As coaches of the game, we share a sacred obligation to ensure the beautiful game is just that. No small task, the implications run to the quality of play; exquisite mastery of the ball to deliver brilliant dribbling, passing, shooting and saving; exhilarating skill to create memorable moments; the intricacies of player movement off the ball to create attacking threats; and the tactical and technical wizardry to salvage possession in tight spaces. When hearing of “the beautiful game,” our minds conjure the elegance of Pelé, the fluidity of Johan Cruyff, the dribbling of Diego Maradona, the majesty of Michelle Akers, the maestro Zinedine Zidane, the inspiring missiles fired by Mia Hamm, the breathtaking Brandi Chastain, the bending of Roberto Carlos, the juking of Marta, the sublime ease of Messi, the power of Abby Wambach, the rousing Cristiano Ronaldo, the flying saves of Hope Solo and the audacious Zlatan. The list goes on and on.
There is another aspect of the beautiful game that demands our attention and commitment, an aspect shared across all sport. To wit, how all of the people involved in the game choose to treat one another and the laws governing the game. Respect for all of the game’s participants and respect for the letter and spirit of the laws is incumbent upon each of us. Coaches exert tremendous power and influence in this regard, our words and deeds drawing attention without fail. Coaches communicate standards to players, officials, parents and fans. Coaches must embrace their critical role in establishing environments where ethics and sportsmanship reign supreme, thus ensuring the beautiful game. With great power comes great responsibility.
Just as Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart suggested he knew obscenity when he saw it, we all know ethics and sportsmanship when we see it. Rather than parse and quibble over matters of gamesmanship in an exhaustive effort to reach agreement, let’s unite to celebrate what we know to be right. Let’s unite to lend as much positive reinforcement to what we know to be right as we can muster. Let’s unite to celebrate sound ethics and good sportsmanship at every opportunity. In doing so, we honor our beloved Association’s:
- Core Values (to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and sportsmanship, and to serve the greater good of the game);
- Code of Ethics;
- “Character first” cornerstone of our Commitment to Culture (We honor, teach and develop the core values of honesty, loyalty, responsibility, selflessness, compassion, and discipline.)
- Outstanding collection of men and women who have dedicated much of their personal and professional lives to establishing the undeniable strength of United Soccer Coaches since 1941, whose legacy is steeped in ethics and sportsmanship.
Through these honorable choices, United Soccer Coaches enjoys the moral authority to enable legitimate pursuit of our Vision as “the trusted and unifying voice, advocate, and partner for coaches of all levels of the game” while fulfilling the Mission to “enhance, encourage, and contribute to the development and recognition of soccer coaches, their players, and the game we love.”
The extensive awards program of United Soccer Coaches celebrates right behaviors via the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award, the Team Pinnacle Award, the Coach of Significance Award, and no doubt in consideration of the Honor Award, the Hall of Fame, the Jerry Yeagley Award, and several awards bestowed by various advocacy groups. As we develop process and outcome goals for our teams, let’s consider including the intentional pursuit of United Soccer Coaches awards that reflect our noble intentions. As we scheme to win matches, let’s plan to win the day.
Famed Notre Dame coach of that other football, Knute Rockne, declared, “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it.” Let’s join in being a force of thousands in this practice. And so here’s an invitation to all of us … to elevate, celebrate, acknowledge, illustrate, illuminate right behaviors to ensure the beautiful game. Be on the lookout for specific opportunities to do so promoted throughout the year by the Association. In this, let’s be United Soccer Coaches.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Sims
President, United Soccer Coaches