coaches her fears about how rumination and anxiety on the field may lead to a lack in athletic performance. She compiled a list of strategies, to remind the team before every game, to keep everyone focused and moving forward amidst the fast-paced confusion of the match. 

These strategies include visualization, noticing your feelings, and hitting re-set. Visualization is a strategy to allow you to envision in your mind the outcome of the game or play, helping you more clearly see the end goal and the steps you need to take to get there. Additionally as the game continues emotions can get high, where it is best to recognize any obstacles with the language of “I notice…” This allows you to accept the issue and move forward. Finally it is also helpful to have a physical action to allow you to reset and focus. This can include clapping your hands, or stomping your feet, etc. That way you are allowing yourself to return to the moment, and move forward into the game. 

The field, the courts, the track, are all great places for learning to start. Just like Sophia’s interest in psychology, so many life skills are taught through sports in a way that a classroom can never quite reach.