Honors Experimental Learning Project Proposal - Leadership Basic Information:

Full Name: Joshua Kevin Thomas College: College Conservatory of Music Major: Electronic Media Title of Project: Learning Leadership Skills Through Coaching Youth Soccer Thematic Area: Leadership Expected Project Start Date: Expected Project End Date:

Project Information:
1. Provide a brief overview/abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project. Youth soccer is a rapidly growing group activity in the United States. There are thousands spread across the country that recreationally compete against each other. The Shawnee Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is the organization that serves the area in my hometown of Lima, Ohio and more specifically the Shawnee School district. This organization is a volunteer based group that runs the youth soccer program in Shawnee according to the guidelines set up by SAY Soccer, one of the overall governing bodies for youth soccer in Ohio. SYSA is always looking for volunteers to coach a team in one of the different divisions. These coaches are responsible for practices, games, pictures on picture day, and the overall function of the youth soccer team. The teams are broken up into different age groups, or divisions. For SYSA, they create teams in the following age groups for both girls and boys: U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, and U16. The U means under, and signifies that for a player to participate in a division, they must be under that age. These different divisions play other teams in the same division from different organizations around the area. The season for a SYSA season consists of games from the regular season as well as games in youth soccer tournaments a team may participate in. I plan to coach a boys team from either a U14 of U16 division. I also plan to participate in at least one youth soccer tournament. From this experience of coaching a youth soccer team, I intend to learn exactly how to be a productive and efficient leader as well as being responsible and accountable. I also hope to help the players improve their soccer skills in a fun and competitive environment. It would be important for me to make sure the players are excited to come to practice and to compete in games. Watching the players grow and improve would definitely be a rewarding experience. The season for SYSA runs from August thru October. To successfully coach, I would need to commit at least 7 hours a week for practices and games. Additionally, a two-day soccer tournament would be about 12 hours total. Together, I would spend roughly 82 hours coaching and preparing for coaching. 2. Connection to Learning Outcome Within Leadership Theme Coaching a youth soccer team would provide valuable leadership skills and enhance the skills I already have. This experimental learning project would apply to the third Leadership

Objective: Has the ability to relate, communicate and work effectively with peers. The success of the soccer team heavily depends on how well I can communicate ideas and information to the players. The communication starts right as the season begins. I would need to contact each player to inform them about what team they are on, when and what time practices are, as well as the schedule of the games. It continues as I would need to inform the players parents about my ideas about how the team will be run, as well letting them know their children are in capable and caring hands. Conflicts are likely to arise at some point during the season. These can be between me and a coach or referee, me and a parent, me and a player, or two players between themselves. As the coach, it would be my job to handle the situation as calmly and determine a solution as quickly as possible. This would not be possible if I did not work effectively with my peers. I could solve an altercation by quickly addressing the situation and understanding why someone is upset. I could then offer a solution to the problem or alert higher authorities of the youth soccer program on what they think would solve the problem. Communication is also an important step in the system to make sure everyone is content. On some occasions, I may need to help a player by relating to them. If a player is having a tough time adjusting to a new soccer team or maybe is not as skilled as some other teammates, I could certainly offer them advice because I know what they are feeling. Having played soccer throughout my youth years, I know about the problems and stresses a player could be feeling. This allows me to relate to them and help them by letting them know how I handled the situation. This type of opportunity also applies to the fourth Leadership Objective: Develops a vision of the future and acknowledges the impact of decisions (as applicable to the individual and affiliated organizations). I will undoubtedly set high goals for my team for season. Being part of a losing team may provide valuable experience, but is usually not fun for all of those involved. I will do my best to make sure each player reaches their potential and to reach not just my goals, but more importantly their goals for the future. I would also be able to see the impact of my decisions in real time as they take place on the soccer field. If I decide to have no defense in the game and the other team scores, the impact of my decision is clearly seen. This type of decision does not have that heavy of an impact on myself or the team. However, my actions and decisions may have an important impact on the Shawnee Youth Soccer Association. I would be able to acknowledge exactly what I should and should not do to make sure the team, Shawnee Youth Soccer Association, and youth soccer as a whole are not impacted in a harmful way. 3. Connection to Academic Goals and Theories By coaching a youth soccer team, I plan for my leadership skills and knowledge to improve greatly. I also expect to become much more capable of handling difficult situations and dealing with problems. These two qualities are some of my personal goals. Leading is not one of my strong suits. Following others is something that I have been doing most of my life. I feel that the addition of leadership to my personality will help me become the best person I can be. Being a coach only helps this outcome. Being able to lead not only fills a personal goal, but will help me in my professional career. An audio engineers profession is a fast passed one. You must react quickly to different situations and problems that may arise. If I am to succeed with a career in this field, I will need to be capable of handling tasks in a stressful and difficult environment. Coaching

will one again set me on the correct path to achieve this. Dealing with teenagers and parents when problems quickly arise will teach me the proper way to handle a stressful situation. To prepare for this experimental learning project, I will need to familiarize myself with different tactics on how to coach in a positive manner. Jim Thompsons The Double-Goal Coach seems to do just that. This book discusses different ways for coachs to help improve players in the game as well as in life. As stated before, one of my main goals is for players to be excited about playing soccer. It is not my goal to win every game, but to hopefully help the players have a positive outlook on the game as well as on other activities or events. Another way I will prepare for this opportunity is to talk to coaches I had in the past for soccer. They will certainly have an idea of what works and what does not in youth soccer. Any tips, comments, or practice drills they can offer me would help me immensely. As opposed to Thompsons book, these coaches will have a better idea of the Shawnee students that participate in the youth soccer program. They will know how most of the players behave and also how the other coaches behave. This insight would help in communicating or interacting with others. 4. Initiative, Independence, and Creativity This project will require me to be initiative and independent. I will be required to make decisions for the whole team. These include: practice days, practice times, when to arrive for games, signing up for and getting information of soccer tournaments, organizing snacks, and many other decisions. It will also be my duty to solve problems that arise. For example, if it rains on a day of practice, I will need to decide whether to move the time, move the day, or cancel it. Then I would need to take the initiative to inform my team about what my decision is. Coaching is a very intensive process and you must be able to make decisions. I am no stranger when it comes to soccer. I played every year starting in kindergarten all the way through my senior year of high school. Being coached by many different coaches through the years has allowed me to understand all of the different aspects of soccer. My senior year also concluded with multiple honors including Northwest District First Team and All-Ohio Second Team. I know what I am doing when it comes to soccer. I hope to be able to pass on my knowledge and skills to the younger players to help soccer flourish at my alma mater. Both of my parents also coached teams in the Shawnee Youth Soccer Association and were a part of the West Central Ohio Soccer Association, which oversaw all of the youth organizations in that area. There knowledge of the program will be very useful for me. 5. Reflection There is no right way to coach a team. There are many different styles and it is all about what works. Reflection on practices and games would allow me to determine what is the best way to coach and get ideas across to the team. To actively reflect, I will keep a journal. After each practice, I will right down what we did and how I thought the practice went. If it went well, I can see what we did and what I did that contributed to this success. If it went poorly, I could see what part may have caused this. This journal will allow me to examine just how I coach and whether or not this works for the players. Looking at the days that went well, I can see how the players learned that day and implement this style for another practice. This will ensure my reflecting process is for the betterment of the team.

6. Dissemination Once the season is complete, I will have certainly learned a great deal about my self and the coaching process. I will share this information with my high school boys and girls soccer teams through a presentation at the end of their seasons. This presentation will be complete with pictures, my thoughts on the experience, the amount of time dedicated, and why I think they should consider it. These students are part of the group that will become future coaches and hopefully my experience will get them excited about coaching a youth sport too. The need for volunteer coaches is always high and I hope to influence their choice in the future. 7. Project Advisor Mike Thomas AMS Uniforms 419-996-9135 thomaspartyof4@juno.com 8. Budget Driving Costs Equipment Snacks Total $150 $50 $50 $250