Role models: FC Leopold coaches teach kids on and off the field

FC LEOPOLD’S Ben Shears says the best thing about coaching his under 12 boys’ team is seeing how far some of them have come.

Ben, who coaches the team with Matt Wright, said he remembers some of the players barely being able to kick a ball, but now they were playing proper football.

Ben started coaching when FC Leopold first started three years ago and was keen to help out in any way possible.

Matt said he liked the idea of helping shape the club’s future by teaching its existing juniors to play a brand of football he believed would benefit the senior team in years to come.

“The best thing about coaching juniors is watching something you’ve persevered with the kids to do for weeks finally pay off and watch them play great football on a weekend,” he said.

Matt said he started coaching juniors because he wanted to prepare himself for the future, when he’d like to coach at a senior level once he wasn’t able to play any more.

Ben and Matt play in the Division 1 team and have managed to juggle the two activities seamlessly.

FC Leopold women’s co-coach Cath Sattler said the men were fantastic not only from a soccer skills perspective, but a holistic approach to raising boys.

“I’ve seen these guys coaching the boys and am so impressed with what I see.

“Not only are they teaching the boys to play football, but also to be good sports and grow into responsible young men.

“More than once I’ve heard Matt shout from the sidelines ‘come on, help him up’ when there’s been a collision of players.

“Seeing such encouragement to help an opponent back on his feet is a testament to how to play the game well.”

Cath said Matt and Ben’s approach to coaching was fantastic, as they gently teach the boys new skills but also the importance of being a good team player, lessons that the boys will keep for the rest of their lives.

“And the boys will often come and watch the seniors play and they absolutely idolise both Ben and Matt on and off the field.”

Ben said he really enjoyed how it was FC Leopold’s third year and the atmosphere was amazing down at the ground, where everyone was friendly and inclusive.

“I really enjoy the take Leopold has on games as well, our juniors are there to have fun but I can tell with my squad the kids are hungry and want to win games because they’re passionate about the game,” he said.

Matt said he really liked the way the club had managed to bring the women’s and men’s senior teams a bit closer this year through shared training nights and people from both teams helping out on a Saturday and Sunday.