ALITHSA Volunteer Recognition Program

Coach Mike Luecht - U10 Boys Travel

ALITHSA would like to recognize Coach Mike Luecht for his "above and beyond" volunteer work.

One of the nominations he received said:

"Mike has for the past two years gone beyond the normal volunteer position. As a father who once played ball growing up, he has gone out of his way to put together a Travel Goalie camp that from the very first session showed improvement in the players that attended. Mike has now stepped up his commitment by taking over as a coach of the U10 Boys Travel team."

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

ALITHSA:

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

Mike:

I started playing when I was 4 years old for a German club in the Philadelphia area and played almost constantly with different teams until I was 33. From about 8 or 9 on, I was always in goal.

ALITHSA:

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

Mike:

1. Give them a positive environment
2. The players develop individually and believe in themselves
3. They also develop as a team and believe in each other

ALITHSA:

How did you start playing goalie?

Mike:

I don't know how it exactly started but out of the different sports I played, it was the position I absolutely enjoyed the most. No place to hide!

ALITHSA:

What can we teach our kids about playing goalie and who is your favorite goalie(s)?

Mike:

When teaching kids about goalkeeping, separate the job a goalie has into 3 primary steps:

1. Get to the spot
2. Ready position
3. Use proper technique based on the type of shot

Make sure all three steps are taught, not just the third. Also, a goalie can be a vulnerable position at times. Teaching safety when teaching technique is very important.

My favorite goalies are Brad Friedel and Jorge Campos.....just dated myself.

ALITHSA:

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

Mike:

When I was twelve, I remember stopping a breakaway at the very end of a big regional championship game. It makes the hundreds of ones that found their way to the back of the net easier to forget.

ALITHSA:

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

Mike:

I am involved with quite a few other things that involve youth and I can say with confidence that the passion and commitment that the ALITHSA volunteers have is at the top. No change needed.

ALITHSA:

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

Mike:

My favorite thing the last two years at the goalie camps is seeing the young keeper's eyes light up when I tell them they are supposed to spit on their gloves so they stay tacky. They can't believe an adult tells them that but I also tell them to tell their parents that Coach Mike said to do it so they don't get in trouble.

ALITHSA:

Thank you Mike!

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 Mike Luecht - U10 Boys Travel ALITHSA would like to recognize Coach Mike Luecht for his "above and beyond" volunteer work. One of the nominations he received said: "Mike has for the past two years gone beyond the normal volunteer position. As a father who once played ball growing up, he has gone out of his way to put together a Travel Goalie camp that from the very first session showed improvement in the players that attended. Mike has now stepped up his commitment by taking over as a coach of the U10 Boys Travel team." We took a few minutes of Mike's time to get to know him better. ALITHSA: How long have you been involved in soccer and in what forms? Mike: I started playing when I was 4 years old for a German club in the Philadelphia area and played almost constantly with different teams until I was 33. From about 8 or 9 on, I was always in goal. ALITHSA: What are the three top things for you as a coach? Mike: 1. Give them a positive environment 2. The players develop individually and believe in themselves 3. They also develop as a team and believe in each other ALITHSA: How did you start playing goalie? Mike: I don't know how it exactly started but out of the different sports I played, it was the position I absolutely enjoyed the most. No place to hide! ALITHSA: What can we teach our kids about playing goalie and who is your favorite goalie(s)? Mike: When teaching kids about goalkeeping, separate the job a goalie has into 3 primary steps: 1. Get to the spot 2. Ready position 3. Use proper technique based on the type of shot Make sure all three steps are taught, not just the third. Also, a goalie can be a vulnerable position at times. Teaching safety when teaching technique is very important. My favorite goalies are Brad Friedel and Jorge Campos.....just dated myself. ALITHSA: Please tell us about your most special soccer memory or event. Mike: When I was twelve, I remember stopping a breakaway at the very end of a big regional championship game. It makes the hundreds of ones that found their way to the back of the net easier to forget. ALITHSA: How in your mind can we make soccer in ALITHSA as creative and fun as possible? Mike: I am involved with quite a few other things that involve youth and I can say with confidence that the passion and commitment that the ALITHSA volunteers have is at the top. No change needed. ALITHSA: Anything special you would like to share with all of us in ALITHSA about being a volunteer? Mike: My favorite thing the last two years at the goalie camps is seeing the young keeper's eyes light up when I tell them they are supposed to spit on their gloves so they stay tacky. They can't believe an adult tells them that but I also tell them to tell their parents that Coach Mike said to do it so they don't get in trouble. ALITHSA: Thank you Mike! 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.