Today US Youth Soccer announced the four regional winners of the US Youth Soccer adidas Coach of the Year – Girls. Each of these coaches have committed to continued education and self-sacrifice to give back to the sport they love with the hope that they might enhance one of their players abilities and quality of life. US Youth Soccer and adidas are proud to highlight these US Youth Soccer adidas Regional Coaches of the Year for their time and efforts in contributing to America’s youth through the great game of soccer. By promoting teamwork, discipline, fitness and fair play these coaches are making a difference.
Regional winners of the 2006 US Youth Soccer adidas Girls’ Coaches of the Year are:
Region / Coach / Hometown / State Association
Region I / George Jardine / Wilmington / Delaware Youth Soccer Association
Region II / Rimini Ross / Lincoln / Nebraska Youth Soccer Association
Region III / Bobby Lovelace / Raleigh / North Carolina Youth Soccer Association
Region IV / Mathew Heubest / Boise / Idaho Youth Soccer Association
A little more on these winners:
George Jardine is devoted to the Hockessin Soccer Club. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the past two years, each season Jardine coaches a team, trains referees and trainers, officiates tournaments, lines the fields and volunteers for other duties. In short he is critical in making the club run. Committed to the game and his team, Jardine understands how to coach young women, how to encourage them and provide instruction. He also values diversity. One of his best players that he recruited is hearing impaired. He teaches the girls how to accept and respect each other.
Rimini Ross doesn’t just motivate, she inspires. Recently she took her Capital Soccer Association team from Division I to state finals in a single year. Ross strives to be an even better coach; she continues her coaching education and has earned her B license. Ross encourages her players to do well in school and go to college. One of her players said, “What I think puts her above other coaches is how much she believed in us.” Ross not only brings out the best in her players, but she also convinces them that they are capable of becoming whatever they want, on or off the field.
Bobby Lovelace challenges and constantly raises the bar for the Triangle Football Club. He encourages creative play, risk taking, one-on-one attacking and defending in a possession-oriented style that emphasizes shape and attacking in numbers. His encouragement and advocacy instills the girls with a sense of confidence and a desire of excellence. Lovelace is a teacher at heart. He recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of players and team dynamics and helps players recognize them as well and find ways to improve.
Mathew Henbest is a soft-spoken coach for the Boise Blast that gets fantastic results. He is a motivator, who offers individual evaluation with positive observation and suggestions for improvements. Fitness was a major emphasis during last year’s season and all of the girls excelled. In addition to fitness and skills, players and parents are encouraged, by word and example, to respect themselves. Sportsmanship is Henbest’s number one rule. He has high expectations of his players. Henbest took the initiative to write the values and guiding principles of the Boise Blast Soccer Club. Also, Henbest previously coached the Idaho State Youth Soccer ODP Girls teams, in addition to coaching the Boise Blast.
On Friday, March 2, the national Coach of the Year – Girls will be awarded in conjunction with the US Youth Soccer Awards Gala during the US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop and Coaches Convention.
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Rimini Ross is the most knowledgable/inspirational coach I have ever played for... I learned more in two years with her than all of my years combined. She truly knows the game and can teach it so players can understand. She made me love soccer again... Megan
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