Making Soccer Goals to Develop Resiliency

PROVO, Utah – Jun 04, 2013 – Soccer is usually about making the goal. But for student coaches trained by Brigham Young University professor Peter Ward, the objective is more complex — score points, build character.

Ward, a recreation management professor, teaches Marriott School of Management students how to build resiliency in youth through coaching community sports.

According to Collin Walch, a senior studying therapeutic recreation from Santa Cruz, Calif., and a student coach, each player learns important lessons from their experience on the field.

“After practices and games we have a conversation with the players and often some of the quietest players share really profound insights they learned that day,” Walch says. “All the other kids listen because they also want to know how to overcome their own difficulties — whether it’s a test in school, bullying or something else in their life.”

In Ward’s class students learn basic coaching principles and how to teach adolescents to bounce back in the face of difficulty. After weeks of practice and role-playing they begin to apply these skills with their own teams of sixth through ninth graders from the Provo Parks and Recreation Department. Often the benefits to the players are so dramatic that parents quickly notice a change.

“Parents think it is great that their children can interact with positive role models and learn these traits while they play,” Ward says. “Many parents actually request BYU student coaches because they know the benefits their children will receive.”

Throughout the entire process Ward collects data to understand better how to teach youth resiliency. From his findings, he believes one of the greatest advantages to the program is the effect on the student coaches. Having the opportunity to teach the youth on their teams allows coaches to cultivate the characteristics in their own lives — often becoming more resilient themselves.

“I have learned a lot about myself and gained an appreciation for those who have mentored me,” Walch says. “This experience helped me learn to be more patient and a better listener. Each of these kids brings something unique to our team, and it has been great to get to know them.”

In the future Ward plans to bring these benefits to additional youth and coaches by expanding the program to additional locations in Utah.

“Teaching these principles is so important and we have found such a fun way to do it,” Ward says. “Hopefully each of these kids will be able to take the things they learn and grow, despite the trials and difficulties they will face.  

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.