ALITHSA Volunteer Recognition Program

Coach Kevin O'Callaghan - U6 and U8

ALITHSA would like to recognize Coach Kevin O'Callaghan for his "above and beyond" volunteer work.

One of the many nominations he received said:

"The soccer coach for my son's U6 team was awesome. I would like to recognize that this coach had a very positive attitude and a definite vision of what he wanted and expected the kids to get out of the experience. I saw some of the other coaches on other teams and how they interacted with the kids and this only confirmed my belief that my son was in great hands with Kevin Callahan. I would certainly have my kids on any team that this coach leads."

We took a few minutes of Kevin's time to get to know him better.

ALITHSA:

How long have you been involved in soccer and in what forms?

Kevin:

I've been involved most of my life, mostly as a player and fan. My coaching experience includes U6 a couple of years ago and then both a U6 and a U8 team during the past spring session.

ALITHSA:

What are the three top things for you as a coach?

Kevin:

1. That the kids enjoy themselves
2. That the kids learn and improve
3. That the coach sets aside his competitive spirit. This means equal playing time and shared positions, including keeper, for everyone.

ALITHSA:

What ways do you communicate with the parents and how can we learn from your experiences?

Kevin:

I communicate via email as well as by phone. From experience, I'd have to say that one shouldn't assume that all parents regularly read email or even that your emails always go through. I think that it's also important to speak to the parents in person and develop a rapport if possible whether after games or practice. It makes for better understanding and frankly a more enjoyable atmosphere.

ALITHSA:

Positive reinforcement seems to be important to you. Can you share your experiences with challenges and successes in this area?

Kevin:

It's always easy to compliment kids that have ability or follow instruction well, but it is also important to ensure that those who are not as keen or focused enjoy themselves and don't have a negative experience. As an example, two years ago I had a couple of players in U6 who were more interested in the social aspects of the game. While their passion for soccer wasn't obvious at the time, they are still playing rec. soccer two years later. They enjoyed themselves enough to keep playing. I think the key was to compliment them on what they did well (could be cartwheels during games!) while gently persuading them to take an interest in the game.

ALITHSA:

Please tell us about your most special soccer memory or event.

Kevin:

I suppose the most memorable and painful event was 'blowing out' my knee! More pleasant memories include winning the city championship (in Canada as a player), and watching my first World Cup in 1974 as a child in Ireland. This fuelled my interest in soccer and I continue to be a fan to this day, watching way too much FSC (Fox Soccer Channel)!

ALITHSA:

How in your mind can we make soccer in ALITHSA as creative and fun as possible?

Kevin

Besides not having an end of year bash, you're doing a fine job!

ALITHSA:

Anything special you would like to share with all of us in ALITHSA about being a volunteer?

Kevin

You may have just coaxed me to coach again! After having coached 2 teams this past spring, I was enjoying my 'summer holidays' and the new-found flexibility in my day! On a serious note, I'd just like to thank ALITHSA and the other coaches for their organization, time and effort. There's a lot of work behind the scenes. I'd also like to thank the kids for their attitudes and also their parents who, I've found, are very reasonable in their expectations.

ALITHSA:

Thank you Kevin!

If you know of any ALITHSA coach, asst. coach, team mom, referee or coordinator that goes above and beyond, please let us know about it. We want to regularly recognize those that stand out from the crowd.

Please send your nominations and the reason for the nomination to mvp@alithsa.org.

Home Page Recreational Program Travel Program Registration Parent Participation Rec Schedules NRSL Schedules Travel Schedules FAQ Medical Waiver Form Maps to Parks Incident Report Form Volunteer Recognition Referee Information The Laws of the Game ALITHSA Constitution Board Meeting Minutes Contact Us		ALITHSA Volunteer Recognition Program Coach Kevin O'Callaghan - U6 and U8 ALITHSA would like to recognize Coach Kevin O'Callaghan for his "above and beyond" volunteer work. One of the many nominations he received said: "The soccer coach for my son's U6 team was awesome. I would like to recognize that this coach had a very positive attitude and a definite vision of what he wanted and expected the kids to get out of the experience. I saw some of the other coaches on other teams and how they interacted with the kids and this only confirmed my belief that my son was in great hands with Kevin Callahan. I would certainly have my kids on any team that this coach leads." We took a few minutes of Kevin's time to get to know him better. ALITHSA: How long have you been involved in soccer and in what forms? Kevin: I've been involved most of my life, mostly as a player and fan. My coaching experience includes U6 a couple of years ago and then both a U6 and a U8 team during the past spring session. ALITHSA: What are the three top things for you as a coach? Kevin: 1. That the kids enjoy themselves 2. That the kids learn and improve 3. That the coach sets aside his competitive spirit. This means equal playing time and shared positions, including keeper, for everyone. ALITHSA: What ways do you communicate with the parents and how can we learn from your experiences? Kevin: I communicate via email as well as by phone. From experience, I'd have to say that one shouldn't assume that all parents regularly read email or even that your emails always go through. I think that it's also important to speak to the parents in person and develop a rapport if possible whether after games or practice. It makes for better understanding and frankly a more enjoyable atmosphere. ALITHSA: Positive reinforcement seems to be important to you. Can you share your experiences with challenges and successes in this area? Kevin: It's always easy to compliment kids that have ability or follow instruction well, but it is also important to ensure that those who are not as keen or focused enjoy themselves and don't have a negative experience. As an example, two years ago I had a couple of players in U6 who were more interested in the social aspects of the game. While their passion for soccer wasn't obvious at the time, they are still playing rec. soccer two years later. They enjoyed themselves enough to keep playing. I think the key was to compliment them on what they did well (could be cartwheels during games!) while gently persuading them to take an interest in the game. ALITHSA: Please tell us about your most special soccer memory or event. Kevin: I suppose the most memorable and painful event was 'blowing out' my knee! More pleasant memories include winning the city championship (in Canada as a player), and watching my first World Cup in 1974 as a child in Ireland. This fuelled my interest in soccer and I continue to be a fan to this day, watching way too much FSC (Fox Soccer Channel)! ALITHSA: How in your mind can we make soccer in ALITHSA as creative and fun as possible? Kevin Besides not having an end of year bash, you're doing a fine job! ALITHSA: Anything special you would like to share with all of us in ALITHSA about being a volunteer? Kevin You may have just coaxed me to coach again! After having coached 2 teams this past spring, I was enjoying my 'summer holidays' and the new-found flexibility in my day! On a serious note, I'd just like to thank ALITHSA and the other coaches for their organization, time and effort. There's a lot of work behind the scenes. I'd also like to thank the kids for their attitudes and also their parents who, I've found, are very reasonable in their expectations. ALITHSA: Thank you Kevin! If you know of any ALITHSA coach, asst. coach, team mom, referee or coordinator that goes above and beyond, please let us know about it. We want to regularly recognize those that stand out from the crowd. Please send your nominations and the reason for the nomination to mvp@alithsa.org.